Writing Advice

I knew nothing about publishing when I fired off my first novel to literary agents. I had never joined a writers’ circle or sought advice about writing. I had no idea how hard it usually is to get into print. If I had, I might never have tried. Ignorance was bliss. Writing was bliss. That was all I knew. I only really sent it off because my family and friends – to whom I had foolishly confessed what I was doing kept asking if I had found a publisher yet.

Having bought The Writers Handbook and short-listed several literary agents, I completely overlooked the basic rules of submission:

In most cases, send the first three chapters, a brief synopsis (2 page max and a covering letter with some personal details.
Send white laoose leaf A4 – no binders.
Present the work in a straightforward font, double-line spaced.
Print material on one side of the (numbered) page only.
Agents generally prefer to be targeted one at a time.

So what did I do? I compiled my favourite chapters (1, 3, 9 and 18 as I recall), single-line spaced, bound in natty plastic spines. I added a 37 page synopsis and a self-deprecating letter explaining that I was overweight and my novel was 300 000 words long (it was actually longer). I sent this to five lucky agents concurrently. One sent it back by return with a note saying ‘not seeking new clients’, one rejected it as ‘unreadable’, one asked for a reading fee as it was ‘rather long’ and two agents called on the same day saying they wanted to represent me. Within a week, I had signed a two-book contract with Hodder and Stoughton that made me a full-time novelist.
I was incredibly lucky, a fact I never deny. I used to say I was just in the right place at the right time. Now that I know publishing better, I sense that every time and place is right if the book kidnaps the reader’s imagination, and you can only do that by trying. If there are a few things that I unwittingly did right, they are these:

I wrote what I wanted to read.
I believed utterly in my characters.
I never forgot where the plot was going.
If something didn’t work, I reworked it until it did.
Having finished it, warts and all, I took a break and then tweaked it until my fingers ached.
I really, really enjoyed writing it.
I always put writing first, dreams of publication second.

That’s how I still do it. It works for me. Yet everybody writes differently, with a unique voice, and telling somebody how to write fiction is like telling somebody how to talk. How dull if we all spoke the same way. Ergo, my only real advice is to write from the heart. I have compiled a ten point list because my webmaster wanted me to, and I hope these points help if you need some guidance, but they aren’t rules. There are no rules.

Write what you would like to read, not just what you think will top the charts.
Believe in your own characters – and love them. If you don’t, nobody will.
Never forget which way the plot is going. I draw up big wall-charts.
Whatever you do, try to get it finished! There are thousands of half-finished novels languishing in bottom drawers in the world, and none on bookshelves.
Give yourself time off afterwards before rereading. Taking a step back is very important to be able to judge your own work.
Remember, you can change as much as you like after you’ve typed ‘finis’.
I re-read and edit continually, producing up to three or four drafts.
Research agents/editors carefully before deciding which to send it to.
Try to submit the work in the required package/layout.
Be patient when waiting for a reaction.
Whether you become best-seller or gather the largest collection of rejection letters in existence, never forget why you write. Have fun!