<strong>What is your daily writing routine? </strong></p>


I begin the day as soon as I can and before I check emails, read the news, or use any social media sites. Hilary Mantel once said that writing first thing in the day could be the best thing that you ever do as a writer and I agree. If you write while your mind is fresh and is not persuaded by the thoughts of others, then your writing will generally be easier and your time more effective. It is best to write with no distractions, so I only use the internet during writing breaks unless I am researching.</p>
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<strong>Do you have a set word count you feel must be achieved each day?</strong></p>


I think for most writers this varies, and I can write anywhere between 500 words and 1500, but I aim for around 800-1000 per day if I can. The longest piece of writing in one day was somewhere around 2000. I don't tend to write at weekends as much but during the week I also work in the evenings. Writing ebbs and flows but the most important advice is to write every day and I treat the every day rule as Monday to Friday at the very least.</p>
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<img src="/content/sites/default/files/Writing%20desk_0.jpg" width="912" height="684" alt=""  />
<i>FC Malby's desk</div></i>
<strong>Is there a specific time of day when you feel you function best as a writer?</strong></p>


Yes, mornings and evenings. Most people have an afternoon lag and that is when I will write blog posts, guest blog posts, and catch up with admin. You need a break from writing at least every ninety minutes if you want to make the most effective use of your time. </p>
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<strong>Would you agree with Hemingway’s advice that you should stop your day’s writing whilst you are still raring to go on?</strong></p>
 
Although I can understand his thinking, I don't agree, purely from the perspective that there are days when you are not raring to go but you still need to write. As a creative persuit writing can be inspiring, but it can also be incredibly hard work when you get to a difficult section of the plot or particularly when you are editing your work. I haven't yet met a writer who is raring to go every moment of their writing day.  </p>
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<strong>In those periods where writing feels dry or difficult, how do you stay motivated to continue?</strong></p>


I read and I believe every writer needs to read widely. Ian McEwan reads for as many hours each day as he writes and it shows in his writing. Every writer should be well read and I find when I enter the dry periods, as every writer will at some point, it helps to read books in my genre. At the moment I tend to read and write mainly Literary Fiction but I do read in other genres as much as I can. I also watch a lot of films and I think when you write it is important to be able to visualise your scenes. Watching films can really aid the writing process and inspire new ideas. Having a word count and writing goals can also be helpful. I am also a photographer and because I am a very visual person, I find it helps to photograph people and places to inspire ideas, especially for short stories.</p>
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<strong>When you begin a writing project do you plan it out precisely or do you tend to free-wheel and see where it takes you?</strong></p>


Although I am not keen on planning, I know that it speeds up the writing process and helps with structure. I am naturally someone who likes to let my writing take its own course so I use a bit of both methods. With my last book my writing was linear with some necessary flashbacks added later. With my current novel I am trying something new and am writing in a non-linear style. I have been writing out key scenes and will thread them together when I am ready. Writing style, despite the rule books, is very personal to each author and very few people work in the same way.  </p>
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<strong>There is constant debate about the value of creative writing courses. What is your opinion on them?</strong></p>


I think that they can be really helpful. I don't believe they can teach everybody to write, but if you have a flare for writing within you then a course can help to free your ideas and develop your style. 





 
