The poet Robert Frost once said, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.”
This sums up the emotional challenge of writing for me, which is to place myself so entirely in the world of my characters that readers experience their joy and sadness.
A recent example from my latest book, based on the true story of Tudor Duchess Katherine Willoughby, was the death of her two teenage sons within an hour of each other.
I can relate to this as a parent, but it can be an emotional challenge to weave such powerful feelings into the narrative.
I Get Close to My Characters By Visiting the Actual Places Where They Lived
Authenticity comes from connecting to my own experience and personal memories of how I felt at the birth of my own children, or the loss of someone close.
I find the best inspiration and sense of closeness to my characters when visiting the actual places where they lived. The room where Katherine Willoughby spent her last months still exists at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, and I was able to visit the private chapel and have a real sense of her world.
I also spent time at her tomb in nearby Spilsby church, and really felt her presence.
When My Characters Wake Me Up, I Listen to Sleep Meditation Videos
My biggest physical problem directly caused by writing is waking in the middle of the night with entire conversations between my characters buzzing in my head.
Some of my best dialogue writing has followed this, but I’m well aware of the need for a good night’s sleep.
The best solution for me is to listen to sleep meditation videos on YouTube through headphones, which help me relax.
The Greatest Threat to My Creativity: Social Media
Reading is the key to good writing, and I usually have several books on the go at once.
As well as book reviews, I do more than a year of research for each of my books, tracking down often obscure primary sources. I like to read different genres, which can often spark fresh ideas.
The greatest threat to my creativity is to spend a moment checking social media, then becoming distracted and losing momentum.
Once You Have Readers Loving Your Books, You Never Ask Why Again
Writing can be time consuming, sometime at the expense of quality time with friends and family.
I can understand writers who wonder why they do it, but as a full-time writer I’ve developed a good system of researching through the summer, which allows for time with my family, and my interests such as sailing.
In autumn and winter I write a minimum of five hundred words a day, which means I have a good first draft to send to my editor in the spring.
There were more difficult times when I was staring out, but the great thing about writing is I can do it any time and anywhere.
I can tell any struggling writers that once you’ve had readers telling you they love your books, you never ask yourself why again.
My Favorite Marketing Tactic: Blogging
I’ve tried most forms of marketing, but he best results have come from blogging – which costs nothing but a little time each day.
My blog The Writing Desk averages over 12,000 visitors a month, and the posts include book launches and reviews, writing and publishing tips. I invite other authors to be ‘interviewed’ or guest post, and they share the links with their own networks. All posts are shared with my 31,000 followers on Twitter and on Goodreads.
I have previews of my books in the sidebar. Visitors are welcome to take a look with a single click, so it couldn’t be easier.
Advice for a Young Writer: Write About What Genuinely Interests You
The only way to learn the craft of writing is to write, and it doesn’t matter what genre you choose, as long as it genuinely interests you.
Don’t be disheartened by criticism – but do try to learn from it.
People often tell me they don’t have the time to write, but if you write just one page a day that’s a book a year.
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Tony Riches is a full time author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives by the sea in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, UK, with his wife and enjoys sailing and kayaking in his spare time.
For more information about Tony’s books, podcasts and audiobooks please visit his website, or connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.
Mary – Tudor Princess (The Brandon Trilogy Book 1): Would you dare to defy King Henry VIII?
Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies….
Will she risk his anger by marrying for love?
Will Mary’s loyalty to Henry be tested by the ambitious Boleyn family?
Based on actual events of courage, passion and adventure in the turbulent and dangerous world of the Tudor court.
Available on Amazon.
Katherine – Tudor Duchess (The Brandon Trilogy Book 3): Attractive, wealthy and influential, Katherine Willoughby is one of the most unusual ladies of the Tudor court. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Katherine knows all his six wives, his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and his son Edward, as well as being related by marriage to Lady Jane Grey.
When her father dies, Katherine becomes the ward of Tudor knight, Sir Charles Brandon. Her Spanish mother, Maria de Salinas, is Queen Catherine of Aragon’s lady in waiting, so it is a challenging time for them all when King Henry marries the enigmatic Anne Boleyn.
Following Anne’s dramatic downfall, Katherine marries Charles Brandon, and becomes Duchess of Suffolk at the age of fourteen. After the short reign of young Catherine Howard, and the tragic death of Jane Seymour, Katherine and Brandon are chosen to welcome Anna of Cleves as she arrives in England.
When the royal marriage is annulled, Katherine’s good friend, Catherine Parr becomes the king’s sixth wife, and they work to promote religious reform. Katherine’s young sons are tutored with the future king, Prince Edward, but when Edward dies his Catholic sister Mary is crowned queen. Katherine’s Protestant faith puts her family in great danger – from which there seems no escape.
Katherine’s remarkable true story continues the epic tale of the rise of the Tudors, which began with the best-selling Tudor trilogy and concludes with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Available at Amazon.