On this week’s Write Smarter Blog, I am delighted to welcome author Kerry Manning, who at 61 years old published her first book, Learning to Love Lucy and then six months later, the sequel, Rose has a Right to Happiness.
Kerry suffers from chronic illness. She has a number of autoimmune diseases which severely limit how much she can do at any time. This has meant that she needed to find workarounds for lots of things. Kerry always wanted to write books but she certainly wasn’t going to be the writer who woke up at five and wrote until seven. Neither was she going to be the successful author who was a night owl, writing into the small hours – so how did she do it?
Here are some of the questions I get asked and my (probably unique) answers.
How do you find time to write?
I write in small bursts. Quite often an hour or even less. I come to my computer, possibly read the last line, and then start typing. I don’t read back, and don’t stress about things. If I have forgotten a name, I put xxx. If I know it needs more, I make a note for the first edit. I give myself a word count target and plough on.
Are you a procrastinator?
I am a champion procrastinator and an Olympic level overthinker. I am very conscious of this and always write first when I sit down. No checking emails, playing with graphics or anything. If it is a writing session I do exactly that. After about 45 minutes my hands start hurting and it is time for a break.
The words do add up, I promise!
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Probably something in-between. All my books deal with a social issue as well as the central themes of friendship, families and romance. I start the book thinking about what I plan to tackle and then start working on my characters. I do a character questionnaire but also look at things like the values my characters live by. When I was writing my first book Save the Cat Writes a Novel was recommended to me. I don’t follow it religiously, but I am always aware of where I am in the novel and if I am hitting beats or not.
After that It becomes more fluid. I am often reminded that these characters I create have minds of their own and do their own thing sometimes. They make me laugh and make me cry and surprise me always.
What do you struggle with?
Other than procrastination? I would say sense of place. This is something I have had to really work on. My books take place in a fictional village on the West Coast of Ireland. By now, I have a picture in my head of how it looks and the character of the village itself. I do find myself adding details in the second draft. I think I get too involved with the action and dialogue and forget about the place.
Recently a reader asked me where the village was as they had looked on a map and wanted to visit. This really made me happy – my fictional village had personality.
Are there more books coming?
I am currently dealing with the suggestions from my editor on book 3. I love this story and hope the readers do too. I have so many ideas for books, both fiction and non-fiction, but between my health and my procrastination problem, I can make no promises, expect that I will write while I can.
What is my favourite part of being an author?
I love the process of the first draft, but second to that is hearing from readers. When I get a message to say that someone has read through the night, or a wonderful review it honestly makes my heart glad.
You will find Kerry Manning at:
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Available via ~ Buythebook.ie (paperback) & AmazonUK
