A Year of Writing Coming Up In 2015

Hopefully you managed to catch my last post about the writing year that was 2014. If not you can read it here. In summary, although I managed to complete a novel it was a bumpy process and one I hope to improve on in the year ahead. So here’s what’s coming up for me in 2015 …

Starting Monday I’ll be doing the copyedit on my new novel Close To Home. As always, the final stages of a book are a crazy cocktail of attention to detail, nerves, excitement and relief. I’ve had a few trusted readers give me feedback and will definitely be doing some tweaking on this next edit but hopefully the process won’t be too onerous. By the end of January the novel should be visiting the editor for the last time before heading off to the printer. It won’t be released until July but advanced reader copies will be sent to booksellers and distributors for a sneak peek in the next few months. I’m absolutely in love with the cover Hachette have come up with and will be revealing it here soon!

In previous years I’ve taken the turning of the final page of the proof read as an opportunity to put my feet up and bask in the glory of having finished a novel. But this time things will be different. Really, they will! I’ve already started nutting out ideas for my next book and once Close To Home is gone I’ll be starting a new manuscript. Unlike my last three novels I’m going to attempt to do a little more planning – but still remain open to new ideas and plot possibilities. I’m also hoping to use the fast and furious method to write the first draft. This technique worked with my first novel, Blackwattle Lake (which was a nano novel) so I’m going to give it another shot. That will leave me more time top spend on re-working and getting feedback from critique partners before the manuscript is in the final stages of revision. Assuming this all goes to plan I should have a first draft finished by the end of March. Fingers crossed!

Daily writing is definitely part of my plan for the year. I’ve joined a Facebook group called #1000 words A Day, started by my lovely writing pal Monique McDonell, and plan on meeting the challenge. I know from experience that this word count is very doable and being part of a group that inspires and encourages is a great way to make it happen.

Apart from writing a new rural fiction novel I’m going to get back to some journal writing, one-off writing exercises and possibly some short story and poetry writing. The last few years have been focused on writing for the market and while I have enjoyed every minute of it (ok – most of it at least) it does have a way of narrowing your focus and zapping your creativity. Or at least it has for me. I’ve already resumed daily journal writing and while my hand and wrist are complaining after too long spent typing and not scribbling a pen across a page, it’s already helping me to write from a different perspective.

Another project I’d like to spend at least a few hours a week on is a more literary style novel based on a snippet I discovered a while back on my computer. It was in a folder I’d called Fragments and is nothing more than a paragraph describing a woman waking up and looking out her window but it was so strange and so unlike anything else I’ve written I’d love to see what I can do with it. Finding the creative spark that led me to write those words is going to be tricky but I think I’ll just start with it and see where it leads, writing by hand in a notebook and NOT actually planning anything for this one until a real idea starts to form. It may lead somewhere or it might not, but it will be fun to see what happens.

Along with all of the above I’ll be blogging more regularly, teaching a few workshops – the first of which, Wildwords is at The NSW Writer’s Centre on January 31 – and reading as often and as widely as I can.

Outside of writing I hope to ride my horse more, exercise more and practice kindness more mindfully.

What is in store for you in 2015, writing and otherwise?

Would love to hear from you.

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The Writing Process Blog Hop: Writers Reveal Their Process

It’s great to be taking part in this blog hop on The Writing Process.

Thanks to the lovely Alissa Callen for tagging me. If you missed Alissa’s post last week you can find it here and here’s more about Alissa:

When Alissa Callen isn’t writing she plays traffic controller to four children, three dogs, two horses and one renegade cow who really does believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Her books are characteristically heart-warming, emotional and character driven. Beneath Outback Skies, published by Random House Australia, is available now as an eBook and from May 2014 in print. Down Outback Roads, also published by Random House Australia, will be out in May as an eBook. Alissa loves to connect with readers and can be found online at her website or Facebook.

 

And now for my own responses to The Writing Process questions:

1)   What am I working on?

Since finishing my second novel, Essie’s Way (published in December 2013 by Hachette) I’ve been taking a break but it’s time to get back to the desk and start work again. I have a few vague ideas for a new novel but at this stage I’m just playing around and seeing how they develop. I’m also preparing to teach my first workshop at The NSW Writer’s Centre on February 8 (click here for more information). It’s a one day course designed as a kick start for those who want to write but don’t know where to begin.

2)   How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Both the novels I’ve had published (the first was Blackwattle Lake, also by Hachette) fall into the Rural Fiction genre. They’re set in the south east of NSW and like other novels in this broad genre the setting is an integral part of the story. I guess where my novel differ from many of the others in this genre is that they’re not Rural Romance. I concentrate more on the lives of the female protagonists, what they want to achieve in life, their past and their relationships. There are romantic elements in both novels, particularly in Essie’s Way, but romance isn’t the central focus. Essie also has a historical thread, which may be different from others in this genre.

 

3)   Why do I write what I do?

My original style of writing was more in the literary fiction line. I fell into writing Rural Fiction almost by accident, having completed it as Nano novel in November 2009 and then submitting it to the Queensland Writers Centre/Hachette Manuscript Development Program in 2011 via which it was accepted for publication. Yay! When I wrote the original draft I hadn’t heard of Rural Fiction but I decided to “write what I know” and since I have horses and spend a lot of time on the south coast of NSW, Blackwattle Lake was the result. I also wanted to write about a feisty, independent woman dealing with her past, as Eve Nicholls does in this story. I really enjoyed writing in this genre and found I was able to immerse myself in the sights and sounds of the country areas I’ve grown to love. So when it came time to write a new novel I went with the same genre, adding a historical thread and a double narrative, which I really enjoyed. I like the idea of doing something a little different with each novel so it will be interesting to see what emerges with the next one.

 

4)   How does my writing process work?

Good question! It seems to have changed with each book I’ve written. The first novel I wrote (currently unpublished) took five years and I seemed to be constantly revising parts of it. As I mentioned, Blackwattle Lake was a nano, so the first draft was written in a month and it was revised a few times over the next eighteen months or so. Essie’s Way began as a few fragments I’d written years ago and when my publisher asked me for a synopsis for a new book I hurriedly threw a few ideas together and then wrote the first draft in about four months, revising it in the following three months. It was pretty intense but I have to say that writing fast seems to work for me (you can read my guest post for Writing Novels in Australia on this method here). I’m an all or nothing kind of person and it seems to be the same for my writing – it’s either full on or zero!

 

If you’d like to connect with me:

Website: http://www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor

Twitter: @PamelaCookAU

Next week three wonderful writers share their thoughts on the writing process:

Jennifer Scoullar

Jennifer is a lapsed lawyer who has always harboured a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world. Her house is on a hill-top, overlooking valleys of messmate and mountain ash. A pair of old eagles live there too. Black-shouldered wallabies graze by the creek. Eastern Spinebills hover among the callistemon. Jennifer lives with her family on a beautiful property in the mountains, that was left to her by her father. Horses have always been her passion. She grew up on the books of Elyne Mitchell, and all her life she’s ridden and bred horses, in particular Australian Stock Horses. She has three published novels. Wasp Season (Sid Harta 2008) Brumby’s Run (Penguin 2012) and Currawong Creek (Penguin 2013) Billabong Bend will be published by Penguin in May 2014.

Website    –      http://jenniferscoullar.com/

Facebook  –     https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenScoullar

Twitter      –     https://twitter.com/JenScoullar

Monique McDonell

Monique is an Australian author who writes contemporary women’s fiction including chick lit and romance. She lives on Sydney’s Nothern Beaches with her husband and daughter, and despite her dog phobia, with a dog called Skip. Monique’s first novel Mr Right and Other Mongrels was  released as an e-book in May 2012 and a paperback in June. Hearts Afire, her second novel was released in October 2012 and Alphabet Dating in May 2013.  Building Attraction was released in late 2013 and Monique is busily working on her next flirty romance.

Website: http://moniquemcdonell.weebly.com/blog.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueMcDonellAuthor

Twitter: @MoniqueMcDonell

 

Jenn McLeod

Jenn J McLeod writes Australian contemporary fiction about friendship, family and small country towns keeping big secrets. Her Seasons Collection of four novels (with Simon & Schuster) will keep her busy until 2016 – at least!

Website: www.jennjmcleod.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JennJMcLeod.Books

Twitter: @JennJMcLeod

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A New Year Confession – What I’ve Been doing For The Last Three Months Instead Of Writing

It’s almost the end of January and I have a confession to make. It’s an embarrassing confession for someone who calls themselves a writer but here it is: I’ve done zero writing since I finished my last book way back in October. That’s three months of doing nothing. Initially I told myself that sitting around and watching re-runs of my favourite TV show was my reward for 8 months of hard work, writing and revising my second novel – and since that show is Castle and has a “writer” in it I felt even more justified!

After a month or so of watching DVD’s, along with catching up with long neglected friends and family it was time to get ready for a month-long trip away over Christmas. This trip wasn’t long in the planning so there was loads of last-minute organising to do which helped feed my procrastination even further. And besides there were still a couple of discs left in that box set I’d bought myself as a reward. After all wasn’t I studying character development, plot arc, romantic tension and back story?

November came and went and at the beginning of December my novel, Essie’s Way was released. Who can be expected to write in the face of all that excitement? Not to mention the social media responsibilities authors have these days. And Season 5!

When mid-December hit it was time to get on a plane and head to London, along with my partner and three daughters, for that white Christmas we’d been wanting for years. London, Paris and 2 weeks skiing in Austria. Sheer bliss and the perfect way to completely get away from it all and clear the head. Here’s a few of my favourite shots from the trip:

The trip was amazing! We’ve been home for almost two weeks now and of course the first week was spent unpacking and overcoming the jet lag. And now I’m running out of excuses –the box set is done and dusted, the holiday is over, my partner is back at work, my daughters, while not quite back at school are amusing themselves on Facebook and Instagram and with their horses. The only person who can’t seem to get back into some sort of routine is me.

Why is that?

Well, to answer my own question, I think it’s the same thing that has stopped me writing before: fear. You’d think once a writer has two books published that whole fear of failure/rejection would have disappeared. In some ways it does – it’s certainly validating to have your books out there on the shop shelves and it’s more than rewarding to receive messages and reviews from readers who’ve enjoyed your books. But there’s still the same of fear that you won’t be able to do it again, that the well has dried up, that you might have been lucky once or twice but that your luck has run out. And that’s where I’ve been for the last few months. Dealing with that dread and allowing myself to wallow in it.

But enough is enough.

It’s almost the end of January. It’s time to get writing again. Time to follow my own advice and write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s garbage. Let the words flow onto the page in whatever form they wish to and see what happens. Time to take action and follow the advice in my favourite quote from  Goethe:

Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.

 

It’s time to take action and begin.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts:

How has the start of your 2014 been?

Have you started a new project?

What do you do when fear takes over?

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Writers Unleashed: What Do Publishers Want?

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at the Writer’s Unleashed (aka Sutherland Shire Writers) Festival about Rural Fiction. Although the audience was small it was great to be able to chat about writing and to share what I’ve learnt with others.

Also of interest was the session on What Publishers Want, where a panel of three publishers shared what they are looking for. So today i thought I’d share some of those tips with you …

First up was Emma Rafferty from Pan Macmillan. Emma gave a very detailed talk and here are some of the points she made:

• The bottom line is that publishers want good stories that are well told
• An author who can be turned into a brand
• Someone who has written, or has the potential to write, multiple books
• A wide potential market – a book readers are willing to pay for and feel like they got their money’s worth
• An author who has the ability to market and promote their book
• Publishers are starting to approach successful indie digital authors to publish their works in print (a la 50 Shades)
• New Adult is an increasingly popular genre
• Her advice to authors submitting to the slush pile is to – follow the submission guidelines, give your cover letter a commercial flavour, a strong synopsis, a well-edited three chapters with a strong voice and evidence of a strong plot, a full bio

Beverley Cousins from Random House followed up with this:

• Putting “what a publisher wants” into words is like asking “how long is a piece of strain?” It changes throughout the year depending on what she already has on her list.
• Clever plots with an identifiable hook
• although crime fiction is a popular genre in Australia, books by australian crime writers don’t sell well
• Beverley is currently looking for historicals
• Writers need to realise publishing is  business and treat it as one – don’t say “I write as a hobby”.
• She advises writers to make sure they are clear about the genre and type of book in their submission – be clear where our book fits in

Roberta Ivers from Simon and Schuster, finished up with this advice:

• Do some research and approach a publisher who publishes the books you like or books that are similar to yours
• Write a great story
• S and S specialises in popular women’s fiction and narrative non-fiction but are not currently taking unsolicited submissions
• New Adult is the next big thing
• She likes to publish debut authors

Overall it was a very interesting panel. The main point that came through is that publishers are looking for well written, tightly edited stories from authors who understand how the business works. It all comes down to writing what you love in an authentic voice, doing your homework on who to submit to and how to do it and  of course having the determination to keep at it.

And maybe a little bit of luck!

Happy writing 🙂

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The Power Of a Deadline – How I Wrote A Novel In Six Months

I’ve been caught up in a writing whirlwind for the last 6 months – writing, revising and just this week doing a copyedit on my soon to be released second novel, Essie’s Way. It’s been one of the busiest, high-pressured times in my life but I know it will all be worth it when I hold that first copy in my hand. Over the next couple of months I’ll be writing a few posts to fill you in on the background of the novel and giving you some sneak peeks at the story.

Editing in my outdoor “office.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learnt over the last twelve months is to keep on writing. I’ve always been the type of writer who works fairly intensely for a period of time and then has a few weeks off. When Blackwattle Lake, my debut novel was published last December, I was so excited I took not just weeks but months off so when I caught up with my lovely publisher, Vanessa, sometime in February and she told me Hachette would like to publish a second novel – soon – I almost choked.

Apart from a vague outline for a sequel to Blackwattle all I had was  20,000 very rough words about two characters – an older woman and a younger one – with no plot and no notion of how the two characters were even connected. it’s truly amazing what a little – or a LOT – of pressure can do. I went home and came up with a synopsis that weekend which was accepted within a week and a deadline of just over 4 months to get the novel written.

The next few months I wrote virtually every day, churning out somewhere between 1,000 words on slower days, around 3,000 on good days and up to 5,000 on extraordinary days. Resisting the urge to revise as I went, I had the first draft done within a couple of months and then launched straight into the revision.  Thankfully I found the same thing I had a couple of years before when I completed Nanowrimo – writing fast forces you to keep moving the story forward, developing the plot.

While there were obviously some much-needed changes to be made in the revision process, along with extra character development, the plot itself remained largely the same. Then it was off to the publisher who returned it within two weeks for a structural edit. This stage was all about refining the characters  and their motivations, changing a few of the plot points that weren’t quite working and making sure that the sentences, paragraphs and chapters flowed. This took another (very busy!) three weeks or so before I once again submitted it to my editor.

Two weeks later 350 pages arrived in a package on my doorstep ready for the copyedit. This last stage was an extremely intense, stressful period. Acutely aware that this was pretty much my last chance to completely polish the manuscript I worked my way through it word by word, weighing up the editor’s comments and suggestions, making changes where I agreed (which was most of the time) and agonising when I didn’t. While it’s crucial to have the expert advice of a professional editor to make sure your novel is as good as it can be, the bottom line is that you have to be true to your vision of the story and what you’re trying to achieve. The editing process is definitely one of taking feedback on board and deciding what works for you – and the reader – and what doesn’t. Ultimately it’s all about creating a story that keeps the reader wanting more.

By the time I got to the end of the copyedit yesterday, (having spent three consecutive days in my pyjamas) I was well and truly ready to pop those pages back in the envelope and kiss them goodbye. At least for the time being – until the “first pages” are sent to me for a final proofread. I’m looking forward to seeing this (hopefully!) final version, free from the editor’s comments and my own scribbled changes, which should be in a couple of weeks time.

I’ll be even happier to see those pages inside the cover which I’ll be posting here on the blog in the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime I’ll be dressing a lot earlier in the day and tidying up my train-wreck of a house.  I’m also going to spend more time with my family, catch up with friends, attack my to-be-red pile, listen to music,  do some exercise and work on my website.

Oh, and I’ll also be pondering ideas for my next novel. While fast and furious has its advantages I wouldn’t mind taking it just a little easier the next time around.

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Writer Wednesday Interview with Barbara Hannay, Author of Home Before Sundown

This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Barbara Hannay to the blog.

Barbara is a prolific writer with over 40 books to her credit. Her most recent release is Home before Sundown.

Coming home can break your hear… or change your life

For Bella Fairburn, a girl from the bush, her new life in Europe is a dream come true – not least because of her gorgeous French ski-instructor boyfriend. But news of her beloved father’s heart attack brings Bella rushing back to Australia along with her aunt Liz, an acclaimed musician who’s been living in London for the past thirty years. While her father recuperates, Bella seizes the chance to finally prove to him that she’s perfectly capable of taking over until he recovers.

But coming home to Mullinjim is fraught with emotional danger for both Bella and Liz.  While Bella is confident she can deal with drought, the threat of bushfires, and cattle bogged in muddy dams, she fears facing her neighbour Gabe Mitchell. Gabe is the man she once hoped to marry, but he’s also the man who broke her heart. For Liz, Mullinjim holds a painful secret from her past that must never be revealed…

In the rugged beauty of the outback, new futures beckon, but Bella and Liz must first confront the heartaches of the past.

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Thanks for visiting Flying Pony Barbara. Looking forward to reading Home Before Sundown.

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1. What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

I find it important to “refill the well” and I have a few favourite ways. I love listening to music (mostly classical), visiting art galleries when I’m in the city – especially when I find paintings that ‘tell a story’. I love reading, of course and watching movies, and I try to include some poetry in my reading choices, because poets are so playful with words and insightful about emotions.

Travel to new places is important, too. But perhaps one of the most inspiring things is meeting new people and listening to conversations. Writers are terrible eavesdroppers, but we learn so much… <G>

 

2. What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

I’m very disciplined about sitting down at the computer every day, and most days I achieve my word count goal, but I will admit to being easily distracted. The internet is a worry. My friends write such interesting emails!

 

3. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

Luckily I haven’t been badly blocked very often, and I’m fortunate that my husband is always a ready ear. He’s read everything I’ve written and he understands what I’m trying to achieve, so even if he can’t provide a solution, talking to his sympathetic ear can help, as can getting out in the garden and pulling weeds (we have masses of them here in the wet tropics).

Sometimes it just takes thinking time, or re-reading one of my favourite books to get me back on track.

Experience helps. I’ve written over 40 books and so I know by now that if I have a problem, there’s probably something wrong with the basics – with my character’s goals, or lack or them, or with motivation or conflict. If those elements are right, the writing usually comes easily.

 

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

I love writing emotion, so I love writing those scenes, usually in the second half of the book, where the emotional seeds that I’ve sown will pay off. I love scenes writing brimming with conflict and emotional punch.

 

5. Which aspects do you least love (or detest!)?

I don’t enjoy writing synopses, but they’re the sorts of things editors need to help sell the book.

 

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

Oooh, there are so many, but my favourite authors of women’s fiction and romance are Rosamunde Pilcher (I love everything she’s written), Kate Morton, (The Shifting Fog, The Secret Keeper), Nora Roberts (especially her Chesapeake and Alaskan books), Susan Wiggs, Kristin Hannah, LaVryle Spencer, Jennifer Crusie…

 

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

My stories always start from an idea… a situation, usually a situation brimming with emotional ramifications: eg, a girl who discovers that the man who raised her is not her biological father (Zoe’s Muster) or a coming home to an awkward reunion (Home Before Sundown), then I work out who the characters are who are about to be plunged into this situation and what their emotional journey will be. I’m not much of a plotter, but I find that once my story’s well underway, Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat is helpful for making sure that everything’s on track.

 

8. Describe your path to publication.

I was teaching Yr 11 English and had to teach a unit of popular fiction when I discovered Mills and Boon. All my life I’d wanted to write, but I hadn’t found the medium that best suited my personality and suddenly I felt that romance and I were a match made in heaven. I had to write a romance of my own straight away. I thought it would be easy, but it took me four and a half years and four rejections before I sold my first book in 1998.

Thirteen years and thirty-nine books later, I received an email from an editor at Penguin asking me if I’d be interested in submitting to them, so a new branch of my writing life began.

 

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

Love what you’re doing and write the very best story you possibly can. With self publishing options now, the goal posts are shifting for many writers, but I still believe there’s a lot to learn from working with traditional publishers and an experienced editor. It’s not all about money. But no matter which route you take, if the stories are good enough, the money will come.

 

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Connect with Barbara:

Website: http://www.barbarahannay.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraHannayAuthor?hc_location=stream

Twitter: @BarbaraHannay

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Writer Wednesday: Heather Garside, Author of Breakaway Creek on The Writing Process

Today I’d like to welcome Heather Garside to the Blog.

 

 

Heather’s latest release Breakaway Creek is now available as an ebook and in print.

Two city women – a century apart – find love and adventure in the Queensland outback.

Two love stories; two parallel lives; two destinies.

Set in the 19th and 21st centuries, Heather Garside’s debut novel is a passionate rural romance of love and its consequences.

Shelley and Emma are separated by time but bound by a dark secret to a place called Breakaway Creek.

Betrayed by her long-term boyfriend, Shelley Blake has fled the city to return to her home town. Her interest in a photograph of her great-great-grandparents is piqued by her family’s reticence about the mystery couple, and a search for answers takes her to the cattle station Breakaway Creek.

Here she meets Luke Sherman, a man embroiled in the bitter ending of his marriage and a heart-breaking separation from his two small boys.

Shelley resists an instant attraction to Luke, as neither is ready for a new relationship.

And, while Luke struggles to reclaim his children, Shelley uncovers the truth about her ancestors, Alex and Emma.

A story of racial bigotry and a love that transcends all obstacles takes the reader back to the pioneering days of the 1890s.

 

Thanks so much for joining me on Flying Pony Heather and congratulations on Breakaway Creek.

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1.What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

Listening to music, being outdoors, reading if it’s something that inspires me emotionally. When I was younger and spent many hours on horseback, mustering, I’d use the slow times to plot my stories!

 

2. What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

I’m not particularly disciplined, unfortunately. I’ve always been erratic about applying myself to writing as my schedule varies so much with the different things I do. It just doesn’t work to try to write to a regular timetable. Once I’m ‘in the zone’, though, I’m very focussed. I’m likely to completely forget what time it is.

 

3. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

I have suffered many periods in my life when I haven’t felt like writing. I’m not sure if writers’ block is the correct term for it. If it’s really necessary to write, I think the only way forward is to force yourself to do it.

 

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

There are many things – holding a new book in my hands for the first time… receiving letters or emails from readers who say they’ve loved my story… interacting with other writers… seeing my new cover for the first time… the list goes on.

 

 

 

 

5.Which aspects do least love (or detest!)?

The times when I just don’t want to write! I’m also very sensitive about self-promotion as I’m always afraid of annoying people or of seeming too pushy.

 

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

 As a teenager I devoured westerns, which I’m sure has influenced my historical stories set in Australia. Then I discovered Georgette Heyer and fell in love with the romance genre. There were all the horse books, too, such as Mary O’Hara’s My Friend Flicka series which I absolutely loved and must read again one day.

 

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

I don’t have any mapped-out process. My first two novels weren’t pre-plotted at all, but I did plot my second two. I’m having trouble with the plotting process of my current WIP and I really need to apply myself to it! One thing I do is lots of revisions and re-writing as I’m a bit of a perfectionist.

 

8. Describe your path to publication.

 I finished my first novel at the age of twenty-one and after submitting to numerous publishers, including one who said they’d very nearly accepted it, I self-published. I started another novel immediately but having my children got in the way and I didn’t write for many years. In 2007 The Cornstalk was accepted by Wings ePress, A Hidden Legacy a few months later.

I submitted to mainstream publishers again with Breakaway Creek and had the full manuscript requested a couple of times. I entered it in the QWC/Hachette Manuscript Development Program and was thrilled to be a finalist. All the time I was improving the story and it was finally accepted by Clan Destine Press late last year.

 

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

Keep writing, keep learning by attending workshops, writers’ conferences… whatever is available. Join a writers’ group or online critique group. I’ve done all of these things. The information is so much more accessible, thanks to the internet, than it was when I first started writing.

Most of all, keep an open mind and be prepared to accept constructive criticism. I’ve seen some writers who will never progress because they refuse to change a word of their writing! I know it can be difficult but accepting and appreciating critiques and editing is another skill that has to be learned.

 

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Connect with Heather:

Website: http://www.heathergarside.com

Buy Breakaway Creek:

http://clandestinepress.com.au/content/breakaway-creek

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Writer Wednesday: YA Fantasy Author Wanda Wiltshire, Author of Betrothed on The Writing Process

This week I welcome to the blog Young Adult Fantasy author

Wanda Wiltshire.

Wanda Wiltshire celebrates the launch of Betrothed.

I first met Wanda when she walked into a Creative Writing class I was teaching a few years ago. She was writing her first novel at that stage, having had an epiphany that she was meant to be a writer … but I won’t say any more, I’ll let her tell that story.

That novel she was writing was Betrothed which was published last week by Pantera Press.

Even if you’re not a YA or Fantasy reader this book will have you hooked from page one!

T

he first in an enchanting faery series by Wanda Wiltshire

Amy Smith has always known she was different. Severe allergies, fragile health and taunts at school have made life an endurance test for the adopted seventeen year old.

When Amy starts having strange dreams, everything changes. Night after night, she becomes trapped in a shroud of black – a void of silence but for a male voice calling for a girl named ‘Marla’.

One night, the darkness clears, Leif is revealed and Amy discovers that she is the girl he has been searching for.

Immediately the two are swept up in a passionate yet forbidden love. Leif isn’t like the other boys Amy knows. Breathtakingly gorgeous, he speaks with her telepathically … not to mention, he can fly …

Desperate to find a way to be with her, Leif tells Amy of the terrifying threat to his Fae homeland, the danger to the people, and of an unforgivable betrayal to his King. He urges her to seek her true identity…. But Amy is confused… isn’t it all just a dream?

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Thanks for visiting Flying Pony Wanda, and congrats on Betrothed!

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1. What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

Reading for starters – there’s nothing like a good book to get me excited about my own writing. Getting into nature is great too, particularly when there’s no one else around. I can imagine all kinds of amazing things when I’m surrounded by rainforest or strolling along a quiet stretch of beach.

2. What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

A bit of everything really. When I’m feeling highly creative, it’s nothing for me to start at 5 or 6am and be at the computer til midnight. At these times I have this wondrous ability to ignore all else around me – family, mess, the eight year old attempting to cook his own dinner! But when it comes to editing I’m not nearly so driven and find myself easily distracted – usually by twitter or Facebook!

3. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

I don’t know whether it could be classed as writers block, but I have had scenarios where I need to get from point A to point C but I have no idea what point B is. When that happens I usually pick up a novel or pray or both. The problem always sorts itself out soon enough.

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

That initial purge of story to page is magical, especially when the words seem to flow so effortlessly from your mind that your fingers can barely keep up! I just love that. I rarely get enough sleep at those times. I also love getting together with other writers, visiting writer’s festivals, listening to other authors – all those things are gold. I get such a thrill from them.

5. Which aspects do you least love (or detest!)?

There is nothing I dislike about writing, but there are aspects that are more challenging than others. Editing those awful and thankfully rare paragraphs that no amount of tampering seem able to fix is top of the list. That’s where having wonderful writer friends comes in handy – usually I’ve only to hand the problem over for it to be soon resolved.

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

I think a writer takes something from every book he or she reads – the good and the bad. It’s almost as though each book possesses a specific lesson – what to do, what not to do. In very different ways a few of the authors I have learnt from are Jane Austen, Anne Rice, Melina Marchetta and Stephanie Meyer.

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

The idea for my first book Betrothed was the answer to a prayer – literally. When it came to me, I simply parked myself in front of the computer and started writing. At the end of each scene I would ask myself this question: What happens next? Occasionally I would come up against one of those pesky, ‘point A don’t know how to get to point C scenarios’, in which case prayer never failed to reveal point B. After I wrote ‘the end’ on my first book, I filed it away and started work on my second. When I wrote ‘the end’ on that, I took Betrothed out and gave it a good edit before handing it to a couple of friends to read and make suggestions. After taking into account their suggestions, I did still more editing before giving it to my fabulous writing teacher to read and edit. From there it was just a matter of further edits to whip Betrothed into the shape it’s in today!

8. Describe your path to publication.

Around three years after I started writing, I began to think that I should attempt to get Betrothed published. I sent some feelers out in the form of some very substandard letters to a couple of very inappropriate agents. I expected nothing and I received nothing.  Soon after that I was in the backyard, hanging out the washing and talking to God all at the same time. “God,” I said. “I just don’t know where to go or what to do with Betrothed. You know I’m hopeless at approaching people – you know I have no confidence. If I can’t even get started, then how am I ever going to get my book published? I need a sign. Give me a sign that it’s all going to work out.”

At that precise moment and for absolutely no reason, I looked down. The ground was covered in dew and great patches of slug eaten clover. Amongst all that mess was a perfect four leaf clover staring right at me. “It’s a sign,” I cried. I took the clover to my writing class that night and told them the story. “It’s a sign.” they all cried – “something amazing is going to happen.” “I know,” I said, and it did. The next morning my husband came home from work and told me that he’d bumped into a colleague he didn’t often see called Baz Radburn. Baz told Kevin he’d recently had a book published and he was having a launch at Dymocks in George Street in two week’s time. Baz invited us along and after hearing I was a writer, said he’d be happy to introduce me to his publisher, Alison Green from Pantera press. A few months later I was offered a contract.

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

Most important – don’t send your manuscript out too early. You only get one crack at each agent/publisher. Make sure your writing is as tight as you can possibly make it. Give it to a few trusted writer friends to read and comment on. If you don’t have writer friends, join a group and get some – they are invaluable and a lot of fun too! Consider every bit of feedback given you. Even if you don’t agree, the fact that something has been picked up is reason enough to take a closer look – especially if the same thing has been picked up by more than one person. After all that, pay a professional to edit your manuscript. Finally, send it off with a kiss and a prayer! Worked for me!

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Connect with Wanda:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/wandawiltshireauthor?fref=ts

Twitter: @Wanda_Wiltshire

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Writer Wednesday: Jennifer Scoullar, Author of Currawong Creek, on Creativity and The Writing Process

Today I’d like to welcome to the blog Rural Fiction Author, Jennifer Scoullar.

Jennifer’s second novel, Currawong Creek has just been released. 

Isn’t the cover gorgeous?

 

 

Heartfelt and passionate rural romance from the bestselling author of Brumby’s Run.

‘When Brisbane lawyer Clare Mitchell finds herself the unlikely guardian of a small troubled boy, her ordered life is turned upside down. In desperation, she takes Jack to stay at Currawong Creek, her grandfather’s horse stud in the foothills of the beautiful Bunya Mountains.

Being at Currawong takes some getting used to, but it also feels like coming home. Her grandad adores having them there. Jack falls in love with the animals, his misery banished and Clare finds herself falling hard for the kind, handsome local vet.

But trouble is coming, in the form of the Pyramid Mining Company. Trouble that threatens to destroy not only Clare’s newfound happiness, but also the livelihoods of her new neighbours, and the peace and beauty of the land she loves.’

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 Thanks so much for visiting Flying Pony Jennifer and Congratulations on the release of Currawong Creek.

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1.      What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

Reading, definitely. Reading cross-pollinates the imagination.  I always have both a fiction and non-fiction book on the go. Currently I’m reading The Grapes Of Wrath by John Steinbeck, and My Droving Days by Peter and Shirley Moore. Apart from reading, riding my horse, gardening and walking are great inspirations.

2.     What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

My writing routine is a bit of a hotch-potch. I’m disciplined in that I write every day, pretty much without fail. But when and for how long, depends on what else is going on. And I’d struggle to write more than a thousand words, even on a good day. Other people’s daily word counts amaze me! When I do write I’m quite focused, apart from the normal distractions of  email, Twitter and Facebook of course. Writing is a lonely game though, and social media stops me from feeling isolated.

3.     Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

I don’t believe in writer’s block. A traveler who doesn’t know what road to take doesn’t announce she has traveler’s block. She just says she’s lost. I think it’s the same for writers. If I run out of words, it’s because the story has a problem. I may have written myself into a corner, for example. Then I’ll read, and allow another imagination to spark off my own. Someone famous once said show me a writer that’s not reading, and I’ll show you a writer that’s not writing. And I think the more you worry that you have writer’s block, the more paralysed you will become. So I’ll rearrange my plot and forge on without being too self-critical. I’ll have to rewrite anyway.  Justice Louis Brandeis said way back in 1896, “There is no great writing, only great rewriting.” And I always try to remember that the worst thing I write, is going to be way better than the best thing, that I don’t.

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

I love the writing process – the rhythm of the prose, the pleasure of getting a sentence just right and the way that everything happens exactly the way I want it to in my imaginary world. Being a bit of a loner, the solitary nature of writing suits me. Second drafts are my absolute favourites. For me, A first draft is like manufacturing a canvas. The real work can only begin once it’s complete. That said, there’s something very liberating about writing that first draft, when all possibilities are still on the table.

5. Which aspects do you least love (or detest!)?

Structural edits!

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

My earliest and most defining influence was Elyne Mitchell and her Silver Brumby series. Nancy Cato’s All The River’s Run, Henry Handel Richardson’s The Fortunes Of Richard Mahony and Ruth Park’s The Harp In The South are great favourites. Among contemporary Australian authors I particularly love Helene Young, Nicole Alexander and Andrea Goldsmith. I adore John Steinbeck … and the great nature writers of course. Walden by Paul Theroux for example, and Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey.

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

A new idea will be brewing while I’m writing my current manuscript. I always give myself a month or so in between finishing one and starting another, to let the story percolate. In a valiant attempt to be a plotter, I write as many plot points as I can down on index cards, and put them into some kind of order. They go up on my cork board, and I try to organise them into a three act structure. After that I launch into the story. I write in a linear fashion, from start to finish, and my organised plot goes out the window.

I’ve tried writing programs, like Scrivener, but always come back to Word. When the first draft is finished, I have a break to get some distance from the story and then begin my favourite bit – the second draft. Publishing deadlines always catch up with me here, but I usually have time for a final third draft polish before I submit to my publisher.

 8. Describe your path to publication.

I submitted a manuscript to a small Melbourne publisher in 2008. They published Wasp Season, and on the strength of that success, I snagged myself an agent – Fran Moore of Curtis Brown. My big break came at the 2011 RWA conference. I pitched Brumby’s Run to Belinda Byrne of Penguin, and within eight weeks I had a contract.

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

– Work on your craft. Read a lot. Be persistent. Don’t compare yourself unfavourably to other writers. Comparisons in any field can act as sabotage, and no more so than with creative writing.

– Research the publishing industry. Join your state writer’s centre. Join a writing group.

– Most importantly, follow your passions. A good writer, writes from the heart. If  you truly believe that your story must be told, that passion will come through the pages and grip us, as readers. We’ll care about your characters, suffer with them, hate them and love them. So my best advice is to honour your convictions, whatever they may be. Let them power your story. Let them challenge your readers, and make your story worth the telling. Care a lot about the subject of your writing, and it will show. Publishers want  to see that emotion on the page.

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Connect with Jennifer:

Website: http://jenniferscoullar.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenScoullar

Twitter: @pilyara

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Writer Wednesday: Rural Fiction Author Mandy Magro on Creativity and The Writing Process

After a short break Writer Wednesday is back and this week I’m talking to the lovely Mandy Magro.

Mandy’s latest release Flame Tree Hill is receiving rave reviews. Here’s a peek:

Kirsty Mitchell is ready to come home. After a tragic accident that left her scarred, she fled overseas. Now, three years later, she’s finally returning to Flame Tree Hill, her beloved family farm. But at twenty-five Kirsty isn’t prepared for the terrifying new challenge ahead: breast cancer. Kirsty’s never been a quitter and that’s not about to change. But can her budding romance with local vet Aden bear the strain? As she battles with chemotherapy and as her past threatens to overwhelm her, Kirsty realises you can never take anything – or anyone – for granted. Drawing strength from her family and the beauty of Far North Queensland, Kirsty finally understands what she must do.

“A lyrical and heart-warming testament to the power of love – and forgiveness.”

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Sounds like we need the tissues on hand!

Thanks for being my gurest on Flying Pony, Mandy.

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1.What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

There are many activities I enjoy, outside of my writing, but the things I get the most pleasure from and which get my creativeness flowing are rodeos and country music. Also, just being out in the paddock with the horses is inspiring, and relaxing. I adore spending time with such magnificent creatures. And I can’t go past cooking either, which people who have read my books will have noticed I always seem to have a fair bit of cooking going on in them. I love shopping for food, cooking food and eating food!

2. What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

My writing time is “whenever I can.” I don’t set exact times on exact days as that wouldn’t work in with my everyday responsibilities, and would just end up irritating me because I couldn’t stick to the schedule. I like to put the least amount of pressure I can on myself when it comes to my writing, which is why I enjoy it so very much!

3.Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

I haven’t suffered from writers block, but I do find when there is a lot happening in my life I can’t focus enough to write. It is these times that I allow myself some time out so that when I hit the keyboard again I am ready and raring to get on with it. I can also get some very “lightening bolt” ideas when I’m having time out too, which is wonderful!

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

I absolutely adore the fact I can work in my PJ’s all day long, there’s not many jobs that allow you to do that! It’s also very exciting to be able to create stories that can touch people’s hearts in so many different ways, and I love hearing from my readers and connecting with them through social media. I’ve made some very special mates along my writer’s journey. J

5. Which aspects do least love (or detest!)?

I would have to say the editing…it can be a very emotionally charged time. J

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

Certainly the rural romance genre has been the biggest influence on my writing. Rachael Treasure’s novel, Jillaroo, is what inspired me to put pen to paper. I still remember lying in bed reading, which is where most of my reading is done, and running my hand over the cover of Jillaroo thinking “I wish I could be a published author one day”

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

I’m a panster when it comes to writing, so I don’t really have an actual process, as such. I normally come up with a title for the novel firstly, and then the characters follow on from there, evolving into whatever they want to be along the course of the storyline.  Of course I have the basic outline of the story and the black moment in my head, but generally that changes along the way, as the characters become three dimensional on the page. Sometimes I feel as thought they are narrating the story to me, and I’m just the typist! From here, the manuscript is then put through the usual editing process, and this is where I normally have a slight meltdown as I take on-board all my editor’s notes.

8. Describe your path to publication.

I’m very passionate about the country way of life and love reading novels by rural authors. I’ve had amazing experiences in the outback and met some memorable Aussie characters along the way. From being a camp cook at Tobermorey station, helping behind the chutes at rodeos, to being a fruit farmer, all these aspects of my life came together and helped me to write my very first novel which was of course threaded with a beautiful love story.

My journey into the publishing world was fantastic. I had a finished manuscript after six months of solid writing and within three months I had a two-book contract with Penguin. I’m so happy to have been signed by Penguin, they’ve been so supportive and have believed in me every step of the way. They gave me the opportunity to step through the publishing door and I will be forever grateful. I am now with Harlequin Australia. They’re a very encouraging bunch and I feel extremely blessed to be welcomed into such a wonderful close-knit team. 

 

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

Don’t ever give up on your dream of writing. Remember, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more. Breathe your writing, live it, love it. Write as much and as often as you can, even if it feels like you are babbling at the time. It will put your creative ideas in motion. This in turn will drive you to write more, to feel the passion of your unique craft. Be true, write about things that you have experienced and really mean something to you as this will be what appeals to your readers. Reach out to other authors, most of them will be happy to answer any questions you have. Surf the net; it will connect you with people who will support you, especially for those of us in remote areas. Read read read! Other writer’s works will inspire you. Never give up, be brave, be driven, be fearless, believe in yourself-you can do it!

Thanks for having me, Pamela. It’s been fun chatting with you.

Keep smiling and dreaming,

Mandy J

Connect with Mandy:

www.mandymagro.com

www.facebook.com/mandymagroauthor

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