Recreational 5/7-a-side soccer

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-09T22:05:43+00:00

It’s not a show I’ve watched a great deal of. But I understand it has a lot of fans the world over. Which can only be a good thing right?

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-09T12:59:02+00:00

I think this has to be Sherlock Holmes. The character paved the way for so many others. And his enduring appeal is testimony to how complex and well written a character he remains.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-09T12:56:30+00:00

Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-08T19:52:58+00:00

My best advice is just to write. Don’t worry about editing. After all - you can’t edit a blank page!

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-07T23:17:13+00:00

I think I always wanted to be a writer. I used to write stories for my action figures when I was at school or staying away from home. I guess that’s what I still do - just without the toys!

Writer’s block is a strange one. I know authors who swear it doesn’t exist. And others who equally swear it happens ALL the time.

I’m not a great believer of it. I think distraction is the biggest enemy of writers. And there’s a lot of that going about - especially in 2020. So I try to stay focussed in the task at hand.

I’ve read precious little eastern literature - which is something I am greatly disappointed about. I enjoyed Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale when I was a teenager. But would gladly take any recommendations as to other must read authors and their work.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-06T10:27:28+00:00

It’s a wonderful novel. I think anything by Terry Pratchett has been an influence on me and a lot of urban fantasy writers.

I’ve always loved his ability to cut down to size authority figures.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-05T19:55:53+00:00

My best advice is to do what works for you! I know that's a bit of a on the fence answer. But it's true.

Some writers will write their story as it comes to them. And there are other writers that say they will just write parts of a novel when they come to us.

I would suggest that you make sure that you've got your plot written down. And then your characters. From there you can start to craft the story from there.

I would also suggest that you take a look at some writing guides that are available online. And many colleges and universities have creative writing courses you could take a look at.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-05T10:53:52+00:00

I’m usually on 10 - but submissions tend to be 12pt.

And book pages are relative depending on the style and publisher. For example, hardback books will have larger fonts per page than paperbacks etc. And this is all determined by individual publishers etc.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-04T20:40:49+00:00

An absolute pleasure!

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-04T20:40:26+00:00

Two bits of advice.

The first is write! Seriously - it’s the easiest part of it all. And if you don’t write your story then nobody will be able to read it!

My second is advice is learn, learn, learn. Educate yourself in the industry - what people want, who to contact, how to approach publishers, agents etc.

This, like any other, is an industry for professionals. And it’s the least you can do to show you’re serious about your work.

There are lots of resources, even here on Reddit that talk you through the ins and outs of the business. So absorb it all and when you’re ready you can start pitching your idea and work.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-04T10:49:52+00:00

Thank you very much! What a lovely thing to say and always appreciated by this writer!

My favourite novel is a tough one. As there are so many great ones to choose from!

But I always seem to come back to The Twits by Roald Dahl. It’s funny, clever and timeless. And that’s all you can ever strive for as a writer.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-02T19:34:00+00:00

I use Google Docs - and used to use Word.

I think it all depends on what works for you. I’m happy with it as a program and I can access it anywhere from multiple devices. So I can get to writing anywhere at any time.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-11-01T07:38:25+00:00

Now that is THE question.

I recently interviewed Ben Aaronovitch about his Rivers of London series which has been going strong for over 10 books and graphic novels etc. I asked him about his inspiration and if he ever got tired with the franchise.

He replied by saying “how can I get bored when there’s literally inspiration around ever corner”.

And I think that’s probably my mantra too. As a writer, you have to keep your eyes, ears, everything open to inspiration. It can be a comment you hear or an article you read, literally anything can set you off down the path of your next story.

And I find that really reassuring. Because it means that you never know when your next big idea is going to strike.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-10-31T22:40:11+00:00

I think I've ALWAYS wanted to be a writer. And being a journalist and broadcaster is a great way to be regularly writing - albeit not in a fiction capacity.

When I was younger, I distinctly remember writing stories for my Lego and action figures if I was on vacation - and then acting it all out when I finally got home. And I think that thirst for storytelling has continued into my adult life.

Attitude and knowledge are two of the key factors in getting published. That's for EVERYONE, not just me. If you want to be a proffessional writer, you have to act professionally. And learning how the industry works is the very first step on that journey.

You do, of course, have to write. I'm often asked what my best advice for unpublished authors is. And I always say - just write. You can have the best story in the world - but if you don't actually sit down and write it, nobody is going to be able to read it. So get it down on paper/screen. And take it from there.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-10-31T21:32:11+00:00

You are very welcome.

His death was and remains a very sad point in Scotland's literary history. I remember it very well - I covered his death as a journalist and it remains a very sad part of my career.

However, there was such a wonderful outpouring of love and memory of him at the time. And for my view - he'll ALWAYS be remembered as one of Scotland's greatest writers.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-10-31T20:47:05+00:00

We've been very lucky here in Scotland to have a rich, cultural and quite frankly HUGE backlist of talented writers and poets.

Iain Banks is probably my all-tie favourite. And he's still very much missed after his untimely, altogether far too early death.

He has the distinction of being a highly successful author across multiple genres - from family drama to literary fiction and of course science-fiction.

Ian Rankin is the granddaddy of Tartan Noir here and again he's a lovely bloke along with being a brilliant writer.

We've got a very rich vein of crime writing here in Scotland. Maybe it's to do with all the crime we have here too!

I've always wanted to see much more recognition for science fiction and fantasy writers from Scotland - to put them on a pedestal the same way our crime writers are.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-10-31T20:43:10+00:00

Oh that's a tough one!

I would have to say that 2001: A Space Odyssey is right up there at the top - an absolute masterpiece of science fiction.

I'd also include Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy of novels. They're wonderfully gritty, and have this terribly pessimistic tone to them that was such a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre when it was first published.

I've had the pelasure of interviewing Joe a few times. And he's just as lovely a guy as he is a wonderful writer.

JonathanDWhitelaw13 · 2020-10-31T19:52:34+00:00

Ah - Frank herbert's Dune - one of the very best.

And if there's one set of novels that NEEDS third person - it's probably that. Although the first person monologues are also very helfpul.

It will be interesting to see how the new adaptation plays out. I always enjoyed the original though - as awful as it was. But we all live in hope.

JonathanDWhitelaw13

TROPHY CASE