Vanessa Matthews was determined to make her dream of writing a novel come true, she had to put an action plan in place and she shares with BritMums her top tips to write a novel.
Like many people, I harboured a dream of writing a novel. However, my life as a busy wife and working mum of four had taken over and my dream was distant. I needed to rediscover my love for writing. So, in 2012 I set myself a 30 day writing challenge, entered writing competitions and blogged about my experience. As a result, my first poetry collection was published in 2013, and this summer I finally released my debut novel The Doctor’s Daughter.
Sounds easy right? If only! I’ve hit many obstacles and I’ve learned a lot about writing along the way. Here are some top tips to help you tell your story
Define what success means to you
Whether you’re aiming for a six figure book deal or plan to self-publish, identify your goal then break down the steps you need to reach it. After that, just keep writing.
Believe in your project 100%
I must have redrafted The Doctor’s Daughter around 20 times before I was happy with it. It takes motivation and tenacity to keep chipping away at a story you’ve been working on for months but I kept going because I believed in my story.
Push past your insecurities
Lots of writers doubt their abilities, throw draft after draft in the bin or simply never get started because they fear what people will think. I have struggled to silence my inner critic for years, but I realised that I had to share my work with readers and other writers. It’s the only way to learn and grow.
Develop a regular writing practice
Set aside some uninterrupted time to focus on writing. You don’t have to write pages and pages. Just get into the habit of writing every day. It’s a very competitive market. The more you hone your craft the more likely you are to end up with publishable pieces.
Do your research
Once I had the bones of my story written down, I spent a lot of time researching 1920s Vienna so I could create authentic scenes. My story is largely driven by character, but readers tell me they also appreciate the historical accuracy of my novel.
Seek professional help
Make use of the professional organisations offering writing resources. The Doctor’s Daughter grew from my time at an Arvon Foundation retreat. I used Goodreads to find beta readers. My manuscript was assessed by The Literary Consultancy. I responded to literary agent Twitter hashtags and talent scouting initiatives such as ‘Discovery Days’ to pitch my novel. All were invaluable in helping me achieve publication.
Accept change
Friends, beta readers, literary agents and editors will all give you feedback. Whilst you don’t want to lose sight of your story, you will inevitably need to make changes during the editing and redrafting process. Go with it.
Ditch perfection
Don’t get too hung up on forming the perfect sentence or crafting the best dialogue at first. Get it down as quickly as you can. Once you have a completed manuscript you have something to edit, redraft and polish. Agonise over the first few pages and you will run out of the enthusiasm and focus you need to finish it at all.
Expect to hit a wall
I faltered at around 30,000 words. It’s normal to face writer’s block at times. Don’t panic. Talk it through and brainstorm ideas if you need to. I did, and before I knew it I had reached the end of my manuscript.
Get started
Take a few minutes to sketch out some plot notes or if you have time on your hands, draft that opening chapter. Whatever you can fit in, it’s time to do make a start. Yes, right now. Go!
The Doctor’s Daughter is out now. Paperback and Kindle editions available from Amazon, in selected Waterstones stores and from Waterstones.com
Vanessa tells us, ‘My debut poetry collection ‘Melodies of my Other Life’ was published by indie press Winter Goose Publishing in 2013. Since then I have been featured in several poetry publications, have won two poetry contests and have developed my fiction writing skills through training with the Arvon Foundation and a mentorship award from The Literary Consultancy. The Doctor’s Daughter is my first novel. I work as a freelance copy writer and marketing consultant and live in Cornwall with my husband and four children.’
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