Writing Advice

I’ve been a professional, published, author/writer for a few years now, and for a few years before that I was a writer in search of publication. And in that time I’ve seen a lot of advice given to writers who want to be published. Some of it I’ve taken myself, sometimes it’s been great and useful, and sometimes I’ve regretted it. That’s not to say that a lot of the advice I’ve seen is wrong or bad (some is, of course), what I’m saying is a lot of it I don’t necessarily agree with.

The thing with advice (and this applies to this post too) is that it can’t help but be very general. And I think that’s where my problem with it lies – because every writer, every publisher, every agent, every story, every magazine and every book is different and, as such, requires its own advice. It’s its own thing.

So, here’s my advice to those who want to be published. Take it or leave it. Most importantly – decide if it applies to you…

Stop worrying about being published. The most important thing – EVER – is the book you’re writing. Make that book great. Publishers like great books (because they sell) so if you write a great book you’re most certainly in with a chance.

So, how do you make it great? That’s the trick. You write and read a lot. You practise. You don’t give up – even when you’re frustrated by your output (everyone writes rubbish every now and again – it’s actually part of the process: the Good Stuff comes after) and even when you are and it’s rejected. You keep going.

Most importantly: you write for YOU! It’s your book after all. So write the book you want to write. Be true to it. Don’t write something simply because you think a publisher, or your peers, will like it – make it good in your own way.

Don’t be disheartened if you’ve been writing for ages and you feel as though you’re getting nowhere. Nothing’s lost. Nothing’s wasted. You are building your talent. You are learning your craft. You are gaining experience.You are Getting Better.(You wouldn’t expect to be a concert violinist after playing for a year – these things take time. And that’s OK!)

Don’t worry about building a following, or having a unique selling/marketing point. Sure, those things are helpful once you have a book out (from a publisher’s and commercial point of view), but I think you’d be better of concentrating on writing a great book than building up a list of thousands of Twitter or blog followers.

There’s an awful lot that’s been said about having an established platform but I do worry that the search for that distracts a lot of writers. Let’s not forget too that having a huge following doesn’t automatically mean that your writing’s good.

I’ve also seen a lot of people saying that you should have some sort of unique marketing slant a PR department can use. And, yes, that can be useful. But, in most cases, I’d guess that publishers would rather have a great book than a book (which ain’t that good) written by someone interesting for whatever reason. Unless it’s an autobiography.

Good books find readers. And readers find good books.

So, that’s about it, I think.

Don’t get distracted. Concentrate on writing something good, that you’d love and be proud of. Work hard. And trust yourself. You’re probably a better judge than you realise.

And, you know – the whole publishing world, for all its foibles, is actually quite straight forward. Don’t assume it’s any more complicated than it is. When a publisher reads a submission, they ask, ultimately: will it sell? So, why not try to give them what they want?

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You can also see my tips on writing short stories here, if you should so desire.

Order!

I remember (very clearly!) how much hard work it was putting the stories of Not So Perfect in order. We (me and the wonderful Roast Books people) knew which story we wanted to start with and which we wanted to end with, and that was about it. Making sure what went between them flowed (for those who would read it in order) and making sure it was balanced and sensible was, well, it was not easy and it took an awful lot of time getting it right. (And I DO think we got it right, which is good.)

So. Not So Perfect has 22 stories in it.

Freaks!, the next book has 50. And they’ve been written with Someone Else, ie (should that not really be elle est??) the very lovely and superbly talented Caroline Smailes (more on that, and the process, to come I imagine).

50.

50 stories that needed putting in order.

We tackled the problem head on. We met yesterday morning and spent pretty much the whole day frowning, umming, arring, laying stories on the floor, arranging them, rearranging them, sometimes scratching our heads, and occasionally swearing. It was hard work. But we did it. In the end. Caroline didn’t even need to shout at me once. (Huge thanks must go to the brilliant and generous Fabri, who let us borrow the upstairs of the cafe he runs where we had sufficient space to have fifty stories and their illustrations on the floor – it made things SO much easier. The lemonade helped too.)

So, Freaks! is nearly totally finished. There are still bits to do, illustrations to come in, edits to complete and things but, yesterday, for the first time, we got a proper idea of how the book will look. And I’ve got to say, I’m really, really excited about it.

And some pics…

The manuscript.

Pretty thick.
Scattered Stories
FINALLY! The stories in order! Go, us!

A Few Thoughts On Short Fiction

A little while ago I was asked, by the super-ace, Clare Conlon, if I could give her some thoughts on short fiction. So I did. And here’s her (rather splendid) article, at The Creative Times, which has a few of my words in it.

Anyway, I thought a few people here may be interested to see the whole thing I’d written. So here it is.

Feel free to disagree and to add your own thoughts. It’s hardly a definitive piece (and nor is it any attempt to define what a short, short story is or isn’t, because that’d be silly and have little point). As I said, I simply thought it may be of interest.

So here are a few of my thoughts:

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the term ‘flash fiction’, for some reason it suggests, to me, that it’s something new and less significant than a proper short story (it’s almost apologetic), when it really, really isn’t. I prefer ‘short-short stories’ because that’s what they are. Kafka wrote them. Hemmingway wrote them. Chekov wrote them. Vonnegut wrote them. And that’s only naming a few, and that list goes to prove that they’re neither less significant than longer short stories or anything new.
To me, a story is as long as it is; it’s the writer’s job to find out what the story is and to tell it in the most appropriate and efficient way – be that long or short. A writer, in my opinion, should never be restricted by a form before the story’s written because then the story won’t develop naturally and be as good as it could, or should, be.
So, a story’s a story. Long or short doesn’t mean good or not as good. In this, the Digital Age, the shorter ones do have an opportunity to have a wider audience because they can be read between doing things, while commuting, while waiting for appointments or meetings – someone read one of mine while waiting at a set of traffic lights. And they can be mobile too – having something on your phone for instance (which is pretty much always with you) gives you the opportunity to read something without having to commit to bringing a book, or a number of books, out with you on the off-chance that you’ll fancy, and get chance to, read something from them. Convenience is a good thing!

MELISSA LEE-HOUGHTON INTERVIEW

I’m thrilled to welcome Melissa Lee-Houghton to the blog today, to talk about her debut collection on poems, A Body Made of You (which sounds fab, by the way). Enjoy!



Hello and welcome, Melissa! It’s great to have you here. So, your debut collection of poems, ‘A Body Made Of You’ was published on April 1st. How does it feel having a poetry collection out there?
On the run up to the book being published I felt so nervous and vulnerable, as though I was going to appear on tv naked. A lot of what I write comes from a place not even I am comfortable with. Having the book out there does however feel amazing, and I really want people to read the book and enjoy it, and connect with it. I feel like my book is a drop in the ocean, but I hope it will reach people. I don’t expect everyone to like the book, but I do imagine there is something in it for general poetry readers, the non poetry reader and discerning poetry readers alike. It is also a relief to see the book as a physical thing, in print, as it felt so fragile before, and I had invested so much, emotionally, into it. I feel more detached from it now in a strange way; I feel very happy to have achieved it.


Could you tell us a little about it? What kind of poems are in ‘A Body Made Of You?’
The book consists of fifteen portraits, a number of them sequences. The poems range widely, as did the portrait sitters; different people from all different walks of life. What brings them together is inquiry; what things make up a person, their personality, their sexuality and their experience. All of the poems explore intimacy in one form or another. There are some lavish and image-laden poems, there’s some more difficult and some sexually charged pieces, and there is sadness and some more minimal poems. It’s very varied. There are a couple of the poems on Peony Moon at the moment. ‘laid out’ is rich, not quite lucid and tender. ‘Rumi’ is tighter, and I wrote it in a more disciplined way. I think I went through so many fluctuations in style, mood and expression while writing the original draft that I surprised myself when it all started coming together.
And how do you write them? What’s your process? Where do you meet your muse?
The process for this particular book involved corresponding and interviewing the sitters, looking at photographs and in some cases, writing/artwork by the sitters. This was a vastly rewarding process for me. I worked intuitively on long sequences of poems, of up to ten poems in a sequence, for each sitter. I made many sketches and wrote many fragments, all of which I keep as the original text, the book is like all the best bits, a selection. I don’t need much to begin writing, a cup of tea and some silence normally suits me. I like to walk and let ideas roll around, and I have a lot of what I want to write in my mind generally, before I come to sit and write it. I think that ninety per cent of a poet’s work is thinking, and then there’s the writing and editing. I don’t tend to carry notebooks around with me or anything like that. I don’t often get taken by a line I have to get down on paper. I just have a theme or a question, a mood or an experience that I have on my mind for a while. I can save it all up for those moments when I find some space and let it all bleed out.
How would you describe a typical (if there’s such a thing) Melissa Lee-Houghton poem?
Intense. Stubborn. Emotionally tuned. I find that my work varies so much that there aren’t many typical aspects. With the portraits, my writing was intuitive, and the poems happened in concentrated bursts of inspiration that were quite overwhelming at times. I was so into the project at that time. It meant a great deal to me, so I pored over every word, until the poems would hardly budge. I suppose a lot of what I write is unsettling. Not written for the sake of being unsettling but I do like to touch a nerve.
What does the word ‘poem’ mean to you?
A poem, to me, is an exchange of language from one person to another whose interpretation depends on a myriad of things, all of which are subjective and all of which involve a gut reaction.
Any advice to any poets out there?
Learn to accept rejection. Take rejections with comments as a wholly positive thing. Editors don’t waste their time and if they have anything to say at all, that’s a good thing. Read widely, even if it’s not all poetry. Read as much as you can and be disciplined. Write regularly, all writing is good practice. Work primarily for yourself, don’t get caught up in worrying about where or if your work will be published while you are writing. The main thing is to have written anything at all. Poetry is not a means to an end, it is an end in itself. Enjoy your writing. It should be immensely pleasurable.
What’s next for you?
I am working on a second collection but this could literally be years in the making. I’m not forcing it, but have already written a good deal. I am really going to take my time with my work and see what happens. It’s best when I can surprise myself and go down avenues that aren’t predicted. I am a mum to two children and so have my work cut out at home. I also write short fiction and reviews, and wish that I could exploit the same discipline I have for my poems, with my stories. I’m a very lazy, pedantic fiction writer and I’m never satisfied with a draft. I’m happy with the thought that I can work on a second collection indefinitely, without pressure and hope that I can push myself further this time.

Anything you’d like to add?
The launch of A Body Made of You is on Saturday 23rd April at 7.30pm at Nexus Art Cafe, Dale Street, Manchester. All are welcome and the event is free. I will be reading and signing copies and there will be readings from the stupendously talented Annie Clarkson and Michael Egan.


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Melissa Lee-Houghton’s poetry and short fiction have been published widely in magazines including Succour, Tears in the Fence, Magma and The New Writer. Her work is upcoming in Poetry Salzburg Review, La Reata and The Reader. She is a regular reviewer for The Short Review. Her debut poetry collection, A Body Made of You was released in April with Penned in the Margins. She lives in Blackburn, Lancashire. 

Soundtrack to my Life

A couple of years ago I did this meme thingumy to come up with a soundtrack to my life. And it was fun. So, I thought, why not do it again? Just for a bit of fun.

So I did. And it produced some, err, interesting results – especially as a lot of the songs on there I don’t listen to.

Anyone else care to join in?

So, here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool…because you’re not!
7. Stick the soundtrack on your mp3 player and listen away during the day.

Opening CreditsMonday. Monday, The Mamas and The Papas
Waking Up Badlands, Bruce Springsteen
First Day at School – Ruses D’Amour, scene III, Horia Andreescu and the Romanian State Orchestra (Glazunov)
Falling in Love Just, Radiohead
Fight Song What’s The Frequency Kenneth? R.E.M..
Breaking Up Capital Radio 2, The Clash
Prom/Dance/Ball Walk Like an Egyptian, The Bangles
Life’s OK Very Ape, Nirvana
Mental Breakdown – Welcome Home (Sanitarium), Metallica
Flashback No Man’s Land (Green Fields of France), Eric Bogle
Getting Back Together Falling, Catching, Agnes Obel
Birth of Child Devil Tricks for a Bitch, Lightspeed Champion
Wedding Brand New Cadillac, The Clash
Final Battle – Zozo Noir, Cedric Watson
Funeral Song Bhindi Bhagee, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
End Credits – Disco 2000, Pulp






And here’s a little Cedric Watson. There’s something a little bit special that they DO still make ’em like this.



[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiQckCIP16s]

Sorry and Funny

Only a little post today to assure you all that I am still alive and that I’ve just been a bit rubbish at blogging of late – mostly because I’ve not been very well (I have been bust writing too). But today is my last day of antibiotics (which, although they clearly help, are bloody ‘orrible things), which is, as far as I’m concerned, a Very Good thing.

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A massive thanks to those who’ve posted reviews of Not So Perfect on Amazon and Goodreads (et al), following my Twitter plea the other day. If anyone else would like to add them I would be eternally grateful. Seriously, if you’ve read and enjoyed Not So Perfect, please do spread the word – it really helps.

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And, to sign off on an amusing note – I give you this: when collaborations in writing don’t go exactly to plan.
It’s an old one, but that doesn’t make it any less funny.

My Life In Stories

First up: stories. They are important, especially for a short story writer like me. Which  probably goes without saying.

And today I’m over at the brilliant Dan Powell’s blog talking about them – more specifically, I’m talking about My Life In Short Fiction, which is both an honour (I think Dan’s blog is excellent, as is his writing – in my opinion he’s one to watch) and and awful lot of fun. And if anyone can tell me what the GCSE deaf story is I might even send them a book.

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What else? Well there’s been a fair bit of behind the scenes work on FREAKS! which is shaping up so, so well. I am really, really pleased with it.

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In other, not so great news, I’ve been a little under the weather with an infection that almost hospitalized me (I was stubborn and the doctor was kind and let me go home)  when I first got it back in 2008. But, being no less stubborn today I have not let it effect my work too much. Writers can be tough at times.

And that’s about it, I think. Well, it is for now.Except to say thanks to all for their Facebook and Twitter good wishes – they, of course, mean a lot.

Interview – Mark Hanks: Non Fiction And Household Tips

I’m delighted to welcome Mark Hanks to the blog today, to talk about his latest book, the top ten best seller, ‘Mum Knows Best‘ (Square Peg – Random House). It’s an excellent book, useful and fun (even my mum thinks so, which is some endorsement), but I’ll let him tell you about that – and more, including his expert tips on writing non-fiction…

Welcome to the blog, Mark. It’s pleasure to have you here. So, your book ‘Mum Knows Best’ – could you tell us a little about it? Who’s it for? What’s it about?
Hi Nik, pleasure to be here! The book is subtitled Exceedingly Helpful Household Tips, and harks back to a time when we didn’t use flashy and expensive products to keep our houses running smoothly. There are sections on cleaning, cooking, clothes care, mending things and generally keeping things tickety-boo!
Why did you (and your wife) write it?
We’re both fairly clueless when it comes to household chores, and thought it would be fun to find out how people did things in the past. It’s funny, once you start to discover novel, time and money saving methods of doing things, they become a lot less dreary. Also, we felt a book like this would go down well in the current economic climate – thrift is most definetly ‘in’ right now.
According to amazon, it’s ‘the perfect gift for every mother’ – do you really think that it’s something only mums can enjoy?
Not at all – anyone who has a life to lead and wants to put a bit of fun into household chores and save a few bob will find plenty of useful hints and tips in the book. It’s one of those books you can read to learn from or just dip in an out of.
What are your favourite couple of tips from the book?
Cutting delicate sponge cake with dental floss works a treat, and rubbing your hands with used coffee grounds in an amazing exfoliator! Also, pouring leftover cola down the loo will clean it amazingly. Also, a thick slice of bread is great for picking up small shards of broken glass from the floor. If your jewellery is dirty, toothpaste makes a great cleaner!

Could you tell us a little about your writing process?
It was simple really – first of all we asked our mums for old-fashioned tips, and secondly we acquired tons of books from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, read them and picked out tips that are still relevant today. Household manuals were much more common and popular back then so there was a wealth of information. We simply took the most interesting tips and put them into our own words.
Any tips for those who’d like to get into writing non-fiction books?
Yes. Number one is work hard on your synopsis and make your idea as clear as possible. Agents and publishers are very short on time, so if you can sum up your book in a sentence you are far more likely to catch someone’s eye. Also, you don’t need to finish a book before you submit it – a synopsis and decent first three chapters is often acceptable. It’s very hard to get published without an agent, so finding one will greatly increase your chances. They should not ask for money up front, nor take more than 15% of your advance or royalties. Agents understand contracts and will ensure you get the best possible deal for your book – Publishers can offer cheekily low advances to new authors, so it’s often worth negotiating!
Anything you’d like to add?
Write because you want to, but don’t think a publishing deal will make you rich, or bank on big royalty cheques. I’ve been writing for years and manage to earn a living, but have learned to assume an advance on any book will be all I receive. It’s a good idea to think of royalties as a nice surprise rather than a certainty.

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Mark Hanks is the author of 12 books, including the popular Harry Oliver series. He lives and works in Bollington, Cheshire.

Comic Relief

The superbly talented Darren Craske, who’s illustrating my next collection,  FREAKS! (co-written by the superbly talented and lovely Caroline Smailes, details here) has taken a little time out from his scribbling, sketching, inking and bringing our stories to life in such a brilliant way (seriously, just wait ’till you see the illustrations – they are bloody marvellous) to have a little fun. And what form has this form taken, you ask?

He’s drawn us.

Yes. He’s drawn the FREAKS! team.

Me, Caroline, and the man himself are now cartoon characters. There’s sparkling princessy prettiness, there’s someone with more than a passing resemblance to the great Buzz Lightyea (no bad thing, Darren, no bad thing), and there’s me.

Scarily accurate, don’t you think?

Ultimately Satisfying

Really pleased to see Not So Perfect getting a lovely mention by Carys on her blog – she’s reading and reviewing all the collections long listed for the Edge Hill Prize.

And that brings me to another thing. A cool thing. You know, we hear often that short story collections don’t sell, and that no-one publishes them. The long list would suggest otherwise though, and that, for me, is a wonderful and encouraging thing.

Have a look. There are collections there from Tindal Street Press, Biscuit, Pewter Rose Press, Impress Books, Penguin, Salt, Seren, Bloomsbury, Virago, Random House, Parthian and, of course the brilliant Roast Books. 

So short story collections are being published. I suppose maybe the trick is knowing where to look for them. So go on folks – look! And once you’ve looked, buy!