An Interview with Sue Perkins

How did you get into writing? At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

From the time I mastered “joined up writing” I started to write stories but husband and family came along and although I still scribbled, I didn’t attempt to get published. Age hmm, not sure I want to reveal the age, but I knew I had to try and get published about twenty years ago.

What was your first book or story that you completed? Did you ever get it published?

The first book I completed was called “Sarah’s Dilemma”. I still have it but cringe with horror when I look at it. I can’t believe I sent it off to a publisher. It needs serious editing and re-writing, which I can see now but wasn’t aware of twenty years ago. No I never did get it published, but it acts as a level to show me how far I’ve come since then.

How did you finally get published? When were you able to write on a full time basis? Please explain your success story?

An author friend suggested I try epublishing. I sent my manuscript off to my publisher and waited. It took a while, the same as it would with a hard copy publisher, but eventually they came back and offered me a contract. I have to admit I couldn’t stop smiling for days. I still have to work part-time as I don’t earn nearly enough from my writing to do it on a full time basis. My success story is explained by hard work and perseverance. It took me seventeen years from deciding I wanted to be published to actually signing a contract.

How do you stay motivated to finish a novel? How do you stay focused?

I don’t really have a problem with motivation. The story usually takes over once I start writing and when I’m doing other things, I long to get back to the novel. Staying focused isn’t really a problem either. I love editing my work so I’m eager to get to the end of the first draft so I can begin the next step.

What is your writing schedule like? Do you write in the mornings, evenings, and for how long?

I have to admit I don’t have a writing schedule. I know many writers do, but I write when I have time. This could be anything from several hours a week to hardly any writing at all. Two days a week I am able to write without interruption, but it’s also the only time I get for appointments, so it really depends on what’s going on in my life.

How do you get your ideas? What is your method for remembering them?

You would really be better asking how do you choose between all the ideas in your head. Ideas pop into existence at the funniest of times. It could be a song, an unusual item, something on the news. My current work in progress began with a woman being knocked down by a truck. Method for remembering them, sorry I have so many ideas that I never bother to write any of them down, they nag me so much I tend not to forget the ones I really want to work on.

How do you get over writer's block?

What piece of advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a writer? What is a good starting point for them?

The same piece of advice I was given many years ago. “The secret of writing is re-writing”. In other words don’t look at your first draft and think it’s a load of rubbish. Edit, re-write and polish it until you think it’s ready and then send it out in the big wide world. Also try to be honest with yourself and listen to your critique partners. You don’t necessarily need to accept what they say, but it could spark off a line of thought for you. If I was starting out again with the knowledge of how I write, I would just get the words down on paper and worry about the grammar etc. when I edited.

To find out more about Sue Perkins and her work please go to her website, or check out the Sue Perkins Blog.