Preparation. I like to have the book in its entirety mapped out before I begin. This involves plotting the general outline on an A4 pad. When I know where it’s going this will all be transferred to an Excel spreadsheet, chapter by chapter, colour coded for each character’s point of view. I make a note of what the approximate word count should be at each stage. Of course, as the novel progresses so does the story, and this spreadsheet needs to be updated as further plot lines become apparent.
The NIght Caller
Research. None of the books I’ve had published so far could have been written without research. I Know What You Did was sparked by a chance news item about the Manchester Pusher. Between 2008 and 2014 85 bodies (a large majority of them men) were found in the network of Manchester canals. The public raised the question of a serial killer at work, the police insisted there was no evidence to support this theory. The writing of I Know What You Did involved a trip to Manchester, specifically the Salford Canals, alongside reading as many newspaper articles as I could get my hands on and a documentary that aired. Like most crime fiction novels it started with a question; what if there was a serial killer at work, who was evading police time and time again?
Rituals. Recently I became very interested in mind, body and spirit wellbeing, and specifically healing crystals. Far from being a new-age thing, the use of healing stones and crystals is thousands of years old. I use them in every situation that might call for a bit of calm or inner strength, and for writing I select citrine gems and jade to promote creativity and keep them permanently on my desk. I like the idea of creativity seeping into my mind while I sleep, so by my bed I have amythyst, calcite and another, larger citrine. My most recent purchases were Fuschite, one raw, one polished, for carpal tunnel syndrome!
A view. A window is very important whilst I write, and when I moved into my new home I had my desk put in front of a window looking out over my back garden. I have feeders hung all around and they attract regular visitors including blue tits, robins, blackbirds, sparrows and squirrels. I moved into my current home in autumn last year, and now my view is of a beautiful Camilla bush which has just come into bloom. It has the potential to be enormously distracting!
Schedule. The schedule, or more specifically working out the word count I need to do per day doesn’t come until mid-way into the manuscript. Once the deadline is within sight that’s when I need to get and stay on schedule. 2000 words per evening is doable, but if I have entire days at my disposal the word count is likely to rise to around 6000. I don’t like playing catch up, so staying on goal is very important to me.
Background noise. The radio is my writing companion, and my station is BBC radio 2. I work through Vanessa and Zoe’s shows, and when Pop Master comes on at 10:30 it’s time for morning tea break! I generally work through Jeremy Vine and when Sara Cox comes on it’s time to stop for dinner. Some authors pick soundtracks for their novels to be written to, which I think is such a great idea. Maybe one I’ll try on the next manuscript.
Organisation. I need a clear mind to write, the housework needs to have been done, the dog needs to have been walked, the writing desk must be tidy and then I have an uninterrupted day ahead. I can’t relax enough to sit at the keyboard if the washing up is still in the sink! Sometimes, when deadlines loom, plans have to be put on hold. Luckily I have very understanding and supportive friends and family.
Regular breaks. Very important, for the wrists and the eyes and the posture! I prefer to write in the winter months because if the sun is shining my rules go right out of the window and a ten minute break becomes a whole day spent in the garden! I live by the coast, so I walk my dog Marley on the beach every single day. Our two mile walk takes around one hour, and it’s on those walks I can take a physical break from the current manuscript, though these walks are great for mentally figuring out plot points or tricky scenes.
Creativity Surge. I know some authors don’t read other books while they’re working on their own, but I have to feed the need to read every single day! I think arts other than writing can also be hugely impactful. Art galleries and exhibitions, or book festivals and author talks are so inspiring. Recently I was lucky enough to visit Rodin’s The Kiss sculpture, which was based on Dante’s Inferno. It was very impactful to see how something so grand had been interpreted from text.
Relaxation. Right now I’m in between novels, I Know What You Did is with the copyeditor, and the second in the DI Carrie Flynn series has been submitted. This moment in time, these next few days, would be an ideal time to take a break and relax. But I’m not very good at that, so while I have a little time I’m plotting out books three and four.