"Personal" question(s) to John Jarrold

[Teresa Edgerton]

]I am pretty sure that JK Rowling back in her council flat and on benefits when she started the Harry Potter phenomenon would not have believed the success that awaited her... just go for it and write it before you expend your last breath

Why do you assume that, Gary? I know plenty of (as yet) unpublished writers who are utterly convinced that great fame and fortune await them.

I certainly believe that everyone should write from the heart. On the other hand, no one just happens to get published, fate doesn't step in and do it for you, you have to acknowledge that you want it and then go out and make it happen.

When I first became serious about my writing, I made a decision: if I wanted to become a published writer, I had to work at it with the same dedication and commitment as if I were already there. While I wasn't going to put on airs and go around telling people, "Oh, I'm a writer," I had to think of myself that way, believe it, and pursue it.

Since then I have become more convinced than ever that if you want to succeed, you have to put your heart into your writing AND your writing career at the same time.

Give yourself that excuse that "I may never get there," and you'll never give it your best effort.

 

[Gary Compton]

Hi Teresa I hope your well:

I hear what you are saying but disagree, when I decided to try my hand at being a writer after watching a BBC documentary on "Sheila Quigley" all I thought I had to do was to put my story onto paper and the agent and publisher would quickly follow...that wasn't the case.

I failed my English language exams at school, I was worse than bad so what I do know is going against the grain of my historical education but because I believe that I have a gift of seeing my story and characters in my head vividly, as if I was actually there then all I have to do is work out a way to get the story onto paper in a way that makes it commercially readable.

I personally do believe in destiny and if mine is to be a writer then bring it on but after working with a proffessional editor I came to realise that I was a million miles from writing a commercial book...even though I think my story is original and innovative I have not quite got the writing skills yet to put my thoughts into words. That's where my stubborness comes in, I am confident and driven and I have not given up on this dream so I took on board the pro's critique and I have re-written my story, hopefully improving on the original...its ongoing.

I am prety sure that their are plenty of undiscovered writers needing a break but will they get it?, there has got to be a little bit of luck involved or as I call it "Fate intervening".

Lots of love XXX

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Luck is part of it, I would never deny that, but (as people around here have no doubt heard me say before), without a lot of work and a lot of faith in yourself you don't even get a ticket in that lottery.

The average published writer works hard at his or her craft for about ten years before making that first sale. That type of commitment is hard to maintain if you let in doubts.

 

[Gary Compton]

Well only 8 years to go then...

I do not think doubts about your skill as a writer or your story are to be feared. I had some reservations on one paragraph in my story earlier this evening and after alot of thought and considerable trial and error I think I turned the negative thought into a positive success.

I am confident but don't get off on the delusions of grandure that over confidence can bring... humility is King. I have been in business for 25 years and its been a rollercoster of emotions, doubt, failure, and then out of the blue unexpected success...what a life!!!

Surely at some point in your career when the ideas were'nt flowing and the words struggled onto the page you had a tiny little bit of doubt??. If you didn't will you become my mentor?

XXX

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I didn't say you shouldn't have doubts about your skill or your story. You should always, always be trying to improve.

But every time you tell yourself I may not get there, you give yourself a ready-made excuse to give up when your confidence is at a low point, or when you've had set-backs. You're just beginning, and you already have so many excuses lined up.

On the other hand, the sort of commitment I'm talking about is what keeps you going when those doubts attack you. (The doubts, as a matter of fact, don't go away after you are published. They can get much, much worse. You just have to promise yourself that they will not let them get the better of you.) Before the fairy godmother comes along, you have to clean out a lot of fireplaces.

Believing in yourself is no guarantee that you will succeed, but it is certain that if you don't you won't.

 

[Gary Compton]

hi Teresa its nearly time for bed, just got to let my boys (see my avatar) have a wee wee and then its Zzzzzzzzzzzzzland for me.

I agree with everything you say, I respect your dedication, success and your 3500 posts on this forum. I will just give it 150% and if Fate decides to give me the success I thirst for then great, if not then I have tried and will have no regrets.

Just an after thought, how many books have you had published?

LOL Gary

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Just an after thought, how many books have you had published?

Eleven, plus a handful of short stories. You can find my bibliography here:

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/9972-bibliography.html

 

[John Jarrold]

'Posh fiction', a phrase that made me laugh. So really it is a critics axe to grind (manning barricades I mean) rather than a publishers but then again isn't a lot of SF looked down upon in certain publishing circles or have I got it wrong again? Or is it as simple as who you go to?

If you are writing SF and Fantasy, go to an SF or Fantasy publisher...they obviously do not look down on the genre!

 

[Troo]

I know plenty of (as yet) unpublished writers who are utterly convinced that great fame and fortune await them.

I certainly am. Having researched the industry, I am confident that my ideas are utterly original, will have mass appeal, and I will be a household name and worth millions of pounds within six months!

N.B. Post may contain joke.

 

[Kissmequick]

HI John,

I was wondering if you could settle a discussion?

When MS's are submitted does it actually matter if you use " round dialogue, or is the UK preference ' ? Or don't you care?

I'm being told all UK agents want " ( or else! So do it or maybe get rejected for it), but looking at all my british books ( as opposed to US ones) they are all printed '.

I wouldn't have thought it mattered really ( I would have thought you were interested in the story, not what quote marks are used), but just wondered what is correct?

 

[John Jarrold]

It doesn't matter at all. I don't even notice. When it comes to publication, UK publishers use single quotes, US publishers double. If you see double quotes in a UK book, it means it has been offset from the US edition, rather than set by a UK typesetter.

Words matter.

 

[Kissmequick]

Thanks, that's what I thought.

Hurray! I was right about something!

 

[Anarchon]

Hi, John

There's a question I haven't found in the previous posts (or else I missed it).

Hoping this isn't inappropriate, I'll fire away, then.

Have you ever decided to represent a writer who had sent you a typescript just for structural editing?

 

[John Jarrold]

Only once, some time after the fact. Basically, I keep both sides of my business separate. To take an author on as a client, I have to LOVE their work, both personally and professionally. To edit a book, I use my editorial knowledge, gleaned over twenty years, and do an objective, professional job.

 

[anthorn]

WOuld a novel with several flashbacks be acceptable? Like in mine i have flashback triggered when ever the guy tells a lie hidden with in the truth, For example guy says he was a singer, flashback shows he was a singer, come asassin.

My flashbacks are set out much like the ones on lost the tv series but would that annoy people?

 

[John Jarrold]

Flashbacks can easily be overdone - it is basically going to depend on making them a seamless part of the narrative, not something that halts it in its tracks. And on the writing being wonderful, of course!

 

[lin robinson]

I was just thinking that.
The film "Twelve Monkeys" is basically nothing but a fabric of flashbacks, structurally.

 

[John Jarrold]

Yes, as so often, it depends on the specific book, there isn't a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer that appplies to every case...

 

[Gary Compton]

Hope you are well John,

I know you are always busy with your clients, dealing with submissions and your editing side of your business. As well as running up and down to London so how can you find time to read for pleasure. By the end of the day your eyes must be on storks...

Interested to hear how you make time for it?

 

[John Jarrold]

In bed, or on the train journeys to London, basically!