Out and About August-September 2022 - issue200

AUGUST 2022 | 35
of novels already in the letters and emails
you have sent.
My advice to writers is to choose a
subject that they are familiar with. It will
make the writing experience easier and
more enjoyable.
Creating characters is part of the fun too.
We recall Pinocchio the puppet who was
created by Geppetto the woodcarver in a
Tuscan village. Neither character existed
other than in the imagination of the writer
Carlo Collodi. When writing my novels
my characters became real people to me
and hopefully to my readers.
Begin with a general plot but don’t put
your writing in a straitjacket or it will
confine you. When I start on a novel, I
have little idea of its ending or how it will
develop. Inspired by the unfolding story I
find the story leads me as it unfolds.
Writing is far easier if you use your
laptop rather than a pen and pad. You
can be as creative as you wish whilst
constantly revising your storyline.
Sadly, many a good story remained
untold because the novice writer lacked
confidence in their writing ability. In fact,
most published authors lack the ability
to write to retail standards. This is why
writers engage a book editor who adds
pace, space and grace, improves dialogue
and provides flair and flow.
Otherwise known as a ghost-writer
your book editor will correct and enhance
content and dialogue whilst adding flair
and flow. He can, if you wish, increase the
size of your book.
A typical Mills & Boone novel is about
40,000 words long whilst the average novel
is likely 70,000 words in length. Rest when
your story stops being fun but do aim for
at least two or three thousand words a
day. MICHAEL WALSH BOOK EDITOR.
EMAIL keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com