Ask the Author: Rob Gregson
Answered Questions (3)
Rob Gregson
I'm not sure it's good to listen to too much advice - at least, not if that advice feels like it's trying to mould you into a fine, upstanding mainstream author. There are more than enough of those in the world already. If you want to enjoy writing - rather than turn it into just another job - then keep your quirks and your individuality. Otherwise all you're doing is maintaining a facade.
For that reason, I'd never presume to offer any advice on writing style. After all, it's not as though it's difficult to find it elsewhere. Plenty of publishers and agents offer good, pragmatic guidance on their blogs and websites. If you hope to engage with them and produce something that's actually saleable, then it's probably an excellent idea to listen to their house rules.
Paying due regard to professional advice is one thing, but (as with sweets and puppies) I think you should be very wary of accepting suggestions from strangers. Act on every new word of advice you receive and you'll soon end up writing by committee. In recent years, I've had feedback from all sorts of people and, sometimes, I suspect that what they consider good writing is just whatever matches the style of their favourite author. It may be well meant, but it won't always be well reasoned, so be ready to consider advice if you wish, but be equally ready to discard it.
That said, I do think it's worth involving yourself in writing groups and eliciting feedback where you can. That's 'feedback' as opposed to 'advice'. It's easy to make assumptions as a writer - about what works and what readers will intuitively understand - but run your early drafts by a few fellow authors and you'll quickly unearth issues and ideas that would never otherwise have occurred. For me, that all started on the much-missed Authonomy site and, ever since, I've found that 'reciprocal feedback' approach invaluable. There are some really bright, kind and insightful people out there, and discovering some of them has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my whole writing experience.
For that reason, I'd never presume to offer any advice on writing style. After all, it's not as though it's difficult to find it elsewhere. Plenty of publishers and agents offer good, pragmatic guidance on their blogs and websites. If you hope to engage with them and produce something that's actually saleable, then it's probably an excellent idea to listen to their house rules.
Paying due regard to professional advice is one thing, but (as with sweets and puppies) I think you should be very wary of accepting suggestions from strangers. Act on every new word of advice you receive and you'll soon end up writing by committee. In recent years, I've had feedback from all sorts of people and, sometimes, I suspect that what they consider good writing is just whatever matches the style of their favourite author. It may be well meant, but it won't always be well reasoned, so be ready to consider advice if you wish, but be equally ready to discard it.
That said, I do think it's worth involving yourself in writing groups and eliciting feedback where you can. That's 'feedback' as opposed to 'advice'. It's easy to make assumptions as a writer - about what works and what readers will intuitively understand - but run your early drafts by a few fellow authors and you'll quickly unearth issues and ideas that would never otherwise have occurred. For me, that all started on the much-missed Authonomy site and, ever since, I've found that 'reciprocal feedback' approach invaluable. There are some really bright, kind and insightful people out there, and discovering some of them has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my whole writing experience.
Rob Gregson
Um... Yes. And Tuesday, in that order.
Rob Gregson
I'm in the final stages of tidying up a new lighthearted fantasy adventure called Shelf Life - the Book of Better Endings. It's a sort of cat-and-mouse chase through different works of fiction.
It's due to be published in Spring 2019.
It's due to be published in Spring 2019.
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