A Writer's Life

Its been a while since I last blogged but it's all been because I've been doing lots of other writing which is good! Since my last post I have finished the Birmingham in WW2 book which has been edited and is now in production, with a probable publication date of late this year or early next. I am proud of this book because I had to really up my game and dig just that much deeper to pull it off. It was a challenge that I am glad I took up.

Ever looking for a challenge I was approached by the same publisher Pen and Sword Books to write another book for them, this time on the subject of Women of Birmingham and the Suffragettes, which I am in the process of writing now.

It does a writer good to widen their horizon and write something they are not sure they are capable of. It's how we learn and grow. Sticking with the known and well-trodden path, although may feel safe and comfortable, actually isn't when it comes to being a professional writer. In today's climate you have to take a chance and diversify. A writer who is versatile and can turn their hand to many different styles of writing is one more likely to get the commissions.

As a professional writer I have many different writing projects on the go at any one time. While I am completing larger projects like a non-fiction book, I am also writing and submitting short stories and a feature proposal or two. That way, if something is rejected, which they frequently are - all part of the game, I'm afraid -  I have other pieces of work out there which might be accepted. I work by the principle that the more of your writing you have out there, the better your chance of publication.

I've also been busy with organising this year's Meet the Author event as part of the Wellington Arts Festival. This year there are 15 local authors to come and chat to at Wellington Library - click here for the website link. Do come along if you're in town that day. I love supporting arts and literary festivals as well as local libraries and authors.

Todays writing is not just about writing, it's about marketing and finding other avenues to sell our work so supporting arts and literary festivals, local independent book shops, libraries and other community facilities and initiatives are as big a part of an author's life as writing is.

I also was lucky enough to be interviewed by children's author Carole Anne Carr for her new blog. I have known Carole for a fair few years now and remember interviewing her a long time ago - so it was interesting to become the interviewee for a change! You can see my interview and Carole's blog by clicking here.
ablogforbeginners.blogspot.com

I welcome your comments on all things writing here. If you have any questions or need a speaker or workshop for your society or group then do leave me a message.

Thank you
Julie

Moving on

It's been a while since I blogged here so it's nice to have the opportunity to sit down and have a chat. I've been busy with researching the next book I'm working on for Pen and Sword - Birmingham in WW2 - which has involved travelling by train to Birmingham archives and library and poring over many different artifacts and old record books, etc.

While I've been doing this I've also been trying to organise and undertake book launches and book signings for the Ludlow in the Great War book that came out a couple of months ago and the Kidderminster in the Great War book which is due to be published imminently!  Part of these preparations involved going on local radio (live - eek!).

It's certainly been a fantastic experience writing three books in 18 months for Pen & Sword but it's also been a lot of hard work and co-ordination. While I am moving on from the three books I am trying to write the Birmingham book which is a bigger book than the other three by some 10,000 words or so plus Birmingham is a much bigger area to cover. Thank goodness for the Internet, social media, newspapers and the radio! If it wasn't for them research would be much more laborious and time consuming. As much as I love discovering new places and researching - I like to get it done as thoroughly and quickly as possible so I can get down to the business of writing.

If you are on the look out for a speaker or a workshop on the various aspects of putting a historical non-fiction book together or the writing process, or you would like me to visit your group to talk about WW1 and the home front, do get in touch.

But for now, back to the research.