I am delighted to welcome
EMMA CURTIS
AUTHOR OF ONE LITTLE MISTAKE
TO SHARE HER WRITING TOOLKIT
Writing space
I don’t
attach much importance to where I write;
it tends to depend on weather and who is living in the house. Currently both
kids are renting flats with partners (Hurray!) so that frees up their
bedrooms. I also have a writing shed,
which though perfect in Spring, Summer and Autumn, can be a cold in winter. It’s also used for a – ‘where shall I put this, I don’t want to get rid of it but’, items
and outside furniture. So, it’s not
always conducive. The essential thing is
to feel uninhibited and because I write using Voice Recognition (more of this
later), it can be difficult to find that space if my husband is home.
Creative writing books
I keep my favorite
creative writing books in the
bathroom to dip into when nature calls, a habit that bemuses my husband. I love Stephen King’s On Writing, Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark’s hilarious How not to Write a Novel, Harry
Bingham’s How to Write. You think you know it all when you get your
first book deal, but you really don’t. You’re only scratching the surface. It pays to be humble and learn lessons.
Dragon
I use Dragon Voice Recognition to write my
first draft because I have chronic pain in my hands, arms and shoulders. It’s great for pounding through those
chapters, but unfortunately it slows down the editing process to such an extent
that I end up getting angry and pulling the plug. It can also be tricky when you need to write
a sex scene. I wait for an empty house
for that task. Not that I write many! I am very much a ‘less is more, use your
imagination,’ author.
Silence
I can’t
bear being able to hear the radio, my husband on the phone, sneezing or merely
breathing near me. I can handle noise
that I have no control over – like those pesky parakeets and squirrels who
enjoy a prolonged screeching session, but if I can put a stop to something, I
can’t ignore it. This morning there are
builders outside my window. I’m doing my
best to blank them out.
Healthy eating
Food is definitely part of the writer’s toolkit,
and a tricky one to balance. The weight
crept on. I started 2017 with a hashtag
#ThisWritersArse to motivate myself to lose it and get healthy again. I have strict rules (I am an all or nothing
person). No eating between meals, no carbs.
I have porridge for breakfast, a huge salad for lunch and for supper
meat and veg – no potatoes! It’s worked.
I’m now down to a respectable ten stone.
Chocolate after lunch and supper, is my pat on the head for keeping my
hand out of the biscuit tin. I keep a supply in the fridge and can become
disproportionately upset if it vanishes.
Clothes
I think my
most important material item for writing is clothes. I dread neighbours
turning up unannounced (which they do all too often) because I look awful in
baggy old sweatpants and hideous jumpers.
But I just cannot cope with anything that fits snuggly.
A good night's sleep
I don’t work in the evenings because I have trouble sleeping so avoid over-stimulating
my brain. A TV drama followed by a
couple of chapters of whatever I’m reading, usually does the trick. I don’t like box sets because they go on for
so long. I prefer English serials like Missing, Doctor Foster and Paula
and love Scandi Noir.
THANKS FOR TAKING PART, EMMA!
About Emma Curtis
Emma Curtis was born in
Brighton and brought up in London. Her fascination with the darker side of
domestic life inspired her to write One Little Mistake, her first psychological suspense. She has two children
and lives in Richmond with her husband.
Find Emma on Twitter - @emmacurtisbooks
About ONE LITTLE MISTAKE
Published by Black Swan (15 June 2017)
Publisher's description
YOU TRUSTED YOUR BEST FRIEND . . . YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE.
Vicky Seagrave is blessed: three beautiful
children, a successful, doting husband, great friends and a job she loves. She
should be perfectly happy.
When she makes a split-second
decision that risks everything she
holds dear, there's only person she trusts enough to turn to.
But Vicky is about to learn that one
mistake is all it takes; that if you're
careless with those you love, you don't deserve to keep them . . .
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