It's Monday - that time of the week where I get to interview a fellow author. But this week is special for me, because today I have the pleasure of introducing one of my favourite, bestselling crime authors, Elizabeth Haynes.
Elizabeth, welcome to Writers Spill. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.
Thank you for inviting me!
Firstly, would you mind telling our readers a little bit about yourself as an author, and how many books you have written and had published to date?
I've been writing for fun my whole life, but it's only in the last few years' that it's become my career. My first published book was Into the Darkest Corner, which has been really successful. After that came two further standalone thrillers, Revenge of the Tide (Dark Tide in the US and Canada) and Human Remains. The most recent two are the start of a police procedural series: Under a Silent Moon and Behind Closed Doors, which was released this year.
Wow, that's a great achievement. What was the easiest, and hardest book to write?
That's a really tricky question. They've all been so different! And yet the process is always the same - the first draft is usually good fun to write, then the editing is where the work really starts. There's usually a point where I wish I'd never started, where I think it's pointless, that nobody's going to want to read it, and my husband has to remind me that I go through this every time.
It would make sense to say that Revenge of the Tide was the hardest to write, because it came after the success of Into the Darkest Corner, but in fact I'd already finished working on it before that happened, so the pressure wasn't as bad as it could have been. That said, I did accidently kill off the wrong person. I had to do a complete rewrite when I realised the corpse was the most interesting character.
Oh, no! Luckily I haven't had to experience those sneaky plot holes yet. I'm sure one will catch me out one day. Could I ask when you first decided to turn your writing talent into a career?
It was when I was at the point of changing publishers - the series books are published by Sphere - and I realised that because of the deadlines I was going to have to work on two books at the same time. Coincidentally, there were going to be redundancies, so I took a career break for two years. When that came to an end, there were no jobs available so I had to resign.
What was your day job before you became an author?
I worked as an intelligence analyst for the police - a real gift of a job for a writer, not just in terms of research. Analysts are under-represented in the world of detective fiction, something I'm trying to address. Annabel in Human Remains and Jason in the series books are both analysts.
That sounds like a fascinating job, and one that's helped you create certain characters in your stories. Could you give us an insight into what your daily schedule is when it comes to writing?
I don't have one! I'm pretty useless. The only time I can get my head down and concentrate properly is when I have a deadline. I always write my first drafts in November for National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and even then I'm pretty haphazard. I'll have good days where I can't write at all.
Do you write everyday?
I wish I did! I am horribly disorganised and very good at procrastinating. I do keep a journal but I've been very bad at writing there, too.
Good to know I'm not the only one who is disorganized :) My next question is about inspiration, considering I did a blog post a few weeks on the topic, it would be nice to have a published authors view on this subject. Do you wait for inspiration to come knocking, or do you go looking for it?
That's a very good question. I usually have a few ideas lined up for future books, so I'm never without a story to write. But if I get stuck once I've started, I have some tricks to get me going again. One of them is to tell someone all about my plot and the problems I'm having. I have some brilliant, patient friends who are very good at coming up with seemingly obvious solutions that have entirely eluded me.
Another thing that helps is to work alongside someone else, in a sprint (ie, for a pre-arranged period of time), usually online. I don't know if it's my competitive steak or just fear of distracting someone who is on a roll, but If someone else is beavering away, it's somehow easier to get on with it. If I can't find anyone to work with, sometimes I'll just set my kitchen timer for 20 minutes and force myself to get on with it. I think it's easier to work in short bursts!
What would you say is the easiest and hardest thing about writing?
Writing something new, when the story is flowering, is easy - it's the best bit for me. Going back over and editing is the hardest thing. I know what's going to happen by then, so I find it quite boring and that's not good!
It's very difficult for me to see what's wrong with a story, so I need a lot of editorial steer. Other authors are good at self-editing and they only need two or three passes with an editor before they are signed off. It takes me many, many drafts to get to that stage - probably as much as nine or ten.
I'm glad you've said that. I did a blog post a few weeks back about internet trolls who berate other authors for making a simple spelling or grammar mistake. My main point was that all published authors need some kind of editorial help. There's the proof in the pudding! :) You said it takes you many drafts to get to that stage, so how long on average does it take you to finish the first draft of a novel?
I usually manage to finish the first draft around Christmas/New Year, and that will be around 80-90,000 words - so about eight weeks.
Wow! It takes me a lot longer :) Do you think your writing has evolved creatively since your first manuscript?
I hope so. I do take note of things people mention in reviews and I find things that annoy me in other peoples' writing, and make sure I don't fall into the same trap. Shrugging, for example, and sighing - in my first book, people were shrugging and sighing all the time. How often do you actually see someone do that? I also try to experiment with structure. I get bored very easily, so with every new book I'm actively trying to do things differently.
That's good :) Do you ever get writer's block?
I never experienced writer's block until quite recently. I've just moved house, and my writing space (a shed) was dismantled back in April - I think not having a desk was part of it, and being generally busy packing didn't help, but I also suffered a big crisis of confidence this year and found myself wondering whether I'd be able to write anything worth publishing again. It's hard enough to write without your subconscious telling you not to bother. I'm not sure I've got a solution yet, but I think it has a lot do to with remembering that writing isn't something I do. It's who I am. I wrote for most of my life with no thoughts of publication, there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to go back to that and build up my confidence again. Also, I have my desk back now....
I'm glad you have your desk back! :) I often suffer with the same 'why are you bothering' kind of thoughts, and what you've said is very true, and quite inspiring! Could you tell me if you're currently working on anything at the moment? If so, could you tell us a little bit about it, or are you keeping your work in progress under-wraps?
I have two; firstly, I'm doing a bit of planning and research for a new series book I'm going to write this November, and once that's done I'll get to work on the edits for the standalone novel I wrote last November. I don't believe in keeping things under wraps, I get excited taking about my plots which helps keep me going, but in reality things change so much during the editing process that they usually end up being totally different.
You mentioned you're doing some research. Do you do a lot of researching before you begin a new novel?
I don't do a lot because I never really know what I'll need when I start. I will do enough research to not get stuck on the basics, if the subject is one I'm unfamiliar with. If I come across something that I'll need to check later, I will make a note of it - and if I find that a crucial plot point hinges on something I don't know or am not absolutely sure of, I'll go off and check before I continue writing. Then I'll do some more in-depth research before the edits, specifically around the details I've added in the first draft.
Do you think the saying, 'we are our own worse critiques' is true when it comes to writing?
I think I'd say we are our own worse enemies, which is a little different. I'm never any good at critiquing my own work; I know if it doesn't sound right, but I have no way of identifying what's wrong with it. But when it comes to self-doubt, self-sabotage, procrastination and generally standing in my own way - I'm definitely an expert in that.
You're not alone there! Do you have a favourite author, or favourite book?
Crikey, that's a big question. I'm a big fan of John Harvey's Resnick books, and Nicci French's standalone thrillers. I do have an enduring love of poetry too - I love Eliot and Rilke especially.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of writing?
We've just moved to a house with a bigger garden, so I can see that's going to take up quite a lot of my time. We have a Spanish rescue dog so there's lots of walking going on, too. All of those activities sound too noble so I'll balance it by saying what I'd really like to do is sit on a sun lounger with a book.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
Well, I certainly hope I'll be in the same house, because I don't want to go through another house move for a very long time! I can't think beyond that. Five years feels like a long way off, but I'm sure it will be here before you know it. I'd like to learn how to knit.
And what advice would you give to your younger self?
It's a quote from AA Milne: 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
Fantastic! I love that quote. (I'm a self-confessed Winne the Pooh addict) :) What advice would you give to aspiring authors who think they are ready to submit their manuscript to an agent?
Do it! What are you waiting for? If you don't do it now, when are you going to do it? The world is waiting for your novel!
All of that aside, I would hope you've finished it, edited it at least once, you've got a beginning, middle and end, some good characters, some believable dialogue, that you've proof-read it for spelling and grammar, and that you've had two or three people read it all the way through. I wouldn't do any more than that before you start submitting, because if it's accepted, you're going to have to do a whole load more work on it anyway. I'd also hope you'd researched your agents well and written a killer synopsis and covering letter. You can do that. No biggie.
Some very good advice :) But what if you could only give one piece of advice to an aspiring author. What would it be?
Don't stand in your own way.
Fab :) Now, could you spill me one of your most embarrassing moments?"
My very first author event was at a big library, with lots of other authors doing talks throughout the day. Although my event wasn't until 4pm, I was so excited I was there from the very start to listen in. I sat in the audience when the organiser was giving the welcome and introduction, and clearly I wasn't paying attention, because when he said "right, let's get some authors on the stage, shall we?" I got up along with two authors who were giving the first session and sat next to them on the stage. After about five minutes, during which they carried on with their talk and everyone politely ignored me, I got up and mumbled 'I'll just go and sit down there...."
Mortifying.
I have to admit...I would have died. That really is mortifying! :D Elizabeth, thank you ever so much for joining me today. It's been a pleasure. Good luck with your newest projects!
Thank you for your great questions. Good luck to everyone else who's writing right now. Let me know how you're getting on and if you need a bit of a prod!
*******
Well, there you have it. That was my interview with the lovely Elizabeth Haynes. I really enjoyed it, and I think she gave some great little tips for us aspiring lot :) Below are the links to Elizabeth's social media platforms if anyone would like to contact her. There's also a link to her website, where you can discover more about Elizabeth and her novels.
I've also put a link for National Writing Month, (NaNoWriMo) for those of you that are interested in taking part this November.
Another big thank you to Elizabeth, and also thanks to everyone for reading, I appreciate it. Leave any comments down below! Until next time....
Click here to visit Elizabeth on Facebook.
For twitter, it's @Elizjhaynes
And for her website, click here.
Click here if you are interested in taking part, or want to know more about NaNoWriMo.
Elizabeth, welcome to Writers Spill. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.
Thank you for inviting me!
Firstly, would you mind telling our readers a little bit about yourself as an author, and how many books you have written and had published to date?
I've been writing for fun my whole life, but it's only in the last few years' that it's become my career. My first published book was Into the Darkest Corner, which has been really successful. After that came two further standalone thrillers, Revenge of the Tide (Dark Tide in the US and Canada) and Human Remains. The most recent two are the start of a police procedural series: Under a Silent Moon and Behind Closed Doors, which was released this year.
Wow, that's a great achievement. What was the easiest, and hardest book to write?
That's a really tricky question. They've all been so different! And yet the process is always the same - the first draft is usually good fun to write, then the editing is where the work really starts. There's usually a point where I wish I'd never started, where I think it's pointless, that nobody's going to want to read it, and my husband has to remind me that I go through this every time.
It would make sense to say that Revenge of the Tide was the hardest to write, because it came after the success of Into the Darkest Corner, but in fact I'd already finished working on it before that happened, so the pressure wasn't as bad as it could have been. That said, I did accidently kill off the wrong person. I had to do a complete rewrite when I realised the corpse was the most interesting character.
Oh, no! Luckily I haven't had to experience those sneaky plot holes yet. I'm sure one will catch me out one day. Could I ask when you first decided to turn your writing talent into a career?
It was when I was at the point of changing publishers - the series books are published by Sphere - and I realised that because of the deadlines I was going to have to work on two books at the same time. Coincidentally, there were going to be redundancies, so I took a career break for two years. When that came to an end, there were no jobs available so I had to resign.
What was your day job before you became an author?
I worked as an intelligence analyst for the police - a real gift of a job for a writer, not just in terms of research. Analysts are under-represented in the world of detective fiction, something I'm trying to address. Annabel in Human Remains and Jason in the series books are both analysts.
That sounds like a fascinating job, and one that's helped you create certain characters in your stories. Could you give us an insight into what your daily schedule is when it comes to writing?
I don't have one! I'm pretty useless. The only time I can get my head down and concentrate properly is when I have a deadline. I always write my first drafts in November for National Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and even then I'm pretty haphazard. I'll have good days where I can't write at all.
Do you write everyday?
I wish I did! I am horribly disorganised and very good at procrastinating. I do keep a journal but I've been very bad at writing there, too.
Good to know I'm not the only one who is disorganized :) My next question is about inspiration, considering I did a blog post a few weeks on the topic, it would be nice to have a published authors view on this subject. Do you wait for inspiration to come knocking, or do you go looking for it?
That's a very good question. I usually have a few ideas lined up for future books, so I'm never without a story to write. But if I get stuck once I've started, I have some tricks to get me going again. One of them is to tell someone all about my plot and the problems I'm having. I have some brilliant, patient friends who are very good at coming up with seemingly obvious solutions that have entirely eluded me.
Another thing that helps is to work alongside someone else, in a sprint (ie, for a pre-arranged period of time), usually online. I don't know if it's my competitive steak or just fear of distracting someone who is on a roll, but If someone else is beavering away, it's somehow easier to get on with it. If I can't find anyone to work with, sometimes I'll just set my kitchen timer for 20 minutes and force myself to get on with it. I think it's easier to work in short bursts!
What would you say is the easiest and hardest thing about writing?
Writing something new, when the story is flowering, is easy - it's the best bit for me. Going back over and editing is the hardest thing. I know what's going to happen by then, so I find it quite boring and that's not good!
It's very difficult for me to see what's wrong with a story, so I need a lot of editorial steer. Other authors are good at self-editing and they only need two or three passes with an editor before they are signed off. It takes me many, many drafts to get to that stage - probably as much as nine or ten.
I'm glad you've said that. I did a blog post a few weeks back about internet trolls who berate other authors for making a simple spelling or grammar mistake. My main point was that all published authors need some kind of editorial help. There's the proof in the pudding! :) You said it takes you many drafts to get to that stage, so how long on average does it take you to finish the first draft of a novel?
I usually manage to finish the first draft around Christmas/New Year, and that will be around 80-90,000 words - so about eight weeks.
Wow! It takes me a lot longer :) Do you think your writing has evolved creatively since your first manuscript?
I hope so. I do take note of things people mention in reviews and I find things that annoy me in other peoples' writing, and make sure I don't fall into the same trap. Shrugging, for example, and sighing - in my first book, people were shrugging and sighing all the time. How often do you actually see someone do that? I also try to experiment with structure. I get bored very easily, so with every new book I'm actively trying to do things differently.
That's good :) Do you ever get writer's block?
I never experienced writer's block until quite recently. I've just moved house, and my writing space (a shed) was dismantled back in April - I think not having a desk was part of it, and being generally busy packing didn't help, but I also suffered a big crisis of confidence this year and found myself wondering whether I'd be able to write anything worth publishing again. It's hard enough to write without your subconscious telling you not to bother. I'm not sure I've got a solution yet, but I think it has a lot do to with remembering that writing isn't something I do. It's who I am. I wrote for most of my life with no thoughts of publication, there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to go back to that and build up my confidence again. Also, I have my desk back now....
I'm glad you have your desk back! :) I often suffer with the same 'why are you bothering' kind of thoughts, and what you've said is very true, and quite inspiring! Could you tell me if you're currently working on anything at the moment? If so, could you tell us a little bit about it, or are you keeping your work in progress under-wraps?
I have two; firstly, I'm doing a bit of planning and research for a new series book I'm going to write this November, and once that's done I'll get to work on the edits for the standalone novel I wrote last November. I don't believe in keeping things under wraps, I get excited taking about my plots which helps keep me going, but in reality things change so much during the editing process that they usually end up being totally different.
You mentioned you're doing some research. Do you do a lot of researching before you begin a new novel?
I don't do a lot because I never really know what I'll need when I start. I will do enough research to not get stuck on the basics, if the subject is one I'm unfamiliar with. If I come across something that I'll need to check later, I will make a note of it - and if I find that a crucial plot point hinges on something I don't know or am not absolutely sure of, I'll go off and check before I continue writing. Then I'll do some more in-depth research before the edits, specifically around the details I've added in the first draft.
Do you think the saying, 'we are our own worse critiques' is true when it comes to writing?
I think I'd say we are our own worse enemies, which is a little different. I'm never any good at critiquing my own work; I know if it doesn't sound right, but I have no way of identifying what's wrong with it. But when it comes to self-doubt, self-sabotage, procrastination and generally standing in my own way - I'm definitely an expert in that.
You're not alone there! Do you have a favourite author, or favourite book?
Crikey, that's a big question. I'm a big fan of John Harvey's Resnick books, and Nicci French's standalone thrillers. I do have an enduring love of poetry too - I love Eliot and Rilke especially.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of writing?
We've just moved to a house with a bigger garden, so I can see that's going to take up quite a lot of my time. We have a Spanish rescue dog so there's lots of walking going on, too. All of those activities sound too noble so I'll balance it by saying what I'd really like to do is sit on a sun lounger with a book.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
Well, I certainly hope I'll be in the same house, because I don't want to go through another house move for a very long time! I can't think beyond that. Five years feels like a long way off, but I'm sure it will be here before you know it. I'd like to learn how to knit.
And what advice would you give to your younger self?
It's a quote from AA Milne: 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
Fantastic! I love that quote. (I'm a self-confessed Winne the Pooh addict) :) What advice would you give to aspiring authors who think they are ready to submit their manuscript to an agent?
Do it! What are you waiting for? If you don't do it now, when are you going to do it? The world is waiting for your novel!
All of that aside, I would hope you've finished it, edited it at least once, you've got a beginning, middle and end, some good characters, some believable dialogue, that you've proof-read it for spelling and grammar, and that you've had two or three people read it all the way through. I wouldn't do any more than that before you start submitting, because if it's accepted, you're going to have to do a whole load more work on it anyway. I'd also hope you'd researched your agents well and written a killer synopsis and covering letter. You can do that. No biggie.
Some very good advice :) But what if you could only give one piece of advice to an aspiring author. What would it be?
Don't stand in your own way.
Fab :) Now, could you spill me one of your most embarrassing moments?"
My very first author event was at a big library, with lots of other authors doing talks throughout the day. Although my event wasn't until 4pm, I was so excited I was there from the very start to listen in. I sat in the audience when the organiser was giving the welcome and introduction, and clearly I wasn't paying attention, because when he said "right, let's get some authors on the stage, shall we?" I got up along with two authors who were giving the first session and sat next to them on the stage. After about five minutes, during which they carried on with their talk and everyone politely ignored me, I got up and mumbled 'I'll just go and sit down there...."
Mortifying.
I have to admit...I would have died. That really is mortifying! :D Elizabeth, thank you ever so much for joining me today. It's been a pleasure. Good luck with your newest projects!
Thank you for your great questions. Good luck to everyone else who's writing right now. Let me know how you're getting on and if you need a bit of a prod!
*******
Well, there you have it. That was my interview with the lovely Elizabeth Haynes. I really enjoyed it, and I think she gave some great little tips for us aspiring lot :) Below are the links to Elizabeth's social media platforms if anyone would like to contact her. There's also a link to her website, where you can discover more about Elizabeth and her novels.
I've also put a link for National Writing Month, (NaNoWriMo) for those of you that are interested in taking part this November.
Another big thank you to Elizabeth, and also thanks to everyone for reading, I appreciate it. Leave any comments down below! Until next time....
Click here to visit Elizabeth on Facebook.
For twitter, it's @Elizjhaynes
And for her website, click here.
Click here if you are interested in taking part, or want to know more about NaNoWriMo.