Katie Fforde

Katie Fforde is the author of sixteenth published novels. Her latest ‘A Perfect Proposal’ is due for release on 10th June 2010. We had a chat with Katie and asked her questions including what her route to publication was and her top five tips for writers….

What was your route to publication?

My route to publication was through the Romantic Novelists Association.  They have a New Writer’s scheme whereby unpublished writers can submit their novel to the association where it will be read by a published novelist and a report written on it.  The organiser of the scheme that year was a scout for a new literary agent.  The organiser was Dr. Hilary Johnson, who is now a book doctor, and the agent was Sarah Molloy of A. M. Heath.  Sarah found me a publisher before the book I wrote after meeting her was finished.

Have you always wanted to write?

I wasn’t aware I always wanted to write until I was in my twenties but I realise I lived so much of my life in my imagination and so was a bit slow on the uptake.

Do you have a planning process before sitting down to write a book?

I do plan my books a bit, but I often start before I’ve finished planning properly because I just can’t wait to get on with the story.

Describe your typical writing day?

My typical writing day starts early, at about 6 am if possible.  I’ll then play a few games of Spider patience on the computer before I write about 1000 words.  Towards the end of a book I often write more because by then I know what happens.

How do you approach editing?

I have very mixed feelings about editing.  I’m happy to do my own edits, but when my lovely publishers tell me to do things I get annoyed with myself for not seeing those things needed doing, and for not doing it right first time.  Although I know this is silly, it’s always easier for someone who’s not very close to the book to see the problems.

Where do you find inspiration for your books?

I find inspiration for books everywhere, small ads, scraps of conversation, television programmes, people I meet.   Almost anything can inspire me.

You’re the Chairwoman for the ‘Romantic Novelists Association.’ Tell us a little about what the RNA does.

I am very proud to be the chair of the Romantic Novelists Association.  We’re a great support for published writers, offer an amazing (though oversubscribed) scheme for unpublished writers, we have terrific conferences and really wonderful parties.  Mostly, we support each other.

Your five tips for new writers.

My five tips for new writers are:

Read a lot of the sort of fiction you want to write.

Learn to take constructive criticism but also to judge when it’s wrong.

Read ‘how to books’ on writing, but again, judge which tips are right for you and which aren’t.

Don’t write just for the money – there isn’t enough of it and you’re unlikely to succeed.

Persevere and keep going.  It look me eight years and I know other writers for whom it took longer.

To find out more about Katie Fforde then visit her website http://www.katiefforde.com/

Katie’s new book ‘A Perfect Proposal’ is published by Century and is released on 10th June 2010.

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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.