Sharing the Spotlight in Writers' Forum

I'm really thrilled to have an article published in the latest issue of Writers' Forum magazine which is all about being a speaker earlier this year at the Faversham Literary Festival with fellow pony book author Amanda Wills. Lots of useful info for any writers thinking about getting involved in a local lit fest - go to page 48!

Related post: https://janeayres.blogspot.com/2019/02/talking-pony-books-author-event-at.html

A nice cup of tea

Essential for writing! I like the mantra too!

Footsteps and ideas

Well, I haven't left the house since the snow....but I took some images from inside, looking out.  Footsteps can be a great writing prompt.  Where will they lead? To inspiration, an intriguing story?  Or another dead end? Ideas are forming.....

Snow in March - I should be writing!

The snow is laying thick outside so I should really be writing....instead, I am nursing another cold and sore throat and trying to keep warm.  My partner is braver than me, and went out for a run, taking some lovely images.  Maybe I should use these as inspiration to write some winter scenes!

image Roger Hyland

image Roger Hyland

image Roger Hyland

Author now tweeting!

I have finally, after much nagging from lovely writing friends, been persuaded to join the Twittersphere.  I can't figure out how to add this to my blog yet, but if anyone wants to tweet to me, here is  my profile page.  Please do stop by and say hello!  

https://twitter.com/workingwords50

The Writing Process Blog Tour

Thanks to the lovely Deborah Jay for inviting me to take part in the writing process blog tour, a blog relay in which each author discusses their individual writing process, and then passes the baton on. 

I first met Debby online via my blog, and recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Debby in person when she came to an entertainment evening I organised to raise funds for pancreatic cancer.  Busy Deborah is not only a successful author of fast-paced fantasy adventures featuring quirky characters and multi-layered plots but also a professional dressage rider/trainer/judge, so she is a mistress of time management! She also has non-fiction equestrian titles published under the name Debby Lush.

Her award winning novel The Prince’s Man, the first of a trilogy has been described as 'James Bond meets Lord of the Rings' - a sweeping tale of spies and deadly politics, inter-species mistrust and magic phobia, with an underlying thread of romance.

Find out more about Deborah at www.deborahjay.wordpress.com or follow Deborah on twitter @DeborahJay2 .

Read Debby's stop on the Writing Process Blog Tour here http://deborahjayauthor.com/2014/08/04/the-writing-process-blog-tour/

So here are my answers to the 4 questions:

1. What am I currently working on?

I’ve just published my latest title,  The Perfect Horse, a dramatic novel with a dark twist, and midway through the next new pony novel, which explores equestrian vaulting. I’ve finally started the sequel to Beware of the Horse, which is the most popular of all my horse books, and the sequel is called (wait for it!) Beware of the Horse 2: Angie’s Revenge.  It’s aimed at older teens and young adults, and explores the murkier depths of relationships, and the consequences of our actions. I’ve just finished a Christmas short story for Pony magazine and hope to work on a few more short stories.

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

This is difficult to answer as every writer has their own unique approach.  Although most of my novels and novellas currently involve horses, I do also like to explore some darker themes, which sometimes include supernatural elements (The Perfect Horse even strays into science fiction territory), and I don’t shy away from death. I hope my characters and situations are realistic and authentic, and a lovely review of one of my books says that I write from the heart.  I try to.  My stories generally have a strong emotional component. 

3. Why do I write what I write?

I enjoy writing about horses and people and their relationships, and hope my readers like what I do.  I also donate all my author royalties from my Matty Horse and Pony Adventures to the charity Redwings Horse Sanctuary.  My only non-horse novel (although I did sneak a horse in!) is called Coming Home and is about two Norwegian Forest cats, and my royalties go to charity Cats Protection. If my writing can help support these animal charities, that is an added bonus.  

4. How does my individual writing process work?

Generally, I write a one page synopsis after drafting some ideas and basic structure.  Then I map out the chapters and what they are likely to include and finally I start the writing process, often in time blocks.  This is the hardest part for me, and I still struggle to get started.  Getting the ideas and playing with them is the fun part.  I do several (often many) meticulous edits before allowing the story to be published. I am definitely a planner and the idea of simply writing without knowing where it will go freaks me out!

I'm passing the baton on to short story writer Linda King, who has been published by Woman's Weekly (kudos to you, Linda.  I've been trying to get a story accepted by WW for over 20 years!) and also writes stories under another pen name which are published by Xcite Books. She is currently writing a novel.

Her blog is the wonderfully titled http://excusemewhileinotethatdown.blogspot.co.uk/  and she is taking part in the blog tour on 18th August. 

Related post: http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/deborah-jay-guest-post-what-are-5.html

Different chapter, same book: the power of memory

We are constructed from memories.  We are making new ones every second.  How, what and why do we remember some things and not others?  Memories are a treasure trove of data, sensory experiences, adventures and emotions that we can process, translate and re-invent to create new stories.  

When the present becomes the past, our perception of the experience changes, undergoing a mysterious transformation.  Often it is only in hindsight that we appreciate the value of what has gone before. Regeneration is about change and transformation, and we are all – like Dr Who! - regenerating constantly.

These issues are explored in the amazing Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, which I would recommend to everyone - especially if you are a writer.  In this story, the heroine is born, dies and is reborn many times, each life different, although sharing common threads.  (It reminded me of some of the ideas in the film Sliding Doors - the consequences of one action compared to another.  How the same story can have different endings, or different stories, the same conclusion). Is there such a thing as fate or is life simply a sequence of random events? 

You can check out my review of Life after Life and many others here.  It always fascinates how stories can be so differently perceived by different readers. It's one of the challenges - and magic - of being an author. 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16181718-life-after-life

Sci-fi visionary Philip. K Dick is another writer who shares my obsession with the nature and construct of memory, a topic he explores in so many of his stories. It was a theme that haunted and obsessed him.

Does memory re-visit the past or simply re-construct it?  Is memory life itself? Is life, memory?

These are questions I keep asking.  Can we ever know the answer? 

Related posts:

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/picking-flowers.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/life-stories.html

Saturday Schools for Writers in Canterbury during Autumn 2014

There are some terrific Saturday Schools for Writers as part of the community and adult education programme at Canterbury Christ Church University throughout the Autumn, which offer amazing value and a range of fascinating topics.

On 11 October, writer April Doyle will be offering another of her very popular day schools on Starting a Novel. If you have a great idea for a novel or you’ve started to write one but you find yourself stuck in a rut, this day school will explore developing characters, plot, structure, theme, atmosphere and imagery, using examples from published authors. The focus is on generating ideas so that, by the end of the day, you’ll have lots of material to take away with you for your work in progress.  Book early for this!

25 October offers the first in an innovative series called Music for Writers 1: Love, War and Trains - poetry, verse drama and music. This Day School will be of interest to creative writers and music enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the way that words and music can be combined to create drama and emotion. The vivid and imaginative use of language is explored and discussed using a variety of dramatic works that include Samuel Beckett’s Words and Music, and atmospheric verse dramas for radio that include Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas and the extraordinary Love, War and Trains by celebrated author Ian McMillan. Ways that writers, poets and composers work together will be studied and celebrated.

Music for Writers 2: Emotion, Music and Moving Image follows on November 22.  How is music used to express and convey emotion and atmosphere when combined with the medium of film? What is the relationship between sound and image? Using case studies that include films such as The Go-Between (Joseph Losey), Last Year in Marienbad (Alain Resnais) and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca and Psycho, these issues will be explored and examined.

And my next Canterbury Saturday School is The Business of Writing 1: Getting Published on November 1st, which offers tips and advice on both being traditionally published and going down the independent route of publishing e-books via Amazon. Marketing, selling, agents, publishers, blogging and social media are all discussed, as well as the future for writers and publishers in a digital age.

I love teaching and sharing what I've learned, and my last 2 day schools had great feedback so if you fancy joining us (or know someone who might) do share. Thanks  

See link for more info.  

http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/community-arts-education/day-schools/autumn-2014.asp

All Day Schools cost £29.50.  

To book please contact April Doyle via email to education.communityarts@canterbury.ac.uk or by phoning 01227 863451

Publishing, Planning and Procrastination

I started to write this blog post months ago so I thought it was about time I put it out there.  It's all about reflection - specifically reflecting on what I intended to do, and what I actually did. I looked at my aims for 2013, which did not only focus on writing, because I am something of a butterfly and easily distracted by projects that interest me. 

These were my aims a year ago:

Developing my writing business, including republishing my extensive backlist of novels for children and teenagers.
Getting there, but slowly.  I am well behind my schedule for this.

Being braver and accepting more speaking engagements.
Yes, I am actively promoting this aspect of my work. 

Performing as a classical singer again, especially contemporary repertoire.
Nope.  This may have to wait until 2015. 

Continuing to raise funds for and awareness of the importance of research into early detection and treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Yes, I am organising a (now sold out) ticketed event to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, and attended a meeting at the Houses of Parliament for the APPG Inquiry. 

In a September 2013 blog post I wrote, "I have 2 more horse titles I want to bring out before the end of September (more likely October now), plus a further title at the end of November (horse sci-fi!) and, hopefully, a completely new story end Dec/mid Jan."  

Ha! Well, I did eventually manage to publish both Joyrider and The Horse in my Heart in November 2013, and my 4 book Gemma series in December. I have not yet managed to put the equestrian sci-fi title onto Amazon - this is now imminent - and the completely new story has not yet been written.  

In my defence, I managed to put out a novella in February this year called Valentine Horse, which is aimed at slightly older readers.   

But I'm disappointed at my productivity, which is not what it should be.  I want to work on two new titles, which are both planned and mapped out, but I need to do the hard graft of actually writing the books.  

Procrastination and vacillation - right now, these two words describe my working practice perfectly!  This has to change.......so did you achieve your writing plans for 2013?  

Related posts: 
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/reflections-on-being-writer-judy-croome.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/thinking-it-and-doing-it.html

Reflections on being a writer: Judy Croome Guest Post

I'm delighted to welcome South African author Judy Croome to The Beautiful Room.  I recently met Judy "virtually" after reading her excellent article http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2014/05/judy-croome/, in which she shares her tips for reading aloud at writer events.  This really resonated with me, so I decided to visit Judy's website and contact her.  (This is one of the things I love about the internet - being able to connect with other writers anywhere in the world).  Happily, Judy very kindly agreed to be interviewed, providing some really thought-provoking and inspirational reflections on being a writer......

What is the best thing about being a writer?

Freedom, on all levels.

There’s the physical freedom of being able to work in my pyjamas on a cold winter’s morning or at a time of day that allows me to meet other commitments.

Then there’s emotional freedom. In today’s world many of us are so well-socialised or so intellectualised that we’ve lost touch with our feelings. Don’t cry, Johnny, boys don’t cry. Don’t shout, Alice, girls don’t get angry.  
No wonder we repress our deepest emotions. Whenever one writes, the possibility exists that we can, in a safe way, tap into those emotions buried so deeply and free them from where they’re nailed into our psyches. 

And, finally, when your writing pushes you into places you never thought you could go, there’s a spiritual freedom that comes from unexpectedly meeting an inner self that is truer than any other personality mask we wear.

What is the worst thing about being a writer?

Fear. The time between books is always a dangerous time for me, because it’s then that I’m most tempted to give up writing. I’m riddled with fear and doubt and anxiety about everything from the reviews of my last book to the ideas I have for future books. That’s why I procrastinate (a lot!) before diving in to the actual writing. When I do begin to write again, it takes an act of real self-discipline to keep myself writing as I travel into the dark places that the muse sometimes takes me.

Most writers complain about being easily distracted and the problems of procrastinating.  Is this something that affects you? 

I have a PhD in Procrastination. I’ve developed Procrastination into an art form more complex than anything I’ve ever written. I also have the attention span of a pea. So, yes, Procrastination is a serious issue for me. I think I’ll go and make a cup of tea now. I’ll be back in a minute to write the rest of this article!

Why do you think this especially seems to be an issue for writers? (rather than artists or composers?) 

Writing is a more intellectual process than the other creative arts. Each creative art has its own “intellectual” technique, that is, the learned part of the craft. But when it comes to the creative alchemy, words are more of the intellect than music or paintings. 

A writer needs a strong mind to keep the words dancing. While the power of the mind is a great asset in creating a logical story or character arc, or for the endless editing and revision stages that a story requires, that same mind can be a disadvantage at times.

It can deceive us into thinking we’re actually writing when we’re only perfecting our procrastination skills.  Social media, plotting our stories, seeking that perfect word to write that perfect sentence all feel like “real” writing, but they’re simply avoidance techniques.

What do writers want to avoid? All those scary emotions that writing forces to the surface in a way that the mind can’t control or repress. And so writers procrastinate more than artists or musicians who, to create, have to move into a space beyond the mind rather than (as writers do) work through the mind to create.  I sometimes think of my procrastination period as a pre-writing war: my emotional urge to create a story battling it out with my intellectual urge to keep the dark creative void at bay.

Do you have any tips for other writers to help in being focussed and maintaining that focus?

Only one. Write every day. Even if it’s only 100 words a day, write.  When I start a writing task, I use a modified version of the “Don’t Break the Chain” calendar based upon a motivation technique purportedly used by Jerry Seinfeld. It really works. Once you cross off the first block, it’s almost impossible to resist striving to keep the chain going. And don’t cheat yourself. If you don’t write on the work you’re trying to finish, you don’t get to cross off a block! Here’s the link for more information on that method: Jerry Seinfeld’s Don’t Break the Chain Method

Here’s another link to an excellent article on writer’s procrastination and how to overcome it

Can writers change the world? 

Indirectly, yes, I do believe that writers can change the world. As the great Mahatma Gandhi said, the way to change the world is to change oneself. Our words can reach out to people and change their inner landscape. Like water dripping from a tap, drop by drop, if enough people change themselves, then the world will eventually change too. I’ve included this philosophy in my biography on my website:

If you were not a writer, which other art form or profession would you pursue to express yourself?

I used to be an accountant. I still don’t know how I survived all those years in an office environment. If I could choose another career to creatively express myself in, I’d ask God to grant me the gift of being able to create beautiful music. Music, more than any other artistic form, has the ability to transcend language and difference, reminding us of our common humanity through the harmony of wordless sounds.

****

Judy Croome lives and writes in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition, Judy’s short stories and poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies, such as the Huffington Post and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Itch Magazine.

Judy loves her family, cats, exploring the meaning of life, chocolate, cats, rainy days, ancient churches with their ancient graveyards, cats, meditation and solitude. Oh, and cats. Judy loves cats (who already appear to have discovered the meaning of life.) 

Her books “The Weight of a Feather & Other Stories” (2013), “a Lamp at Midday” (2012) and “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” (2011) are available, and she is currently researching child murders for her next novel and you can visit Judy on www.judycroome.com , “Like” her Facebook Author page for updates or join her on Twitter @judy_croome.

****

You might also enjoy these related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/reflections-on-being-full-time-writer.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/can-writers-really-change-world.html

Spinning a Yarn and Weaving Words

Detail from quilt made by my aunt, Brenda White (photo Jane Ayres)

The origin of words fascinates me.  And I discovered a new one recently - etymology - which is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.   We often use words without really thinking about the way we are doing so.  They can be rich in symbolism.  

A casual conversation got me thinking about the relationship between words that describe sewing, embroidery and the process of writing, so I did some exploring. Apparently, "text" derives from textile.

Latin textus "style or texture of a work," literally "thing woven," from past participle stem of texere "to weave, to join, fit together, braid, interweave, construct, fabricate, build *

*from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=text

We talk of weaving words and spinning a tale (where the term "spin doctor" originates?); we refer to the fabric of a story, the strands and threads.  A story can be a yarn, a tapestry of words. 

Spinning a tale, a tapestry of words.  And of course, a tapestry tells a story that can be communicated without the need for a knowledge of reading and writing. 

Humans have a profound need to tell their stories, by whatever means. 

Related post: http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/life-stories.html

Reflections on being a full-time writer

photo Jane Ayres

I wrote this last year. 

"I think there are arguments for doing a job in parallel with a writing career.  I've never been a full time writer and don't think I would want to, because I enjoy and am inspired by interactions with people and different experiences.  I've had a full time salaried job for most of my working life and when I did, I fantasised about giving it all up to be a writer.  This made me value my precious writing time and I probably worked harder as a result, because I was striving for success.  I had more self discipline too. When I went part time (first down to 4 days pw, then 3.5, then 3 days) my intention was to spend more time writing.  But weirdly I then found it even harder to write!  It was like the more time I had, the more I seemed to procrastinate.  Duh!  I wouldn't want a full time salaried job again, as I enjoy having more control over how I structure my time.  I envy writers who can be single minded and motivated enough to be a full time writer."

Hmmm.  I was made redundant last summer and became, by default, a full-time writer, which means I also teach writing and do voluntary freelance work for arts projects I am passionate about.  So, 9 months later, how do I feel about the pressure of solely relying on self-employment?  Scary.  Pressured.  I find myself looking for part time salaried work once more (after a panic during financial projections for the next few months).  Between blocks of frenetic writing activity, I lapse into periods of writing inactivity, which makes me feel guilty and useless.  I set myself targets for my next two novellas that I haven't even started yet.  

Struggling to see the wood from the trees right now....

Related post:  
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/writing-dreams.html

Word Count Podcast: short stories read aloud!

You can now HEAR one of my short stories, read by the wonderful Lisa Payne, on The Word Count Podcast. I'm totally chuffed about this as I am in company with 8 brilliant writers. Please check it out!    http://thewordcount.libsyn.com/the-word-count-episode-40

Here's the list of stories (mine is called Finders, Keepers).

Sun, 11 May 2014

The Word Count-Episode 40

"Glass. Bed. Bow."
This weeks show challenges our Word Count Irregulars to weave a tale around three words.  Nine fabulous authors were up for the challenge and we are happy to bring you the largest number of stories in a single episode of the Word Count since its humble beginings.
Host: R. B. Wood  Show Notes: www.rbwood.com
Our Guests:
Eden Baylee "The Final Countdown"
M. A. Fink "Living in a Bubble"
Jane Ayers "Finders, Keepers"
C. Thomas Smith "El Chupr’aw Who Gives A Shit"
Cameron Garriepy "Calm as Glass"
M. M. Tosen "Caprice"
Matthew Munson "Glass"
Kasen Seton "The 3rd Division"
Bill Kirton "Princess"

Direct download: TWCep40.mp3

And for more info on the writers featured go to http://www.rbwood.com/index.php/rbwood-blog

Writing for success: writing for failure

I love the TED* talks, and just saw this short and inspiring talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love.  

Some folk say that it's not failure we are afraid of, but success, and this thought-provoking talk regards success and failure as two sides of the same coin.  Great stuff!

http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_success_failure_and_the_drive_to_keep_creating?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button__2014-04-25

*TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.


Related posts: http://www.ted.com/about/our-organization

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/falling-off-and-getting-back-on-again.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/self-promotion-ego-and-creative.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-business-of-writing-part-1.html

Can writers really change the world?

photo Chris Ayres

Mention sci-fi visionaries such as Asimov and Philip K. Dick to scientists and techies and they’ll reveal how these guys accurately predicted cybernetics and social media.  Ideas into action. Yet in some quarters they were regarded as pulp writers with vivid (and sometimes weird) imaginations.  

Today, TV soaps like Enders and Corrie have the power to change public perceptions of, and inform about, social issues that lobbyists and charities have struggled for years to publicise. Using storylines covering topics from domestic abuse to, more recently, pancreatic cancer, these dramas raise awareness on a massive scale.  Words have power. 

So why (and how) can “populist” writers succeed in changing the world?  Is the pen (or latest digital writing device) really mightier than a sharp pointy weapon?  I think so.  And I'm glad for that. 

Related post:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/slaves-to-machines.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/are-novels-getting-weirder.html

Life Stories

photo Chris Ayres

I’ve been reflecting on this recently.  The stories of our lives.  A friend advised that if you don’t like the story you’re in, write another one.  That got me thinking…..

There’s a great piece called How to stay sane: the art of revising your inner storytelling by Maria Popova. Click the link to read.

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/05/how-to-stay-sane-philippa-perry/



Related posts:

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cybermen-and-clay-objects-and-emotions.html

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/writng-from-heart-and-for-heart.html

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-power-of-books.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/models-playing-god-and-storytelling.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/we-are-stories-narrative-and-grieving.html

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/beginnings-and-endings.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/picking-flowers.html

Words from Kent's Coast: A writer in Folkestone

Peter the seagull, a regular visitor to my balcony when I lived in Folkestone: photo Jane Ayres

I was delighted to be invited to write a piece for Kent's Creative Coast in which I share my favourite places in Folkestone, and reveal the inspiration it provided for my teen novella Joyrider and, more recently,  an article about William Harvey - "the father of modern medicine."  Click link below to check it out.

/http://www.kentscreativecoast.co.uk/a-view-from-folkestone/

Related links:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/history-harvey-and-folkestone.html

The Lost Pony of Riverdale

Today I'm mega chuffed to host a fascinating and inspiring guest post from writer Amanda Wills, author of The Lost Pony of Riverdale.  (I love that cover!). Enjoy!

We all know the cliché – everyone has a book in them. According to the late author and intellectual Christopher Hitchens, in most cases that’s where it should stay. I happen to agree with him so, up until about 18 months ago, I remained a frustrated novelist who’d never dared put pen to paper, believing that the world was probably better off without my literary input.

It all changed over the August bank holiday weekend in 2012 when I flipped open the laptop and began writing my first novel, a pony adventure book set on Dartmoor and aimed at pre-teens and nostalgic adult readers. When I look back now at some of the early drafts I cringe. Writing fiction is like anything, the more you practice, the better you get. No-one wins the Man Booker Prize with their first attempt. But I think that’s what puts so many people off writing. You read a beautifully observed and crafted novel and know you can only aspire to being even a quarter as good. So you don’t bother even trying.

Early on I decided I wasn’t interested in writing award-winning literary fiction. I simply wanted to write compelling stories about characters that readers empathised with and cared about. Almost a year later, after much teeth-gnashing, hair twiddling, pen-sucking and head scratching, I self-published The Lost Pony of Riverdale as an ebook on Amazon. But why did it take me until I was in my 40s to write my first novel, when writing has been my career for more than a quarter of a century?

As a child I wrote long, meandering, action-packed stories on anything from my Welsh Mountain pony Smudge to the Roundheads and Cavaliers. My imagination seemed endless and the stories just kept flowing. English was my favourite subject at school and even as a spotty 14-year-old I knew I wanted to write for a living. I landed a job as a cub reporter in the seaside town of Deal and before long I was reporting on one of the biggest stories to ever happen in Kent – the IRA bombing of the Royal Marines School of Music.

In my 21 years as a journalist I covered the whole gamut of life as we know it, from village fetes to murders. I spent the day with Jonathan Aitken when he was a Cabinet Minister - before he fell on his infamous sword of truth - and interviewed famous faces from agony aunt Claire Rayner to sports commentator Harry Carpenter. And although the cynical among you may raise your eyebrows in disbelief, never once did I write a word of fiction.

Five years ago I became a police press officer. I was still writing, but now it was press releases appealing for information about robberies, assaults and fatal car collisions. And so you see, after a quarter of a century reporting the news in one way or another I honestly didn’t think I had it in me to write fiction. That endless flow of ideas I’d had as a child had shrivelled to nothing. I had no confidence in my ability to produce a story that anyone would want to read.

Two years ago my husband Adrian, a fellow journalist, started writing his first novel. He, too, was a frustrated novelist, but he realised that the self-publishing phenomenon gave everyone the opportunity to get their books out there, with or without an agent or publisher. Seeing him tapping away at the computer got me wondering, could I do that? I procrastinated for a few months under the pretext of thinking up story ideas until he told me to stop talking and start writing.

So I did. I stuck with the hackneyed premise that you should write what you know. I had been a horse-mad girl who had devoured pony books by the greats such as the Pullein-Thompson sisters, Elyne Mitchell, Ruby Ferguson and Patricia Leitch. I thought I’d give pony fiction a whirl.  The Lost Pony of Riverdale went on sale in September 2013. I made the decision to self-publish because I was keen to get the book to market as quickly as possible and didn’t have the stomach for endless rejection letters.

The feedback from Amazon readers has been overwhelmingly positive, which makes me glad that I decided to dump the frustrated novelist title and call myself a published indie author instead.  I’ve just finished the first draft of the sequel to The Lost Pony of Riverdale, which has the imaginative working title of Book Two, and which I’m hoping will be on sale late spring 2014.

This fiction writing lark has been a steep learning curve. Although I had a vague idea of the plot for the first book I didn’t do any planning - the characters and story evolved organically. I used the same ‘no planning’ method in the sequel and it’s been a real struggle so I am definitely going to spend more time on characterisation and plot structure before I dive into Book Three.

Adrian and I edited each other’s novels and self-published on the same day. His book couldn’t be more different than mine – it’s a thriller called Deep Sleepers featuring undercover MI5 agent Tom Blake. Now it’s a race to see who can outdo the other on sales. I am happy to report that – for the moment at least - I am in the lead.

And so I discovered that I did have a book in me. Hopefully there are many more to come. Some days I struggle with an empty computer screen and an even emptier imagination, which is dispiriting. But luckily most times when I sit down at the computer, I imagine myself in the shade of the Riverdale tor and the story simply unfolds. It’s alchemic.

Amazon BUY LINK for The Lost Pony of Riverdale http://amzn.to/1ebe0KY

Find out more about Amanda at her website http://www.amandawills.co.uk/

Day Schools for writers in Kent

I'm running 3 Saturday Schools for writers in Canterbury, the first on 29th March. Details and booking info below - only £27.50 each day school!  

Self-publishing your e-book on Amazon 

Saturday 29 March, 2014.  10am-4pm at Canterbury Christ Church University

Writers are self-publishing for a variety of reasons and this day school explores the basics of indie publishing; you create, produce, promote, sell: you are your own publisher.  In the past, writers created and publishers produced, promoted, distributed and sold your work, generally paying a small royalty and (less often now) an advance.   Publishers and agents were the gatekeepers. The major obstacle for independent publishing was access to distribution channels.  All that has changed and if you self-publish with Amazon, you can keep between 35% - 70% of your royalties. But many writers are intimidated or confused about how to do this – losing a wonderful opportunity to distribute their work to a global readership.

With inside information from an experienced professional writer who is both traditionally and indie published, this day school guides you through the process step by step, dealing with issues such as formatting, pricing, cover design, author pages and book blurb. Whether you want to publish for personal satisfaction or to earn income, this is a chance to find out what is involved so you can do it yourself.

The Business of Writing 2: Making Words Work

Saturday 26 April, 2014.  10am-4pm at Canterbury Christ Church University

Unless you are writing for a hobby, it’s a business.  This has given rise to a new title: authorpreneur.

This day school explores and discusses income streams for writers and ways of “monetizing your output” as a writer, including competitions, residencies, workshops, talks, readings, speaking, copywriting, editing, and coaching. We will also look at organisations that exist to help authors, the role of an agent and issues such as contracts, fees and royalties, as well as pitching to agents and publishers.

Finally, we examine managing and costing your time, an essential aspect of being a successful freelance writer.  What are you worth? What are the time vampires and how do you combat them?  How do you stay motivated?  We will look at each of the following topics which address the reality of being freelance, such as working methods,  environment, deadlines, setting targets (financial and personal), the importance of forward planning, recycling work and pen names. The session will also cover building your writing portfolio and creating a marketing plan.   

The Business of Writing 3: Now you see me – how writers can stay visible

Saturday 10 May, 2014.  10am-4pm at Canterbury Christ Church University

With more opportunities than ever before for writers to get their work out to a public readership, how do you stay visible? Is an author also a brand?  And what does this mean for a writer? How do you promote yourself?

We will explore ways writers can stay visible, including author websites, book trailers, blogging and blog carnivals, social networking, book signings and launches, readings, interviews, visits, getting reviews, and ways to showcase your work. What is most effective?

We will also look at creating a personal promotion plan.

About the tutor

Born in 1962, Jane had her first short story published in a UK magazine at age 14.  Since then, 30 novels for teenagers plus over 200 short stories, poems and articles have been published internationally and translated into 9 languages. An award-winning writer, Jane has given talks on radio and to writers groups and regularly delivers writing workshops to schools and adults. She is a member of the National Association of Writers in Education and a qualified writing coach.  For more information go to www.janeayres.blogspot.co.uk

All Day Schools cost £27.50.  To book please contact April Doyle via email to education.communityarts@canterbury.ac.uk or by phoning 01227 863451

Shorter forms: how popular are novellas?

A recent article in The Telegraph suggests that novellas will gain in popularity thanks to the invention of e-readers. I hope this will prove to be the case.  I'm a big fan of shorter books - both as a reader and a writer.  Most of my fiction for children and teenagers is between 19,000 to 30,000 words and I have great respect for anyone who can sustain a story for 100,000 words.  However, I've read other articles that claim that readers much prefer to read longer novels, and indeed I have had this feedback myself from readers who have enjoyed my work but were disappointed it wasn't longer - which can be interpreted in both a positive and negative light.  I suppose my ideas just don't (so far) lend themselves to a longer form.  

One of the great aspects of indie publishing is not to be constrained by often prescriptive word lengths.  And the rebel in me has always rejected the idea that a short story/novella/novel/blockbuster SHOULD be a specific word count.  Why?  Who says? 

Shorter lengths definitely lend themselves well to the experience of reading on an e-reader.  So, what do writers and readers think?  Is less really more?  Or is bigger, better?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/10593535/E-readers-A-new-chapter-in-the-history-of-the-novella.html


Related post:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/does-size-matter-lydia-davis-wins-man.html