Today, I would like to welcome my lovely friend Kerry Hudson to Writer's Little Helper for her #Tonyhogan blog tour.
Kerry kindly agreed to do a guest post about her writing processes and hopefully let us into a few writing secrets. AND, there's a competition too. You just need to scroll down the page, read over the fabulous prizes and getting commenting too.
Don't forget, you can read my review over here.
So, over to Kerry:
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Jessica and I met when we were both studying creative
writing at Roehampton University. I was older than the rest of the students by
a few years, wanted to do my best and took the course very seriously. Jessica
and I became friends because she took the course as seriously as I did and I've
always admired Jessica's tenacity and work ethic, so I'm not surprised that
when she offered to host a post she suggested I talk about my writing
practices. So here you go folks:
I am not one of those writers who spring out of bed and
approach my laptop with vim and vigour. Rather, I circle around it like a wary
dog until I'm ready to grab the thing by it's throat and even then I tend to
write in short bursts of an hour or two but unless I'm taking a conscious break
(while riding the publicity rollercoaster for Tony Hogan... for instance) I do
write every day. If I don't write every day I feel it when I return in the same
way as I do if I don't run for a few weeks – use your muscles (creative and
physical) often and they'll get stronger and faster, lose your commitment and
you're in for a world of pain.
How writing goes for me:
I have an idea and it churns around for a while. I know it's
here to stay if when I see interesting things (today, a pigeon picking at a
fried chicken bone and a toddler with what looked suspiciously like hair extensions) and think 'that
will have to go in the book'. I don't even realise it, but I'm collecting
material all the time.
When I decide to start a novel I write a double sided list
of all the major events but that is all the planning I do. By that time I'll
have been thinking about the characters for months so I don't need endless
character studies and I like to explore how words and stories will get me from
one planned incident to the next.
Then I sit down and write the first draft. At least 1000
words a day until it is done. The first draft is always quick and dirty but
then I have the raw materials to build what I want to.
The next drafts always take place in the same order
structural (for my 2nd novel Thirst I wrote every scene on a post-it
and moved the whole novel's chronology around), finer detail edits, read aloud,
copy edit and another read aloud. Read alouds are essential to me to get the
language, voice and rhythm right.
During the above drafting I always have a moment in the
middle when I want to buy an industrial shredder and feed in page and after
page of my manuscript with some very loud David Bowie (I don't know why David
Bowie...it just is) blasting out of some very big speakers. Instead I usually
have a cup of tea and remember all the other times I've felt like this when it
was all fine in the end.
I have two readers who read my writing before anyone else.
They love me and my writing but they wouldn't (and don't) bullshit me. I think
it's important to have that stage, to be able to fix things, before it goes out
into the publishing world.
As soon as I send off a story or a manuscript I start
something new. Partly for sanity and partly because nothing makes me happier
than writing, I don't feel right without it.
If I have any advice to give (not that I feel I'm in a
position to be dishing it out) it would be a slogan from a print that a friend
bought me which says 'work hard and be kind' – I can't think of a better motto
by which to live your writing life.
Bio
Kerry Hudson was born in
Blurb
When Janie Ryan is born, she's just the latest in a long line of Ryan women, Aberdeen
Tony Hogan tells the story of a Scottish childhood of filthy council flats and B&Bs, screeching women, feckless men, fags and booze and drugs, the dole queue and bread and marge sandwiches. It is also the story of an irresistible, irrepressible heroine, a dysfunctional family you can't help but adore, the absurdities of the eighties and the fierce bonds that tie people together no matter what. Told in an arrestingly original -- and cry-out-loud funny -- voice, it launches itself headlong into the middle of one of life's great fights, between the pull of the past and the freedom of the future. And Janie Ryan, born and bred for combat, is ready to win.
Links
Website: www.kerryhudson.co.uk
Twitter: @Kerryswindow
Competition
This prize draw is open to anyone who hosts or comments on a Tony Hogan post. There is no purchase necessary. There is no limit to how many times a name can be entered i.e. if you comment on three blogs you have three entries but it's only possible to win one prize per person. The winning names will be drawn at random on Wednesday 1st August and announced on my Tumblr blog and on Twitter.
1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes consist of:
1st prize - A three chapter or synopsis critique plus afternoon tea at Beas of Bloomsbury, London
2nd prize - A literary hamper containing a personalised copy of Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-Cream Float Before He Stole My Ma as well as three of my most recommended writing theory books and Hotel d Chocolate chocolates to enjoy while reading them.
3rd prize - A personalised copy of Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-Cream Float Before He Stole My Ma.
3 comments:
I love Kerry Hudson's attitude as a writer. She comes across as feisty, down to earth and with a good sense of humour in regards to her writing process. 'Tony Hogan..' should be a wonderfully alive read. I am already impressed by the short excerpt posted here...guess who's going out to buy it pronto?!
Fantastic post, and lovely to get those insights into Kerry's writing style. I'm always amazed at how many different ways there are to approach writing a novel. Thank you! I hope Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-cream Float Before He Stole My Ma is a huge success. Best wishes, Cressy.
Looking forward to reading this book... Was very helpful to gain some insight into how another writer works. Well done Kerry!
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