My Writing Process – Planning

1st February 2015Leave a comment

I like to plan my work because it stops me worrying about where I am going. I only need to concentrate on how to get there.
I like to kick an idea about in the back of my head for a few weeks/months/years before I start scribbling notes down. Character notes, snatches of dialogue, a first stab at a first chapter, how it’s going to end.
When I feel I’ve got the basis of a story, I write a few words for each ‘chapter’ on a card and pin it on the plot wall in front of my desk.

I’m not really sure if each card will end up being a chapter, but I put them up in the order that the story progresses. I spend ages staring at the wall of cards, rearranging them, adding new ones until I think I’m done.
Next I write the story out in a page or two. This document will one day turn into the synopsis that my agent will use to sell my story. If I find it difficult to explain what is happening on the cards (and in my brain) then I realise I’ve got a problem with the story which needs to be fixed.
I work between my written synopsis and my cards on the wall until I feel happy that everything hangs together. If my agent agrees and I decide to go ahead with writing the book, I create my control document.
This consists of a To Do List (which is blank at this stage) followed by a detailed chapter by chapter plot outline. This document is for my use only.

Here’s an example from Help I’m a Genius. This one has got scrawled additions to it. I probably wrote them after I’d finished the second draft and before I started the third.
The first line of Chapter 5 reads ’He’s going to humiliate himself. It’s going to be torture.’ That was probably the words I had written on the card on the wall. I’ve added ‘He feels left out’. It’s important I know how my character is feeling at this point and I want the reader to have maximum sympathy for him. I then go on to describe what sort of things are going to happen in this chapter. His sister has got another tap dancing certificate, his baby brother has a sticker from nursery. Dan has nothing to celebrate. Hopefully the reader is now feeling ‘Poor Dan!’
Then Dad drops the bombshell. He has a new job in another country. The whole family are going to have to move to America.
In my plot outline I try and make sure every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, a joke or a dilemma.
I now have my story in three different formats – cards on the wall, synopsis and plot outline. By using different formats, I see my story from different angles. The story has a shape rather than being a jumble of thoughts.
When I’m done – usually after a few weeks – I’ll start writing. Next step – First Draft.

My Writing Process

1st February 20152nd November 2016Leave a comment

Every writer has their own way of working. There is no right or wrong way. It’s a personal thing but however a writer does it – they spend many hours doing it.

The process I have developed over the last ten years is :
1. Plan
2. First Draft
3. Second Draft
4. Third Draft
If I’m really lucky, I then get the chance to work with a publisher to turn the book I have written, into the one they want to publish. Whoever knew I was going to be published in German first?

I didn’t used to plan my writing. I was so thrilled to have an idea that all I wanted to do was write it. I wrote four books that way. The first two had no ending. In book three, I didn’t introduce the baddies until the last chapter. No wonder it was so boring. By the time I had ‘finished’ book four I knew it was too thin but I didn’t know what to do about it. I even had an agent and an editor very keen on the idea but I hadn’t got a clue how to whip it into shape.
It suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t know how to construct a plot or a story. I only knew how to enjoy writing. Over the next two years, I taught myself plot, structure and planning and it changed my life forever.

Over the next few blog posts I am going to share my writing process with you, so get a hint of what it is like to write the way I do.

Library No More.

31st January 2015Leave a comment

In my last blog post I claimed to do all my writing in libraries, Peckham Library being my favourite. That was true for about eight years, but that has all changed now.

This is my new writing companion, Mickey. He is a rescue dog and is about two years old. He appears to be a collie/lurcher cross which means he is always into mischief, loves chasing things and is very fast. Sometimes he is a distraction, but mostly he is a lovely friend who nags me when I don’t get enough exercise.

He takes a good selfie.

He has his own chair in my study.

He likes to choose a book to read.

So now I have to stay home and keep him company while I work. Although he can be a very harsh critic when he gets his paws on my manuscript.

That page was rubbish. Can we go for a walk now?

My Writing Habit

26th January 2015Leave a comment

For me, good writing is all about a good writing habit. Routine is very important. I like to go swimming in the morning then I head for the library which is right next door to the swimming pool.
I need to write a chapter to feel that I’ve achieved something. That’s about 1,500 words if I’m in first draft mode. I write long hand, in fountain pen, first but always type up what I’ve written before I go home.
Writing a novel is all about re-writing and editing your work. When I’m editing the word count doesn’t mean much, it’s the number of hours that count. I like to stay in the library for between two and five hours. It’s normally hunger which drives me out.
I don’t have the internet on my laptop, but now I have a smart phone I tend to check my emails occasionally, especially if I’m waiting to hear from my agent. But I’ve taken Facebook off my phone and have given up Candy Crush Saga completely. As I keep reminding myself – I’ve got a book to write!

A Very British Book Launch

25th July 2014Leave a comment

It took thirty years, but my first book has finally arrived in the world.

Hilfe ich bin ein Alien was translated and published by German publishers Coppenrath in June 2014.

They have made a truly beautiful book, with illustrations by Der Anton. Even the endpapers are lush. But you’ll have to buy a copy to see for yourself!

Needless to say, having waited for 30 years, I had a massive party to celebrate. What are the essential elements of a British Garden Party? Rain, of course! Not enough to spoil the day, but enough to make it a truly British affair.

Between the raindrops, a huge gathering of friends – writers and non-writers – drank Pimms, Prosecco and tea, and ate cake.

My book cover was so brilliant I had it made into a cake.

I was thoroughly spoiled with flowers and gifts and great company. Thanks everyone for making my first book launch so special.

Me with Anne Clark (my lovely agent) and Cedric the Master of Ceremonies

A group of fantastic friends eating too much cake

Inspirational Books for Writers

21st May 2014Leave a comment

I have a massive collection of books that give writing advice. I’ve read loads over the years. I always borrow any I see in the library and buy any recommended to me by other authors or people in publishing.

I even have a bulging ‘How to Write’ bookshelf. Some books are more useful than others. Some have highlighted passages and those sticky pointers that remind me where the good passages are. Sometimes I read a book and only come out with one piece of salient advice. Other times a book becomes a bible to me and I carry it around with me like a favourite teddy.

I haven’t finished all the books on my shelf but I wouldn’t get rid of any of them in case there is something I can learn at a different stage in my writing journey.

One day I will read ‘Story’ by Robert McKee. I’m sure it’s full of great advice only I’m not clever enough to decipher his writing style just yet.
I find it reassuring to have my How To books at hand. I’ve had to learn how to write and these books have helped me. And I’m well aware that the process hasn’t ended yet. I never stop learning how to write.

There is one book I like to read every year in those dark days between Christmas and New Year when my SAD is at it’s worst and I’m feeling as black as hell-in-a-powercut. That is Stephen King ‘On Writing’. If you are a writer and you are thinking of giving up, read this life affirming book right to the end and you will return to your writing with a new vigour and realise how lucky you are.

And now there is a new book for me to read every year. ‘Bird by Bird’ by Anne Lamott is a funny, inspiring set of essays by someone who clearly understands the mind of a writer.
Big thanks to Sara O’Connor whose recommendation filtered down to me through a circuitous route of author friends.

‘On Writing’ and ‘Bird by Bird’ don’t tell me how to write, but they remind me why I write; which is the sort of inspiration I need on those dreary days at the end of the year. I am a writer and just like Stephen King and Anne Lamott I find it hard sometimes. But I love it just the same.

Stationery Awesomeness #1

10th March 2014Leave a comment

Like all writers, I am obsessed with stationery. Pens, notebooks, filing systems. I have them all and when something new comes out, I have to buy it.
Some stationery is beautiful like these rubbers which I don’t want to spoil by using.

Nine beautiful rubbers

Other stationery is practical like this pencil case which opens up into a pen stand when I am at the library. Just enough for the essentials. Compact and cool.

Pencil case closed

Pencil case open

All these items are available from www.bureaudirect.co.uk my current favourite stationers. Do check them out for more awesomeness and let me know what your favourite stationery items are.

Launches Are Go!

4th March 2014Leave a comment

One of the great things about being an author is meeting other authors. I have made many wonderful friends along the way. We commiserate when it all goes wrong and celebrate the good times together.

This week was a celebratory one as I was invited to three book launches.
Stuffed by Miriam Halahmy
Banished by Liz de Jager
Girl With a White Dog by Anne Booth

I wasn’t able to make it to Portsmouth to see Miriam but we have a date lined up for a celebration in the near future and I can’t wait to read ‘Stuffed’ the final book in her Hayling cycle. Miriam binds contemporary issues into gripping narratives of friendship and self discovery like no one else.

Liz’s launch was held at Foyles, Charing Cross Road. It was buzzing with bloggers, authors, librarians and agents. Liz knows everyone! Or maybe everyone know’s Liz? Anyway I’m thrilled to know Liz and look forward to reading ‘Banished’.

Anne Booth and I share an agent, Anne Clark (the other Anne or ‘My Anne’ as I call her at home) and we both consider ourselves very lucky.

I think ‘Girl with a White Dog’ is going to do great things. On the surface a simple story, but with amazing hidden depths.
Jessie is struggling to make sense of the changing world around her. Gran’s dementia. Migrant workers hanging around at bus stops. A cousin who’s developed a mean streak. Yet through this delightful narrative Jessie, makes up her own mind about the world and the different people within it. It’s an amazing book full of real characters up against it in their own way but succeeding to do the best they can in difficult circumstances. You may have guessed I’ve finished it already. In fact I couldn’t put it down.
So congratulations to my three friends and anyone else who had a book launch this week. I’ve got another 6 months to go – can’t wait.

Anne Booth with a stack of her own books!

How I Became a Writer

19th February 2014Leave a comment

For most of my childhood I was lonely, bored and wanted to be part of something else. I lived a fantasy life in other people’s books, fell in love with characters and pined to be part of fictional families I read about. I made up stories and put myself in them. I didn’t write these stories down, but they played like a video in my head the whole time.

Then I discovered the poems of Sylvia Plath. I read her novel The Bell Jar and my life changed forever. Here was a woman, a girl, who was able to express the way she felt about her life in words AND she got recognition for it. She was a tortured soul, just like me, but she had become SOMEONE.

This was a revelation to me. I knew at that point that I would be a writer. I didn’t have a clue how to go about it and there was no one around to offer encouragement.
I had no mentor, but a little flame had been lit deep inside me and it flickered and flared depending on what else was happening around me, but it never went out.
Then in 1983 the band The Smiths hit the world and in Morrissey, I found a soul mate.

The Smiths

Unlike Sylvia Plath, he was still alive and stood on stage baring his soul (and his chest) and told everyone that he found life hard. So did I! I was never going to be a pop star or a singer. But I could be a writer!

I joined a school for writers and suddenly I found myself in an environment where I got credit for my ideas. For the first time in my life I felt I belonged. Over the next five years, I honed my writing skills and wrote two (unfinished) novels. Unfortunately, my day job became more demanding, I had a family and somehow writing was pushed to the back burner. But the flame never went out. I didn’t talk about it much. How could I claim to be a writer if I never actually wrote?

Ten years passed, and an idea for a story appeared in my head. A conversation about a pandemic seminar somehow stuck to a pipe dream I had about self sufficiency. The seed for a book was planted. That seed grew into The Berringer Connection.

I haven’t looked back since.

And now Morrissey has written his own book. I have read it, of course, and I have a secret fantasy that one day he will read one of mine.

I’m a 21st Century Author

4th February 2014Leave a comment

Me at Bloomsbury

I’m really excited to be involved in the 21st Century Author program devised by the National Literacy Trust. They realise the power of author talks to inspire children to pick up a book and start reading.
They put together a program funded by the Arts Council to help new authors devise and deliver effective school visits. The training, delivered by Author Profile has been great. It’s been hilarious struggling alongside other authors to define ourselves as author performers.

I was thrilled with the feedback on my own performance and was absolutely enthralled by my fellow authors, who were all amazing.
Now I can’t wait to put what I learnt into practice. Bring on a room of 8-10 year olds!

Peter Ward, Alice Hemmings, Amy (performance trainer), me and Lydia Syson.