faq 4: practical questions
I've always thought I had a novel in me. What should I do?
I've written a novel. What next?
Can you introduce me to your agent?
How should I approach an agent or publisher?
What's your best advice for an aspiring writer?
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the answers
I've always thought I had a novel in me. What should I do?

Write it!

I have to be honest here. Sometimes, and probably without meaning to, people who aren't writers say things to me
that irritate me. This question is one of those things... Let me explain.

You know the saying that everyone has a novel in them? It's not true. Most people don't have a novel in them. And
even if everyone did have a novel in them, not everyone has the talent or skill to be a novelist. (There's a difference
between having a story to tell and being able to tell it!)

By way of analogy, I'd never say to a stockbroker or an airline pilot, 'Oh, I've always felt I might give your job a go one
day.' I think they'd be right to consider me a bit of an idiot for making such an arrogant assumption about how easy
their job is. So, I hope justifiably, I get a little prickly when people suggest, even without meaning to, that my job is
one that anyone could pick up if they could spare a couple of hours of a Sunday morning.

Okay - end of rant.

If you're serious about writing, you have to make the commitment of time and effort necessary to turn your whim into
reality, and that means making time in the midst of your ordinary life to write regularly until the job is done. If you can
do that, you're a writer.

I've written a novel. What next?

Answer

Can you introduce me to your agent?

Answer

How should I approach an agent or publisher?

Answer

What's your best advice for an aspiring writer?

Answer