This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Can you
tell us a little about your average writing day?When I’m writing I write six days per week. I treat it like a job – with extra long hours. But then I get long breaks too, once a manuscript is finished. I aim to be settled down to writing by 9.30 each morning. Some days flow better than others but I stay sitting at the screen, as though glued to the chair. I turn my phone off and avoid the Internet. I should take more breaks, but I don’t as I become absorbed in the story and I find stopping interrupts my train of thought. If I’m close to a deadline or on a roll, I’ll work through the night.
When you are writing, do you use any celebrities or people you know as inspiration?
I definitely don’t use celebrities – it never occurred to me to do so. My Italian partner owns a café wine bar. Sometimes I go down and sit there for a while and observe the banter and the colourful characters that wander in and out. They might spark an idea, but I find once I start writing a character they quickly take on their own idiosyncrasies and turn of phrase.
What is your favourite Women’s Fiction book of all time and why?
Just one? That’s difficult to answer! I love Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Bridget Jones’s Dairy by Helen Fielding, so you can see where I’m coming from – a classic and a modern version of that classic. However, I’m more likely to re-watch Bridget Jones on TV than reread the book, so Pride and Prejudice has to be my answer. I think I will always pick it from my bookcase, on a lazy Sunday afternoon or when I need a smile.
What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?
I spend a long time planning and each new book gets a new A4 hardback notebook. I even spend time searching for the right notebook – it can’t be a dull school-issue one. I start with an idea, toying with it before tweaking it by making mind maps for myself, which I jot down. Next comes the title, the main character, and synopsis. Only after making endless notes do I start to write on my computer. However, once I start writing I try not to get caught up in technicalities. I believe it’s better to let the creativity flow and work out the details later. Which, brings me to the next part of your question – I write about three drafts of the manuscript. Two before submission to the publisher and a final one when working with my editor.
What was your journey to being a published author?
I was in the process of securing an agent when I entered a TV competition called Write a Best Seller. I thought it was worth a shot. I won that competition and everything was fast tracked. It usually takes a year from the signing of contracts before a manuscript becomes a published book. Mine was in print within four months. That was exhilarating, yet daunting, as I’d no experience of the trade. Most people were supportive and wished me well, which helped immensely. Just as the dust was settling down, I received a call to say I’d been short-listed by The Irish Book Awards in the Best Newcomer category. That gave me a huge morale boost. Standing for a photo call, shoulder to shoulder with great Irish authors, was an honour. It all happened within a ten month whirlwind.
What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That it’s glamourous. Once, I’d had a notion that if I became a published author that I’d have plenty of free time for long lunches. In reality, the hours are long and the work intense. For me, I give all my attention and passion to the manuscript and disappear off the social scene for months on end. That includes working on bank holidays and nights – without the double pay.
What advice can you give to our readers who want to write a novel of their own?
Don’t over think it – Just Do It! The hardest part can be sitting at a blank screen and I’ve heard so many people say they procrastinate because of it. Write from your heart rather trying to emulate your favourite writer’s voice. Stick with it – you have to be committed (to the manuscript not a mental asylum, hopefully!) One of the most memorable moments of my life was finishing my first manuscript. The sense of achievement, and relief, was amazing.
What are you working on at the moment?
Book three. I’m at the jotting ideas, titles, and storyline stage. I’d better get a move on as it’s due to the publisher in seven months – tick tock.