Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Joy Wood for supplying author shots, book cover pictures, and photos of her at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. Screenshots and other images from Swanwick were taken by me, Allison Symes. Other images created in Book Brush using photos supplied by Joy. Some images are directly from Pixabay.
It is a pleasure to welcome fellow Swanwicker, Joy Wood, to Chandler’s Ford Today. I met Joy at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick and we often “cross paths” via Facebook. Say what you like about social media, and many do (!), but when used properly, it is a fabulous way to keep in contact with your writing colleagues.
Joy took up writing after retiring from being a working nurse and has written a wide range of novels. She has written romance (with adult content), hospital thrillers (with adult content), romance with crime, romance with suspense and crime. Her Secrets and Lies I would say was a great example of the latter.
I share below some of Joy’s “about me” section from her website but to find out more do visit her site which you can find here.
Joy Wood Introduction
As a working nurse, I have been creating stories in my head for many years, but never found the time to do anything with them – life just got in the way. Once I retired, I moved to Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, and love nothing better than walking along the sea front; I particularly enjoy the melancholy charm of the seaside in winter.
On these walks, I started to invent stories and develop characters in my head and the writing took off from there and I love it. However, I don’t want to sell books for the monetary value (nice as that is) – I want readers to savour and enjoy each story and feel passionate about every character and storyline, as I do.
I once went to a book club to listen verbally to the reader’s feedback on one of my books. As I listened to them debating and getting passionate about a character and his actions, I smiled inwardly at the fact this man lived inside my head and wasn’t real! That’s what makes writing such a delight.
Welcome to Chandler’s Ford Today, Joy.
1. What led you to go to The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick? What do you find useful about going there?
I was intrigued about Swanwick when an author friend told me about it. I’d never been to a residential writing school and the idea appealed. I had no idea what to expect and was blown away by what was on offer. I loved all the informative teaching sessions and I needed them – I’m sure my writing has improved due to attending.
Many of the sessions have resonated with me and I often find myself digging out notes and references to them. One special session I attended at my first Swanwick shaped my attitude and outlook to life, and I continue to use the techniques I learned as I believe they have enhanced my overall mental health and well-being.
I like the contrast of opportunities at Swanwick also. The teaching is what the school is all about but the social aspect is just as important. I love the evening activities and I’ve made so many life-long friends. Indeed, the highlight of each year is returning and seeing everyone again. It’s such a special community where everyone is included, it’s happy, supportive and there is special magic dust (only available at Swanwick) we’re lucky enough to be sprinkled with each year!
I’ll be there again this year (God willing!).
2. What led you to write novels rather than, say, start with short stories/flash fiction? Have you written any of the latter? What do you find are the joys and challenges of writing novels?
Many years ago, I used to enter slogan competitions. Some may recall when you went into a supermarket, if you, for example, bought a leading brand of washing powder, there would be a competition leaflet so you could win prizes. I became prolific at those! There was a skill about writing a slogan to catch the judge’s eye, and I persevered until I did.
I use Clearasil cleansing lotion for my skin because … It clearly knocks spots off the rest.
I buy Kellogg’s Fruit and Fibre because … my sluggish movement needs improvement!
I buy British Lamb because . . . for Sunday lunch, kebabs or curry, perfect meat for mum in a hurry.
I was one of those you used to see in magazines who won hundreds of prizes. I was the fortunate recipient of some nice holidays and UK trips as well as many other lovely things. I once won a year’s supply of dog food and didn’t have a dog! The main prize I entered the competition to win eluded me and I received the runner up prize which came in handy for my neighbour who did own a dog.
I then moved onto writing witty poetry. I worked as a nurse and loved writing something quirky when a student was leaving a ward, or someone was retiring. I liked to pick out little idiosyncrasies they had and build them up into a funny ode. I loved those. I did calligraphy also so I’d present the poem nicely as a keepsake.
Then one day, I entered a competition in a woman’s catalogue. You had to write a short romantic boy meets girl story. So I kitted my two main characters out with clothes from the catalogue range for their first date and won a super prize. It was only a short story but it gave me the confidence to write a novel. The first one I wrote (For the Love of Emily) was just to see if I could.
The joy of writing any novel for me is the feedback. Not from family or friends (they will always like your work) – it’s more the anonymous people I don’t know. I love readers contacting me or leaving a review to say they’ve enjoyed a story – to me, that makes all the blood, sweat, and edits worth it!
The challenge for me is marketing. I believe the easy bit is writing the book, the hardest part is selling it. Promoting always feel pushy to me. I have to do it of course, but I hate the please buy my book approach. But that is what we are all doing, that’s why we write, we want readers and strive to get them – we have to be bold and to a degree, pushy. I don’t like it though!
3. I always ask writers this because we can all share knowledge here, Joy. Name three writing tips and three marketing tips you’ve found useful.
I have posters scattered around my town with my picture and book details in places such as church halls/the post office/shop windows – anywhere where there is a community notice board. I increase the number of them when I have a signing. I also try placing these details in the supermarkets. More often than not, they’ll put a poster up advertising a local author. It’s not necessarily about attracting people to attend a signing, it’s more they’ll take a note of a particular book and hopefully download it.
Every paperback book I sell, I push a business card or two in the centre, right into the spine so it can’t fall out. The reader will naturally come to it when turning the pages. The business cards have pictures of all my books. So it’s a subtle reminder if they’ve enjoyed my book, there are more!
I always have business cards in my bag which have details of my books on one side and contact details on the other. So many times I’ve been talking to people (in a pub/on a bus/on holiday) and I’ve chatted casually about my writing (some may say opportunistically!), invariably, once someone finds out you write, they want to know where they can find your books. So I “might have a card in my bag somewhere, let me look!” – you get the drift. Without handing over a card, you have potentially lost a sale or two. So don’t go anywhere without those business cards – it’s a must.
Writing tips
I’d say just write. Get something down on the page. Often the chapters I send to my editor don’t resemble anything I’d written in the first place. But by getting something down, even if it’s two or three paragraphs, it’s something to build on. If you continue to stare at a blank page, it’s easy to get distracted and move away from writing to something else which is easier. But if you have some words in front of you, you can add/take away. Sometime my chapters are in note form – just one line but it gives me direction.
I think it’s nice to keep a journal. I don’t but I know people who do and at least it’s writing each day. I don’t write every day I must say. I like days off and then to go back and re-look. That’s good as it gives you the critical eye you need by taking a break and then going back.
The joy for me is selling one of my books. If I only sell one per day, I’m happy as its one more person reading my book (I like more though!).
4. Do you have a writing routine? Do you edit as you go or get the story down first and then edit? Do you enjoy editing? (My experience here has been writers fall into two camps here – those who love editing and those who hate it but see it as a necessary evil!).
I can’t stand editing! I’m hopeless at it. I just want to write my stories. I love the characters taking me on a journey but then I get a dose of reality when my editor says, ‘cut all that fluff, you’ll bore the reader to death with it!’
I write the whole story, not brilliantly, but once I have it done (a start, middle, and end), I begin again with three chapters and strive to improve them. Once I’m satisfied they are the best they can be, I send the three to my editor with a plan for the story. He is fabulous at directing me. I couldn’t do it without him. I think editors are precious. Authors get the recognition for a good book, but in the background, in most cases, it’s the editor that has shaped it.
5. What is your way into writing a new book? Do you outline in detail or just enough to get you started? Do you start with the basic idea or with the characters and the plot comes through them? How many drafts do you find you usually need to do?
For me to write a novel, I need a twist and an ending. I must have that even if it’s just in my head. Then I begin the book, creating the characters and the conflict until I get to the twist. I then continue towards the build up and ending. It never changes. That’s how I write a book every single time. The characters may go off on a tangent, but my ending and twist is firmly implanted before I begin the story.
6. Joy, you publish through FeedARead. What made you decide to publish this way? How easy or otherwise has it been to publish through them? Are there tips you would share? How have you found cover design with them or do you use your own designs and upload them to the site? How have you found distribution? Have you had any issues getting your books into libraries, bookshops etc?
I’m an independent author, so I write and publish my own books. But I have help. I have an editor, a formatter, a cover designer, and a blog tour facilitator for book releases. FeedaRead publish my books. The reason I use FeedaRead is because my books can be ordered from bookshops such as Waterstones and WH Smiths as I’m not exclusive to Amazon.
As I sell paperbacks at events, I have to charge a significant amount to cover the costs of producing a book, so I want to sell quality books. And FeedaRead books are lovely. My paperback books can be purchased through Amazon – but for that I pay a retainer to FeedaRead. My electronic books (Kindle) are exclusive to Amazon and I am enrolled in the KDP Select Programme which brings in a significant income from readers that are enrolled. It certainly helps to see pages being read on the days when perhaps sales are slow.
Covers sell books. If I have one piece of advice it would be, take your time so you get the best showcase you can for your precious book. It’s your shop window; you must have a good one to attract. Also, it is important to make sure your cover looks equally as appealing as a thumbnail (how many see it on their phones/Ipads etc).
Readers like a picture on the cover, so do have something that draws them in to read the blurb on the back cover. I’m talking as if I’m an expert and I’m not, I’ve picked lots up from other authors along the way. I pay a cover designer and I definitely need her. My ideas are not necessarily the best whereas people trained in design, can advise accordingly.
In terms of distribution to say libraries for example, I’m not entirely sure about books produced by Amazon (I don’t know if libraries buy from Amazon?).
Allison: If anyone knows the answer to this, do let us know in the comments box. I am unaware of libraries buying from Amazon.
Joy: In terms of my books, they are available to borrow from local libraries. Each time I have a new book, I go in, explain I’m a local author and ask if they would stock them! And friends afar will request my books in their local library too.
Libraries have a budget to buy books so I find are more than willing to do this. I will donate copies to community libraries as they don’t have the budget. The return for an author on books borrowed is very little, BUT to me, as I said earlier, it’s about my books being read. And I like that people can read without paying. I’m a great advocate of libraries.
7. Now you often have book events in Tescos and, indeed, you carry out many author events. What would you say are the joys of doing these? What tips would you share for writers setting up their own events? I enjoy reading flash stories at Open Prose Mic Nights etc. How do you choose which extracts of your novels to share with people which intrigue them but also doesn’t give too much away? Do you rehearse ahead of any readings? I use Zoom for this as it helps me get my timings right.
I’ve never done an Open Prose Mic Night, I must say. If I was to engage with an audience online, I think I’d discuss more about the book and a particular part. So for example, one of my books (April Fool) was inspired by a friend who’d been on holiday with her husband and they were subjected to a terrible scam. Fortunately they were both alright despite losing money, but it’s a story we could all learn from and I used it in my book as part of the plot. So, if I was on Zoom, I might be tempted to talk about that rather than read a passage from my book.
I’m not much help as I don’t do a lot with an audience online. I did during Covid but I didn’t like looking at myself on the screen! In terms of me as a public speaker, part of that is entertaining an audience. While many love an author talk, not everyone does! So, unless it’s a ticketed event and the audience is there specifically to see me, I think it’s important I try and be inclusive and not too focused on ‘my precious books’. Just because I might think I’ve done a good job, it doesn’t mean the audience does.
I find a better approach is not to focus on a particular book (by reading an extract) but try and keep the audience engaged with more. Of course it is about books, but I throw all sorts in that might be of interest. Questions at the end are always good because again, it’s not about trying to ‘sell’ your book, it might be about the process of writing, ideas etc. I think that has more appeal than reading passages out. At the end of the day, some attendees might not care!
8. Last but not least, do share any news you have coming up, Joy. Also do share what you think has been the highlight of your writing journey to date and what you are looking forward to writing next.
I have almost completed my novel for this year, I’m at the editing stage. I release one book per year. I’d love to do more but costs prohibit me. I have to balance getting a return on any money I pay out (which is significant) – therefore it takes me a year to do that and make a profit.
I always release in the autumn with my eye on Christmas sales as books make brilliant Christmas gifts. I think more people read in the winter. Yes, people on holiday read in the summer, but releasing a book in the winter works for me. I do know to steer clear of August as that isn’t a good month for releasing a book as everyone is busy with the school holidays with either their children, or being on grandparent duty.
Conclusion
Many thanks, Joy, for a fabulous interview. Fiction, whether in the long or short forms, is immensely challenging (so many characters and storylines to think up, for a start!) but it is also a wonderful thing to do.
I know my love of reading pushed me towards writing my own stories and this is the case for many writers. I often think writers have two delights in one here – the delight of writing our own stories but also in getting even more out of the stories we read than we would’ve done before becoming writers. I find I appreciate the crafted turn of phrase in a way I had not done before.
Good luck, Joy, with your next stories!
Joy: Thank you so much Allison, I’ve loved answering all the questions. I sincerely appreciate your kindness by hosting me. I think we are so lucky in the book community with the unfailing support from writers and readers. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a joy to be part of it. Also, just to say my ideas are not prescriptive ones – these are just what work for me. I can appreciate others do things differently. The main thing is, there are opportunities for all which is what is so special about our book world.
Related Posts:-
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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