You know you’ve got a bestseller inside you but don’t know where to start. Read on, as Maxine Gordon sources sound advice from leading lights in the creative writing world across the North West
Caroline England
'If you are in it to make money – think twice!’
Caroline England has published 10 books in the past seven years, six under her own name and four as CE Rose.
So she's made it, right?
'I'm still waiting to buy a helicopter,' quips Caroline, who admits that like many authors it's a struggle to make a living from writing.
'The main thing is to love the creative process of writing, which I absolutely do. If you are in it to make money think twice, as many authors earn less than the minimum wage.'
Caroline is currently in what she calls ‘no man’s land’ as she is out of contract and hoping a new, exciting opportunity is just around the corner.
‘Being in no man’s land can be demoralising, but I know I am not alone, and the important thing is to continue writing until that lucky break comes along,’ she says. ‘My last novel, The Stranger Beside Me, is described as a “stylish dark-as-night thriller”, and I now have four more thrilling, twisty stories to offer a publisher.’
The flipside of this, says Didsbury-based Caroline, is publishers are keen for new names and ripe talent. 'They really want debuts – there are prizes, awards and competitions for them.'
And she has plenty of tips for unpublished writers dreaming of hitting the bestsellers' lists with their first work.
'If you have a brilliant debut novel, make the most of that one-time opportunity.'
Her advice to the unpublished is to get their work into the best shape possible before sending it out into the world.
‘Generally speaking, you only have one bite of the cherry when submitting a manuscript to an agent or a publisher. It can be expensive, but if you can afford to pay, an independent edit is hugely helpful.'
And get some honest, critical, feedback on your work. ‘Share it with some beta readers – not your grandma or your mum – or join a writers' group.'
Authors need to be tenacious as there are plenty of hurdles on the road to being published.
‘For most there will be disappointment and the ups and downs of any creative industry. Admittedly, the lows can be tough as writing is so personal and comes from the heart, but you have to be in it to win it, and the highs of getting published are truly amazing.'
Caroline, who has three grown-up daughters, began creating stories in her head as a child but did not write her first fiction until she was in her thirties and had taken a career break from the law.
In hindsight, she sees how her years as a divorce and personal indemnity lawyer loaded her with a treasure trove of material for her novels, which explore the genres of domestic noir and gothic psychological thriller.
'I learned a lot of things about human nature and the human psyche, which I would not have discovered in another profession.'
She describes her writing style as more of a 'pantser' than a plotter. 'I fly by the seat of my pants. I have vague ideas, the ending, a few twists and secrets, which I mull in bed at night, in the car or in the bath, and then I start the journey by creating my characters. Once I know them, the plot seems to magically fall into place.
'Other authors plot everything out and know what is going in chapter four and chapter 44, for example. In some ways, I'd love to have that ability but that is not me.'
Her main advice is to get writing. 'Be disciplined, get the words down and let the story flow out. When you first write, don't worry about punctuation or grammar, just get the narrative on the page, then go back and edit. And polish, polish, polish until it shines.’
carolineenglandauthor.co.uk
Mandy Byatt
'Read not just for pleasure but read to learn'
Can you learn to write a best-seller? Who better to answer the question than Cheshire-based novelist Mandy Byatt who studied creative writing on a prestigious university course that spawned literary superstars Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro.
Mandy firmly believes writing courses can be helpful for would-be authors; she had been writing for 25 years before she got published and says the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia (UEA), which she studied for in 2019, played an important part in building her confidence.
'I applied for the Master's course in crime fiction at UEA, got a place, and did it online, along with some residentials.
'I wanted to dive deeper into crime fiction; I had started to read more crime fiction and decided it was what I wanted to write and I wanted to improve my craft.
'I absolutely loved it. UEA has such a good reputation and when I met people in my group and my tutors for the first time, I felt like a proper writer.'
While on the course, Mandy had to write a novel. 'I wrote a crime fiction novel set in the 1950s in London about someone involved in a gang and how his past comes back to haunt him.' That work is now out for submissions and Mandy is waiting for a publisher to bite and offer her a deal.
'It was worthwhile doing the course,' she said. 'What you get from being with other writers and honing your craft is invaluable.'
Of course, she adds, it doesn't have to be a university course, there are lots of other ways to study and improve your creative writing.
Like many modern-day authors, Mandy has a 'day job' too and works for the Professional Writing Academy, which offers courses. She had also undertaken other writing courses before enrolling for her MA at the UEA.
'Doing a course gives you a framework to get going because there are assignments and deadlines. You also peer review other students' work. It's far easier to spot what works in another person's writing and you can then take that back into your own work.'
Besides taking a course, what other advice does she have to help writers on the path to publishing that bestseller?
'Read a lot. You should study how other writers write. Read not just for pleasure but read to learn.'
Other tips include giving yourself time and making sure you love the idea because you will be stuck with it for a long time, not only writing the work, but editing and promoting it.
If a novel seems daunting, break it down. 'Write 500 or 1,000 words a day'.
Unlike Caroline England, Mandy is a plotter. 'I'm a big fan of planning my novel. I write a long outline plan and find that helps me'
'I was first published in 2022 when I was 52 – around 25 years after I had written my first screenplay. We all hear about the big deals – six figure deals – but 99 per cent of it isn't like that. You have to love what you do. Even if I hadn't been published, I would have carried on writing.'
Mandy has had two books published – Just Another Liar in 2022 and The Younger Woman in February 2023 – with several new works out looking for a publishing deal.
'There are hundreds and hundreds of authors all competing for the same readers and it is tough,' she says.
In the meantime, Mandy knows what she will do: 'Just keep on writing.'
mandybyatt.com
Siân-Elin Flint-Freel
'You have to find a way to silence those inner critics'
If you want to get fit, you might get a personal trainer. If you want to get your book into shape, you might hire a copy editor.
Mentor, copy editor and proofreader Siân-Elin Flint-Freel has worked with writers across the North West to get their work – both fiction and non-fiction – ready for publication.
The analogy with a PT seems particularly apt as Siân-Elin likens writing to a physical workout. 'You need to exercise creative muscles like any other muscle of the body.'
She sees her role as a mentor and is only too happy to share her expertise. 'I think everybody does have a book in them – something to give to the wider world'.
As well as potential novelists, Siân-Elin works with many clients who are writing non-fiction based on their area of expertise.
'People can write about something they know, something they are passionate about. Not everyone has the imagination to be an author, but everybody has something in them to give to the wider world.'
She says novice writers have to be kind to themselves. 'You need to give yourself time and space and allow yourself to make mistakes. You have to find a way to silence those inner critics – you have got to shut them up and just write.
'Don't be constantly editing – just get the stuff down and then you can go back to it. Try to write something every day, even if that is just for five minutes. Once you get going it starts flowing, a sentence becomes a paragraph, a paragraph becomes a page, a page turns into 1,000 words.'
What if you are really stuck, with zero inspiration?
'Pick a headline or a photo from a newspaper and create a scenario or some characters.
'My number-one piece of advice is just write anything. The more you write and the more you read, the better you will be and learn what to do and what not to do.'
What makes a successful writer?
'People who are passionate and enthusiastic with determination,' says Sian-Elin. 'They need to have the will to improve and be willing to consider feedback even if they decide not to take it on.'
Writers of non-fiction need to do their research and be knowledgeable about their subject; fiction authors need a rich imagination.
Siân-Elin offers a range of services to her clients including helping with concepts, plot, and structure, gathering information, writing, and preparing a work for publication.
In many ways, getting published has never been easier because people can self-publish today, she adds.
To get a publisher or agent, she advises writers to build their platforms on social media and to network with industry players via the likes of X. And, when submitting a manuscript, follow the guidelines precisely.
'Make sure you know what agents and publishers are looking for. Know what they want and will accept. There is no point sending three chapters if they simply want a synopsis.'
Another tip is to study the Writers and Artists' Yearbook, a directory and guide to the industry. But ultimately, she says, it's all about getting the words down.
'Just write. Write a little every day. Give yourself a goal. Have a calendar on the wall and mark it with an X every day you write something.'
Connect with Siân-Elin Flint-Freel on LinkedIn, Facebook and X
Alan Wall
'Writing a novel can be a very long journey'
Alan Wall helps people write better. As a creative writing professor at the University of Chester and an internationally acclaimed published author, he helps students improve their use of the English language.
'I teach my students the ability to transmute what they know or experience into something people want to read,' he says.
'It's not really about that experience, it's about your ability to write about it.'
Is a creative writing course a worthwhile pursuit for the would-be author? Can you teach someone to write? Alan says: 'You can turn them into a better writer. You can teach them alertness to language and the ability to structure language and show them how to write vastly better.'
Creative writing courses have been established in the USA for more than 100 years, says Alan, but arrived in the UK in the early 1970s when the University of East Anglia launched its MA under the tutelage of celebrated author and academic Malcolm Bradbury. It scored an instant hit – its first graduate was Ian McEwan who went on to win the Somerset Maugham Award for his collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites in 1975 and the Booker Prize for his short novel, Amsterdam, in 1998.
Of course, not all creative writing graduates will emulate the success of Ian McEwan. Indeed, Alan says not all of his students want to be authors and points out that learning to write well is a skill suited to many careers. However, the department has celebrated one recent success – graduate Siân Hughes, who owns Magpie Books in Malpas, made it to last year's Booker Prize long-list for her novel Pearl, set in the Cheshire village where she grew up, and described by judges as 'original and thrilling'.
Alan's teaching comes from first-hand experience. He is an established author of novels and short stories and his latest work, White Ivory, is being published online by the Fortnightly Review.
'For seven and a half years, I made my living as a writer,' he says. Eight of his works were published in those seven years and he was awarded a Royal Literary Fellowship at the University of Warwick. He came to Chester in 2004 where he teaches writing and modern literature.
What is his advice to aspiring authors? He says: 'Writing a novel can be a very long journey. Writing a series of shorter pieces, such as short stories or semi-autobiographical pieces, has become a very popular form of writing.'
He also echoes what others in the industry say about the struggle to make a living out of writing alone.
'Most writers have another job. I made a living out of writing for seven and a half years but don't think I could do that now. Book sales for most authors have declined. The Society of Authors published figures last year that showed most members earned less than £3,000 before tax – and you can't live off that.
'You have got to do something else. Most go into teaching or some sort of journalism and most of my students accept that.'
Read Alan's latest work, White Ivory, for free at fortnightlyreview.co.uk
Take a leaf out of their book
Authors and Cheshire Life columnists Clare Mackintosh and Suzan Holder share their top five tips on writing that bestseller
Clare Mackintosh
' I’ve abandoned entire books after months of work'
Clare is a multi-award-winning author with seven Sunday Times top ten bestsellers to date. Her books have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her latest novel is A Game of Lies, a thriller about a reality TV show being filmed in the Welsh mountains.
1. PLOT YOUR KEY POINTS
You might prefer to let your story unfold organically, but every writer I’ve spoken to has benefitted from taking a step back at some point and considering whether the major plot points – the twists, the reveals, the oh-my-God-no! moments – are in the right place. For me, that happens before I start writing; for you, it might be useful at the end of your first draft, when you’re tightening up the structure. Either way, it’s time well spent.
2. GET TO KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS
Even a nail-biting, action-fuelled thriller needs characters we can root for, so spend time working out who they are. Take them on long walks, take them into the shower, take them to bed. Know what they eat, what they wear and what their favourite subject was at school. Know them better than you know your family, and they’ll leap off the page.
3. HOOK YOUR READERS
When you’re writing, think like a reader. If your first chapter doesn’t hint at tension and conflict, then you might want to take a second pass at it. Maybe you’re coming into the action too early. Instead, drop us right in the thick of it, and catch us up on the backstory later. If you opt to hook your readers with a dramatic prologue, there should be a reason for it – not just the best bit of your book copied and pasted to the front.
4. POV CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
Point of view (POV) is the perspective from which the story is told, and it has a huge impact on the reader. First-person ('I saw…) can create an intense and personal relationship between the reader and the narrator, making them almost accomplices, whereas third-person ('he saw…') is more objective and can give you more freedom. Try writing a few scenes from different POVs to see what impact it has on the story.
5. KNOW WHEN TO PRESS DELETE
For every 10,000 words I write, there are 20,000 I delete, and I’ve abandoned entire books after months of work. Millions of books are published every year, which means writers need to work hard to make theirs stand out. Does your novel have a unique concept? An unusual setting? Can you describe it in a catchy sentence? There’s no shame in starting again if a better idea comes along.
Talk books with Clare on Facebook @ClareMackWrites
Suzan Holder
'The only rule in any creative process is: there are no rules'
Suzan is a journalist and broadcaster who has written two romantic comedy books, Shake It Up, Beverley and Rock 'n' Rose, published by One More Chapter, HarperCollins.
1. UNDERSTAND THAT WRITING A BOOK IS HARD
I’ve never met anyone, even famous best-selling authors, who said it was easy. It’s a lot of work and a huge commitment. That said, it can also be fun, rewarding and very educational. You can find out some really cool things while you’re doing your research, about all sorts of subjects, people, places and even yourself.
2. READ A LOT
Reading is the best way to learn how to be a writer. I would always recommend you read books in lots of genres even if you think you want to write only in a particular one yourself.
3. YOU NEED STAMINA
A well-written book is only half the story. Having a great idea, creating the plot, the characters and choosing your setting and understanding the story you want to tell is only the very first, tiny step on the road to having a book published. To be brutally honest, even if you finish writing that book you are not much nearer to being a best-selling author. How to get a deal with a big-name publishing house remains one of the biggest mysteries of the universe… and I’ve done it! Every single author’s route to being traditionally published is completely individual. Some manage to land a literary agent first as most publishers will only accept manuscripts from an agented author. Others have self-published their book and been spotted that way, although that is increasingly rare. I submitted to a division of HarperCollins that accepted manuscripts from authors themselves. It took six years for me to get to that point and it was six months before they replied. Attempting to be an author needs stamina, self-belief, and, above all, patience.
4. DON’T TRY TO WRITE THE LATEST CRAZE
By the time you finish writing, that craze will be over. Write a book you would love to read. The only rule in any creative process is: there are no rules. Do things your own way and try to enjoy the whole process.
5. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
I don’t think there are any secret tips on how to write a bestseller – change your name to Stephen King or Marian Keyes maybe? Seriously though, if you manage to finish a manuscript, well done. That’s a massive achievement in itself. Stick with it and if you get your book published then huge congratulations, you’ll deserve champagne, bouquets, a standing ovation...
And finally, to all aspiring authors out there, good luck and keep writing.
X: @HolderSuzan
Instagram: SuzHolder15
Facebook: Suzan Holder Author
Julie Conrad
'It’s not about getting a big publisher and selling millions of books – it’s about you'
Altrincham-based psychological thriller writer Julie Conrad has won a book deal at the age of 64 having self-published her first six novels.
Julie, who is retired after a career in social work and is an accomplished artist, wrote the draft of her first novel, High Places, in 1990, then dusted down the manuscript in lockdown and reworked it.
She self-published her first books mainly via the Amazon platform.
‘Thirty years ago there was nothing like Amazon. You sent your manuscript off to a publisher and waited forever to hear back,’ says Julie.
Her tips for using this route are to have your manuscript copy-edited and to hire a graphic designer to format the book for Amazon and to design a cover.
‘Don’t rush it. Get it professionally copy-edited. You want a quality manuscript if it is going to Amazon. You don’t want people deflated by spelling and grammatical errors. ‘And get it formatted correctly and keep it looking professional and polished.’
Encouraging readers to leave reviews is another tip. ‘This way you can get more sales,’ she says.
Using social media to raise your profile is another must. ‘Set up your author’s page on Facebook and run ads on Facebook and Instagram. Do PR – I’ve had a feature in the Manchester Evening News and been on local radio several times.’
Her efforts have paid off and her latest novel, To Everything There Is A Season, will be published by Creative Ink most likely early next year. ‘I am really pleased – absolutely delighted. It seems like a validation of my work.’
She hopes the deal with raise her profile and lead to more sales.
But whatever the outcome, she will keep on writing. For Julie, writing is a passion, first and foremost. And she would encourage anyone who has a burning desire to write a novel to get on with it – whatever their age. 'It’s never too late,' she says. It’s not about getting a big publisher and selling millions of books – it’s about you. You have got to love the writing process. For me, writing is like painting. Time flies by and you get lost in that world’.
julieconrad.co.uk
