Writing Tips from Dorothy Koomson

To celebrate the launch of her latest novel, The Woman He Loved Before, I am thrilled to welcome the super talented and utterly fabulous Dorothy Koomson to my blog. Over to you, Dorothy…

My Writing Tips By Dorothy Koomson

I’ve been published for eight years now. My first book was The Cupid Effect, published by a small independent publisher called Piatkus in 2003. (They’ve now been bought by my current publisher, Little, Brown). The book of mine that most people have heard of is My Best Friend’s Girl, which was my third novel. I was writing for many years before I could write ‘novelist’ as my occupation. And even then, it was as an addition to my ‘real’ job as a journalist/editor - I couldn’t afford to give up full-time work until after my fourth novel, Marshmallows For Breakfast, was published, so I used to write whenever or wherever I could.

People ask me all the time for tips on how to get published, and if I can give them any pointers about writing. I’ve extended below, for Caroline’s blog, the writing tips that appear on my website.

I don’t have the magic formula for getting published, all I can tell you is what helped me – these tips may help you, but equally they may not. But whether they do or not, keep writing. If you love it, don’t let anything stand in your way of doing it.

1. Keep going. It’s a lot harder to keep going than to give up. You’ll get a lot of knock-backs when you submit your books to agents and publishers but if you believe in yourself and keep writing you’ll get there. Obviously that’s hard to do after your sixth rejection letter of the day – but just think of all those other people out there who don’t even try because they’re scared of rejection. You’ve got a lot further than them. I’ve had many, many rejections over the yeas - some of them pretty unpleasant - but I believed in my stories and I kept at it until someone else did too.

2. Stop talking and do it! I’m always saying this, but it’s very easy to get into the cycle of talking about a story but never committing it to paper. And, because you’ve talked about it already, part of you will feel there’s no need to write it. Let your writing do the talking. The most important writing tip anyone can ever give you is to write. Stop talking about it and write it.

3. Write what interests you. Write about things that you’re likely to read because you’re more likely to put your heart into the story. I think the best stories are the ones that you can feel the author has totally thrown themselves into what they’re writing. Technically competent books are all very well, but I’ve often got to the end of those types of books and felt there was nothing beyond clever language or a clever hook. A story told by someone who loves what they’re writing is likely to stay with you for years. Also, enjoy yourself! Even though I tackle some disturbing and difficult themes, I do enjoy myself. I commit to the story and I love being a part of it. There are very few things worse than not loving what you’re writing.

4. Read – lots. Read EVERYTHING you can - not just read what interests you or the type of books you want to write. Try to read what sells and what doesn’t sell. Read the trade press, read other authors’ websites, read anything you can that’ll help you understand the book industry and aid your journey along the road to being published. I’m always a little baffled by people who tell me they want to write books and then in the next breath say they never read - often ‘because there’s nothing worth reading out there.’ I often nod at these people and think how much more difficult their journey is going to be.

5. Remember . . . Opinions are like butts – everyone’s got one. Almost everyone will tell you what to do, but you’ll know what’s for the best. I’m not saying be a primadonna with those who know what they’re talking about, just don’t be tempted to do something you don’t believe in and if you have an uneasy feeling about something or someone, think twice before committing yourself. It’ll save you a lot of heartache along the line. This also applies with showing non-industry people your work in progress. Avoid it if you can because at this stage, an ill-judged remark could really set you back. I learnt that the hard way.

Bonus Tip!
 Join The Society of Authors. If you do one thing to help yourself it’s to join this society. They’ll give you the best impartial advice available.

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Dorothy’s latest novel, The Woman He Loved Before, is published by Sphere and is available from all good book retailers:

“Libby has a good life with a gorgeous husband and a home by the sea. But over time she is becoming more unsure if Jack has ever loved her - and if he is over the death of Eve, his first wife.

When fate intervenes in their relationship, Libby decides to find out all she can about the man she hastily married and the seemingly perfect Eve. But in doing so she unearths devastating secrets.

Frightened by what she finds and the damage it could cause, Libby starts to worry that she too will end up like the first woman Jack loved …”

I’m a HUGE fan of Dorothy Koomson and highly recommend her novels to you (if you haven’t read them, why ever not?). What I especially love is that with each novel she ups her writing-game, she never (not ever) sits back and rides on previous success. The Woman He Loved Before is a page-turning, must-keep-reading, must-know-what-happened novel. It has the Koomson trademark of being full of heart and raw emotion. Read, read, read!