Writing Advice

When did your love of books begin?

I remember reading a Noddy in Toyland book with my mum. It was the moment of revelation that if I just read one word, then the next, then put the phrases together to read a sentence, then got to the end of the paragraph, and if I could do that then I could read the whole book… that’s what got me going, I think. And you know what? It’s kind of the same with writing.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I used to draw covers for books and comics and then write pages. Must’ve been eight or nine and did that into my early teens. So, I think it was there from then on, in some form or other. A love of narrative.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

A journey, alright. But it is that for practically everyone, I think. Ups and downs and yes… moments of head meets door repeatedly. But luckily, there’s the joy of seeing a story come together, of those moments when you know you’ve written something only you could’ve written. Can’t beat that.

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Stock up on the three Rs – reading, rewriting, resilience. Especially resilience. Keep a day job that doesn’t drive you too crazy unless you’re lucky enough not to need one. And get some backup wherever you can. Be ready to steamroller over your ego. When you think you’ve got there, you’re probably about a quarter of the way. Read. Rewrite. And be resilient. Oh, did I say that already? You will get knocked back, you will have to ‘kill your babies’ at times (awful expression, but I can never think of a better one) and you almost certainly will feel like giving up. Don’t. At least, not if you know, deep down in your gut that you’ve got something. Learn to separate the inner voices and recognise them for what they are; the self-critic can be useful, but you don’t want him around when you’re pitching ideas to an agent at a conference. Same token, don’t let the delusory voice anywhere near the microphone either. Your book is not the best thing ever to have graced a shelf since one of Byron’s flung stockings dropped from the candelabra. It’s just not, especially in the shape it’s likely to be in after a first draft. Doesn’t mean you can’t polish it into something pretty wonderful though.