What I've Learned About Writing

Amy Green 2: Summer Secrets and The Loving Kind (adult novel - about plastic surgery and ghost-writing pretty much) are both out next week and I'm bricking it. Most writers worry terribly that their books will:

a/ not be on the shelves at all - lost in transit or stuck in a box at the back of the shop (happens I'm afraid)

b/ be badly reviewed - we are sensitive souls - saying that I've only ever had one stinky review in 15 odd years so I'm doing well. And dozens of nice ones - isn't it terrible the way we remember the bad ones?

Amy Green 1: Boy Trouble got some smashing reviews, my best yet - so that was very heartening.

We also worry that our regular readers, our life blood, won't enjoy the new book as much as the last one. And yes, some of them are very honest and will tell you exactly what they think of it!

But most of all, we worry that our new book will be largely ignored - no reviews, no reader letters, no sales.

Yet still we write . . . we can't help but write!

I've just sent Amy 3 to my editors in London - fingers crossed they will like the changes I've made to the story. I pulled out the entire middle section and rewrote it with as much passion and energy as I could, concentrating on the central 'theme' and plot of the book - and trying not to go off message this time! I think it worked - let's see if my editors agree. I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow I'll start working on Amy 4 - having a look at what I've already written, changing the start, moving scenes around, and again, trying to concentrate on the central 'theme'. (No, no 'break' - I have lots of events coming up in Feb so I have to use my time wisely - anyway, to me planning and playing with a new book is a break! It's fun - and if I can take my time over it - yeah!)

Over the last 2 years I've learned so much about writing - things I wish I'd known when I started out in this business. I've learned to write with energy and passion - not to 'hold back' - to throw everything I have onto the page, every single writing day of my life.

I've learned how important big, wonderful, interesting characters are - characters readers can identify with and fall in love with. Characters with big hearts and big flaws. Clover in Amy Green has been a big hit with readers - she's certainly larger than life, but realistic too I hope.

My grammar still needs some work - should I be saying 'learned' or 'learnt' for eg? My spelling - also not so hot. But I can live with that - and I can try and improve!

I've also learned the importance of concentrating on the central message or theme - what is it I'm trying to say exactly? What's at the heart of the book? For this, I often need help from my editors - and sometimes this 'theme' doesn't come until I've finished the book and am working on rewrites. In Amy 1 for eg the theme was learning to be yourself, and not being swayed by peer pressure. Book 2 - the danger of keeping secrets and not being honest.

I've learned that I tend to fly through scenes too quickly - sometimes I need to slow down, give my writing room to breathe (this was a recent discovery!).

Oh and for an agent, editor, and publishing team to really get behind your book - it has to be pretty special. Aim for pretty special - be original and be yourself.

Yours in writing,

SarahX

Writers' Routines

Writers’ routines – from Patricia to Isabel, and even Jack Kerouac Interesting piece in the Irish Times the other day by Frank McNally about writers and how they start their writing day.

Here’s Isabel Allende on the subject: ‘I light some candles for the spirits and the muses. I meditate for a while. I always have fresh flowers and incense. And I open myself completely to the experience that begins in that moment . . . And slowly the story seems to unfold itself, in spite of me.’

Patricia Scanlan also lights candles before she starts writing, and says a little writing prayer.

Jack Kerouac went about things a little differently. ‘You think about what actually happened, you tell friends long stories about it, you mull it over in your mind, you connect it together at leisure, then when the time comes to pay the rent again, you force yourself to sit at the typewrite, or at the writing notebook and get it over with as fast as you can.’

And Patrick Dennis (no, me neither. Apparently he was a big writer in the 1950’s.) said ‘I always start writing with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind.’

Gore Vidal: ‘First coffee, then a bowel movement, then the muse joins me.’

And finally, William Styron. 'I like to stay up late at night and get drunk and sleep late. I wish I could break the habit but I can't. The afternoon is the only time I have left and I try to use it to the best advantage, with a hangover.' Lived till 81 all the same.

Just goes to show – every writer is very, very different!

So how do I start my writing day?

Breakfast (with the kids – often with CBEEBies on – I can just about stand it as it doesn’t have an ads, I’ve banned everything else in the morning) I try to read the Sunday papers while eating – this goes on until Friday generally – and zone out the noise. Get the kids to school. Walk – usually for about 30 mins – gets rid of the cobwebs and stretches my neck and back out. Usually down the West pier in Dun Laoghaire. No music, just my own thoughts to amuse me. Ideally I think about the scene I’m about to write – but usually I just worry about the teenager and pipes bursting and the usual stuff. (No, we didn't leave our taps running - honest. Not guilty!) Home. Try to avoid talking to anyone. Sit down at my desk. And here’s my one quirk I guess – switch on the pink fairy lights over my desk. That’s when I know I’m supposed to be writing – when my lights are on. Try not to mess around on the internet. Fail. Check emails, Facebook. Check out the cute kids singing Eye of the Tiger on You Tube. Tell myself to get on with the writing. Start writing. (It can take me a good hour to get to this stage I am ashamed to admit.) Look up two to three hours later and wonder where the time has gone. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get my 2,000 words done in that time. And that’s my writing morning. Afternoon – edit, write other bits and bobs, do my blogs etc. No candles I’m afraid – will fairy lights do?

What's your own routine like?

Yours in writing,

Sarah X

PS I’m going to ask some of my writer friends for their routines and post them for you. I bet Martina Devlin is far more disciplined than I am!!!

The Best Books on Writing

The Best Books on Writing I’ve Ever Read

I’ve been rubbish at writing decent blogs recently, so I thought I’d knuckle down and do a useful one for all you keen writers out there. So here’s a list of some of my favourite books on writing and why I like them.

Now and again most writers need a bit of a kick up the bum, some ‘just-get-on-with-it’ encouragement, and a good writing book does just that. It can also inspire or simply give you time out and make you think.

Currently I’m bang smack in the middle of a big rewrite of Amy Green book 3. I know where I’m going – which is brilliant – but it’s taking a little while to get there! I am enjoying it, but it’s bloody hard work at the moment and I need to get it finished by the end of Jan, so I can write Amy 4.

Writing to deadlines is tricky but I guess after 10 years or so I’m used to it. And if you really need more time, editors are usually pretty nice about it. I’ve had to delay books before – mainly due to the birth of Amy and Jago! But I don’t like doing it. I guess I’m my own worst enemy.

But back to the writing books.

Number 1 on my list is the wonderful Julia Cameron and her The Right to Write. First published in 1998, I’ve read this book about four or five times now, and dip into it a lot. I find it calming, sensible, inspiring. Julia talks about making time to write, being honest on the page and loneliness (I get very lonely some days – I’m a sociable kind of person and I find being alone all day tough – shame I love writing so much!); and her book is full of great advice. I’d highly recommend it to any writer – no matter how far along the writing journey you are. She writes beautifully and it’s a joy to read. ‘Just as a good writing day clears the air, a good writing day clears the psyche.’ 9 ½ out of 10

Number 2 is a newish book: The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner. Billed as ‘An Editor’s Advice to Writers’, if you want to know what your average editor is thinking, this is a fascinating book, full of interesting information, and a real eye opener. An excellent book for writers who are on the road to publication and want some insight into how the book business works, albeit in America. Betsy writes very well and touches on a lot of really interesting subjects, from writers’ egos to being fearless on the page. Great stuff! I bought it in Chicago so you may need to get it on Amazon. 8 out of 10

Number 3 – Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Another classic. Sub title is Freeing the Writer Within. A little more new agey than Julia Cameron’s book, but great for dipping into if you’re feeling a bit low writing wise. Natalie deals with all kinds of things, from verbs to editors, and the importance of being specific. Great for writers just starting out and looking for some inspiration and ideas. But not as good as Julia’s book. 8 out of 10

Number 4 – Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. I love this one mainly for it’s story about her brother. He was trying to do a whole project on birds in one night and was freaking out. His father told him ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’ Which is how we should approach every writing day – word by word. Another quote I like is ‘That thing that you had to force yourself to do – the actual act of writing – turns out to be the best part . . . The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.’ So true. It’s not a writing guide as such, more a writing memoir so best for those just wanting some time out and some empathy from a fellow writer. Another American gem. 8 ½ out of ten

And finally a newish book which I think will become a classic for new writers and especially young writers – Juicy Writing by Brigid Lowry. Now, it’s not for everyone, it’s very jaunty and practical and positive, but I wish I’d read it when I was starting out. It has a very ‘you can do it’ attitude and is full of practical advice, writing exercises, and ideas on what to write about. Written for teenagers, it’s a fab book for any age and highly recommended for writers starting out or writers who would like some solid, practical advice. 9 out of 10

Hope this is useful!

Yours in writing,

SarahX