10 Insights from a Writing Life

A couple of nights back, I was rifling through the filing cabinet, looking for the Anne Tyler essay mentioned in the previous post, when I came across this sketch.  I was thrilled to discover it as it brought back great memories of the time when I appeared on-stage at the Dartington Festival alongside my former teacher, Sir Malcolm Bradbury and my friend, the novelist Louise Doughty.  We were debating that thorny old subject - 'Can creative writing be taught?'

Well, I certainly believe that good writing can be facilitated.  Indeed, a few weeks ago, I was standing in for Sara at her 'Novel in a Month' writing course, a course linked to the Nanowrimo idea that if one freewrites, it is possible to write an entire draft of a novel in 30 days.  There are some links here to the idea that I propose in my eBook so it's a subject that I'm familiar with, even as in general I take my time over novels, having produced, on average, a novel every 4 years for the past 20 years (yikes, is that how long I have been writing...) 

I began the class by asking if there were any areas in particular that the students would like to cover and one person asked if I might give a list of '10 insights into the writing life' that I have garnered during the course of my writing career.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, I was unable to come up with a list of 10 off the top of my head.  But I promised I would think on it, so here, for the 'Novel in a Month' people and for everyone else, is my list of 10...

1. If you want to succeed as a writer, then consider it a commitment to 'a writing life'. If one makes a long term commitment to the process - to reading widely, improving constantly, producing regular work, responding to criticism and continuing to write, whatever the 'marketplace' makes of one's work then publication becomes the inevitable end-point.  The journey has ups and downs.  For example, my biggest 'up' was the glamorous Chelsea house-boat launch for my novel 'Bluethroat Morning' and the news that I had a high five-figure deal for German-language publication of that novel.  My 'down' was learning that my novel 'Boundaries Road' had not secured an English publisher. My learning - that if I keep writing and publishing, then each novel will eventually find it's place on the bookshelf.  Even the out-of-print ones have potential - for example a recent film option enquiry has come in for 'Temple of Hymen' even though that novel isn't currently in print.
2. Do not rely on writing for income.  Whilst there have been periods during my writing life where I've made a very good living from writing, I have never relied on writing for my income.  My suggestion to all creative people is to find a solid way of making a living that is not one's art, until such time as the art brings in a regular, totally reliable salary.  If you do that, you are then free to make your art exactly that 'your art'.  You are less likely to compromise and attempt to produce work that you think the marketplace wants.
3. Write only what you long to write. If crime fiction is your passion, pursue it.  But don't write crime fiction because you see that it sells well.  You are far more likely to win at this game if you write in a truly genuine way, if you find a voice that is uniquely your own.  JK Rowling wasn't following some trend in 'wizard fiction'.
4. You will meet many cynics and negative people along the way. That doesn't mean that you have to become one of them. If people doubt your ability to succeed, smile politely and listen to your inner voice that tells you that you know differently.  If they complain about the marketplace, just go back to the blank page and remember why you are doing this in the first place - because you love what you do.  Did Modigliani stop painting because someone told him there was no market for his art?  There was no market, but he created art because he was compelled to and he knew his own talent. (And yes, I know he died a pauper on a sardine-stinking bed, but he knew his value; that is what gave him strength and brilliance.)  Besides, today we have more opportunities for self-marketing than ever before, we don't have to subscribe to the myth of the tortured genius.
5. Find fellow writers who 'get' your work and accept all constructive criticism - indeed, invite it.  You have to be committed to getting better.  You have to learn from good readers.  You have to listen to good editors.  At the same time, it is important that you listen to your gut in relation to how you respond to criticism.  Malcolm Bradbury always used to say "80% of the criticism you get will be worthless but 20% will be useful.  Find the 20% and use it."
6. Don't beat yourself up about it when you're not in the mood.  There is not a rule of the universe that states that you have to write.  If you're not in the mood, for God's sake go and do something that you do want to do.  If you have to beat yourself with a stick in order to write, then why are you writing in the first place?  Go paint a picture instead.  So long as you come back to the writing when you ARE in the mood, you will eventually produce good work that you are proud of.
7. Having said that, there's a lot to be said for the power of momentum.  If you're not in the mood, it may be that you're working on the wrong project.  If you always write from passion, then you are more likely to return to the blank page.  And the more often you face the blank page, the more your story grows.  And the more your story grows, the more you think about it when you're having a shower or walking in the park.  So it goes that you come back from the park and write down what you thought about and so before you know it, you are on a roll...
8. Agents and editors are not your enemy.  It may seem, sometimes, that it is difficult to get past the slush pile.  You may hear depressing statistics.  But if an agent or editor reads something that they truly LOVE, they will pick it up and they will take it further.  Read Fiona's story for a perfect example of commitment and persistence paying off.  If it hasn't happened for you yet, it doesn't mean it can't happen.  My own background is not a privileged one.  And I don't believe in luck.  You make your own luck by cultivating knowledge, developing your talent and being persistent.
9. Every moment is a moment of choice.  In the words of Richard Bach in what was my personal bible as a teenager 'Illusions':   "The world is your exercise-book, the pages on which you do your sums.  It is not reality, although you can express reality there if you wish.  You are also free to write nonsense or lies, or to tear the pages".
10. You don't have to plan the whole damn thing in advance.  Trust the process.  Allow it to grow.  Write in fragments if necessary.  Let it breathe.  If you want to write something that has a soul, nurture it and don't plan the life out of it.  Have faith.

I do hope that some of these insights are valuable to you.  What is your biggest insight as a writer?  What would happen if you allowed your writing to flow without fear?  If you'd like to join in with the discussion about productivity, there's still time to sign up to the free teleclass this coming Wednesday 30th July.  I look forward to 'meeting' you there.