Since writing “The Cactus“, I’ve been struck by the number of women who have told me that they would love to write. Perhaps you would, too. We all have a story to tell. Getting our voices heard is incredibly rewarding on a personal level, of course, but it’s also important as a testament to the diverse thoughts, feelings and experiences of women today.
I’m often asked for advice on how to get started as a writer. The wonderful thing is that there are as many different ways to go about it as there are writers. Take, for example, the question of age. I recently took part in an event where debut authors read from, and discussed, their novels. The youngest started hers in her twenties; the oldest in her eighties. It’s never too late to give it a go.
Personally, I’d dreamed of writing a novel since I was a girl, but, knowing that the life of a writer is an unpredictable one, I followed the sensible route and became a lawyer. By the time my youngest son started school, I decided it was now or never. But I hadn’t written fiction since making up stories for my own pleasure when I was a student. Did I still have a functioning imagination? The truth is, you never know until you try.
So, start off by finding a place to write. You might work best at an imposing desk laid out with top-quality stationery and writing implements. Or you might like to sit with your laptop on the sofa. When I started writing “The Cactus“, I had a tiny desk in the corner of the living room. But I quickly realized that this wasn’t conducive to concentrated work, especially when my two boys were home from school. So I converted the spare bedroom into a study. When planning your writing space, don’t think you have to have a perfectly ordered, Instagrammable office. In fact, you can sometimes set yourself up to fail by trying too hard and being too self-conscious.
Despite having regular writing spots, you might discover that your best plot and character ideas come elsewhere. Strangely, I’ve had some of my biggest breakthroughs in the shower. There’s something about the regular, hypnotic splatter of water on head that seems to stimulate the brain. Many people find that mundane and repetitive tasks such as housework and driving can have the same effect. A long walk often helps to get the creative juices flowing if you’re completely stuck. Just remember to carry a notebook with you when you’re out and about, and make sure there are strategically placed pens and paper in all the places at home where you have your best ideas.
You might discover that you’re someone who writes best early in the morning, when your brain is still in a semi-dream-like state. Or you might prefer to write in the evenings or late at night, particularly if you have a day job. My writing hours, like a lot of mothers, have always been bookended by school runs. And I know one successful writer who crammed her writing time into lunch breaks at work. The life of a woman is a busy one, and it can feel like there’s never enough time to get it all done, especially writing. But even if you can only find ten minutes here and there—while waiting for your child to get off the bus or before the family wakes up for the day—it soon adds up and before you know it you’ve got a novel.
When it comes to being a writer, there’s no right or wrong age, time of day, place, or routine. If you want to bang out a rough draft and then hone it, that’s fine. If you want to refine each chapter before moving on, that’s fine too. If you work best in your pajamas, be comfortable! (In fact, there’s a running joke about writers and yoga pants). If you work best with loud rock music playing, what’s stopping you? (Although you might want to consider headphones). My advice is to do what works for you. The important thing is to find your inspiration. Then go for it!
