This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
1. Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?
I’m up and writing at my desk by 9am. My books are quite full on and energetic, so I can’t write for more than two hours without my brain getting tired. Then I’ll take the dog out or have another cup of tea and return to my desk refreshed. I aim for a 1000 words a day minimum, but as long as I’ve made myself snort with laughter, got angry or welled up, it’s a job well done.
2. When you are writing, do you use any celebrities or people you know as inspiration?
Definitely! Writing is all about people and you have to stay tapped into the human race. I like to go and sit in cafes and people watch over a skinny latte (and muffin). As far as celebrities, I interviewed loads when I was deputy editor at heat and I hate to say it, but a lot were really boring! The entourage they bring with them are far more colourful and outrageous.
3. What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?
Rivals by my literary heroine Jilly Cooper, although I read South Riding by Winifred Holtby last summer and that came very close. It actually reminded me a bit of a 1930’s Jilly C.
4. What is your writing process? Do you plan first of dive in? How many drafts do you do?
I do loads of research! Well, I did for HORSE PLAY and the one I am currently writing now. I get out and speak to people, observe things, do interviews over the phone. When it comes to planning I find it helps to do a massive spidergram, like the ones you used to do at school. You don’t want to over plan though; it will kill the spirit of the book. I tend to write a chapter, go back and edit it and then edit it again as a whole book (with lots of little tweaks in between).
5. What was journey to being a published author?
Whilst working at heat I approached a colleague’s literary agent about an idea I was working on. It wasn’t right, but she suggested writing a bonkbuster and the rest is history!
6. What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That you get really rich!
7. What advice can you give to our readers who want to write a novel of their own?
Start writing it. The more you write the better you get. Don’t worry about getting the perfect novel down first time because it never, ever happens like that.
8. What are you working on at the moment?
My sixth book for Transworld, which I’m hugely excited about. It’s a bit of a departure from the Churchminster series and is set in a beautiful market town called Beeversham. It’s packed with some fabulous new characters and one or two I’m totally in love with. Hopefully it’s going to be a stonker!
Thanks Jo.