Guest for a day

 

Fiona Robyn is my guest for today. She has just had her third novel published – Thaw.

Congratulations, Fiona! Welcome to my blog. Let’s get started…

1/ You and I both know that not many writers make a decent living out of writing. According to the Society of Authors, the average income of their members is £7,000 per annum.  How do you pay the bills that your royalties don’t cover? What is your other work?

£7000 a year – I wish! For some time I worked towards being able to support myself and have time to write, and I have achieved this now – I work as a counsellor in private practice in the afternoons and evenings, so I have the mornings free to write. I enjoy my work hugely, and so although I’ll probably cut down when I become rich and famous (!) I don’t think I’ll ever give it up completely.

2/ How much of your work do you think feeds into your writing – directly or indirectly?

I’d say that everything I do feeds into my writing indirectly, and probably especially my work with clients. I’m very careful not to use anything directly, even a turn of phrase a client might have, but I hear so much about what it’s like to be human I’m sure it all ‘composts down’.

3/ I know you’re a poet as well as a novelist. What would you say are the three things you enjoy most about writing novels?

I don’t know if I can call myself a poet any more – I haven’t written poems for some time. For me, novels are all about my characters, especially my protagonists. I also love observing tiny details (which I also enjoyed in poetry) and finding out what happens in the story.

4/ And what are the three things you find the hardest, or the least enjoyable?

Hmm – I HATE first drafts, they’re terrifying. I don’t like checking out facts – I’m easily bored. I can’t think of a third!

5/ What is Thaw about? Pretend you haven’t got a publisher for it and you’re trying to sell it to a publisher.

That’s putting me on the spot… Through Ruth’s three month diary, in which she decides whether or not she wants to live or die, Thaw explores how we find can meaning in our relationship with the world, and make our lives worth living.

6/ Now pretend I am a film producer, and try to sell it to me as an idea for a film…

Argh, even worse! Suicidal microbiologist seeks big answers via a Russian portrait painter.

7/ Finally, have you ever attended a creative writing class, or done a creative writing course? And do you think there is anything to be gained from such courses?

Oh, yes – HUGE amounts to be gained. I used to go to a writing group for years and learnt the craft of poetry there, and on countless wonderful Arvon courses, and workshops. I think poets maybe do this better than novelists. It’s easier to critique a poem! Having said that, there is a point at which you have to have faith in your work and forge forwards, regardless of what anyone else says…