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Tips to writing that elusive first novel
It has taken a lot of blood, sweat and Sauvignon Blanc to get where I am today, and I won’t lie in saying that getting a book to publishing standard is easy, ’cos it’s not. You have to be dedicated and allocate time whenever you can. Most importantly, your story has to be compelling. Your own life story may seem interesting to you, but unless you are in the public eye, or have something different to tell, why would anyone be interested?
I actually started writing Working it Out four years ago. Once I was happy with it, I submitted to publishers to no avail. All the comments were positive, but publishing is a business and taking on a debut author is always a risk, however good they think the book is. I had one comment from a large publisher saying they hoped it wasn’t a bit regret turning me down, I knew then the book was good enough. Encouraged by my copy editor, who edits for Milly Johnson, Jackie Collins and Emily Barr, to name but a few, I decided to publish myself.
Five weeks in I have sold several copies via my website www.nicolamay.com, Amazon.com, WH Smith and Waterstones online. I also go to Ladies who Latte meetings in the area, which have proved a big hit. It wasn’t until I got my signing at Windsor Waterstones on May 14th and this subsequent quote from Waterstones’s Carol Dixon-Smith…
Working It Out appears on the surface to be a straight forward romantic comedy, but it is awash with some very unusual, eccentric, and highly entertaining characters, and is filled to the brim with love in all its many and varying forms. Highly entertaining, surprising, hugely funny but very touching, this is the one to take on holiday with you this year. Don’t miss it!
… that I began jumping for joy. I am going to carry on marketing the book myself but am on the lookout for a major publishing deal, so watch this space.
My top 10 tips to writing a novel
- Decide on a story. Mine is – Ruby has a plan. Twelve jobs in twelve months, until she find the one of her dreams….
- Do a rough chapter/plot breakdown. This will alter as you begin writing, but are very useful. I do some of my best planning whilst driving or walking.
- Build on memorable characters. Work on their appearances, habits, journey etc. They have to be consistent throughout the novel.
- Always carry a notebook with you to capture real life sayings and experiences.
- Aim to write 1000 words a day, that’s just four double spaced sides of A4. An average chick lit book is 75,000 words, so you could write your book in less than 3 months! Get up an hour earlier or write in your lunch hour, it’s amazing how much you can achieve.
- Don’t edit as you go along, just get it down on that paper. Put in a drawer for a few days and go back to it, you will then make necessary changes.
- Try and end each chapter with the reader wanting to know more. Everyone loves a cliff hanger.
- Use your friends as ‘readers’ as you go along and tell them you want complete honesty. See how your plots twist and turn.
- Show don’t tell. Readers are not stupid.
- Enjoy it!
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About the author
Name: Nicola May
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Website: http://www.nicolamay.com
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