Ask the Author: Caroline Deacon
Answered Questions (6)
Caroline Deacon
The book I've been looking at a lot this summer is Save the Cat Writes a Novel, as I've been tackling the second draft of my work in progress and have found Save the Cat to be incredibly useful for pinning story down. I've also been dipping in and out of How NOT to write a novel, which to me is the most entertaining book about mistakes we all make as writers.
Caroline Deacon
I’ve always loved the premise in Celia Ahern’s A Place Called Here, that there is an actual physical other world where all the lost things end up. I would go there and rescue my daughter’s cuddly squirrel Bobbie whose tragic loss we still mourn. Also waiting for me would also be a large supply of favourite pens, nice paperclips and books lent but never returned. I wonder if a roll of wallpaper from my childhood bedroom might lurk in a corner - I would dearly love to see that again. It was covered with awesome psychedelic pink and blue cats with very cool expressions.
Caroline Deacon
Read. Read a lot.
It doesn't really matter what you read. Honestly, as long as you bring awareness to it. For instance, read the classics, but don't try to emulate their style. Read best sellers but don't try to copy the plot.
Instead, when you read, think about why you like what you're reading, and how you might apply that to your own work. Anything you don't like - why not? What doesn't work?
And my best suggestion is to take your favourite books and dissect them. Really work out why you like them, what the author has done to deserve your love, and see if you can learn from that yourself.
It doesn't really matter what you read. Honestly, as long as you bring awareness to it. For instance, read the classics, but don't try to emulate their style. Read best sellers but don't try to copy the plot.
Instead, when you read, think about why you like what you're reading, and how you might apply that to your own work. Anything you don't like - why not? What doesn't work?
And my best suggestion is to take your favourite books and dissect them. Really work out why you like them, what the author has done to deserve your love, and see if you can learn from that yourself.
Caroline Deacon
I don't find it difficult to find things to write about. In fact I have too many ideas and not enough time to do them all justice. However, not all ideas will make a good story, so part of the process of writing is to explore how far an idea can take you. You also need to distinguish between a setting, a plot and a story. For instance: two people stuck in a lift is a setting. Two people stuck in a lift and one stabs the other - that's the story. But is it a short story or a novel? Or is it just back story to another more interesting plot?
My advice though is not to wait for inspiration. Instead, turn up at your desk and inspiration will follow.
My advice though is not to wait for inspiration. Instead, turn up at your desk and inspiration will follow.
Caroline Deacon
I get easily bored with most things, but not with writing. There is always something new to find out about yourself, your characters, your ideas. Writing non-fiction articles means finding out new things through research, but once you've found it out, you move onto the next thing. I couldn't imagine being an academic or writing a PhD - spending your whole life researching one topic.
I also hate working for other people, or being told what to do. When you're a writer, you are your own boss. But of course you've got to be tough on yourself - make yourself work when maybe you'd rather be doing something else.
I also hate working for other people, or being told what to do. When you're a writer, you are your own boss. But of course you've got to be tough on yourself - make yourself work when maybe you'd rather be doing something else.
Caroline Deacon
I don't really like the term 'writer's block'. It lumps together lots of barriers to writing and makes them into one big 'thing' over which it seems like you've got no control.
There are times in life when it's hard to write. Moving house. Christmas. When you've got a houseful of visitors. Those times I cut myself a break; tell myself that it's fine to have that time off. Other people have time off then as well. The important thing is to know there's an end to it and you'll be back writing soon.
As long as you have a routine for writing, it will get done. Find the time of day that works best for you and make it sacrosanct. I write in the mornings every weekday. That's when it works for me. Sometimes I write 2000 words, sometimes it's less than 500, but I turn up at my desk on time and don't leave until it's time for lunch. If it's going really well I might carry on for the afternoon, but if I spend too long writing one day, then I suffer the following day. It's like my creative juices have run dry.
There are times when you will get 'stuck' but rather than walk away, you have to stay around and figure out what the problem is. If your subconscious needs to work, then go for a walk with a notebook, or work on something else like research or editing. I also find that reading 'how to write' books when I'm stuck is really useful - something will speak to me and I'll suddenly understand what the problem is.
There are times in life when it's hard to write. Moving house. Christmas. When you've got a houseful of visitors. Those times I cut myself a break; tell myself that it's fine to have that time off. Other people have time off then as well. The important thing is to know there's an end to it and you'll be back writing soon.
As long as you have a routine for writing, it will get done. Find the time of day that works best for you and make it sacrosanct. I write in the mornings every weekday. That's when it works for me. Sometimes I write 2000 words, sometimes it's less than 500, but I turn up at my desk on time and don't leave until it's time for lunch. If it's going really well I might carry on for the afternoon, but if I spend too long writing one day, then I suffer the following day. It's like my creative juices have run dry.
There are times when you will get 'stuck' but rather than walk away, you have to stay around and figure out what the problem is. If your subconscious needs to work, then go for a walk with a notebook, or work on something else like research or editing. I also find that reading 'how to write' books when I'm stuck is really useful - something will speak to me and I'll suddenly understand what the problem is.
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