Hello there!
I recently asked on social media for questions about life as an author - things to do with the writing and publishing process that you’d like to know more about. I received some great questions!
I’ve chosen a few to answer now, and going forward, I want to try to answer a reader question every newsletter.
So if there’s anything you’d like to know about any of my books, how I write or anything to do with writing and publishing life, then let me know by leaving a comment or replying to this email.
I’m keeping a log of the questions I receive and will work my way through them.
And make sure you’re subscribed so you can see my reply to your question!
But first, a competition!
Before I answer my first questions, some exciting news for UK readers! My publisher is running a competition on Instagram to win a copy of my next book before it publishes! Check out the post to enter and for full Ts and Cs.
And if you aren’t one of the lucky winners, just a reminder that my book is available to pre-order! Think of it as a gift to future you (and a gift to me too - people who pre-order are my heroes!).
Your questions answered
Q: What are the best and least favourite parts of your job?
A: Best: getting to do something I love every day, the feeling of losing myself in a story I’m writing, spotting one of my books in a bookshop or library, the flexibility of being able to work anywhere and being able to set my own hours.
Worst: never being able to completely switch off because creativity isn’t a tap you can turn off and on - sometimes ideas come at really inconvenient times! Dealing with the ups and downs of what can be quite a volatile industry. Tackling self-doubt and the vulnerability of putting my work out there in the world!
Q: What’s the hardest part of the writing process for you?
A: It varies by book but usually I find editing the hardest part. It’s when you have to make really considered choices so it takes a lot of thinking and can be very tiring. It can also be logistically challenging if you’re making a big change to the story’s structure, because every single change you make has a knock-on effect on the whole book! It’s enough to tie you up in knots!
I also find settling on a new idea difficult sometimes. I have lots of ideas but it can be hard deciding which is the strongest and which to focus on.
Q: How do you find a literary agent as a first timer?
A: I found my literary agent the old fashioned way! I bought a copy of The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and also did extensive online research, looking up agents who might be a good fit for me. Then I reached out to them!
I made a spreadsheet where I kept track of who I had contacted and whether I had received a response. I contacted dozens before I got my ‘yes’ from my now agent.
As a good starting point, look in the acknowledgements pages of books you love to find out who represents your favourite authors/authors in a similar genre. Make sure you only send to people who represent your genre. And make sure you follow each agent’s instructions carefully - they all have their own rules about how and what to submit and it’s important to stick to them!
Q: Do you think reading lots is important for authors?
A: Yes! I personally don’t think you can be a writer without being a reader. It’s through reading that you learn what makes a compelling story. I am constantly learning through the books I read.
It also helps you keep up-to-date with reader expectations in different genres, which is a big help if you want to get published. If you read extensively, you can identify what’s already been done and where the gap is for the book that only you can write!
What else would you like to know about being an author? Or do you have a burning question about one of my books? Let me know!
Looking for reading recommendations?
If you’re looking for something new to read, you can browse and shop my curated reading lists over at bookshop.org. Here are some lists you might enjoy…
Books by me! In case you’ve missed any!
Thank you for being here!
Yours bookishly,
Thankyou very much for your helpful comments, I’m not published, yet, but will definitely create a spreadsheet as you suggested!
Which Authors inspire you the most?