Being a writer, I thoroughly enjoy connecting and meeting other writers. I meet my fellow writers through various channels online via social media, friends and colleagues. I decided how I could do this while I am getting to know them better is to introduce these talented writers to you too.
Below is my interview is with fellow writer Morgen Bailey.
Interview with Author Morgen Bailey
Please share with us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a 40-something female who wears glasses because I used to read Stephen King by torchlight under the duvet in my teens. I originate from Buckinghamshire but have lived in Northampton, England since the early 1990s where I share a house with my ever-patient Jack Russell dog.
When did you begin your writing?
I enjoyed English at school (especially as it was my best subject) but I read more than I wrote until I reached my 20s when I wrote limericks, usually about colleagues, then found that ‘life’ gave me less time to write. It wasn’t until about six years ago that I spotted in a local university’s (University of Leicester) prospectus, having previously updated my language and computer skills, an evening creative writing workshop class lead by crime writer Sally Spedding (http://sallyspedding.com) which renewed my passion for the craft.
How long did it take you to write your book(s)?
I’ve written four and a half novels. Three of them (the first drafts) were written for http://nanowrimo.org, the yearly (November) 50,000+ words in a month project, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and were c. 53,000 words, 117,000 words and 51,000 words respectively, written within the 30-day timescale – I’m good at deadlines. The most recent project was completing 31 short stories in a month for http://storyaday.org which takes place each May (I wrote 32).
What is your greatest joy in writing?
Not knowing what will come out. I have an idea of what I want to write about but invariable as I create the characters and situation, they take over.
What is your biggest struggle with writing?
Finding time. As I mentioned a moment ago, I’m great with deadlines but if I don’t have one, it’s all too easy for life to take over and I find a few days (or more) have gone by with no writing done at all. That said, the ‘Story A Day’ project has rekindled my love for short stories so I am trying to write something, a complete story or part of one, every day.
Some writers have a preferred writing schedule. Do you?
I have a fairly structured week because I work as a part-time secretary. I also volunteer for the British Red Cross (dealing with their donated books in one of my local shops) one afternoon a week so other than researching for / hosting my writing group and volunteering for a fortnightly teenage writing group at my local library (and housework / dog walking), the rest of the week is pretty much mine to do with as I wish.
What tips would you offer beginning writers to help them?
Try to write every day. 100 words a day will become 36,500 in a year so that’s either half a novel or a whole novella. Also, don’t worry if you’re not happy with your first draft. You can edit a first draft (and they rarely resemble the finished work) but you can’t edit a blank page. Join a local writing group. Hopefully they’ll be firm but fair and help you see where you’re going wrong… and right! Unless you are writing for pleasure, think about entering competitions. I’d advise going for inexpensive (or free) ones until you feel your writing is strong enough to aim high – one of our top ones in the UK is the http://www.bridportprize.org.uk, a short story & poetry competition which closes end June. Attend as many workshops and conferences as you can – meet other writers (so online forums are also a recommendation). The more you can add to your literary CV the more notice an editor/agent will take of you.
Are there some books on writing you recommend that helped you?
I have three bookshelves of writing guides but I tend to dip into them rather than read cover to cover. One of these is Stephen King’s On Writing (a book I often hear recommended and is www.jane-davis.co.uk’s favourite) which I’ve promised myself I’d read in its entirety during a forthcoming week off, although I have a few projects I need to do so it may have to wait until my late summer break.
About your latest book
My editor and I are working on a variety of eBook projects. A writer’s block workbook is almost ready and we are also working on releasing the first NaNoWriMo novel (a lad lit) and the Story A Day anthology this summer.
Do you incorporate blogging into your marketing for your writing and/or your book?
Until I have anything to ‘sell’, my blog mainly consists of useful information, extracts from my Bailey’s Writing Tips audio podcasts, and some of my shorter pieces of fiction. I find that the quickest way to put someone off it to ‘sell, sell, sell’ so I would only market my wares in amongst providing the same service as I do now. I think that if you build a rapport, and respect, with other authors / readers then they are more likely to be interested in your work.
How long have you been blogging?
I had a Blogspot blog about three years ago but did nothing with it and therefore had little over 300 visits in all that time. I’d heard good things about WordPress so closed by original blog and created http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com on 31st March 2011 and have had an average of 200 hits a week since then. I don’t put this influx down to having changed provider but more the fact that I try and post something new every day. New posts automatically create shortcut links to Twitter and Facebook and this is undoubtedly helps the flow of ‘traffic’.
What subjects do you cover with your blog?
I write a variety of fiction so my blog does too. I compile fortnightly handouts for my writing group so impart that knowledge where I can, be it competitions to enter, submission opportunities etc., fiction and non-fiction – basically anything that I think my blog readers would be interested to know about. I also detail interviews I do, reviews of festivals and my audio hints & tips podcasts. I have been approached to read and review books but unfortunately, as thing currently stand, I’ve had to decline due to time constraints. Like most writers/readers I have a stack of books to read and as my house often resembles a library, I do wonder whether I’ll even get through those in my lifetime.
Why do you blog?
Mainly because I know, although incredibly friendly, how difficult this industry can be to succeed in, so anything I can share with others not only helps them but also me, especially when it comes to competitions, which tend to have come and gone by the time I remember to enter. Memory works better with images (if I stood face-to-face with you and said ‘Oprah Winfrey’, you wouldn’t picture the two words, you’d be more likely to picture her face) so when I blog something it sticks in my brain. Of course, I also do it to get an internet presence which, I hope, will ultimately lead to sales of my books but as I’ve said earlier, that would be a bonus rather than a goal.
Please share one (or more) blogging tip?
I would suggest not just blogging about what you’re doing, find things that interest you and share them, and often; try and blog something at least once or twice a week, more often if you can. I’ve noticed from my site stats that the more I blog, the more ‘traffic’ I get on that particular day. Although my blog posts lead to Twitter and Facebook, on average less than half the visits come that way, other people find me via search engines etc. And the whole point of the blog, whether it be for commercial reasons or not, is for it to be read.
When it comes to social media – do you prefer one platform over the others? (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn) Why?
I have a different audience on each but if I had to choose, I would say Twitter because, although it’s only 140 characters, it’s very instant. You do get to say more on Facebook (about 450 characters initially) but there tend to be more people on Twitter at any one time. I spent most of the day during the recent Royal Wedding (April 2011) on Twitter and the feed was almost constant with other people’s (mostly writers) observations of the day. Although I was at home, alone, in front of my computer screen, the atmosphere was great. I belong to about eight writing forums on LinkedIn and again, it’s a different set of people (mostly writers but some illustrators, web designers etc) and apart from some being just there to tout their products, it’s a great opportunity for strangers to ‘meet’ and chat about what interests them. Even in the few weeks I’ve been involved, I’ve been learning new things about people’s experiences of uploading their eBooks, self-publishing paperback, interesting websites they’ve found and much more. Despite feeling bombarded most days by the swamp of LinkedIn comment/summary emails coming in, it doesn’t take long to go through them, see which topics are of interest and respond if I have an opinion or can assist in anyway. As I’ve said earlier, the writing industry is very friendly and supportive and with LinkedIn it doesn’t take long for someone to come to another’s rescue. I think we’re very lucky in this day and age to be in contact with people around the world at the touch of a few buttons and I look forward to what technology will bring us next.
What is one social media tip you have to share with others?
Don’t spam. You’ll either get blocked, de-followed or reported. Keep what you have to say light and interesting and you’ll get followed, friended or network requested. Like the old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” but if you can achieve both that would be the clichéd icing on the cake.
Where can people purchase your books?
I plan to upload eBooks to Amazon in the first instance but have heard good things about Barnes & Noble’s Nook, CreateSpace and Smashwords so they’re avenues I’ll be exploring. I’m hoping to have everything launched, certainly on Amazon, by the end of August but updates will be posted on my website and blog as they happen.
What’s Next?
I’m presenting two novels to agents at the Winchester Writers’ Conference early July so I’m working on those together with novel no. 1.
What else is in the works for you for 2011?
It’s mainly getting all the eBook material ready for launch but I will also step up the competition entries and short story submissions to magazines.
How can others contact you?
My website http://morgenbailey.com has links to everything I do (my blog, Twitter, Facebook etc). My email is morgen@morgenbailey.com – I’m happy to hear from anyone who writes.
Biography – Morgen Bailey
Morgen, hosts the Bailey’s Writing Tips audio podcast, two in-person writing groups (based in Northampton, England), is the author of numerous short stories, four and a half novels, articles and poetry and a regular Radio Litopia contributor. She also belongs to two other local writing groups and when she’s not at her part-time day job, as a secretary, she writes, researches for her writing group, reads and walks her dog (often while reading, writing and editing).
