I’m pleased to welcome today’s first drafter, crime writer TME Walsh.
Tania (T. M. E.) started writing her crime series, featuring the tough DCI Claire Winters, when she became a casualty to the recession in late 2008.
The first DCI Claire Winters novel ‘For All Our Sins’ was published in February 2011 by a small independent publisher but the rights to the work have now reverted back to the author. The novel has had a re-write and is now available on Amazon Kindle.
Earlier this year ‘For All Our Sins’ was entered into a competition run by Cornerstones Literary Consultancy. Tania was one of 32 authors, out of over 400 entrants, who made the first round but narrowly missed out on the longlist.
The second novel to feature DCI Winters, ‘The Principle of Evil’, was requested by three different literary agencies since being on submission, but Tania has yet to find representation. The novel is now available on Amazon Kindle.
In 2011 Tania won the Wannabe a Writer Blurb competition sponsored by Writing Magazine, and Judged by Matt Bates – the fiction buyer for WHSmith Travel, Hazel Cushion – MD of Accent Press and author Jane Wenham-Jones.
Tania used to do a lot of art (using both traditional and digital media) but writing now takes up most of her time. Some of her work was published on a DVD-ROM for ImagineFX magazine’s FXPosé section twice in the early and latter part of 2007, which has been published worldwide.
She’s now writing the first draft of the third DCI Winters novel (working title ‘Skin Deep’) and the fourth book (working title ‘The Devil’s Letters’) is at the ideas stage.
When you decide to write something new, what is the first thing you do?
I start writing down ideas in a nice new notebook. I have a collection of pretty vintage or gothic style notebooks and there’s nothing quite like opening a fresh page with new ideas for a story.
Do you have a set routine approaching it?
At the first initial stage there is no set routine. I get ideas at odd times, quite often when I’m in the bath of all places, so I jot down ideas as and when they come to me. When I’m able to start writing properly I write as soon as I’ve taken my daughter to nursery. If I have time in the afternoon, I’ll try and write then. Tuesdays and Thursdays my Mum comes over to look after my daughter so I can at least get two full days of writing done.
Pen and paper or straight to the keyboard?
Pen and paper for the ideas and planning. When I start to write the first draft itself I work on the PC. Often I might write a few notes on the PC but mostly the ideas, story arcs and plot are jotted down in a notebook.
How important is research to you?
Very. It is important to try and get police procedure right. I have a book written by an ex-police officer, which is a guide for crime writers. I use Google or the CPS website for sentencing guidelines, which I’ve had to research quite a bit for the new novel I’m working on.
How do you go about researching?
I like to get most of the research done before I start writing the first draft, so I make a note of what I need more information on, and spend a week, sometimes two, getting all the necessary facts. I usually print off the information and make my own notes to get an understanding of what I need to include in my novel.
How do you store everything; ideas, research, images that catch your eye?
I will add a website to my favourite settings, but quite often I print all the information I need. I find that easier to refer to, rather than constantly staring at a computer screen.
Tell us how that first draft takes shape?
I usually have the bare skeleton of a plan with an idea where I want the story to go, but aside from any research, that’s about it at the beginning. Once I start to write, usually the story seems to come together. I like my characters to surprise me. Sometimes I’ll create a character, not intending to use them very much, but then all of a sudden they can become so much more. If I plan something in too much detail, I become bored, feel restricted and everything becomes predictable.
Are there any rituals you have to do or items you must have with you while writing that draft?
I have to be in comfortable clothes, with a glass of water to hand, and music playing in the background.
Does the outside world exist or are you lost to us for a period of time as the magic works?
A bit of both really. If I’m on my own, I can get lost in the words on the screen. Other times if I try to write when my husband and daughter are around it is impossible to shut off completely and just write.
What does your work space look like?
Space is limited. I wish I had my own writing room, but I have to make do with sitting at the PC table in the corner of the living room. I try to keep the desk tidy but it always ends up cluttered with paper, notebooks, sticky notes and empty food wrappers. I like to call it organised chaos.
Edit as you go or just keep getting words out?
I try not to edit too much as I go. Having said that, it’s nice to have a good first draft to continue working on when you come to redrafting, so I try to keep a balance between the two.
I see many writers counting words in a day. Word counter or other method of keeping track of progression?
I try not to do a daily count. I went through a stage recently of aiming for a certain word count a day and it left me feeling pretty guilty if I hadn’t reached that target.
So, that first draft is down. Roughly how long did it take? And what shape is it in?
Book two took roughly eight months, but I couldn’t work on it as often as I’d have liked, so it took longer than expected. It was in a reasonable shape but way too long!
In what format do you like to read it through, ereader, paper or the computer screen?
I always like to read it through printed off, rather than staring at a computer screen. It makes it easier to spot mistakes. I recently discovered I could read back my work on my Kindle, which has been a fantastic way to see any flaws and typos I’d missed before. It also makes the novel feel more like a real book seeing it on an ereader.
What happens now that first draft is done?
A lot of re-drafting. I work to a ten draft spec that I found in a magazine. I focus on each new aspect for each draft. Draft two, for instance, I work on tightening the structure and filling in any plot holes. Draft five I work on language and imagery.
Thanks for digging into the depths of the first draft. It’s been a pleasure having you.
You can find Tania on her Blog, Twitter and Facebook.
To read any of the previous First Draft Q&A’s you can check the list Here.
To be a part of the First Draft series, just get in touch and let me know. Along with the answers to the questions, I’ll need a profile photograph, a first draft photograph and only three links that you feel are your most important. Get in touch!
MarinaSofia says
Tania sounds very sensible and organised. You know my passion for crime fiction – I’ll have to check out this new crime series.
tmewalsh says
Reblogged this on T. M. E. WALSH and commented:
Crime writer, Rebecca Bradley, was kind enough to post an interview on her blog about the first draft of my new manuscript. I think it’s really interesting to see how other authors tackle a new book and how they approach research. Rebecca regularly posts interviews on an authors first draft, so her blog is well worth following so you don’t miss out 🙂
tmewalsh says
Thanks again for having me, Rebecca 🙂
Diana Jackson says
Your methodical approach obviously works Tania and you’ll be scooped up soon, I’m sure. Do you have Beta readers too?
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Thanks for introducing us to Tania.
Tania – I really like the way you go about your planning. To me that’s half the battle really. Well, some of it anyway. And I couldn’t agree more about the need for good research when one writes.
tmewalsh says
Hi Margot. I’ve found the planning gets a bit easier the more practice you have from one book to the next. As an author, you really do learn more with each new project
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I need music and a water bottle nearby before i write.
Usually I plan characters in advance, but I had one in my last book that surprised me.
Linda King says
Interesting! I can relate to a lot of this! Comfy clothes, a fairly tidy first draft, a corner of a room to write in, food wrappers… Thanks for another interesting ‘My First Draft’!
Murees Dupé says
I love to find out more about how other writers conjure up their works of art and the many personal processes involved. This was great.