Adele Parks

Adele’s first novel ‘Playing Away,’ was published in 2000. The Evening Standard placed her as one of London’s ‘Twenty faces to watch’ the same year. Since then, she’s constantly been on the Times Top Ten bestseller lists. Her latest, ‘Men I’ve Loved Before,’ was released in July 2010. We were very excited to catch up with Adele to ask her how she came to be published and who she’d have to dinner….

Describe your route to publication? 

I’ve always dreamed of being a writer but I bided my time. I wrote one novel and didn’t even submit it, it wasn’t up to it. I waited until I was at a stage of my life where I knew I had something compelling and different to write. I worked on my novel three times a week for three hours and for five hours at a weekend, while holding down an extremely busy day job. I was very disciplined and determined. I then did lots of research on which agent might be interested in my kind of work and yet more research on how to present my work to best advantage. It paid off because the agent I approached did like my pitch and encouraged me. It took just 3 months from my initial approach to my agent until he secured me a deal for my first novel, Playing Away.

How do you approach a typical writing day?

I tend to write in term times to coincide with my son’s school schedule. So I’m normally at my desk at 8.30am ish and I work through until 3.30pm, stopping for a quick lunch. I do my best work in the mornings, so after lunch I often re-read, self edit or research. Obviously kids hols are longer than the normal hols or a working parent so sometimes I am writing when my son is not at school, it requires a lot of discipline (from both of us!) especially on sunny days. I think ‘waiting for the muse’ is an indulgence. I sometimes don’t feel like writing, but I just force myself to get on with it and I’ve found that it’s often when it’s hardest that the work is best.

Do you plan much before a writing project?

I’m a big planner. I mull over stories for a long time and then I carefully write up a plot, characterisation and endless facts about the location before I sit in front of the word processor. I think if I sat down without these props of research and structure I’d probably freeze. Blank pages are terrifying!

How do you approach the editing process?

I do listen to my editor although I don’t always do what’s asked. I don’t want to produce a book that’s decided by committee but I understand that my editor has a phenomenal amount of experience and she’s hugely intelligent and sensitive so whatever she suggests is probably worth listening to! Once I start editing I’m pretty ruthless. I cut things and put them in a ‘bits’ file. This feels like a security blanket; if I change my mind and miss what I’ve cut I can replace it; the truth is I’ve never replaced anything once it’s been cut.

Which of your characters is most like you?

They all have a little bit of me and yet none of them are entirely me. They and I are more complex than that! I’m fair, strong, honest, humorous, fallible, guilty, mistaken, rash and loving, in short I’m human and I strive for my characters to be so too. I also use my characters to be improved versions if me. Sometimes they are sharper, wittier, and crueler. The story of The Other Woman’s Shoes is the most autobiographical story although I’m not like Martha in character, I think she’s gentler.

Which authors/books do you admire?

There are so many wonderful authors out there. Recently I’ve been reading Helen Dunmore, Louise Doughty and Maggie O’Farrell. I’ve been a long term fan of David Nicholls, Jane Fallon and Kate Long. But my list could go on and on and on. This year I’m one of the judges for the Costa Book Awards and I’ve read over 70 books!

Is there a book by another author that you’d like to have written?

No, I love been surprised and entertained and if I’d written one or all of my favourite books I’d be cheated out of the experience of reading them. There are many, many, many books that I’m so glad have been written.

Is there a character from fiction you’d like to meet?

That is a great question and I’ve never been asked it before. Maybe Jane Austen’s Emma, she’s so wonderfully flawed as a human being but so well intentioned; that’s my favourite type of heroine!

Best/worst thing about being a writer?

I’m living my dream. There’s an enormous sense of satisfaction to that. Besides, I know my novels have an impact on some of my reader’s lives because they send me incredibly honest notes about how they related to certain characters, especially single mums, women going through break-ups, trying for a child or loosing a parent. These are big, real issues and I want to address them in a big, real way in my novels. A novel is only partially about the author though. Once it’s released into the world it belongs to the reader and readers will naturally bring their experiences to the book; some find a certain depth, other readers are looking for escapism and therefore that’s what they will be rewarded by; providing depth or escapism is a treat.

The worst thing is when someone says, ‘I have a story for you…’ and then proceeds to ramble on about their love life, often giving far too much detail!

Who would your ideal dinner guests be?

Daniel Craig, although not necessarily for his conversation. I would hang on his every word but even if he was silent and I just got to feast my eyes that would be fine!

Top five tips for new writers?

1. Read. Novels, articles, newspapers anything you can get your hands on. If you are not familiar (in fact in love) with the written word, you’ll never be a decent writer.

2. Write. Seriously, it astonishes me how many people tell me they want to be a writer but then confess they never write anything more elaborate than a shopping list. Write everyday even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Discipline is key.

3. Develop a thick skin, you’ll almost certainly get a few knock backs along the way. Pick yourself up brush yourself down and start all over again. Talent will break through.

4. Consider going on a course/join an online support group. I did a degree in English Literature and Language, I’m not suggesting you have to do the same but a weekend creative writing course may help with understanding the tools of the trade such as structure, plot and characterisation. You’ll also meet other would be writers and they can offer support.

5. Listen. Be inspired by everything that is going on around you.

To find out more about Adele, visit her site, www.adeleparks.com

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.