Ask the Author: Julie Poole
Answered Questions (5)
Julie Poole
So far I am lucky in that I haven't had any. When I write, I sit down, focus and it flows. A bit too well mostly, as I can't tear myself away and end up writing 20 hours a day and become obsessed until it's finished.
Julie Poole
The freedom to express yourself, your ideas, your humour and your dark side, but through the guise of characters so you can get away with it! I love writing. I still get shocked the way it all comes together and wonder 'how did that happen?'
Julie Poole
Don't give up! It took me 3 years to get my first book published.
As for other advice on writing - Plan, be organized, plot your scenes, timelines, dates, have a spreadsheet for chapter by chapter – what characters are in it, what are the key things in that chapter, the page count of each chapter (so that you can try to make them fairly even through the book), map your timelines, think about the seasons, have another document with each character as you develop them, (cos you won’t remember and you will get mixed up.) I have a separate word document and I write in the character’s name, relationship to who, how long they have known each other, description of their hair, eyes, height, weight, etc. Makes it easier to ensure plot lines work. Make sure you have some tension to make the reader want and need to know what happens next. Write about what you know, make it believable.
As for other advice on writing - Plan, be organized, plot your scenes, timelines, dates, have a spreadsheet for chapter by chapter – what characters are in it, what are the key things in that chapter, the page count of each chapter (so that you can try to make them fairly even through the book), map your timelines, think about the seasons, have another document with each character as you develop them, (cos you won’t remember and you will get mixed up.) I have a separate word document and I write in the character’s name, relationship to who, how long they have known each other, description of their hair, eyes, height, weight, etc. Makes it easier to ensure plot lines work. Make sure you have some tension to make the reader want and need to know what happens next. Write about what you know, make it believable.
Julie Poole
I will be starting the third book in the Angel series next year. Angel In My Fingers will continue the journey of Sarah, Simon and Fred, with the twins playing a bigger role as they get older.
Julie Poole
I was inspired to write my book ‘Angel On My Shoulder’ following the ending of a short relationship. I began to write from the third person how I felt and soon it developed into the character of Sarah. As a professional therapist I use my knowledge and experience to help people deal with grief, loss, confidence issues and more, and so I began to apply my knowledge to the characters in the book. As I wrote I realised I could help people to perhaps know a little more on how to deal with life’s ups and downs and I wanted to inspire at the same time. I felt that just about anyone who has ever been through a bad breakup, ever had their confidence or dreams shattered, could relate to the characters in the book and I wanted to give them hope. In addition to that, I relate to the concept of angels. We all like the thought of having a guardian angel, so I made the ‘teacher/therapist’ an angel, helping show Sarah, the main character, how to sort her life out.
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