Writing, like most things in life that bestow kudos, implies a skill and a gravitas that puts its protagonists into a category above the every day. Journalism, more now than ever, is seen as a profession that can be learned at a University, and once graduates clutch a degree that says they’re a journalist, what can possibly go wrong? Internships, staff positions on national newspapers and even possible fame beckon and before they know it, they are appearing on QI or Question Time, galloping through the papers while knocking off a Brexit article!
Elizabeth S Moore
This may have been the case some years ago, but being a journalist is becoming increasingly demanding and financially less rewarding by the day. However, a bit like wanting to own your own home, there will always be starry eyed youngsters who want to write, or even, need to write - the question is, how can they turn the that dream into a career?
In a world where there is almost infinite competition in every writing sphere, you need the stamina of a non creative professional to stick at writing as a profession. If you can write an article well, with a beginning, a middle and an end, put forward what you are going to say and fit it into a thousand words, then you theoretically have the potential to write a book. The average fiction novel comes in at around 85,000 words which is only 241 words a day, for a year. That would imply that any jobbing journalist should be able to polish off a book in a year without breaking a sweat, but it is not quite that simple. You have to be able to relax. Writing a book after being a journalist is like taking a swim on holiday with no pressure, in an endless ocean with no shore in sight after being a competitive swimmer who has to make it up and down a pool, racing against ten lanes of other swimmers, with a starting gun and a finish line! Not every writer can adjust to the pace.
I have worked as a journalist all my working life, and have seen virtually no crossover into the 'long form'. The only journalists I know who have written books are war correspondents such as the amazing Frank Gardner with a story to tell about his life. Other wonderful journalists such as Giles Coren have failed miserably with novels, in fact Giles made a documentary about his disaster entitled 'My Failed Novel' examining this very question. All I can say is that I have been very lucky. The Man on the Middle Floor has touched something in its readers and I have been amazed by its success. However, I still run to the comfort of writing an article and love a deadline. But the joy of seeing your book on a shelf is beyond wonderful and I am completely seduced by it. Writing a book is something to strive for if you have ever wished for it. Believe me, kick off from the shore and swim gently, the water's lovely.
The Man on the Middle Floor by Elizabeth Moore is out now.