Carol’s Comments (group member since Jul 24, 2013)

Carol’s comments from the Ask Carol E. Wyer group.

Michele wrote: "Hello Carol thank you for your reply on my question and please dont worry about responding immediately you do have a life and a busy one at that and i do appreciate your comments.
My hubby (aged 54..."
Hi Michele,
An emphatic yes from me, even if you write it purely for your grandchildren.
It's easier than it may first seem to do this and the more you write, the more enthusiastic and absorbed in it you will become.
First, start by keeping a notebook of the experiences you want to share. If you do it as a diary that will help keep the format and order in your minds. Work on it as long as you need to. Do a little each day, or each week, or each month depending on your mood.
Initially, get the bare bones of the stories down. You will then have time to 'fluff them out' at a later stage.
Once you have all the stories you want to tell, develop them so they make fascinating stories for your readers. In this case, I would write as if I were telling the story to someone, friends or grandchildren. When you tell a tale you elaborate some parts and exaggerate too. You don't have to stick to 100% truth remember, a little colour will help the stories.
Maybe send one or two stories (chapters) to friends or family to comment on and get some feedback to help you with this project.
Most of all, enjoy it. The more you enjoy doing it, the better it will be.
Once completed, get it edited and checked for grammar and typos, spelling etc.
It sounds like a super project. Go for it! Life is short and who knows, it might appeal to thousands and even if it doesn't, what a super present you'd give to your family too.
Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Yvonne wrote: "Thanks, Carol. I once heard of a very young couple (at the hospital in the small town I lived in) who had a serious problem. It was her first time and she panicked, resulting in a spasm that made ..."
Oh Yvonne, that is a great story! I wonder if I can weave it into a book. Life likes to throw curveballs sometimes and fortunately, I was young enough to recover and not be too upset by it all. It mademe very grateful for what I have now and that is important.
Thanks for the compliment. It means more coming from an excellent author like yourself. Xx

Yvonne wrote: "Hi Carol: Wow! I'm late to this shindig. I do have a question, however. I am also a writer, but am not known for my sense of humour. Alas! You seem to be able to write about serious subjects and ma..."
Better late than never, Yvonne. (Hubby constantly tells me that because he is always late to everything!)
I wish I had a clear answer for you but my humour comes from a defect in my personality. I am unable to cope with serious situations for long and have to find something to distract me from them. It began when I was stuck in hospital for months and then home in bed paralyzed after a spine procedure went awry. I was in danger of becoming severely depressed but found humour in everyday events at the hospital. There is a lot to chuckle at if you look for it. I started to jot them down in letters to send to friends back at university and the more they enjoyed my letters and wrote back, or visited me, the more I searched for humorous events. (e.g. I overheard the nurses giggling about a man who came into hospital with a long copper pipe attached to a certain part of his anatomy. The pipe was so long and heavy that he fell off the trolley they used to wheel him into A&E!)
I also studied Shakespeare at university and although I have forgotten most of what I learned, one thing has stuck with me was his use of humour juxtaposed with tragedy to heighten the tragedy or throw emphasis on it. (Example - the gatekeeper's scene after the horrible murder of Duncan in Macbeth.)
Humour works well if interwoven with serious or tragic moments. The trick is to not overdo it. It brings relief from situations or difficult scenes and can force the point home better than being serious all the time.
I find people remember your serious messages better if they have laughed throughout the book.
That sort of answers your question, but not entirely. If I had a trick, I would most definitely share it with you. All I have though is a ridiculous sense of humour. Want to borrow my large red clown nose to use while writing? That might help.

Sheryl wrote: "Hi Carol! Not sure my post will appear - I've tried and failed once. My question is in regard to social media, the necessary evil :), specifically Twitter. Would you recommend people to follow back..."
Hi Sheryl,
Receiving you loud and clear! There are many who believe that a writer can waste far to much time on social networks and I have been guilty of that in the past.
I streamlined my networking a few months ago and now I schedule all my useful tweets for the day rather than hang about tweeting randomly. I leave my twitter feed on if I am not working and then can see what fellow authors are up to and retweet if necessary but don't allow it to take over my life.
As for followers, well it is up to the individual but you should be building up followers who are going to become your readers and who will buy your books so although you should follow fellow authors for mutual support, you shouldn't follow back everyone who follows you. My feeling is if you get dropped by someone because you don't follow them back, then they weren't the right sort of follower for you.
I regularly clean up my twitter follower list by using 'Unfollow' a programme that allows you to get rid of people who have dropped you.
Hope that is sufficient info on the subject. We are after all, authors and need to use these websites to assist our sales and to get our names known but not to keep us so busy we don't have time to write. :)

Will wrote: "That's dreadfully domesticated of you, Carol.

Maybe a cook book for husband's next?

More seriously, how do you juggle writing and domesticity?"
The serious answer, Will, is that I don't. I am completely reliant upon Hubby's good nature and if the house gets neglected or I forget to prepare dinner, or worse still, buy any food, he picks up the pieces.
He's getting fed up of it now though,so I do all my writing at night and housework duties in the day. Yes, I look absolutely dreadful!

I have to leave you all for a while and tend to my husband's dinner.
I'll be back later to answer your questions, so please leave them for me.

Fran wrote: "How do you come up with such clever names for the characters in your books?"

Haha! I love this question especially as two of my favourite characters in Just add Spice are named after my favourite follower.
I actually have a list of names. Whenever I hear a name I really like, I jot it down then use it in the right book. However, I also like to play with words a great deal so for example I had Dawn as one character and Cinnamon Knight (play on the owrd 'night' - get it?) as her opposite. You've read the book so you know why I chose Cinnamon now. I can't divulge that here as it would spoil things.
Another little known fact is that in 'Surfing in Stilettos' I chose Bibi Chevalier which means Knight in French.
:)

Petra wrote: "Hi Carol... I've made it... Have you ever been afraid that your writing will not be accepted by the public?"
Hi Petra,
Welcome! Oh yes. I was worried sick when I produced my first book in case I'd misjudged it.
I think all authors worry that their work is not good enough or will not be enjoyed.
I have been very fortunate to find loyal and friendly readers. They make it very worthwhile and I shall continue to write as long as they continue to laugh at my writing. (In a good way!)

Bother! We are about to have another storm here. Lightning bolt just flew by my window. If the electricity goes again, I might be gone for a while so please be patient. I'll get back online as soon as possible.

Carol wrote: "Eva wrote: "Hi Carol
I was wanting to know if you would recomend an inspiring author to do a writing course? Or could you recomend any books on writing?"

Hi Eva,
I would love to advise you but I a..."

See my latest message below, Eva.

Kathleen wrote: "Carol wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Good morning, Carol. I just recently launched a contemporary women's humour. I find these type of books do tend to need a particular reader and am now facing finding ..."

You can always bother me :) Email me at author@carolewyer.co.uk and I'll send you a list of reviewers who have been kind enough to review my books. Most authors are very happy to help each other. (If they are not buried under a mountain of edits!)

Eva wrote: "Hi Carol
I was wanting to know if you would recomend an inspiring author to do a writing course? Or could you recomend any books on writing?"
Hi again, Eva. I've been checking with my fellow authors. We are all of the opinion that writing and then having people review your work is as good a learning experience as anything. I have also had Bird by Bird recommended for you and maybe Julia Cameron's books.
Whatever you do, don't put off having a go at writing. Time, effort and practice will pay off.
Hope that helps answer the question better. If I get any more recommendations, I'll post them here.

Melanie wrote: "Hi Carol, glad you're still here after my long day at work! What process do you go through before you write a book? Do you produce storyboards etc before you start or do you just get on with the ..."
Hi Melanie!
It take some months to prepare a book. First, I prepare it in my head and make notes in a book. I begin with a sort of storyboard/diagram/plan with circles and arrows and lots of confused scribbles. Next, I have to run it all through my mind like a film several times before I am happy with the result. Then, I start writing like mad. I write everything out by hand and then begin typing the first draft.
I have lots of notebooks with those initial plans. They make interesting reading because the book always changes a lot throughout the process.
Gosh, sorry that took so long to type. You can now see why I write everything by hand...it's quicker!

Eva wrote: "Hi Carol
I was wanting to know if you would recomend an inspiring author to do a writing course? Or could you recomend any books on writing?"

Hi Eva,
I would love to advise you but I actually don't know any good courses. I studied English at university and haven't taken any courses since.
I would recommend you go to the Indies Unlimited website for advice on all sorts of things and I shall now go away and ask some people what they would recommend.
Bear with me and I'll get back to you on this.

Carol wrote: "Thanks for being available to answer questions. I am learning a lot just be reading what you have written to others. Just added "Just Add Spice" to my Kindle. I'm looking forward to reading it."

Hello Carol. Thank you for your kind comment but I've been sadly lacking in my ability to be able to respond quickly. I think the storms have now passed by and I hope to stay online.
I am so glad you have added Just Add Spice to your Kindle and I hope it gives you lots of laughs.

Kathleen wrote: "Good morning, Carol. I just recently launched a contemporary women's humour. I find these type of books do tend to need a particular reader and am now facing finding 'reviews.' How did you find the..."

So sorry for the delay in responding, Kathleen. We had a storm and my power went down. I can only apologise.
Before I launched my first book, I wrote a blog called facing 50 With Humour. I was very fortunate because it got lots of followers and some of them were book reviewers who just enjoyed my posts.
When I first searched for reviewers, I contacted them and asked if they would like to read my book.
I also followed book blog hops and checked every one of the blogs to see if any of the reviewers read my genre. If they did, I sent an email asking them if they would be willing to read my book.
Many reviewers are booked up months in advance so it is a good idea to cultivate your friendships early on.
Often, reviewers of rom coms might well enjoy humorous women's fiction.
There are various groups on Facebook that are worth joining such as Post Chick Lit Group where you will be able to find other authors of similar genres.
It also pays to see who reviews books similar to your own. I check out other writers who write in my genre and see who reviews their works then send a polite email to them.
Hope that helps and once again, please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your question.

Lucinda wrote: "Carol wrote: "Lucinda wrote: "Good Morning! Hi Carol. I am so pleased that you are having a Q&A group on Goodreads, as your readers will be very interested to find out about the writer behind your ..."

I think you have exactly the right attitude, Lucinda. I applaud your decision to write a second book while waiting to hear about your first and wish I had written a few more books before I got published. It would have made the load easier.
Good luck with it all and if ever you need any information, just email me.

Agnes (BeaderBubbe) wrote: "Just started JUST ADD SPICE and loved the beginning..did anyone else have a dirty mind? That was a great beginning Carol...cant wait to read the rest..."
Excellent! I deliberately tried to make it come across as something it wasn't. Glad I succeeded :D

Will wrote: "Hi Carol,

the embarrassing ones continue. (Sorry. perhaps.)

An interview I did last month included the amazing question (yes, really!) 'Have you ever written naked?'.

Carol, have you?"

Firstly, apologies for the delay in responding to your question. It was not because I was mortified but because my power went off.
If I tell you the truth will it change your opinion of me?
Yes, I have written naked. That was because I generally sleep in the nude and if I get up because inspiration hits me, I'll obviously have no clothes on. Of course, if it is cold, then I'll go and find a pullover to wear.
Love your question!

Michele wrote: "Hello Carol and hope this doesnt wear you out all these questions being fired at you lol. I am so happy that i have been introduced to you and have read quite a few of your books now and am in the..."
Hello Michele, So sorry I haven't been able to get back to you...we had a storm and it took our power out!
You asked at what age I realised I wanted to write, well, my mother would tell you that I had an incredible imagination from about 3 years old but actually started writing when I was at school. Some time when I was 14 or so an English teacher called Mrs Madeley, a formidable lady from Canada, read out one of my humorous stories and announced to the class that one day I would be a writer.
I didn't take her too seriously. It was when I was admitted to hospital at 17 that I began writing stories, and I continued to do so the rest of my life. I wrote mostly for children and when I lived in Morocco I wrote some wonderful tales entitled Humphrey and the Dustbin Cats! In my thirties, I wrote stories for children that taught them French. They were used in schools.
I didn't begin to write for adults until I matured! Although it is still debatable that I have matured sufficiently.
Thank you for your question and again apologies for the delay.