Ask the Author: Charles Heathcote
Answered Questions (6)
Charles Heathcote
Yes ~ there are currently five books planned with the current storyline "Whatever Happened to Joanna Hollinshead?". After which, I might have more standalone mysteries. I'll keep writing them and hopefully folk will keep reading them.
Charles Heathcote
I have been considering this question for quite a while, as I think I lead quite a prosaic life. However, a recent mystery surrounds who crashed their vehicle into my car, leaving white paint down one side and a considerable dent in the driver's door.
Charles Heathcote
The feedback from readers and audience members. When you're reading and people are responding to something you wrote, it's a rather fantastic feeling.
Charles Heathcote
I get inspired by everything. My mind has a myriad of what ifs and I daydream often so that I can come up with plenty of book ideas daily - plenty of them don't stick and I don't write them down - but the ones that do are usually worth the effort.
Charles Heathcote
Our Doris originated at a writing group I attend. The leader gave us a writing burst and I could not think of anything to write. We had twenty minutes to write and at the fifteen minute mark I still hadn't written anything - in a fit to have something to read I wrote, 'Our Doris has developed an unhealthy obsession with slugs.' I then used the method for each writing burst, beginning with 'Our Doris ...' and highlighting her schemes. Eventually folk asked for a book of the character, but I didn't have a plot. I returned to the original paragraph I wrote about the character and decided that there must be a reason she wants rid of the pests in her garden. A writer friend of mine, Margaret Holbrook, mentioned that she took part in a garden safari and the two ideas clung to each other. Now there's a book, so really we need to thank the Macclesfield Creative Writing Group and Margaret.
Charles Heathcote
All writers say that you should read books and I think that's great advice because you're going to find books you like and books you dislike and ultimately they're going to be the books that help you hone your own voice and craft.
I'd also say to learn all of the rules. Every single writer has different rules for their writing. Once you've learned them, break them, figure out for yourself what rules you want to apply to your own prose.
And don't listen to your mother. No matter what she tells you about your writing you're never going to believe her.
I'd also say to learn all of the rules. Every single writer has different rules for their writing. Once you've learned them, break them, figure out for yourself what rules you want to apply to your own prose.
And don't listen to your mother. No matter what she tells you about your writing you're never going to believe her.
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