Archive for category 5 Questions About Writing
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Peter Raposo
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing on February 11, 2025
Peter Raposo was born in London to Portuguese parents and now lives in Coventry.
His first book dUst came out in 2021. Peter writes science-fiction novels, fiction, romance, and he’s now working on a horror novel. He’s also a member of the New Street Authors and has a YouTube channel called that boring dude.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
I always make sure to take a couple of hours to write or to do a bit of research every day, but if no ideas are coming to mind, I take a break where I either read something or do a bit of meditation. As I get older, the writing tends to get a bit easier, but I don’t set myself any daily targets. I just wait for the words to come to me. There are days when I can write 10 to 20 pages in one go, and then there are days where I find it hard to write half a page.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
Imagination. Pain. Love. Be a bit funny. Or dramatic. I think I’m a bit of both.
I’ve written some of my best work while going through some of the most painful moments in my life. It’s almost as if I’m a sadomasochist that craves the pain just so I can write. Maybe I should have been a poet.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I use a lot of social media, including my YouTube channel, and I email magazines, radio stations and other writers/bloggers asking if they would like to have me on their show or interview me for their blogs.
I also email libraries and independent bookshops asking if I could do a book event, and I usually get good replies. Plus I’m a member of a local writing group and we always find a few events to do throughout the year. And then there’s Facebook and Instagram, but, to be honest, I’m still learning the process of marketing myself.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
Communicate with people. Go out there, see the world, talk to people, to other writers, etc. During the lockdown of 2020-2021, I started to help out at a food bank and I met so many people who had such crazy stories to tell me that, in the end, I ended up writing a trilogy of books.
A top tip for other writers?
Only one: write. If you’re stuck and you don’t know what to write, just start journaling. That will help you to write.
About The Mechanical Tears of the Immortal Being – published January 2024
A famous author is invited to a party in the middle of nowhere, a party attended by some of the most powerful people in the world. On the way there, he meets a porn star. Later, when they’re already at the party, he watches as the poor woman is taken away because some people want to have fun with her. And why was he invited to that party?
Years later, that same writer takes a private flight to New Zealand. One of the passengers on that flight is the billionaire Samuel Obberbrunner. Unknown to everyone, Samuel is heading to his bunker where immortality is waiting for him. But to achieve immortality he will have to leave love and everything else behind him for a long time.
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Victoria Walker
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing on January 7, 2025
Victoria Walker has been writing romantic fiction since a visit to Iceland in 2014 inspired her first novel. 
As well as writing, she spends her free time dressmaking, knitting and reading an inordinate amount of contemporary romance. She lives in the Malvern Hills.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
When I start a new book, I set myself a deadline for completing the first draft and use Pacemaker.press to work out how many words per day I need to write. Typically, this ends up being around 1200 words per day, but if I do fewer or extra, it changes the total for the subsequent days. Because I have a day job, I need the discipline of knowing I have this target to meet every day, otherwise it won’t get done. Also, it stops me from being overwhelmed by thinking of the total word count as a target.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
I think discipline is one of the most important things, and I have that quality, although it doesn’t come easily! Belief in yourself and what you’re writing is also important, especially if you’re indie published, or a debut novelist and don’t yet have the validation of a publisher or readers to know you’re on the right track. I’ve always loved the saying – ‘the only difference between someone who’s published and someone who isn’t, is persistence’. That’s definitely true.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I started out doing everything but have narrowed it down over the past year, concentrating on what’s working for me. I have an author Facebook page, which came to life when I started doing Facebook ads. People who see the ads follow my page, so the ads have had that unintended consequence as well as generating sales. After three years, I have stopped doing Amazon ads because the Facebook ads work so much better for me. They’ve boosted sales of my Icelandic Romance series by at least 100% since I started using them in July. It’s trial and error to find what works, but they’ve been a game changer for me. I also offer a bonus epilogue in the back of most of my books in return for a newsletter sign-up. This has been very successful, and I get a lot of engagement from my subscribers. For my latest release, I had a huge (for me) number of pre-orders just off the back of the newsletter.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
Most of my knowledge of the writing craft has come from attending the Romantic Novelists’ Association annual conference. I’ve been to six. There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience amongst their members, it’s been invaluable to me.
A top tip for other writers?
Write as much as you can. The more you write, the better you’ll become at recognising what is good and what isn’t. And reading in your genre helps enormously with this too.
About Ignited in Iceland – published November 2024
Iris, an English volcanologist, arrives in Iceland focused solely on her research. But she meets Siggi, a charismatic local with a complicated past, and a passion for showing her Iceland’s geological wonders.
Set in the land of ice and fire, this is a compelling tale of love, risk, and finding the courage to trust again.
5 Questions About Writing With . . . David Wake
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Self-publishing on December 13, 2024
David Wake writes science fiction, adventure, comedy and, most recently, fantasy. 
An advocate of indie publishing, he co-wrote Punk Publishing with Andy Conway on why and how to self-publish. He’s published 14 novels and has been a guest of honour at SF conventions.
More information: www.davidwake.com. Sign up to receive his latest news via his mailing list.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
It’s the other way around. I like writing, so it’s other things, real life stuff, that gets in the way. The trick is to make writing part of your lifestyle. You write, say, in the mornings, and always do that. Then writing is easy, part of your every day routine. I get twitchy if I’m not writing something.
I have, and do and will do in the future, set myself targets. Most successful writers I know, and I’ve read about, tend to write 1,000 words a day. But, if you set yourself a target, then you can feel a failure when you don’t reach that arbitrary number. But we shouldn’t. And maybe this chapter, that paragraph or whatever has to be written slowly.
So, make it part of your lifestyle.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer?
Perseverance. Bloody mindedness. Kindness.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I really don’t do enough and I should. I go to SF conventions and sell to fans there. I occasionally do Amazon Ads. I’m too English and hate blowing my own trumpet. It’s a problem for me. I’m great at turning readers into fans, but rubbish at turning strangers into readers.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
Wikipedia for research, obviously. I did an MA in Creative Writing. There’s loads of stuff on YouTube, but a lot of it takes a lot of time to say nothing.
I’ve written a program to help me with a few admin things when writing. For example, it does an automatic word count for the target I shouldn’t be setting myself.
As for organisations, the best is New Street Authors (http://newstreetauthors.com/), which I co-founded and co-run. It’s a collective for independently published authors.
Andy Conway and I also co-wrote a book, Punk Publishing, on why and exactly how to self-publish. (http://punkpublishers.com/)
A top tip for other writers?
Just keep going. And work out how to use Word’s styles – fiddly, but worth it once you get them working for you, rather than against you, it really helps.
And be kind.
About The Jackdaw’s Choice (The Daughters of Égraine Book 1) – published November 2024
Mara dreams of peace and the return of Red Mill’s men from war, yearning for the day she can marry the blacksmith’s apprentice. But when a brutal goblin raid strikes her village, Mara must lead the women on a desperate journey into the unknown…
The Jackdaw’s Choice begins the spellbinding Daughters of Égraine trilogy.
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Chris Penhall
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors on November 19, 2024
Chris Penhall writes uplifting stories set in gorgeous places. 
A member of The Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists Association, she won the 2019 Choc-Lit Search for a Star competition, sponsored by Your Cat Magazine, for her debut novel, The House That Alice Built, and has since written five more books. The House That Florence Left is the fourth in her Portuguese Paradise series.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write, and do you set daily targets?
I am disciplined and I am motivated, but I don’t really have a set time to write or daily targets, although I have tried to work like that. A lot of my work has been deadline driven, with many different projects on a given day, week, or even month, so I’m used to prioritising, adapting, dealing with other things urgently, then making sure I’ve done everything in time. So when I write a novel, which is a long-term project, I behave in the same way.
When I’m working on a book, I strive to write something every day. This doesn’t always work but after six books, I don’t beat myself up about that so much. As far as word counts are concerned, some writing sessions provide a couple of thousand, some provide a couple of hundred, and very occasionally a couple of sentences. But whichever it is, I’m staying connected to the book.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
Imagination – all writers have that. Tenacity – you have to really want to do this, in order to ride the waves of success, disappointment, success etc. etc! Also, you have to love writing for the sake of it. You are spending a lot of time in your own head, so you’ve got to enjoy being there…!
How do you market yourself and your books?
I’m still learning how to market myself and the books. My publisher does a lot of marketing, thankfully, which is great as I think it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not used to it. I have always done things that are related to books and reading, so I’m continuing to do that, but now sometimes as an author, rather than a reader.
I have worked for BBC local radio for many years, and way back in the last century for Radios One and Four, so I lean into my audio experience and background as a way of marketing myself and therefore my books. For instance, I have a community radio programme called Books and Tunes in which I chat to other writers, and before that I made my own podcast called Talking to My Friends About Books – in which I did just that!
I have also hosted events and interviewed other authors at The Essex Book Festival and have been a judge for a short story competition the festival ran in conjunction with the Essex Gardens Trust. A few years prior to that I was a long-list judge for the BBC Essex radio play competition for two years.
And I have a blog on my website in which I feature interviews with authors.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I started writing my first novel many years ago and when I got stuck I enrolled on an online course, which helped me develop the characters, the plot and actually get to the end of the book. A few years after that I invested in a mentor with a literary consultancy, and that is what got the manuscript to the level that won the Choc-Lit Search for a Star Competition.
After that I did an online course with Future Learn – because basically I enjoy developing my skills, and I have done one or two writing workshops too. I’m doing one in a few weeks actually.
I find chatting to other writers really helpful, but I have only just joined The Society of Authors and the Romantic Novelists Association.
A top tip for other writers?
Write. Be tenacious. Pat yourself on the back whether you’ve written 5, 50, 500 or 5000 words today. Enjoy it. Remember why you’re doing it. And follow your dreams.
About The House that Florence Left – published October 2024
Bella Cresswell likes her life organized. But when she inherits her great-aunt Flo’s house in the Algarve, her life gets decidedly disorganized. She flies to Portugal hoping for a quick sale and to return home. Except there is a clause in the will stopping her. Before she can sell the house, Bella must ‘make it better’.
As she tries to fix up the dilapidated property, Bella discovers the faded walls are filled with the memories and secrets of Florence’s vibrant life. And, as she looks further into her great-aunt’s time in Portugal, she realises, there’s more to making it better than she first thought. Bella finds herself caught up in the charm of the lively Portuguese village, the eccentric and friendly locals and her handsome, yet mysterious, neighbour, Hugo.
But when it’s time to sell and say goodbye will Bella be able to return to her old life?
Or will she discover that some things are meant to be held onto forever?
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Claire Sheldon
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Books, Writing Handicaps on October 24, 2024
Crime author, Claire Sheldon
lives in Nottingham with her family, and a dog called Podrick. She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis but that doesn’t stop her writing. Perfect Lie was released in 2020 followed by A Silent Child and A Burning Lie. Her latest book A Dead Lie was published on October 24th 2024. Claire’s inspiration comes from hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and then later, Spooks.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
I use Scrivener so I input how many words I need to write and when I need to get them done by. Scrivener then tells me how many words I need to write each day. I try to stick to that and if I write more than that in a day, it just means I’ll get to the magic number quicker.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
If you’re writing for fun, then I don’t think there are any important qualities because you’re doing something you enjoy with no major goal in mind.
If you’re looking to get published then you’ll need patience (I have zero of that!) and perseverance, because it’s unlikely you’ll become the next best seller overnight. And even when you’ve written “The End”, there is still so much more work needed to get the book out there.
How do you market yourself and your books?
Social media is a great tool. I’ve joined several Facebook groups in my genre, such as UK Crime Book Club and Crime Fiction Addict. And also, a group called The Fiction Café Book Club, who are always happy to support authors.
In the real world, I’m part of a group that meets every month and we have different authors that come in and talk to us about their work. So, I occasionally run an event there.
It’s about getting your books out there and being “seen”. And, of course, supporting others, who will then go on to shout about your books in return.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I’ve got all of Stuart Gibbon’s “straightforward guides to” books, which have been really helpful for everything to do with police procedure. I also use Forensics for Dummies. And I’ve got The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, which details character traits for each emotion – great for those show don’t tell moments.
A top tip for other writers?
Never give up! Keep chipping away because you will eventually get there. It might be hard work but it will be worth it 😊
About A Dead Lie – published 24th October 2024
A DEVOTED WIFE. THE PERFECT MOTHER. A DARK PAST SHE’LL DO ANYTHING TO OUTRUN. MEET DETECTIVE JEN GARNER.
Jen’s life is a balancing act between her past as an undercover police officer and her present as a mother. Until a woman claiming to be her best friend, Chloe Seaward, shows up on her doorstep.
But Chloe died years ago during an undercover operation.
Caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with no one she can trust, can Jen uncover the truth . . . and keep her family safe?
5 Questions About Writing With . . . Sarah Rodi
Posted by Sally Jenkins in 5 Questions About Writing, Authors, Books, Writing on August 27, 2024
Sarah Rodi has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it was her lifelong dream to write romance for Mills & Boon. She now writes Viking romance for them!
Sarah Rodi
Sarah is also the volunteer coordinator of the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. She can be contacted via @sarahrodiedits or sarahrodiedits@gmail.com. Or visit her website at sarahrodi.com.
How do you discipline/motivate yourself to write and do you set daily targets?
I’m usually motivated by a deadline! If I see one is looming, I divide the number of words I need to do by the number of days I have to write the book in, which usually sends me into a panic and motivates me to sit down and get it done. Staring at that first blank page is the hardest thing, but once you get going, you have something to work with and edit, and then it starts to flow. I struggle to write every day, but I aim for about 10,000 words a week, in between working and juggling family life. I have been known to write 20,000 words in a weekend when I’m up against it, but I wouldn’t recommend it, and steady, daily targets are definitely the best way to go.
What are the most important qualities required by a writer? Do you have them?
Passion to write and publish books. You need a spark of an idea, a way with words, the dedication to sit down and get those words down on the page, despite a busy schedule and friends inviting you out, and being committed to getting it written. Focus on the end result, but most of all, make sure you’re enjoying yourself while you’re writing. I believe if you are loving your characters and what you’re writing, your readers will enjoy your writing too. I certainly have a passion for writing and a need to share my characters with the world. I have the commitment, even if I never have enough time. But you have to create those opportunities for yourself to write. Make your writing a priority.
How do you market yourself and your books?
I often do a Blog Tour around the publication day of my latest release to drum up some excitement. I also write monthly blogs and newsletters from my website, offer giveaways, and create posts and videos on my Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok pages. I also volunteer with the RNA to make friends and help other writers. It’s not an easy thing to promote yourself, so I tend to focus on my books rather than myself. Last Christmas I ran a book review advent calendar where I created little videos about other authors and their books each day. That was fun and forced me to post something every day.
Which writing resources have you found useful, e.g., books, courses, organisations, websites etc.?
I studied English at university and then a postgraduate degree in journalism. My full-time job is as a magazine journalist, so I have always worked with words. I used to go on a lot of creative writing courses – in Fishguard, and on those run by Mills & Boon authors Sharon Kendrick and Kate Walker. These were incredibly useful. But it was when I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association that I really started to make some progress with my writing. I submitted to their New Writers’ Scheme each year to get a critique on my manuscript. This was invaluable in honing my craft. The RNA also hosts a Conference where you can pitch your novel to an agent or publisher. This is how I pitched my first novel to Mills & Boon. I would not be where I am today without the RNA, which is why I now volunteer as their New Writers’ Scheme coordinator to give something back.
Best book that’s helped me? The Emotion Thesaurus.
A top tip for other writers?
Keep going. Believe in yourself. If you’re writing a romance and need help, join the RNA.
About Her Secret Vows With The Viking – published August 29th 2024
All my stories begin with a tiny spark of an idea, and this one was no different. A Viking boy, wounded and left for dead. A Saxon girl, who rescues him. I do love a forbidden romance! And so Her Secret Vows with the Viking began.
Knowing her father would never allow her to marry a Dane, my heroine, Ædwen, and hero, Stefan, say their vows in secret. But when Stefan’s memories return and he remembers who he is and what happened the day he arrived on these shores, he cannot forgive Ædwen for hiding the truth from him, so he leaves.
My story starts almost two winters later, when Ædwen is distraught to be marrying the hateful Lord Werian. Her father has convinced her that her previous, clandestine union was invalid. Even though Stefan abandoned her, there has not been a day gone by that she hasn’t thought of him.
Anger has kept Stefan away these past years, and he has made a name for himself as King Canute’s right-hand man. But upon hearing about Ædwen’s impending wedding, his unsatiated vengeance and desire burns. He is determined to take his revenge on Ædwen and her father. He interrupts the wedding ceremony, announcing to the congregation that Ædwen is already married – to him – and he has returned to claim his wife…
I hope you enjoy it.
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