On Saturday the 10th September I attended the Mountains to Sea DLR event Getting the Job done. This was a seminar fasciliated by Vanessa O' Loughlin in which she interviewed panelists Chris Binchy, Claire Kilroy and John Boyne on their novel writing methods and experiences, how, in short, they get the words on the page and get the job of novel writing done.

 

What was fascinating was the variety of ways in which they approached novel writing. On the subject of ideas for example, Claire Kilroy said that her novel ideas usually begin with a strong visual image, for Tenderwire it was the picture of her cat sleeping in a violin box that sparked her interest. Chris Binchy's novels have built on a number of associated ideas that captured his imagination. John Boyne rarely gets a strong visual image, rather a big idea, the exception being for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. For his latest novel, the Absolutionist the raw emotion of the idea was so strong following a news report he saw that after a single walk he had mapped out the idea in his head.

In terms of planning out a novel, Kilroy works more organically through notes and is not sure the novel will work until it is well underway. In the past Boyne, planned scene by scene meticulously and knew what he would write each day, now he is less strict and follows a general idea. Binchy likes to put his characters into scenarios and see where it takes them.

The authors were pragmatic about the actual hands on work of getting the words on the page. They all agreed that it was a matter of just producing the words whatever way possible, particularly for the first draft. Discipline was essential. While still involved in his day job Chris Binchy would work for 3 hours from midnight. The authors agreed that setting fairly ambitious daily wordcount targets was important, even if you didn't quite reach them. Claire Kilroy explained that progress might vary depending on where you were in the book. For her, the first 20,000 words was 'hell', but Chris Binchy found the middle section of the book the most challenging. John Boyne always begins by reading the previous days work to get him started.

Balancing confidence and doubt was something that Chris Binchy suggested is crucial to get right, especially at the first draft stage. He believes that at the first draft stage you need plough on and try to maintain confidence, doubt is something you try to leave for the 2nd or 3rd draft of a book, and it's important to 'silence your inner critic'. What I found particularly helpful were his comments on how, when writing, an atmosphere of failure might pervade you as you struggle to transform ideas into words. All the authors agreed that this atmosphere of failure in no way was an indication of the quality of your work. On a later read over, the work that came easily might not read as well as something you struggled over and thought was no good.

Vanessa O' Loughlin asked the authors for their top tips for writing novels. John Boyne said to 'read your work aloud' to test the flow and never rewrite while writing a first draft. He said that the practice of cutting a piece down to a much lower wordcount was a brilliandt exercise. It helps hone your editing skills and leave in what is essential. Boyne also advocate being healthy as a writer. 'Exercise, eat well' he said, 'writing a novel is a marathon!' Finally, if your book doesn't make it to publication, write another!

Claire's focus was very much on the specific quality of the writing. “Use your sentences to fight at every angle”, she emphasized, making each one add to the story. She also suggested using devices throughout the novel to add to the coherence of the piece, such as an object or venue, used or visited by several characters. 'Use 'deft' verbs' she said. For her using the right verb will energise your novel. And don't tell anyone you are writing a novel, she said, especially if it likely to take some time!

Chris Binchy's tip was that first drafts were meant to be bad. Editing and using feedback from others who know their stuff was also important. His next tip related to ideas. 'When you get an idea write it down. YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER IT!' he said. (He now uses his phone notes option, one that I have found very useful). Binchy also recommended keeping your plot simple and 'being nice to everyone as the publishing industry is small!”

The interview format with Vanessa O' Loughlin worked well and it was followed by a question and answer session. All in all this was terrific no-nonsense advice from three well respected Irish writers. What struck me was that, whatever stage of your writing career, certain principles apply. There is no magic formula, no secrets. It boils down to hard work, maintaining your confidence and perservence and striving for quality. Seminars and events like these are brilliant for re-energising your sense of yourself as a writer, something that is essential when endeavouring to get that novel writing job done!