There’s a pandemic in the UK of local libraries being closed down. But the silver lining is the community spirit which motivates dedicated locals to band together and do something about it. That silver lining burst into sunshine on a bright, summer’s day earlier this month when, to the lilt of Scottish folk music, our village library was re-opened.
Guest of honour, internationally renowned crimewriter James Oswald, officially opened the library then stayed to sign copies of his books (all sale proceeds to the library) and chat to fans. A generous and approachable individual he was happy to put up with my company for about 20 minutes, sharing our writing experiences, and he even agreed to a photo!
He had an interesting path to publication, but I suspect that path never runs smooth. While unpublished, his first novel was shortlisted in a competition, attracting the attention of publishers. They liked the writing but weren’t keen on the paranormal elements. However, he stuck to his guns and self-published to enormous success & multiple sales, after which publishers came knocking, rebranded and the rest is history.
He writes quickly – his last draft took 11 weeks to complete. When we chatted he was about to start a new draft, aiming to complete by the end of August – that’s 8 weeks. While I metaphorically collapsed in exhaustion at the thought of it, he reminded me that his books are part of a series so his characters and setting are already well-established in his mind.
His writing approach is similar to mine: he doesn’t edit while getting the first draft down. Instead he makes notes if he decides while drafting that something needs changing, then carries onto the end. It doesn’t work for everyone but if, like me, you’re terrified of blank pages, loathe having unfinished projects lying about, and prefer to set out and plan the plot in advance, it’s a good strategy.
He’s also an example to dispel the myth that published authors languish on wicker chairs in orangeries in some kind of literary parallel universe while the royalties roll in, before stepping out for red-carpet events. Like most of us he has a full-time job. In fact, I suspect it’s more than full time. With a 30-acre farm to run, a prolific series of crime novels plus a fantasy series for youngsters he’s an exceptionally busy man.
In fact he told me that he’d sat down wearily one day to talk to his brother about all his writing deadlines and his brother reminded him that writing had always been his dream and he was only getting what he’d wished for!
The ultimate goal for unpublished writers like me is getting a publishing deal and it’s often difficult to see beyond that. I liken it to a professional qualification (I, too, have a day job – as an actuary – and had to sit exams for 7 years before I could call myself one). That ultimate goal is the single most important thing we aspire to where life often takes a back seat (just ask my family!). But when that deal finally comes, it’s the beginning, not the end. That’s when the hard work really starts.
But it’ll all be worth it. If (no, when!) I do succeed and have a novel published, what I’m looking forward to most isn’t a launch party, a book signing, the glitz or glamour – it’s the prospect of seeing my book sitting in the stand of my local library which dedicated volunteers worked so hard to re-open, so I can say that I’m a small part of something our community can be proud of.
Em 🙂
