Writer - Dick Sawdon Smith

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Dick Sawdon Smith.  Enjoy.

Dick Sawdon Smith

Hello Dick.  Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Dick Sawdon Smith based in Berkshire.

How long have you been writing?

Since I was a small boy. 

What first got you interested in writing?

I can’t remember.

Do you attend a writing group?

Thames Valley Writers Circle.

When did you start going there?

About 12 years ago.

Why do you attend a writing group?

Fun and support.

It's very important to have fun while writing, otherwise it becomes like a chore.  What is the most valuable thing you have taken away from your writing group?

To have learnt that there are a lot of people out here more talented than I am and they still don’t make it.

So very true.  What genre(s) do you write?

No particular genre.

A man of many talents, eh?  Are there any genres that you don't enjoy writing?

Murder mysteries.  I don’t like killing people.

I would have thought writing about murder would allow you to kill those people that you can't do in real life.  What types of things do you write?

Short stories, articles.

Have you ever had anything published?

Yes, newspapers, magazines.

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

Yes. 

Would you consider self-publishing/e-publishing?

I have self published.

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

My ideas (I wouldn’t call them inspirations) came from newspapers, magazines every day experiences.

Life can be a fascinating place, if you look closely enough.  How do you come up with your characters' names and personalities?

Names I take from a list I keep of favourite names over generations, personalities depend on the story.

Do you have a writing routine?

I am most creative in the morning but I don’t have a routine.

I've spoken to a few people who are creative in the morning.  I wish I could share that enthusiasm!  Do you start out with a complete idea for your stories, or do you just start writing and hope for the best?

Usually just start and hope for the best.

Do you have an editing process?

I read the work out loud to myself and of course to the Circle. 

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

Write, write and write. 

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Write, write and write. 

How important is it for you to share your writing?

There is no point unless you share it. 

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

Yes and yes. 

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

Attended but not taken part. 

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

Football, golf, Scouting.

What types of things do you read?

I read fiction and non-fiction alternately.

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

The Specialist by Charles Sale. 

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

"It is a far, far better thing that I do now, than I have ever done."

What are you working on at the moment?

Short story for Circle competition and my weekly newspaper column. 

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

This was written for a 100 word competition on Radio 4 with words that had to be used listed by Alexander McCall Smith, within certain restrictions and it had to have a happy ending. 

WILL SHE STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW

Peter lay back and threw a wistful glance at the moon. It was unlikely that life could ever get any better than this. They’d met in Thailand, both on a backpacking holiday around the world. Happily, they agreed to travel together and now, after eleven blissful months, it was the last night before they caught the final plane home. Was this it? Would her feelings be different in the real world? Would she be content to settle down after their adventures? She kissed him gently. ‘I can’t wait to start life properly with you,’ she said. Life just got better.

© Dick Sawdon Smith

Thank you, Dick.