Writer - Ted Smith-Orr

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Ted Smith-Orr.  Enjoy.

Ted Smith-Orr

Hello Ted, can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Ted Smith-Orr, from London SE25.

How long have you been writing?

Since 1998. 

What first got you interested in writing?

I could convey pictures faster than paint and it involved less materials.

Do you attend a writing group?

I attend Poets Anonymous Croydon http://www.poetsanon.org.uk/.

Why do you attend a writing group?

To air the poems and share with similar minded people. 

What is the most valuable thing you've taken away from your writing group?

The privilege of sharing each other’s poems, ideas that can spring from them, and a few beers. 

What types of things do you write?

Poetry. 

Have you ever had anything published?

Small poetry publications, anthologies, newspapers, regional and national radio. 

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?  Have you received any rejections?

No agents, many refusals.

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?

Yes self publishing is a good idea as most bookshops could not care a fig about most of us as we are unknown.  Also much of what is written often appeals to our relations or locality.  Paper publishing is not old fashioned although e-books are fashionable. At the moment they run side by side.  Both are valuable ways of publishing. 

Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

After the initial emotional explosion, I realised I could do this and wrote about things I like and that and those around me. 

How do you come up with your characters' names and personalities?

People poems are usually a tribute to the person. otherwise they are not named. 

Do you have a writing routine?

Routine? It used to be daily at any time. Often into the night, or waking up and making drafts at a bout 3 am. 

Do you start out with a complete idea, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Some are complete. I don't know that hoping for the best is relevant.Some times by writing the first line the hidden ones behind it freely follow. Other times they can be a jumble which are a jig saw which needs fitting together. 

Do you have an editing process?  Do you have someone else read over your work?  Do you read your work aloud to yourself in front of the mirror?

My work: CUT, rewrite, rephrase and cut some more.  My Anthologies: I send to three different people as most of us miss the blinding obvious.  Not often but I should. If it rhymes and you can sing it, it should be ok. 

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

The sheer relief and pleasure of having put it on paper. (A bit like going to the loo) 

Delightful!  What is the best piece of writing advice you've been given?

"Write it and put it away in a drawer", but I add "When you take it out all errors will shine out from the inspired masterpiece that it is not."

What advice could you give to a new writer?

WRITE, WRITE and WRITE SOME MORE .  Read, re-read, cut, rephrase and cut some more.  Keep a note book with you all the time and enjoy every minute of it. 

How important is it for you to share your writing?

To get a grunt. nod, smile or laugh in response to my efforts is like a Wembley roar.  That's about as much a poet can expect. 

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?  Have you ever won?

Yes. No. ( that was an easy one ) 

Have you ever attended an open mic event for spoken word performers, as either an audience member or a performer?

As both in different parts of the country. 

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Painting illustration, family, smoking... too much and the usual.

What types of things do you read?  Do you think your writing reflects your book tastes?

Newspapers, poetry books, other non fiction books.Book tastes... No, unless a poem has sparked off an idea.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

"I am not yet born, Oh hear me" Louis McNeice. 

Do you have a website/blog/Facebook/Twitter dedicated to your writing?

Website being prepared devoted to illustration and poems - http://www.teds-o-creativeenergy.co.uk/. 

What are you working on at the moment?

My Website.  A collection titled "At the Backs of Shops and Houses".  A local arts festival in Croydon.  Poets Anonymous radio programme on one Sunday a month for www.croydonradio.com. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I wish you every bit of success with you venture. Whatever you get is what it is. Enjoy it and congratulate yourself on making the effort to get it going. 

Thank you very much Ted.

How well do you know your characters? - Lexa Wright

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As you should all know by now, I enjoy a little bit of procrastination every now and then (all the time), and while browsing Twitter, I came across a tweet from @am_sch linking me to Headspit and a post entitled How Well Do You Know Your Characters?, so I thought I'd give it a go.  I may do this for all of my protagonists, but this post will be about Lexa, from Lexa Wright's Dating Sights.

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1) If your character could go on a date with any celebrity, who would it be?

Probably someone like Ian Brown or Sam Duckworth. 

2) Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

3) How fast can your character run a mile?

She doesn't run.  She walks, wanders, meanders, shuffles, skips (occasionally), crawls, saunters, strolls, traipses, but she never runs.

4) How many girls has this character kissed?

None.

5) Give me a number: how much would it cost for your character to eat Hilary Clinton's recently trimmed toenails -- all ten of them?

She wouldn't do it, but no doubt her dog, Beryl would.  Beryl eats anything.

6) What's the coolest trip your character has ever gone on?

A few years ago she went to Japan.

7) You're out shopping: What three stores does this character visit, and what do they buy?

She'd spend most of her time wandering around Waterstones, and would buy books on how to write a novel and how to get published.  She'd then go to Schuh to buy a pair of Converse, before stopping off at Yo! Sushi to pick up some take-away.

8) Your character is trapped in a helicopter with Denzel Washington, Boy George, and Cyndi Lauper... What happens?

Firstly, she'd panic.  She doesn't like flying, and would wonder how she got into a helicopter as she would never do that of her own accord.  She'd then get a bit confused and think that Denzel was Samuel L. Jackson, and then she'd get all star struck with George and Cyndi, having been fans of their music since the 80s.

9) Favorite restaurant?

Yo! Sushi.

10) Favorite song?

'Hey Jude' by The Beatles.

11) Favorite band?

No Doubt.

12) What would your character's autobiography be called?

Lexa Wright Writes.

13) Would you character buy a Headspit t-shirt if the author of this website someday decided to make that a business venture? (hint, hint, cough, cough, cheapplugforpotentialfutureitem, cough, cough)

Quite possibly, if it meant she could procrastinate for a while, looking through the designs.

14) If your character could rename him/herself, what would that new name be?

She likes her name.  It's unusual.

15) Has your character ever farted in public?

She tends not to go out into the public world if she can help it, so she probably has never needed to fart when there.

16) Some people have this weird thing about eating bologna... is your character one of them?

She doesn't know what bologna is.

17) Does your character, or would your character, watch Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?

She would definitely watch it, to see what they hype is about, and possibly to get research for her next book.  She's quite fond of crappy day time telly.

18) Favorite mixed drink?

Vodka and lemonade.

19) Favorite beer?

Anything as long as it's lager.

20) Favorite desert dish?

Ice cream.

21) Who is your character's favorite athlete?

She wouldn't know an athlete if one came up and punched her in the face!

22) Did your character, or would your character, ever eat glue?

She prefers actual food to man-made adhesive products.  However, Beryl would no doubt give it a go.

23) How often does your character use profanity?

Never.  She's a good girl.

24) How many countries has your character been to?

Not as many as she would like.  She's been to Japan and a few touristy European countries.  She'd like to expand her passport stamp collection.

25) What's the wildest place your character has ever made boom-boom?

(Boom-boom, in the above question, is the family-friendly word for sexual intercourse... shhh!)

She doesn't like to talk about things like that.  It's personal.

26) If your character owns a car, what do they drive?

A purple Fiesta.

27) Is your character on Twitter?

She's not yet, although she should be as she needs to build herself a platform for advertising the upcoming release of her novel.

28) Either way, what does your character think about Twitter?

She's not a user so she has no view on it, yet.

29) Who does your character love more than anyone else?

Her grandmother, Evelyn, and her dog, Beryl.

30) Would your character rather be rich or free?

Free.  She's already rich (ish) but she's not fussed about the money.

31) Beautiful or brilliant?

Brilliant.

32) Athletic or influential?

Influential.

33) Happily married or happily single?

Neither.  She's happily in a relationship.  For now.

34) How much money does your character make a year?

She doesn't work.  She lives off her grandmother's inheritance.

35) Did you character go to college?

She went to university and studied literature and creative writing.

36) What is your character's religion?

She doesn't really have one.

37) Does your character smoke?

No.

38) Does your character do drugs?

No.

39) Does your character think this sounds like an application for a dating site?

She's already filled in a dating site application and it was nothing like this one.

40) Who would your character vote for: Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?

She wouldn't vote for either.  She's English.

41) Can your character dance?

She does dance, but that doesn't mean she can dance!

42) What three adjectives best describe your character?

Scatty

Messy

Lonely 

43) What three nicknames would be most fitting for your character?

The Procrastinator

The Procrastinatress

The Procrastinatron

44) Your character, Scruff McGruff, and Smokey the Bear walk into Bed, Bath, and Beyond... what happens next?

She doesn't know what any of those things are!

45) If you weren't writing about your character, what author would have come up with him/her?

Probably Helen Fielding or Jane Moore.

46) When is your character going to die?

When she's old, so not for another 70 years or so.

47) Who is the most influential person in your character's life?

Her best friend, Louise.

48) Has your character ever killed anyone?

She's wanted to, but she's never done it.

49) Does your character have children?

She doesn't.  She has a dog, which is a child substitute.  But I don't think she's a very maternal woman.

50) Your character is going to buy one of those Headspit T-Shirts, right?

Right, yeah, of course.

*****

After having answered these questions about Lexa, I realised that she sound very similar to someone I know very well...

Writer - Jan Moran Neil

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Jan Moran Neil.  Enjoy.

Jan Moran Neil

Hello Jan.  Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Jan Moran Neil – based in Beaconsfield, Bucks.

How long have you been writing? 

All my life but seriously since 1988.

What first got you interested in writing?

I trained as an actress and voice teacher. Words are my tools. 

Do you attend a writing group?

I have run Creative Ink for Writers’ classes – my own courses for adults since 2000.

Why did you start running this group?

I teach.  I edit. I’m passionate about helping writers to place words on the laptop or page in the best way they can to communicate with themselves and others. 

What is the most valuable thing you've taken away from your writing group?

You only take out what you put in – to anything. 

What genre(s) do you write?

I have just written a novel and published – for young adults. It started as a short young adult novel, transpired to a play – which was performed on the London Fringe to great reviews and then mutated to a longer novel which can be read by fully grown people but teenagers too. 

Are there any genres that you don't enjoy writing?

Um – no.  But it would be good to have nine lives and try out every one. 

What types of things do you write?

Probably the only thing I haven’t written is song lyrics.  Oh, to have Bob Gaudio’s talent. (The Four Seasons)

You mentioned earlier about your YA novel; have you had anything else published?

Three plays – Blackberry Promises, Brave Hearts & Baggage and The Deadly Factor by New Theatre Publications.

Serving Bluebird Pie – Creative Ink Publishing and available on Amazon Kindle.

Hundreds of features – for national and local magazines including Company, Mother, Reader’s Digest, Chic Chat, Chiltern Living and most recently for Writing Magazine – monthly contributor.

Have you ever sent your writing to agents/publishers?

Loads and I’ve had two major literary agents but no-one works for you like yourself. 

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?

I run Creative Ink Publishing so have published others words and also run Creative Ink for Actors which has recently produced a film – using finalists’ work from an international writing competition. 

Do you have a writing routine?

I write to projects – create my own deadlines and work to commissions. There's nothing that hones the thoughts like a deadline. 

I agree.  The adrenalin surge forces words out of my body!  Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Writing pulls down writing. 

Do you have an editing process?

I edit – yes – I have a reader – but sometimes the policewoman on my shoulder is too noisy. 

Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

Reading and connecting my own thoughts.

How do you come up with your characters' names and personalities?

They do. 

What is the best piece of writing advice you've been given?

Writing pulls down writing – John Mortimer. 

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Write. Write. Re-write. Eventually abandon it and move on. It will never be perfect.

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

Isolation and omnipotence

Worst – rejections. 

How important is it for you to share your writing?

Publication is very important to me. 

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?

BBC Writers’ News Comp – 1995 – won with my short story – ‘Death by Pythagoras’ – broadcast on Radio 4 and commendations in many comps for poems and other short stories.

Have you ever been to an open mic event for spoken word performers?

Yes – I come from the performance stable – was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. 

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Reading, acting, directing, editing, teaching producing, travel and swimming.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

Anything by Kazuo Ishiguro, Audrey Niffenegger, Lionel Shriver or Joanne Harris. 

Do you have any favourite lines from novels/plays/poetry/songs, or any favourite literary quotations?

Writing pulls down writing – John Mortimer and ‘This writing business – pencils and whatnot. Over-rated if you ask me.’ Winnie the Pooh.

What are you working on at the moment?

My novel for young adults – Blackberry Promises is about to be published, and the film ‘Dear John ‘ out next month. 

Do you have a website/blog/Twitter/Facebook dedicated to your writing?

www.janmoranneil.co.uk

www.janmoranneil.boxofblogs.com

Creative Ink for Actors on Facebook. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you for the exposure.

You're more than welcome.  Thank you for participating.  Would you be able to provide a short piece of your writing?

It’s August 1959 and it’s blackberry picking time. ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Living Doll’ blare out from the juke box: boys wear natty suits, their hair slicked back in Elvis quiffs; girls are dressed in puffed out skirts - all of them with one thing on their minds ... 

How far do we go to keep a promise?   A back street stabbing changes the lives of five young people forever and promises prove difficult to keep. Blackberry Promises is an evocative exploration of teenage sexuality set in an era which invented the teenager. 

 © Jan Moran Neil

Thank you very much Jan.

University of Nottingham Creative Writing Society

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Welcome to my interview with Ibtisam Ahmed, from the University of Nottingham Creative Writing Society.

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Hello Ibtisam, can you please tell us a bit about your writing society?

I am part of the University of Nottingham’s Creative Writing Society. We meet every Thursday on campus, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for our weekly writing sessions, though we sometimes have special events happening at other times. I am not sure when the society was established but I know it has been a part of the university’s SU for at least seven years.

How many members, on average, does your society have?

We currently have 103 members as well as 83 students who are signed on for a one-month free trial. We hope to have some of the latter sign on as full members.

Who are you and what is your role within the society?

My name is Ibtisam Ahmed and I am the President of the society for the 2012-13 academic year. I was President for the 2011-12 academic year as well.

How are your sessions structured?

Our main focus is the weekly ‘Lit Circle’. We have varying themes each week (for instance, Dreams, Character Creation, Plot, Fairy Tales, Poetry, History, etc.) and the sessions themselves consist of 10-15 minute activities based around these themes. One activity is ‘Word Association’ where we ask random members to think of a word related to the theme and then ask everyone to use all the words that were mentioned to write a piece. Another is ‘Consequences’ where each person writes a paragraph before passing it on to the next person. The activities are usually customised to fit the theme.

What types of things do you cover in your group?

We mostly concentrate on the theme and let the members focus on genres and styles, though we sometimes do have sessions with themes like Poetry. Our main aim is to let people practise their writing in a friendly and fun environment. 

What have been some of your most successful/popular activities?

Our most popular activities were the Murder Mystery session, the Hunger Games session and the collaborative session we held with the Quidditch & Harry Potter Society. The Murder Mystery was an interactive ‘dinner party’, where each member was assigned a character and then had to write the same murder thriller from different first-person perspectives. The committee played the roles of butlers and maids and delivered the prompts and clues. The Hunger Games session was held shortly after a large number of members expressed their interest in the books. Similar to an RPG session, each member was able to choose a weapon and a position on a fictional map that was provided. A neutral committee member than announced five-minute writing slots with specific instructions (such as ‘forage for food’, ‘make allies’, ‘cannot kill this turn’, ‘must kill this turn’) and then selected three or four pieces to be read out. Any piece that was read out became canon and any others that contradicted these canonical pieces were automatically discarded. This went on until one member was left ‘alive’. The collaborative session was a day of ‘O.W.L. Wizarding Exams’ for members of both societies.

Do members of the group get a chance to run/lead a session or a part of a session?

We always encourage non-committee members to run sessions, though very few choose to do so. 

What genres do the members of your group write?

There is a great diversity in the society. With the new academic session having just started, it is difficult for me to point out any preferences this year. The general tone seems to be comedic fantasy. 

Have you ever written collectively as a group, such as producing an anthology?

Each Lit Circle has one group activity every week. We also publish a creative writing magazine, Jabberwocky, which is a collection of our members’ work every semester.

What kind of support does your writing society provide for its writers?

The main support we provide is a platform to come and practise writing every week. The committee is not exclusive to English or Creative Writing students – I am a History and Politics student myself – so we do not try to teach or correct others. That being said, we do have critiquing sessions once every month or so where writers can come with their pieces, and give and receive friendly advice from fellow writers. We also arrange for guest lecturers to come and talk to the members. 

Who have you had speak at your group?

We have had a few guest speakers who spoke to the society. In the two full years I have been at university, we had Bobbie Darbyshire, a novelist, who spoke to us about independent publishing and the challenges of writing, and Ikhtisad Ahmed, a novelist and playwright, who spoke to us about how to develop characters and how to get published without compromising too much on your own vision. 

Where do you get your ideas/writing prompts from?

The committee meets every week and we decide the themes and activities for the Lit Circles, as well as any prompts that go up on our forum. Non-committee members are welcome to join these meetings and provide suggestions though there is no obligation for them to do so.

What is the best piece of writing advice you've been given?

From a guest lecturer in my first year: “Write plots you, your friend and a complete stranger would all read. But don’t compromise on your style.”

What is the best piece of writing advice you give?

Do not be afraid to try new styles and ideas. 

Do you hold open mic events or spoken word performances?

We hold monthly open mic nights in town. 

Does your society have a website/blog/Twitter/Facebook?

Our websites are follows:

The SU Website, Creative Writing Society page (http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/studentgroups/society/creativewriting/)

Facebook, the UoN Creative Writing group (http://www.facebook.com/groups/161626100593730/)

Twitter, @UoN_CW (https://twitter.com/UoN_CW)

We also have a forum for our members, though we prefer to keep this private. 

How would someone go about joining your society?

If they are a current student at the University of Nottingham, they simply have to go to the SU office or website and sign up using their student account. If anyone outside the university wants to join the society, they need to contact the SU office to arrange for an Associate Membership.

Thank you very much, Ibtisam.

Writer - Ibtisam Ahmed

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with Ibtisam Ahmed.  Enjoy.

Ibtisam Ahmed

Hello Ibtisam.  Can you please introduce yourself?

My name is Ibtisam Ahmed. I am a Bangladeshi currently studying B.A. History and Politics at the University of Nottingham.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing, outside of academic commitments, from the age of nine, though, needless to say, my earliest endeavours were not very professional! 

I think everyone can agree with that!  What first got you interested in writing?

My maternal grandfather wrote poetry for a living and was an integral figure in our country’s cultural movements. I grew up in the same household as him. He got me interested in Literature and writing from a very early age. 

Do you attend a creative writing society?

I have been a part of the University of Nottingham’s Creative Writing Society. I signed up as a member in my first year (2010-11) and was elected its President in my second year and in my third (current) year.

Why did you join the society?

I wanted to be able to write regularly outside my coursework and I thought joining a society would give me the correct motivation. 

Do you attend any other writing groups?

I write for the Film & Television section of the university’s magazine IMPACT. 

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt from your writing society?

To keep practising as a way to improve. 

What genre(s) do you write?

I mostly write dark fantasy. I grew up on Harry Potter and His Dark Materials so I was always a fantasy fan. However, I do write non-fiction occasionally.

Are there any genres that you don't enjoy writing?

I am not a particularly big fan of writing horror though not for any specific reason.

What types of things do you write?

I enjoy writing short stories and articles.

Have you ever had anything published?

I have been published in the University of Nottingham’s creative writing magazine Jabberwocky, the university’s journalistic magazine IMPACT, the newspaper in my high school as well as the children’s supplement of Bangladeshi newspaper when I was younger.

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?

I have not sent my writing to any agents or publishers.

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?

I have not thought about getting any books published yet. However, I do intend on getting some of academic work published and I like to think of getting some stories published at some point. That being said, I have not thought about how. 

I prefer reading actual books. I think it has something to do with the fact that I was fortunate enough to grow up in a house which had its own library – my grandfather’s – and I spent many afternoons curled into an armchair with a book open in my lap. 

Have you ever attended an open mic event for spoken word performers?

I have attended open mic nights as both a performer and an observer, and I really enjoyed them. 

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?

I won the Commonwealth Writing Competition for six years. I also entered various contests in school. 

How important is it for you to share your writing?

I enjoy sharing my pieces but it is not a necessity.

Who/what influences your writing?

My grandfather and my brother, who is also a published writer, influence my writing a lot. 

How do you come up with your characters' names and personalities?

As silly as this might sound, I just start writing and see where it takes me. I then go back and change elements that do not fit.

Nothing sounds silly when it comes to writing.  We all have our own idiosyncracies.  Do you have a writing routine?

I write every weekend though I do not have a fixed time for it.

Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

I have done both. I find it better to plan ahead for longer pieces and be spontaneous for shorter ones.

Do you have an editing process?

I usually go over my pieces at least three times before I let others read them. I like to give them to a few different people to read and then incorporate their suggestions as much as I can, as long as it does not change my original idea. 

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

The thing I enjoy the most is coming up with a plot and characters. I love the ability to create my own world without any real restrictions placed on me. 

What is the best piece of writing advice you've been given?

From a guest lecturer in my first year: “Write plots you, your friend and a complete stranger would all read. But don’t compromise on your style.” 

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Write something you would read before trying to write something for others.

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

I like to read a lot and I am a massive film fan. I also enjoy playing tennis.

What types of things do you read?

I read a wide range of books. I grew up on a mix of fantasy (mostly J. K. Rowling and Philip Pullman) and the classics (mostly Austen), and I always like to read something new. My writing is equally eclectic, but most of my pieces do seem to be either fantasy or period pieces. 

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

If you mean a specific piece of writing, I would have loved to have written the His Dark Materials trilogy.

What are you working on at the moment?

While my focus remains on my academic commitments, I have been writing a novel about Santa Claus. Though I have not gone very far with it, it is set on the 1^st of December in an unspecified future year, with Santa Claus sitting in his workshop after receiving no wishes for Christmas. He reminisces about past Christmases while trying to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer needed in this world.

That sounds really interesting.  I'd quite like to read that!  Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you for contacting me! 

You're more than welcome.  Would you be able to provide a short piece of your work?

These are the first 280 words from the book I am currently writing, tentatively titled A Dark December. I have not edited it yet, so it is still very much a rough draft.

PROLOGUE: December 1, Present Day

            He stood in front of the open door of this workshop, perfectly still, staring into its blackness. It used to be such a colourful place, so noisy, so happy, so alive; now it was just a shell, with memories haunting it in a way no vengeful ghost could. Hesitantly, he moved, ever so slightly, his foot just about to step over the threshold when he took a deep breath, shuddered and turned away. Santa Claus, jolly old Santa, he of the rotund stomach, the red-and-white outfit – with matching hat thank you very much! – and the puffy beard, instead turned to the window and stared out across the ice. It was the first day of December and it was dark, cold and dreary outside. He wished that the inside was different.

            The memories came back to him, as they always did. How he would open his gigantic tome of Childhood Psychology: the Naughty and the Nice this time every year and pore over its pages as if he had not memorised it by heart. How he would look into the heart of every child who wanted something from him and decide, as only an expert psychologist like him could, whether said child deserved the gift they wanted or whether they would have to settle for a token of patience instead. How his elves would help him craft those wonderful gifts and how much fun they had doing it. And, of course, how he would pile them up in his sleigh and, just before the stroke of midnight, he would fly across the world and spread pure happiness to its every corner. What a life that was! 

© Ibtisam Ahmed

Thank you very much, Ibtisam. 

Writer - Madeleine Calcutt

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Madeleine Calcutt.  Enjoy.

Madeleine Calcutt

Hello Madeleine.  Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Madeleine Calcutt living at the foot of Mt Baw Baw in Neerim South, West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.

That sounds like a lovely place.  How long have you been writing?

Ever since I was a child. However, I have been writing to get my novels published for about ten years.

What first got you interested in writing?

I think the interest was there all the time due to a highly active imagination. It’s always been part of me. I decided to get my novels published so I could use the talent God has given me to serve Him and send out Christian messages in my work. It is a calling, a ministry. 

Do you attend a writing group?

I go to the Baw Baw Writers’ group but cannot attend their meetings very often as they are at night and quite a long way away. I began two years ago. 

Why do you attend a writing group?

To get advice on finding a suitable publisher and on promoting books.

What is the most valuable thing you've taken away from your writing group?

I think that the support you can get from the other members in a writers’ group is the most valuable thing to come away with. Handy hints are really helpful, but support is more important. 

What genre(s) do you write?

All sorts of genres:- contemporary adult; children’s picture books; children’s stories; young adults’ historical fiction. I don’t feel restricted at all. I love writing for children because I love children. I love historical fiction because I am passionate about history. 

Are there any genres that you don't enjoy writing?

Fantasy – it’s just not ‘me’. I like addressing people’s problems in a realistic way to help them. I use my experiences to do this.

Poetry – Can’t write poems.

Sci Fi – I think it’s yuk!

Paranormal stuff – I don’t believe in it.

Have you ever had anything published?

Yes. An historical novel for older children published in U.S., called ‘All Aboard!: Jenny’s Story of the Mayflower Voyage’

Also, an adult contemporary novel published in U.S. called ‘Step of Faith’.

I have just completed a young adult historical novel in the same series as the first novel, called ‘Transportation!: Linney’s Convict Years’. I have begun another in the series about World War 2, and have planned more. 

Also I have written, and had published, interviews with artists and writers for a travel magazine.

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?  Have you received any rejections?

Yes to both, unfortunately. 

I think rejections are a rite of passage for every author.  Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?

Books fascinate me. I don’t consider material on a screen to be books, so I am not interested at all. I wouldn’t want to read them nor have my novels published as Kindle or e-books. I wouldn’t want to self publish because I wouldn’t be capable of it technologically and also there is a stigma against it as well as vanity press. My two novels were published through vanity press and some publishers won’t accept an author’s manuscript if they have self published before or used vanity press. I was very happy with the service I got with vanity press except for the fact that I had to promote my own novels which I hated and at which I was most unsuccessful. 

Do you have a writing routine?

I write when I feel like it. Evenings I like to write because I have more time then and it is quiet and I can allow myself to be transported into another world without distractions. Plus I am like a bear with a sore head in the mornings. I don’t ‘do mornings’! I just write when I am able to. 

I don't do mornings either!  Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Somewhere between the two. I am not highly organised with it because this would play havoc with my creativity but I do have to know where I am going roughly with it before I start. Also, I allow the characters, and new situations that I think up along the way, to direct my plot to a certain extent.

Do you have an editing process?  Do you have someone else read over your work?  Do you read your work aloud to yourself in front of the mirror?

I edit as I go, chapter by chapter. I prefer to print off a chapter and then sit in bed and read it and do chicken scratchings in red on it and then go to my computer and correct it, chapter by chapter. I was fortunate in having an excellent editor for my current novel. It made such a difference.  I don’t read my work out aloud. I think that is a good idea. I don’t know about in front of the mirror, though! I think it is a good idea to read dialogue out loud to see if it sounds natural as the spoken word. 

Who/what influences your writing?  Where do you get your inspiration from?

I would have to say God. He gave me the talent, and His Word in the Bible inspires me. It is a road map to life. 

How do you come up with your characters' names and personalities?

Character’s personalities are based on friends, family, and people I have observed in my life or in novels or films. I get my characters’ names from observation, reading names in novels and searching them out on the internet according to what century I am writing in. Can’t call a 16^th Century woman Kylie!!!

What do you enjoy the most/least about writing?

I enjoy everything about writing. It is the other stuff I don’t like – finding a publisher and promoting the novel. Hate that! What I love most about the actual writing is bringing my characters to life. It’s magical. Getting inside their heads and getting to know them. I also love research but sometimes it is a bit too much like hard work. 

What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever been given?

“Write from the heart!”

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Believe in yourself. Don’t let anyone else’s negative comments deter you in your ambition. Don’t let them destroy your confidence, your vision and purpose and the belief in what you are doing. 

How important is it for you to share your writing?

It is important for me to get my novels published and out there for people to read. There is no point writing if no one reads it. I like to reach as many people as I can. I like to inspire Christians, to give them strength, and to bring knowledge and the good news about salvation to non-Christians through an engaging story. 

Have you ever entered any writing competitions?

Yes. A couple of times, but I didn’t get a place. I’m too busy to bother with them, actually. 

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Reading, walking with the dog in nice sunny weather by a river in a forest, being with my grandchildren, going to church and bible study. I love swimming in the ocean but I live a long way away from the beach now unfortunately. 

That's a shame.  I like taking my dog for walks along the beach, but I wouldn't swim in the sea here!!  What types of things do you read?  Do you think your writing reflects your book tastes?

Yes definitely. I write the sort of books that I love to read – historical and/or family books. I love family sagas set in the olden days. I love reading books that focus on family members and their relationships with each other. My preference is for Christian Fiction.

Do you have any favourite lines from novels/plays/poetry/songs, or any favourite literary quotations?

‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1 New King James Version) Describes faith beautifully. 

‘Let the sea roar and all its fullness;

let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the woods

Shall rejoice before the Lord. . .’  (1Chronicles 16:32-33) This is so majestic and powerful. 

‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . .’  (Romans 8:1)  This is so reassuring.

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

Exactly what I am doing – writing historical novels either for young adults, older children or adults. 

What are you working on at the moment?

I am trying to find a publisher for my second novel in my young adult historical series. The novel is about early Australia. I am also trying to find a publisher for a collection of short stories called ‘Let the Sea Roar’ written by other Christian authors and me. I am also trying to promote my adult novel, ‘Step of Faith’. Somewhere in between all this I am writing my third historical novel in the young adult series and this one is about World War 2.

Do you have a website/blog/Twitter/Facebook dedicated to your writing?

You can look up my facebook under my name – Madeleine Calcutt, or my website: madeleinecalcutt.wordpress.com. 

Would you be able to provide a short piece of your writing?

Transportation: Prologue.

London, 1787

The Old Bailey and Newgate Prison Digging her jagged nails into her palms, Linney held her breath as the bailiff crossed the courtroom floor. He whispered in the judge’s ear and handed him a piece of paper. The judge opened it.  Every sound was amplified. The dry crackle of paper exploded in Linney’s head and bile crawled up her throat. The judge’s gavel slammed onto the desk and she jerked.            “Linnet Jane West! Stand.”            Linney rose slowly. Her legs trembled uncontrollably. The chains rattled as she clutched the rail in an effort to remain upright. Her heart was beating fast and her mouth was so dry she couldn’t swallow.            “You are judged guilty of the heinous crime of theft, for which the punishment is transportation to . . .”            The courtroom spun and Linney sank to the floor. A sharp slap on her cheek brought her back to consciousness. She stared up at a female warden’s bovine face. “Wh―what did the judge say, Miss?”

            Cold, indifferent eyes swept over her. “You’re ta be transported ta Australia for seven years.”            Linney gasped and squeezed her eyes shut. “Seven years?” Once more the room swung violently.“ ’Ere, drink this.”Water filled her mouth and she swallowed convulsively, then coughed and sat up. The warden grabbed the chains and jerked Linney to her feet. She whimpered as the shackles scraped her chaffed wrists. “Please –”“Shut ya mouth, girl.”Dragged from the courtroom, she stumbled helplessly in the warden’s wake.

Linney saw Ma Mabel out of the corner of her eye, and she swung her head, glaring.

Betrayed! Bitterness and anger welled up in her.            Ma Mabel shrugged. “Not my fault, love! Ya knew ya would ’a got caught sooner or later.”            Linney knew no such thing.

*   *   *

  © Madeleine Calcutt

Thank you very much, Madeleine.