The Writing Process Blog Tour

Recently I was invited to participate in a blog tour, answering the same

four questions about writing approaches that other writer bloggers have been contemplating. So, here are my observations. Have a look at some of the other participants’ blogs and compare notes. The responses are fascinatingly different.

What am I working on?

Currently, I’m working on redrafting my first novel which has lain in a drawer for two years. No bad thing, you might say and, in many ways, I agree. The main problem with the lying about in a drawer approach, however, is that the longer the slumbering opus lies there, the more difficult it becomes to waken it. It took a very encouraging ‘Winter Words’ writing workshop to finally prompt me to open the drawer.

Alongside the editing, I’m working on a new short story ready to enter the next round of competitions. This is my way of keeping up the momentum: list the entry dates for one or two competitions in the forthcoming months, then get writing. A recent entry in the annual Fish Publishing memoir competition was short-listed. Not a winner but maybe next time . .  .

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Apart from an academic textbook, ‘Textual Analysis’, published by Oxford University Press, my only other published writing is a series of children’s stories ‘The Colonel’s Collection’ - www.thecolonelscollection.com - based around a handsome cock pheasant called The Colonel. These are essentially animal fables with a gentle lesson to be learnt from each. I like to think they are different from other animal stories by virtue of their strong characterization and humorous illustrations created by Louise Gow. They are designed to appeal to adults as well as children. It’s my belief that parents are much more likely to read stories to their children if they (the adults) equally enjoy them. I can remember chortling over Raymond Briggs’s stories while reading them to my children. There was a delightful adult sub-text running through the narrative and that kept both reader and audience entertained.

Why do I write what I do?

I started out writing children’s stories because all the ingredients were there on my doorstep: a rural landscape, a castle and a wonderful array of wild creatures, each with its own distinctive personality. As the series progressed, so did my enjoyment of watching the interaction between these creatures and inventing new situations in which to develop this interplay of characters.

My adult novel aims to be the type of book I enjoy reading: character-driven and concerned with exploring the psychological and emotional reactions of a few individuals in a testing situation. I’m not a fan of the broad-sweeping saga: too many characters and not enough time to explore each one. I am interested in people and what makes them tick, especially when put under some kind of pressure. So, that’s what I want to write about.

How does my writing process work?

A bit of an odd question as it assumes my writing process does work! Sometimes, I start with a given when I’m writing a short story for a competition and a subject is prescribed. I quite like this approach as it disciplines my focus and dictates length. More often, I get an idea for a short story or a novel from something I observe and note, or experience and remember for days after. The novel I’m editing at the moment began life that way: I had been to hospital for a check-up and, coming out at the main entrance, I was confronted by a young man holding his head in his hands, obviously deeply distressed. For some reason, I felt drawn to him and the memory of his face and hunched shoulders stayed with me for days until I felt I had to write his story which started off as a short story but soon developed a life of its own and expanded into a novel.

I plot out the main stages of the story on a white board and fill in detail where I can see it at this stage. I usually know how it will end, although that can change as the writing develops. I’m a slow writer so it takes some time to complete a project. Then it’s edit, edit, edit . . .

I try to write every day but that’s not always possible. Today, for example, I’ve had to work on arrangements for this year’s BOOKMARK book festival - www.bookmarkblair.com - of which I’m the Chair. The nearer I get to the main festival weekend  (10^th - 12^th October), the less time available for writing. I’m planning on rescheduling my day so that I can write in the early morning during the light, summer months. We’ll see how long that lasts!

Blog Tourers Before and After

I was invited to take part by:
Ann Swinfen www.annswinfen.com
She was invited to take part by:
Catriona Troth catrionatroth.blogspot.co.uk
These writers will be following me and posting their answers to the four questions on Monday 14th April. There should have been three but one was a no show! They are:

Joan Lennon http://joanlennon.blogspot.co.uk/

Joan Lennon grew up in Ontario, Canada, and came to Scotland in 1978.    Now she lives in Newport-on-Tay, Fife.  Joan writes fiction for children - historical series, big fat fantasies, novels for less robust readers, and silly stories about dragons, ferrets and poo - and poetry and fiction for adults.  She also runs creative writing workshops for all ages, and is just beginning a six-month post as Writer-in-Residence for Blairgowrie, Rattray and the Glens.

Marion Duffy www.mirrenjones.wordpress.com

MIRREN JONES is the pseudonym for the creative writing partnership of Marion Duffy from Scotland and Elaine Atkins from Wales.  Marion and Elaine have been writing together for 17 years: books, journal papers, articles, academic courses, workshops, short stories and poetry.  And they're still good friends!  Their debut novel was Eight of Cups.  Marion currently works as a medical practice manager, and Elaine was formerly a senior NHS manager – their experiences bringing realism to their novel- in-progress,  Never Do Harm

www.mirrenjones.wordpress.com