An Interview with C.J. Tudor: Vomit Drafts, Naming Conventions and the Debut Author Bubble

Sunday Times bestselling author C.J. Tudor recently joined The Write and Wrong Podcast to celebrate the release of her seventh novel, Serenity Falls. In a candid conversation about the realities of a long-term writing career, Tudor broke down her chaotic but highly effective drafting process, the importance of trusting your gut when titling a book and the stark realities of surviving the publishing industry long after the honeymoon phase of your debut novel ends.

5 Key Takeaways for Writers:

• Titles can inspire the plot: Having the title before starting the book can often serve as the creative spark for the entire narrative.

• Vomit drafts build momentum: Writing 30,000 words without stopping for punctuation or typos gets the core ideas on the page for heavy editing later.

• Pantsing requires heavy revision: Discovery writers skip tedious planning but spend considerably more time reshaping their massive, unedited drafts.

• The debut bubble pops: The intense marketing and attention of a debut novel rarely happens again, meaning authors must work twice as hard on book two.

• Don't chase trends: Publishers are always looking for the next big thing, so writing what you love is far more effective than copying current bestsellers.

  
  

What is C.J. Tudor's New Book, Serenity Falls, About?

Serenity Falls is a creepy, uncanny mystery about a British father and daughter who inherit a house in a supposedly perfect Florida community, only to find a dead body in their swimming pool upon arrival. The town, founded by beloved entrepreneur Harold Winsome, hasn't seen a crime in fifty years, but it harbours a disturbingly high mortality rate and strict 10:30 PM curfews. Dan and his fifteen-year-old daughter Sadie relocate from the UK under the stringent condition that they must live in the inherited house for five years. Tudor notes that while this seventh novel drops the traditional "The" from her usual naming convention, it retains her signature dark humour and claustrophobic tension.

How Does C.J. Tudor Choose Her Book Titles?

Tudor almost always chooses her own titles organically, often conceptualising them before the book is even plotted, using the phrase as creative inspiration. Aside from The Taking of Annie Thorne (which required a heavy brainstorming session and was published as The Hiding Place in the US), she heavily relies on her initial gut instinct. She regularly searches the market for similar titles and will creatively manoeuvre her wording to ensure her books stand out. For Tudor, selecting the title is an integral part of the creative process rather than a cynical marketing decision made by a publisher.

How Does C.J. Tudor Draft Her Thrillers?

Tudor is a dedicated "pantser" who writes messy 30,000-word "vomit drafts" to build momentum before meticulously editing them into shape. Rather than plotting every chapter out in advance, she writes organically to see where the story goes. During a vomit draft, she deliberately ignores punctuation and typos, sometimes rewriting the same sentence multiple times without stopping. Once a large chunk is on the page, she spends days moving chapters around and refining the prose. While her novel The Drift required slightly more structure and a pre-written ending due to its complex puzzle-box narrative, she typically avoids rigid outlines because she finds them mind-numbingly dull.

What Are the Realities of Publishing After Your Debut Novel?

After the heavily marketed "debut bubble" bursts, authors face immense pressure, lower promotional budgets, and the daunting expectations of the dreaded second novel. Looking back nearly a decade since the release of The Chalk Man, Tudor advises new authors to cherish their debut experience. Publishers throw immense resources at first-time novelists, making it easy to believe that level of attention is permanent. In reality, the hard work begins immediately after. Authors must learn to aggressively market their own backlist while writing the next book, accepting that much of a novel's commercial success—like publication timing and promotional placement—is entirely out of their control. Her ultimate advice for surviving this pressure is to write what you love and create a new trend rather than chasing existing ones.

Which Book Would C.J. Tudor Read While Snowed In?

If snowed in at a remote woodland cabin, Tudor would immediately reach for Stephen King’s classic horror novel, The Shining. While some might not consider it a traditional cosy read, Tudor believes there is a longstanding tradition of consuming scary stories during the cold winter months. Reading a massive, terrifying book about a deserted, haunted hotel while safely cuddled under a blanket next to a roaring fire is, for her, the perfect winter reading experience.