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Now Ye're Talking - to a Professional Writer

  • 21-02-2018 10:20am
    #1
    Boards.ie: Niamh
    Boards.ie Employee Posts: 12,597 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Boards.ie Community Manager


    Elizabeth Rose Murray writes fiction for children and young adults. In 2014, Elizabeth signed two book deals with two different publishers, resulting in three books published in her first twelve months as an author. Her debut, 'The Book of Learning – Nine Lives Trilogy 1' was chosen as the 2016 Dublin UNESCO Citywide Read for Children and 'The Book of Shadows – Nine Lives Trilogy 2' was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards & Irish Literacy Association Award. Caramel Hearts was published in 2016 to rave reviews and 'The Book of Revenge – Nine Lives Trilogy 3' was released just last week.

    In addition to these, Elizabeth writes short fiction and poetry, and her work has appeared in journals across the UK and Ireland. She also provides manuscript reports and online workshops.

    If you have any questions about writing as a profession or a hobby, about her books or other writing, now is your chance to ask.

    How can I? User's guide to some features on the new site



«1

Comments

  • #2
    baby and crumble
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,512 ✭✭✭baby and crumble


    Great idea for a thread, I'm one of those folks who think "oh yeah, I'll write a book at some stage" like it's that easy. :rolleyes:

    I write a lot for work though, and I struggle with getting into "the zone" of writing. Do you have any tips for concentration that you particularly do? What's your daily writing routine?

    Oh, and I've always wondered how contracts for books work, like do you get the money in a cheque so you have quite a high bank balance for ages until in dwindles, etc... or is it like a weekly stipend? Probably a silly question.


  • #3
    CruelCoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭CruelCoin


    Hi Elizabeth.

    What is the deal with George R. R. Martin? How can his writing output be so slow?

    What style of writer are you?
    Ciggarette and typewriter, or pumpkin-spice-latte-on-a-mac-in-starbucks


  • #4
    gerrybbadd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭gerrybbadd


    Thanks for doing this Elizabeth.

    I've recently started writing myself. I'm 5,200 words into my story. Have the whole thing plotted out in my head. The problem is, I'm not sure my style of writing is very interesting. The language could be a bit bland.

    Have you any advice for writers starting out? How did you go about getting published? I'm considering going down the Amazon self publishing route, but I feel this may be a cop out of sorts.


  • #5
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    baby and crumble wrote: »
    Do you have any tips for concentration that you particularly do? What's your daily writing routine?

    Oh, and I've always wondered how contracts for books work, like do you get the money in a cheque so you have quite a high bank balance for ages until in dwindles, etc... or is it like a weekly stipend? Probably a silly question.

    Hi there! If you want to write a book one day, i say go for it. we can never have too many books - and like anything else, it takes time to build skills.

    In terms of concentration, I genuinely love writing so I find it really easy to get going and can concentrate for a long time. I used to write every day and work towards a goal of 2000 words a day to build up 'muscle' (concentration, habit, productivity) but now it's so ingrained, I don't need to be so rigid. Over time, my process has changed eg I used to write in silence but now i'm trying to introduce more music into part of the day to make writing less isolating.

    But for getting started I would say: 1) give yourself a set amount of time to write every day (even 15 minutes helps form a habit) 2) give yourself a daily goal (eg 1000 words, 30 minutes of writing, a page of something new and a page of something edited) & stick to it 3) Write without distraction (no music, tv, internet, radio).

    In terms of the contract, you receive an advance usually paid in three stages - on signing the contract, on delivering the manuscript, on the manuscript being published. So, if you receive an advance of 5000 euro, you would receive it in three installments over the period of a year or to (depending on how quickly the book is to be published). Also, 15% goes to your agent. Then, when the book is published, you start to earn off your advance before you get royalties. The royalty check is once a year and you only receive royalties once you have paid off your advance.

    Does this help?


  • #6
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    CruelCoin wrote: »
    Hi Elizabeth.

    What is the deal with George R. R. Martin? How can his writing output be so slow?

    What style of writer are you?
    Ciggarette and typewriter, or pumpkin-spice-latte-on-a-mac-in-starbucks

    Re George R R Martin, his books are very dense and huge and the world building is a crucial element - one slip and the whole premise falls down. I'm amazed he writes so quickly at all!

    Re my own writing, I'm more a ten cups of tea on a MAC on a train/in an airport. :cool: Travel is crucial to my writing - I thrive on change!


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  • #7
    Mousewar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,741 ✭✭✭Mousewar


    I wrote a book three years ago. Sent it out to agents. One of them signed me. He sent it to publishers. Lovely rejections letters back. No takers. Agent dropped me then quite suddenly. Found the whole thing quite deflating.
    How did you get signed? Did you get an agent first? Did it take long? Did it take long then for a publisher to take you on? Did you have any 'ins' to the industry? Did you do anything special to get your book noticed?


  • #8
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    gerrybbadd wrote: »
    Thanks for doing this Elizabeth.

    I've recently started writing myself. I'm 5,200 words into my story. Have the whole thing plotted out in my head. The problem is, I'm not sure my style of writing is very interesting. The language could be a bit bland.

    Have you any advice for writers starting out? How did you go about getting published? I'm considering going down the Amazon self publishing route, but I feel this may be a cop out of sorts.

    Hi Gerry, you're very welcome. Well done on writing the first 5000 words of your novel! :D

    My advice would be for now, don't worry about the quality of language, just keep going and get that story out of your head and onto the page. It's like being a sculptor - you've got to prepare the clay before you can mould it. Once you have your first draft, the real work starts. All good writing is rewriting - but this is a great thing! It's when you can play with the dialogue, the language, the style. if you do that too early, you might cut it out anyway and all that time spent on beautiful prose is wasted!

    Also, don't be surprised if what's in your head starts to change on the page - this is natural and can lead to some great plot twists or characters. If it deviates too far, you can always clean it up later. For now, concentrate on getting your first draft down, enjoy the process, and keep up the motivation – attend some writing courses, make some fellow writer friends, go to some events at festivals.

    Then, when you complete your first draft, put the manuscript away for a month, print it out and reread as a reader - you'll see plot holes and character inconsistencies, but shaping them is an enjoyable process. Everyone is different but i'm usually on at least draft four of a complete novel (85,000 to 100,000 words) before i even show it to my agent. and i don't worry about typos until the very final stages – it's all about getting the story and characters right first.

    Re publishing, I chose the traditional route but many writers start out self publishing (eg Catherine Ryan Howard, Hazel Gaynor) or choose to self publish only. if you self publish, you still need several drafts, an editor, a cover designer, etc. The quality should be just as high, but you pay the costs (and receive a bigger share of the royalties). You have time to research while writing your book. Either way, it's a longer journey than you might expect, but if you keep it all about the writing, you'll love it.

    I hope that helps and good luck!


  • #9
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Mousewar wrote: »
    I wrote a book three years ago. Sent it out to agents. One of them signed me. He sent it to publishers. Lovely rejections letters back. No takers. Agent dropped me then quite suddenly. Found the whole thing quite deflating.
    How did you get signed? Did you get an agent first? Did it take long? Did it take long then for a publisher to take you on? Did you have any 'ins' to the industry? Did you do anything special to get your book noticed?

    I'm sorry to hear you've had such a disheartening experience, but genuinely, every writer I know has gone through several similar stories until they get published so keep going and keep hope! And good for you getting good rejections - that's such a great sign.

    Firstly, let me tell you this... The Book of Learning - Nine Lives Trilogy 1 came close with a major publishing house but in the end it was a no deal. There was no point continuing with the story if it wasn't going to be published, so I put it aside and wrote another book. I decided that it might be the book that got me my agent and therefore, time to continue on. When this next book, Caramel Hearts, went on submission, I reread the first and we (myself and my agent) decided to send it back on submission to different publishers. This was two years later and it got signed right away. So what I'm saying is, don't give up hope.

    So many issues come into play with book deals - marketing, balance with other books on the list, timing, finance, style, other publications due – e.g. is the book similar to another, more famous author? If yes, it would be unfair to pitch against each other. It's very subjective and you might have written the best book ever, but if the publisher doesn't think they can sell it, they'll pass (think of the Harry Potter scenario!). This certainly happened to me a few times.

    The only thing you can control is the writing. Have you written more books? Have you tried a new agent? I don't think there are any in's into the industry other than continuous hard work and improving your craft. I spent two years solid on a book before i secured an agent, then we worked for another year before submitting. The whole time i was writing and submitting short stories, attending festivals and workshops, using social media to meet like-minded people and over time, I saw many people achieve their dream of getting published. The one thing that everyone had in common was this: they didn't give up – and they could say hand on heart that even if they still hadn't signed a deal, they would keep going.

    I understand your experience will have been a knock, but keep on writing, give it the dedication and time it needs and enjoy the process and I believe you'll get there eventually. Good luck! :)


  • #10
    nozzferrahhtoo
    Registered Users Posts: 9,348 ✭✭✭nozzferrahhtoo


    I read the BFG to my 6 year old girl, then at 7 I have been reading her the "Rose" novels, Harry Potter, a wonderful book I recommend to everyone called "Seraphina and the Black Cloak".

    And I am noticing, especially reading the marketing blurb for your own books, that the main character(s) being Orphaned is a major theme in Children's literature.

    Why do you think this is such a go-to starting point for a lot of authors? Given the quality of the books I have listed above, it generally seems to work well, but I am wondering why that might be.


  • #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Hi - were you working at something else before writing books full time, if so what did you do and how did you decide to make the move over to writing full time?


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  • #12
    Ave Sodalis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,555 ✭✭✭Ave Sodalis


    How do you keep a consistent writing style over a series of books (such as your trilogy)?

    For example, a book series I read has 6 books in the original series and when you open them, you can tell straight away from the writing style what books they are. However, a 7th book was released a few years after the last book of the original series was published and it just didn't have the same "feel" to it.

    Since you wrote a different book after the first book of your trilogy, how did you get back into the trilogy and not have a different style of writing?


  • #13
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    nozzferrahhtoo wrote: »
    I read the BFG to my 6 year old girl, then at 7 I have been reading her the "Rose" novels, Harry Potter, a wonderful book I recommend to everyone called "Seraphina and the Black Cloak".

    And I am noticing, especially reading the marketing blurb for your own books, that the main character(s) being Orphaned is a major theme in Children's literature.

    Why do you think this is such a go-to starting point for a lot of authors? Given the quality of the books I have listed above, it generally seems to work well, but I am wondering why that might be.

    The majority of Disney movies before Pixar came along were based on orphan characters as well. Be interested to see if there’s a story-telling reason.


  • #14
    Sirsok
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,803 ✭✭✭Sirsok


    Thanks for doing this. I find it hard to finish my stories, mainly script writing, I could have a six episode arc, and find in the final third im rushing or dont have enough to fill it. I have the start middle and end, its just the build up to the end that kills my motivation and I start thinking about the next prohect. Any tips on how you stay focused on the one story?


  • #15
    GLaDOS
    Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 23,228 Mod ✭✭✭✭GLaDOS


    At what age did you start writing for yourself? (ie not school assignments etc)

    Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test



  • #16
    Mr. Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,798 ✭✭✭Mr. Incognito


    Did you attend workshops or network with other writers or did you very much go solo on the whole thing


  • #17
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    nozzferrahhtoo wrote: »
    I read the BFG to my 6 year old girl, then at 7 I have been reading her the "Rose" novels, Harry Potter, a wonderful book I recommend to everyone called "Seraphina and the Black Cloak".

    And I am noticing, especially reading the marketing blurb for your own books, that the main character(s) being Orphaned is a major theme in Children's literature.

    Why do you think this is such a go-to starting point for a lot of authors? Given the quality of the books I have listed above, it generally seems to work well, but I am wondering why that might be.

    You're right - well spotted! It is common for middle grade books to have protagonists that are orphans and the reason is twofold – 1) it gives the characters depth (we relate to difficult situations and loss at all ages) and 2) it allows for adventures. If you have a fantasy or adventure story, the parents would stop all the fun - they'd ground the kids, or take their wands off them, make them go to bed instead of running around on Dublin rooftops at 2am, and it would hinder the action.


  • #18
    c.p.w.g.w
    Registered Users Posts: 4,994 ✭✭✭c.p.w.g.w


    Misread the Title as "Professional Wrestler" and got excited...:(


  • #19
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    glasso wrote: »
    Hi - were you working at something else before writing books full time, if so what did you do and how did you decide to make the move over to writing full time?

    This is another great question! I have had various careers including primary school teacher and lead writer for the world's biggest poker company and i've lived in various countries so I'm used to change.

    I was writing while working and over time, had short stories published in journals and shortlisted in competitions and I tried my hand at writing a full length novel. t was terrible (and binned) but I loved it and felt incredible satisfaction. I decided to save money while honing my writing - lots of submissions, lots of workshops and festivals – and then I set up as freelance and took the leap. I moved to West Cork and worked before and after work at my books - it took two more years to get a book deal so i supported myself through freelance.

    I still freelance now and I earn my living through events and festivals, creative writing workshops, reader reports, social media clients, and technical writing. I do earn royalties from my books bit not enough to live on,but i enjoy the variety that each day brings.

    Is this something you're thinking of doing? I'd be happy to answer further questions if it will help!


  • #20
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    c.p.w.g.w wrote: »
    Misread the Title as "Professional Wrestler" and got excited...:(

    hahahaha - maybe i could give it a go and call it research?


  • #21
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Ave Sodalis wrote: »
    How do you keep a consistent writing style over a series of books (such as your trilogy)?

    For example, a book series I read has 6 books in the original series and when you open them, you can tell straight away from the writing style what books they are. However, a 7th book was released a few years after the last book of the original series was published and it just didn't have the same "feel" to it.

    Since you wrote a different book after the first book of your trilogy, how did you get back into the trilogy and not have a different style of writing?

    The story is so real in my head, it was easy to fall back into the same style, even after writing another book that was completely different. I did make life difficult for myself by not making enough notes about the world I'd built, so when I wrote The Book of Shadows, I had to reread The Book of Learning; something I promised myself I would never do, seeing as you can't change anything at that point and you'll always find things you can improve upon!

    However, it turned out to be a good exercise because i could see where I'd developed as a writer. Sometimes, like with the instance you describe, a writer can develop so much in their own writing style that it can come across as a different voice. I don't think I'd be brave enough to do more than three books in a series.


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  • #22
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Sirsok wrote: »
    Thanks for doing this. I find it hard to finish my stories, mainly script writing, I could have a six episode arc, and find in the final third im rushing or dont have enough to fill it. I have the start middle and end, its just the build up to the end that kills my motivation and I start thinking about the next prohect. Any tips on how you stay focused on the one story?

    This is so common so don't worry! It's difficult to keep motivated when you've held the story in your head for so long - our ideas are bigger and faster than our typing.

    The way I get round it is I write really fast first drafts (I call them draft zero because they're so terrible) and this means 50,000 words in 30 days. Although the draft really is awful, it means I have a full-length manuscript to work from and the best writing is rewriting. So keep going and try to get to that finish line, then put it in a drawer for a month before reworking it.

    Some ideas to stay motivated:
    • Long walks - they really help you switch off from the inner critic and also help you iron out problems and by the time you're sat down, you're raring to go
    • Small goals - even promising yourself half an hour or 500 words means progress and usually leads to more
    • Write out of sync – add scenes from future parts of the book, or lists you can write out later, or even write the end; you don't have to work chronologically and it can help you flesh out your story when you have scenes to link together
    • Write a one-line pitch for your script and check now and again to see whether you're on track. It can be helpful to remind you why you started the project in the first place
    • Make a soundtrack - this is something new I'm trying but it makes sitting at the desk more pleasurable and distracts the inner critic.

    Hope this helps!


  • #23
    weldoninhio
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,311 ✭✭✭✭weldoninhio


    I’ve only recently started writing again after many years. Did a poem over the summer for a local competition and got shortlisted and published in a local anthology. Where would I find other poetry competitions? I’ve no idea where to look or what to be entering. I wouldn’t mind progressing onto short stories also, but I’ve no idea where to start.


  • #24
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    GLaDOS wrote: »
    At what age did you start writing for yourself? (ie not school assignments etc)

    I fell in love with poetry when I was about seven years old and I began writing back then. I loved writing epic poems and short stories that filled entire notebooks. I had a poem published when i was eighteen, but then life took over - school, work, making a living. I grew up in a poor family and didn't even consider writing as an option – I knew I wouldn't be able to support myself.

    I only returned to writing when I was about thirty and living in Spain; the internet had become widespread then and it opened up a world of access to authors, journals etc and meant I could submit my work and chat to like-minded aspiring writers at the same level.

    Moving to Ireland was when I realised it might be something I could do for real - it was a real eye opener and life-changing. And by this time, I'd also had lots of different careers and built up skills to be able to create a life where i could work and write and attend festivals. People ask would i change it if i could go back in time and start writing earlier, but no - I wouldn't have had the necessary skills.


  • #25
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Mr. Incognito wrote: »
    Did you attend workshops or network with other writers or did you very much go solo on the whole thing

    I think it's so important that you find your tribe and that you build your skills - writing can be pretty solitary and like anything, you need friendly support at times. At my recent launch, I did a Q&A and one of the big topics was how supportive writers are towards each other; people certainly helped me along the way, eg introductions to people, links to competitions, etc and I will always do the same. Its amazing to see other people's successes and to celebrate them.

    I've attended lots of workshops and conferences and festivals and continue to do so, as well as teach at them. I recently did Sinead Gleeson's class on the essay, and last year I attended a Wanderlust travel writing workshop. It's all about acquiring new skills, seeing from a different perspective. I don't believe that once you publish a book you're an expert - we should always be learning and changing. I can't recommend the literary festivals in Ireland highly enough, or workshops like those at The Big Smoke Writing Factory, Inkwell Writers and the Irish Writers Centre.


  • #26
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    weldoninhio wrote: »
    I’ve only recently started writing again after many years. Did a poem over the summer for a local competition and got shortlisted and published in a local anthology. Where would I find other poetry competitions? I’ve no idea where to look or what to be entering. I wouldn’t mind progressing onto short stories also, but I’ve no idea where to start.

    Congratulations on getting your poem shortlisted and published - that's an amazing achievement. And welcome back to the writing world! :cool:

    There are various places to check out writing competitions. My favourites are:

    https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/
    http://paulmcveigh.blogspot.ie/
    https://www.writing.ie/
    https://angelatcarr.wordpress.com/

    They each list comprehensive submissions to journals, competitions etc and writing.ie also has lots of writing related articles. Good luck!


  • #27
    weldoninhio
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,311 ✭✭✭✭weldoninhio


    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA wrote: »
    Congratulations on getting your poem shortlisted and published - that's an amazing achievement. And welcome back to the writing world! :cool:

    There are various places to check out writing competitions. My favourites are:

    https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/
    http://paulmcveigh.blogspot.ie/
    https://www.writing.ie/
    https://angelatcarr.wordpress.com/

    They each list comprehensive submissions to journals, competitions etc and writing.ie also has lots of writing related articles. Good luck!

    Thanks a mil.


  • #28
    gozunda
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,996 ✭✭✭✭gozunda


    Hi there. Long question short ...

    Do you commit to having the structure of a story before starting to write or allow the story line / structure to evolve as you write?


  • #29
    HalloweenJack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,258 ✭✭✭HalloweenJack


    Hiya, fascinating topic for an AMA as I'm trying to dedicate more time to writing and developing my stories.

    It's interesting that you were living in Spain when you went for it as I'm also there and 30 is around the corner.

    Was it possible to get in touch with agents from Spain? Do you still live there?

    Also, do you know anything about self-publishing?

    Thanks for taking the time to do this.


  • #30
    addicted to caffeine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,517 ✭✭✭addicted to caffeine


    Hi Elizabeth:) thanks for doing this AMA

    When you got published how did you celebrate?

    When you got published and you did the promotional for your book (signings, interviews etc) were you nervous and if so, how did you handle that?

    I'm currently writing a book myself, I'm 1700 words into a first draft but I hope someday it'll be published :)


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  • #31
    Arghus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,635 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    Is there any writer or writers that you feel you've learnt something from the most?


  • #32
    Sleepy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,268 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    Who's your favourite author? And why?


  • #33
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    gozunda wrote: »
    Hi there. Long question short ...

    Do you commit to having the structure of a story before starting to write or allow the story line / structure to evolve as you write?

    I write free flow initially, and then the story starts to shape itself around the characters and landscape... but everyone is different. Some people plot and plan every last detail before they write, other are focused on structure - for me, it's the emotional journey of the characters involved and the landscape often becomes a character too. But I always find my story through the writing. As the story emerges, I fill in the blanks. This way, I don't get stuck.

    What works for you?


  • #34
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    HalloweenJack wrote: »
    Hiya, fascinating topic for an AMA as I'm trying to dedicate more time to writing and developing my stories.

    It's interesting that you were living in Spain when you went for it as I'm also there and 30 is around the corner.

    Was it possible to get in touch with agents from Spain? Do you still live there?

    Also, do you know anything about self-publishing?

    Thanks for taking the time to do this.

    You're very welcome - I hope I can help!
    I don't know anything about self publishing but Catherine Ryan Howard is a great go to person for that... she self published initially, and wrote a book about self publishing, and is now a best-selling author of traditionally published crime novels - she's an inspiration but also very knowledgeable so check her out here https://catherineryanhoward.com/

    I have lived in Ireland for nine years now, but the internet is your best resource while living abroad. every agent will have a website specifying what to submit and how - think about your style/genre, look at authors similar to you and find out their agents, and that's a god place to start looking. Not every agent takes on every genre, so you can narrow your search this way.

    Good luck with your stories and seeking out an agent!


  • #35
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    addicted to caffeine wrote: »
    Hi Elizabeth:) thanks for doing this AMA

    When you got published how did you celebrate?

    When you got published and you did the promotional for your book (signings, interviews etc) were you nervous and if so, how did you handle that?

    I'm currently writing a book myself, I'm 1700 words into a first draft but I hope someday it'll be published :)

    Congrats on getting to the first 1700 words of your book - keep going!

    I'll be honest, I love doing book events, panels and workshops and I do as many as I can - it's a great antidote to long hours alone writing (I freelance too and that's as isolated). But I'm a nervous wreck when it comes to book launches, so I just try and get through those. You get lots of messages leading up to the launch with people's apologies and it really makes you nervous that no one will be there. I have a local launch in West Cork tonight and the apologies are coming through as I type! It's nerve wracking.

    I was nervous reading to an audience the first time – I read a poem at a festival and had an asthma attack I got so nervous – but now I know the passages that I read from my book off by heart and they're more of a performance - like anything, I improved over time.

    I'm not great at celebrating - I'm usually already onto the next thing so I celebrate by travelling a lot with my writing (residencies, research, time out to concentrate on writing only) and giving my writing the time it deserves. Keep giving yourself little rewards for achieving small goals - it helps you stay motivated too!


  • #36
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Arghus wrote: »
    Is there any writer or writers that you feel you've learnt something from the most?

    I feel that I learn from everything I read - whether it's something I aim to emulate or aspire to in terms of quality, or whether it's something I don't like and don't want to appear in my own work. I also read really widely so it's difficult to say who really influences me.

    As a child, I was inspired by Barry Hines - A Kestrel for a Knave – as it was the first time I'd seen someone of a similar background represented in fiction and this made a big impact.

    But there have definitely been some stand-out writers over the years that have kept me falling in love with words again and again, such as... Angela Carter, Haruki Murakami, Margaret Atwood, Roald Dahl, Kate DiCamillo, David Mitchell, Neil Gaiman, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Stephen King, Philip Pullman, Emily Bronte, Paul Auster, Maya Angelou, Charles Dickens.

    And more recently, writers that have inspired me include June Caldwell, Amy Liptrot, Jon Walter, Katharine Norbury, Justin Cronin, Katherine Rundell, Maeve Brennan, Shaun Tan, Angie Thomas and Sinead Gleeson.

    But the list is endless and will always grow. All reading is valuable.


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  • #37
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Sleepy wrote: »
    Who's your favourite author? And why?

    It's impossible to pick any one author as i love to read many different genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and I'm discovering amazing new voices all of the time..

    But the two books I return to again and again are Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

    Do you have a favourite?


  • #38
    Sleepy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,268 ✭✭✭✭Sleepy


    Douglas Coupland. His prose is simply inspiring though his more recent novels haven't lived up to some of his earlier stuff. Based on the Neil Gaiman love, I'd suggest starting where I did with "Girlfriend in a Coma" :)


  • #39
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    I enjoy these Ask Me Anything threads.
    Recently I asked a professional poker player I know to do a thread and it went well.
    I think this thread might be a cracker.

    Before I read the other posts I have a few questions.
    I do not read fiction, but I have about 1,000 books about racehorses, most of them about thoroughbred horse pedigrees.

    I have been a racegoer for about forty years.
    Of course I bet on races. That makes it interesting.
    Over time my race analysis became, I think, more sophisticated.
    About twenty five years ago I became interested in horse pedigrees, and the possibility of picking winners using pedigree analysis.

    In early 2017 I finished writing a pedigree analysis program that matched the ancestors in a horse's six generation pedigree (126 horses - 2,4,8,16,32,64) with the horse rating. I proved statistically that some pedigree features give higher rated horses, some features are negative.

    My big problem is I used 160,000 horse ratings from books and the internet that I assume are the property of the ratings agencies (about nine organisations).
    I have written about 30,000 words on the subject and would like to prepare a "how to breed a good horse using pedigree" book.
    I have a few dozen pedigree programs written analysing different things.

    In December 2017 I bought a broodmare from the sales in Deauville.
    She is expecting a foal any minute. In fact she is about three days overdue.
    The sire of the foal she is carrying was not my choice, but the previous owner's choice.
    The mare will go to a sire in Ireland I picked in November before I bought the mare in December.
    I had compared 2,000 inexpensive mares in the three sales in IRE, GB, FR with 600 stallions (2,000 x 600 = 1,200,000 possible foals) before deciding on one mare / stallion combination.

    The new foal from the planned mare / stallion will, I hope, be born in 2019 and hopefully be good enough to race as a 2yo in 2021.

    Questions
    (1) Is there a standard way to approach people asking for permission to use their information (in this case horse ratings)? Do publishers do this or is it a task for the author?
    (2) Is this topic too obscure for publishers? The market for a book might be small.
    (3) Is it possible to pay all cost to get a book published, and if so how much?


  • #40
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    I am reading a book that is poorly written.
    This book was on my desk for a year before I opened it last week.
    The subject matter is something I love, but a quick flick through it told me it was going to be a struggle to read.
    Almost immediately the author's favourite phrase grated.
    He says "the likes of" on almost every page.
    And the structure is terrible.
    When I am reading a page I am thinking "didn't he tell me that a few pages back, and in a previous chapter as well?"

    Do you give your draft to anyone to read?
    How many rewrites do you do?
    Are your books checked by a proofreader?


  • #41
    Fox Hound
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭Fox Hound


    Have you ever read "The Madman?"

    http://https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055716814

    what are your thoughts?


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  • #42
    Gbear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,775 ✭✭✭✭Gbear


    You've talked a bit about the process of publishing.

    I was curious about the stage at which you go to the publisher and what exactly their role is.

    Is it a sort of rubberstamping and fine tuning at a very late stage (as you've said you go to your agent after draft number 4) or do they still tear it to shreds at that stage and it's another say, 4 drafts after that, before you get to the publishing stage?

    Also, how do you balance reading and writing? Do you ever find yourself worrying about cross-pollination from what you're reading into your own work? Or is it actually helpful and you find value in seeing the perspectives of other authors as you work?

    I've just binged Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time. I'm concerned about intrusive thoughts, if not outright hallucinations.:o

    I'd also like to point out what a pleasant and open-hearted tone you've taken with this AMA. It's been really nice to read.


  • #43
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    Are bits in your novels autobiographical? Has anyone you know asked you ‘Is that me?’

    Do your novels contain naughty bits? How does your family and maybe partner react to them?

    Do avid readers make good writers? I’m trying to persuade my wife to take it up.....;)


  • #44
    DunnoKidz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,587 ✭✭✭DunnoKidz


    I hear sending out multiple submissions of your story, to different publishing houses is frowned upon by publishers... is that so?
    Do new author submissions go in the rubbish bin automatically?

    Self-publishing sounds quite expensive... was self-promoting it difficult?
    How socially confident must an author be?

    I assume people can't really support themselves, as an author (even less as an illustrator) without having a job to supplement their income... is that correct?
    Or does it depend on the genre? and book/series popularity?

    I am not a writer (clearly). Was given a chance to submit picture book illustrations, for candidacy review (a long while ago) but I let the opportunity slip through my hands, (no confidence in myself or the process, basically). Thanks for your brilliant AMA!


  • #45
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Sleepy wrote: »
    Douglas Coupland. His prose is simply inspiring though his more recent novels haven't lived up to some of his earlier stuff. Based on the Neil Gaiman love, I'd suggest starting where I did with "Girlfriend in a Coma" :)

    Thank you! I shall give Girlfriend in a Coma a go. I always love a recommendation.


  • #46
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    diomed wrote: »
    I enjoy these Ask Me Anything threads.
    Recently I asked a professional poker player I know to do a thread and it went well.
    I think this thread might be a cracker.

    Before I read the other posts I have a few questions.
    I do not read fiction, but I have about 1,000 books about racehorses, most of them about thoroughbred horse pedigrees.

    I have been a racegoer for about forty years.
    Of course I bet on races. That makes it interesting.
    Over time my race analysis became, I think, more sophisticated.
    About twenty five years ago I became interested in horse pedigrees, and the possibility of picking winners using pedigree analysis.

    In early 2017 I finished writing a pedigree analysis program that matched the ancestors in a horse's six generation pedigree (126 horses - 2,4,8,16,32,64) with the horse rating. I proved statistically that some pedigree features give higher rated horses, some features are negative.

    My big problem is I used 160,000 horse ratings from books and the internet that I assume are the property of the ratings agencies (about nine organisations).
    I have written about 30,000 words on the subject and would like to prepare a "how to breed a good horse using pedigree" book.
    I have a few dozen pedigree programs written analysing different things.

    In December 2017 I bought a broodmare from the sales in Deauville.
    She is expecting a foal any minute. In fact she is about three days overdue.
    The sire of the foal she is carrying was not my choice, but the previous owner's choice.
    The mare will go to a sire in Ireland I picked in November before I bought the mare in December.
    I had compared 2,000 inexpensive mares in the three sales in IRE, GB, FR with 600 stallions (2,000 x 600 = 1,200,000 possible foals) before deciding on one mare / stallion combination.

    The new foal from the planned mare / stallion will, I hope, be born in 2019 and hopefully be good enough to race as a 2yo in 2021.

    Questions
    (1) Is there a standard way to approach people asking for permission to use their information (in this case horse ratings)? Do publishers do this or is it a task for the author?
    (2) Is this topic too obscure for publishers? The market for a book might be small.
    (3) Is it possible to pay all cost to get a book published, and if so how much?

    Hi there,
    This is obviously an area you're very passionate about. I'm afraid my knowledge of non-fiction is limited - and this is really specialised, but I'll do my best to help.
    Re the ratings, I'm really sorry but I don't know. You'll have to read up on copyright laws is my guess. Sorry I can't be more help with that one!
    In terms of seeking a publisher, you need to seek out books of similar content – horse racing, betting odds, etc – and make a note of who published it. This will narrow your search.
    If your topic does prove too specialist, then self publishing is always an option and yes, you would pay full costs. I haven't self published but Catherine Ryan Howard wrote a great 'how to' guide and that might be a good place to start. Or speak to other people who have self-published via social media and see if they can help point you in the right direction.


  • #47
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    diomed wrote: »
    I am reading a book that is poorly written.
    This book was on my desk for a year before I opened it last week.
    The subject matter is something I love, but a quick flick through it told me it was going to be a struggle to read.
    Almost immediately the author's favourite phrase grated.
    He says "the likes of" on almost every page.
    And the structure is terrible.
    When I am reading a page I am thinking "didn't he tell me that a few pages back, and in a previous chapter as well?"

    Do you give your draft to anyone to read?
    How many rewrites do you do?
    Are your books checked by a proofreader?

    I do give my manuscript to trusted beta readers - mainly other authors and my agent, but not until I'm at least four or five drafts in. Then, I will rework for as many drafts as needed to get the manuscript as polished as possible, before handing to my editor.

    The structural edits can take two or three rounds, and then the copy edits will be another round, followed by a second round with an external editor. Then eventually, it's time for the proofs – these are checked by me, my editor and an external proofreader.

    The editing process is quite rigorous but it's essential and I would hope that all published books – both traditionally and self-published would undergo this amount of editing. My books so far have seen between eight and nineteen drafts, depending on what was necessary.


  • #48
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Fox Hound wrote: »
    Have you ever read "The Madman?"

    http://https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055716814

    what are your thoughts?

    No - and the link didn't work for me. Sorry!


  • #49
    Rackard
    Registered Users Posts: 130 ✭✭Rackard


    Who does your book cover designs?
    Do you have much input into the process as to what you would like to see or do you leave it up to others?

    Also, the inside - do you get to choose fonts or layouts that you prefer yourself?


  • #50
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    If you want to wollow in the trials and tribulations of a writer read On Writing by Stephen King.
    I haven't read any of his thrillers, but this was a good read.
    The bit where he gets a phone call telling him the paperback rights to a book were sold was very moving.

    Sorry for hijacking the thread.


  • #51
    I'm a Professional Writer, AMA
    Company Representative Posts: 36 Verified rep ✭I'm a Professional Writer, AMA


    Rackard wrote: »
    Who does your book cover designs?
    Do you have much input into the process as to what you would like to see or do you leave it up to others?

    Also, the inside - do you get to choose fonts or layouts that you prefer yourself?

    There is an in-house designer who creates the covers and i love her work. We had an ideas meeting at the start of the trilogy, just after the contract was signed, so it was lovely to have input. Not all authors are that lucky!

    Re the fonts. this is decided by the publisher also, but as i have newspaper snippets, diary entries, songs, posters etc in my books, there are multiple fonts used and I did get a say on whether they worked during the proofing.


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