Writing a best seller is what every writer wants to do.
Okay, I know there are some writers who say they just write for art but it’s hard to imagine someone really not wanting to be read – by lots of people.
Surely that’s what we all want?
In my case, I do want to be read.
I also want the people who read my work to like it.
I can’t see the point of writing a book and keeping it in the drawer – unless it’s really bad.
Anyway, today my book, Piggy Monk Square hit the bestseller list for the first time and I’m one happy writer!
Piggy Monk Square was originally published in 2006 by UK publishers, Tindal Street Press and at the time I was ecstatic.
I had some difficult times prior to this and so this meant everything to me. I wrote about my experience of finally being published here.
For a first book, it did very well. It was optioned by Willy Russell, (who wrote Shirley Valentine and Educating Rita), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize and was chosen RTE Radio as their Book on One.
Sadly, Tindal Street Press closed a few years ago and I could either go with the company who had taken them over or do it myself.
Since the rights reverted to me I decided to go ahead and do it myself.
I had quite a learning curve ahead of me.
I had to get a new cover since a writer doesn’t hold rights to the cover and I had to get it formatted etc., so I could publish it as an eBook.
Piggy Monk Square hadn’t been published in eBook format before so I had to start from scratch.
However, there is lots of information available on the Internet and I did my research before embarking on the process.
I didn’t know much about marketing and sales and to be honest, I don’t consider myself very good at either but I have had to learn, and so I did – bit by bit.
I could probably do a lot more in the way of marketing and promotion, but between writing my own fiction, writing for this site, as well as my Ballyyahoo children’s stories site and others, I can’t find the time – so I do what I can.
These things have to be done but writing fiction is my priority and it comes first.
There is no magic or tricks to writing but when I write I have three golden rules:
1. WRITE FROM YOUR HEART AND WRITE THE TRUTH
You must believe in what you are writing. If you don’t no one will.
2. IGNORE YOUR MENTAL EDITOR
If you don’t know what a mental editor is read this.
3. FINISH THE STORY – THEN BE RUTHLESS AND CUT
The key to good writing is learning how and when to apply the chop.
However you write and whichever method you follow – always remember to write regularly.
Best wishes
Grace
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