For most people, winter represents a season to endure, but for acclaimed Scottish crime writer Val McDermid, it's the most productive time of year. The author, whose dark thrillers have captivated millions, has revealed that the bleak winter months provide the perfect backdrop for her creative process.
The Creative Spark of Winter
In a recent publication exploring how famous authors relate to the seasons, McDermid describes winter as 'the chosen season of creativity'. She finds inspiration in the barren landscapes, noting that the emptiness 'makes it easy to follow strange tracks in my mind'. This perspective might explain her success in crafting chilling narratives that have made her one of Britain's most accomplished writers.
McDermid's impressive track record speaks for itself. Her popular series, including Wire In The Blood and the recently televised Karen Pirie stories, have resulted in more than 19 million copies of her books being sold worldwide. Despite often exploring gruesome territory in her plots, she maintains a disciplined approach to her craft that begins as soon as the Hogmanay celebrations conclude.
A Glimpse Into the Writing Process
The author's method involves returning to notebooks where she jots down ideas throughout the year. These collections of inspiration range from research notes gathered at the National Library of Scotland to random observations, character names, and location ideas. Some entries even leave her puzzled upon review, such as one that simply read 'French Foreign Legion?'.
McDermid takes comfort in knowing she shares this scattered note-taking approach with legendary crime writer Agatha Christie. When Christie's family discovered dozens of her notebooks containing everything from plot outlines to shopping lists, McDermid was delighted. She suspects both writers share the habit of carrying notebooks in every handbag.
Childhood Winters and Creative Inspiration
The author writes nostalgically about winters from her childhood in Fife, recalling Halloween traditions and the painstaking process of creating turnip lanterns. 'Even as I type this, my hands twinge with the memory of pain,' she admits when remembering carving the rock-hard vegetables.
Her talent for evoking winter atmospheres shines through in her descriptions. She remembers the 1963 Big Freeze as bringing 'proper snow, just like a Hans Christian Andersen story'. One particular memory stands out: 'the thrill of whizzing over the ice with the wind singing in my ears, the cold bringing tears of joy to my eyes' as she skated on the frozen park pond.
Even ordinary winter scenes spark her crime writer's imagination. Recalling a December train journey from St Petersburg to Moscow, she describes looking out at 'an empty platform covered in fresh snow' with another train visible in the distance. The scene immediately reminded her of Murder On The Orient Express, demonstrating how her writer's mind constantly transforms observations into potential storylines.
Despite having written 40 novels, McDermid still approaches each new project with nervous excitement. She aims to complete the first 50 pages of every new novel by the end of January, describing the beginning of a book as 'a bit like being a mole, digging up through the cold, hard ground'. She confesses that with each new project comes the fear that 'my skills haven't melted away during the gap between the end of the previous book and now'.
Through her seasonal reflections, McDermid makes a compelling case for winter's unique charms, proving that this often-maligned season holds special magic for those who know where to look for inspiration.
