Today is International Women’s Day. Since I’ve been at a low point lately, I thought I’d cheer myself up by focusing on my literary and life achievements.
As shown in a nutshell in the photo above, here are my achievements, listed as part of my cheer-up reflection effort.
Literary achievements:
I’ve had 2 novels published (one with a small press publisher on the UK, one self-published); 6 poetry collections (3 traditionally, 3 self-published); 1 novella (now archived as I plan to use this later in a fiction collection); 27 flash fiction and short stories published in literary magazines and 55 poems also in magazines or anthologies.
I’m also Editor in Chief of Bindweed Magazine, a literary journal I run with my hubby Joseph Robert. We’re always looking for more writers and poets to publish, so feel free to submit.
Competition achievements:
My poetry was long-listed for the Melita Hume Poetry Prize 2014, which led to me getting a contract for publication of my first poetry collection. One of my flash fiction stories was also selected for the Best of the Web Storm Cycle Anthology published by Kind of a Hurricane Press in 2015.
Global events have sent my anxiety sky rocketing over the past week and I’m finding it harder lately to stick my happy mask on for the benefit of the outside world, not myself. I’ve had bad insomnia and total writer’s block – I have stopped working on both novel drafts #5 and #6. For anyone who knows me in the real world, if I don’t write, I’m in a dark place. I’m not ashamed to talk about mental health issues, as I used to be when I was younger. In any case, I’ve had my next round of feedback from my editor for my novel forthcoming later this year, so that should occupy me and kick me out of my brain-funk, even if I’m not actively writing new work.
Sunflowers have become synonymous with independence in the last few weeks, being the national flower of the Ukraine. Coincidentally, sunflowers have always been my favourite flower. They feature in many of my social media and blog posts – here’s one from last year of me writing in the garden with last year’s sunflowers. My family and I will be planting more sunflower seeds this month as we do annually, once the frost has gone. I’m looking forward to them blooming this year. 🌻
Since it’s World Book Day, it’s time for a bit of a book tour of my back catalogue. I’m a fiction writer and a poet, so here’s a rundown of my books published over the years. Let’s go back in time starting with the recent-most book.
The Buddha’s Bone (2021)
My second novel, The Buddha’s Bone, is psychological literary fiction.
Kimberly Thatcher was a Londoner who set off to teach English in Japan on a one year contract. After escaping her abusive boyfriend back in London, she soon found herself pursued by a colleague – with even more sinister intentions than her ex. Kimberly would soon learn the darker nature of her relationships, forcing her on a soul-searching journey through darkness to find the light. What happened when you looked into the abyss?
The Redundancy of Tautology (2021)
My third poetry collection from Cyberwit Publishing, The Redundancy of Tautology, comprises 80 acerbic poems exploring the existential horror of eternal recurrence through everyday objects, situations and places.
Or if you like, the endless occurrence of day-to-day things, happenings and locations.
Gods of Avalon Road (2019)
My debut novel, Gods of Avalon Road, from Blossom Spring Publishing is urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
Friends Kerry and Gavin move to London to work for mysterious and enigmatic Oliver Doncaster. Their devious new boss lures them into a pagan ceremony on Mayday that summons ancient Celtic gods into 21st century Britain. Action, adventure and paranormal romance ensue.
Chemotherapy for the Soul (2017)
My second poetry collection, Chemotherapy for the Soul, from Fowlpox Press includes 27 poems fully illustrated in colour by Paris Pâté. This collection shines the spotlight on mental health and depression with a focus on family dysfunction and relationship breakdown.
A Model Archaeologist (2015)
My debut poetry pamphlet, A Model Archaeologist, Eyewear Publishing is a collection of 25 poems exploring the juxtaposition of working two opposite jobs: by day, a professional Field Archaeologist and by night a photographic and promotions model. The poems explore the stereotypes of both professions.
(Author note: As of 16th August 2022, the full 80 poem version of A Model Archaeologist is available from Amazon US, Amazon UK and Waterstones.)
Writing a main character for a novel is a lot of fun. I enjoy thinking about all aspects of a character, even details I won’t later use in the book. I don’t go as far as plotting out a whole spider diagram of a character’s physical appearance and personality, but I like to think them through as if they were someone I know in real life and I do tend to jot down notes about what they do for a living and where they come from. Let’s take a look at Kimberly Thatcher, the protagonist in my second novel, The Buddha’s Bone. Kimberly was a character I enjoyed writing and I had to do quite a lot of research to make sure she was as fully fleshed-out as possible.
Kimberly’s education
Kimberly has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Throughout The Buddha’s Bone, she finds herself applying her knowledge to herself. In order to accurately portray this, I had to do much research. Recently a reader, who happens to be a qualified Psychotherapist, told me that she loved that I had used details of specific terminology in my novel. You can imagine how thrilled I was to hear this. My own university degree is Archaeology and Palaeoecology; I’m not a Clinical Psychologist, so it made me happy to know this aspect rang true.
Kimberly’s appearance
I decided to write Kimberly as tall and blonde to exacerbate her sense of culture shock and disorientation. In her home back in London, she was used to blending in with her peers. In her new home in Japan, more than anything, Kimberly wanted to fit in and develop a sense of belonging. Instead she felt different and found that she was more self-conscious, which contributed to her vulnerability; particularly later in the story when things take a darker turn.
Kimberly’s poetry
Writing Kimberly’s poetry was a challenge, despite the fact that I am a poet myself. I had to put myself in her shoes in order to write in her voice. A reviewer of The Buddha’s Bone wondered whether Kimberly Thatcher’s poems were actually Leilanie Stewart’s poems that I had written while I was living and working in Japan as an English teacher myself. The answer is no: as the author, of course Kimberly is an invention that I created and in that respect, I wrote the poems for the book. However, the poetry is all original and written specifically for this novel: I didn’t write them during my time living in Japan.
Kimberly’s background
Making Kimberly from a big city such as London provided a strong contrast with her new life in a small town such as Tottori. It really helped to show how out of her depth she was. In the rural setting in Japan, Kimberly found that most people didn’t speak English and without being able to speak Japanese, this compounded her feeling of isolation; at least for the first part of her story in Japan.
Kimberly’s job in Japan
While the day to day details of Kimberly’s work as a teacher were fictional, I used my own experience of living and working in Japan for four years as a background to the events that happen. Unlike Kimberly in the story, I learned Japanese while I lived there and took Level 3 of the Japanese Proficiency test at Kobe University. For the purposes of my novel, I wanted the language barrier to really amplify the daily build up of insecurity that Kimberly experienced, leading to the events that later happened to her (no spoilers!)
In summary
I really think that having a fully developed main character is central to building a solid story. I’ve learned during my own writing journey that it isn’t a waste of time to have lots of background information on a protagonist, even if most of that doesn’t make it into the published novel. Those invisible details still add to the authenticity and consistency of a main character’s motivations and personal journey, which is worth the effort, in my opinion.
So, I decided to work out how long each of my novels took from first draft to final draft or on to publication and I wasn’t expecting the results.
Novel Manuscript 1
I started my experimental literary fiction novel in September 2010 and finished it in March 2012, so a year and a half for this one. It remains unpublished, and though I plan to release it at some point, my focus is on my published and forthcoming novels for now.
Gods of Avalon Road
Two years from August 2013 to September 2014 followed by a hiatus, then completion between December 2016 and November 2017. I did all my research in the summer of 2013 while on 6 weeks of annual leave from the London secondary school where I worked. I then wrote the first draft of Gods of Avalon Road in 6 months, with another 6 months to revise it. However, life got in the way in autumn 2014 so I took a 2 year hiatus from writing while my husband and I navigated relocation from London, England to Belfast, Northern Ireland in August 2016, a change of jobs for both of us, getting set up in a new home and the arrival of our little one. I picked up the manuscript again around Christmas 2016 and finished it by November 2017, at which point it was out on submission for 2 years. I was given an offer of publication by Blossom Spring Publishing in June 2019 with a release date of 23rd October 2019. Six years from first draft to publication.
The Buddha’s Bone
Two years and seven months from March 2013 to June 2014 with a long hiatus (for the same reasons as above). Resumed in November 2019 and completed in November 2020. After interest by a US publisher in December 2020, this went through further edits until it was finally completed in March 2021. As The Buddha’s Bone was published in October 2021, this was eight and a half years from first draft to publication.
Novel Manuscript 4
My psychological/supernatural horror novel began life as a short story in June 2020, which was later published by Scarlet Leaf Review. I began expanding it into novel form in November 2020 and completed it in December 2021, so 1 year and 1 month for this one. It’ll be released in October 2022.
Conclusions
I honestly had never thought about this before and realised that the total time taken for my two published books was longer than I had thought. I’m getting much quicker though, so long as life doesn’t intervene!
Every time I’ve worked on a new novel (five completed: one binned; one on submission; two published and one forthcoming this year) I’ve always put other projects such as my poetry and short stories on hold, in order to focus on such a mammoth task. Researching, planning and writing a minimum of 70,000 words for a novel is no easy feat and in the past, I always prioritised whatever story idea grabbed me at that time.
Occasionally there were times when I stopped a novel partway through to focus on another novel, if the idea excited me more. But not until now have I been equally enthusiastic about two novel projects at once, couldn’t decide which to do, and started both simultaneously. Maybe excited isn’t the right word; crazy might be more apt, right? I’d love to know if anyone reading this has had a similar experience and begun two novel projects. How did you find it?
To be honest, I thought that one or the other would grab me more and so I outlined a few chapters for each, did my library research, and got stuck into typing both. I’m now at 4000 words for novel WIP#5 and 8000 for novel WIP#6. I guess I’ll keep going with both and see if one powers ahead of the other. After all, they’re both part of the supernatural series I’m working on, with part 1 due for release later this year, and all have a similar horror theme set in Northern Ireland. I’ll keep you updated.
Happy Valentine’s Day 2022. I know lots of people who always lament this day of all things love as they think it’s only about couples/relationships and is a tacky, commercial holiday. Fair enough, you could argue those points, but I also think it’s about putting yourself first too. A bit of ‘me time’ goes a long way, doesn’t it? If we can’t love ourselves, how could we expect anyone else to? Love aside, it could simply be a day of down time for yourself to recharge your batteries. More so in the midst of a pandemic that, despite what the lifting of restrictions would have you believe, continues to affect nearly everyone I know.
Me time for myself is a bit of quiet reflection. The last half a year has been tough for some isolated personal reasons, but I never let depression drag me down. Knowing when we aren’t in tip-top form is half the battle towards fixing the issue. Today will be a day spent having a nice takeway dinner with my hubby and little guy, and chilling out at home. Nothing better than that to de-stress.
This is also my first Valentine’s Day ever without chocolate. Since 25th January I’ve been back on keto as a way to manage my sugar addiction. I had been planning to make almond flour keto buns instead, but it’s better for me to lay off any substitutes for the confectionery that so badly controlled my life until these past few weeks. The battle continues, daily, and I’m weak. I’d rather stay strict until I’m in a better place with it all.
Whatever you are doing today, whether by yourself or with others, then have a lovely Valentine’s Day and make sure to give yourself some much-deserved tlc!
You know what? This post is mostly a checklist to myself to keep me on the straight and narrow, but if it helps you – great! So, here goes:
Read widely:
This might seem self-explanatory if you wish to be a writer, but you wouldn’t believe how many writers I’ve met who have said they don’t read much; instead they want to write the books that haven’t yet been written. It’s true that a prime motivation of a writer is to write a story that hasn’t yet been told, but in order to become good at your craft, a writer should read often and widely. My preferred genres to read are psychological fiction books and supernatural horror, but recent reads have included Sci-Fi/dystopian and Urban Fantasy.
Write regularly:
I would be lying if I said I wrote everyday; having a young child often means that childcare takes priority. When I have time to write, I try to squeeze in a minimum of a paragraph. I don’t tend to set time constraints, as I find that a rather rigid and inflexible aim. Instead I aim to progress the plot by even a smidgen; I also count cutting parts that I feel irrelevant to the plot or characterisation as progress towards the ultimate goal of finishing a novel-length manuscript.
Use your chapter plan:
In my blog post on Outlining and planning a novel, I talked about the importance of using a notebook to plan chapters, characters and research. I always refer to my chapter plan notes to avoid straying from the main storyline (one or two red herrings can enhance a story. Too many can detract from the plot and annoy the readers). Once I have finished a chapter I tick it off in my chapter plan notebook and mark the date. Doing so also makes for a satisfying record of completion.
Accept feedback:
Once finished, find yourself an editor, or at the very least a competent second set of eyes to look over your work and catch mistakes. I find that after six months or so of writing a first draft, I ‘burn out’ on the story in the sense that I can no longer see the flaws. A good editor will lovingly point out any inconsistencies in the plot, characterisation in addition to spotting any typos. All writers need an outside perspective to improve their work.
Do you want to know something really crazy? I have written five novel manuscripts (two of those published, one binned, one on submission and one forthcoming later this year) and it has only been a few months since I finished writing my most current novel work in progress (WIP#4, my supernatural horror), but I still find novel planning hard. It doesn’t get any easier, no matter how many books I write.
A friend recently asked me, on behalf of her daughter who wishes to become a writer, what advice I could offer about the writing process. This got me thinking about all that is involved in writing a novel, which is no small endeavour, let me tell you. Since it got me thinking about the process, I’m in the mood to be systematic, so let me share my experience with you.
1. Basic synopsis/premise
My first piece of advice is to always carry a notebook, as you never know when inspiration may strike. I have a dedicated notebook for all my novels and jot down any ideas, however great or rubbish they may turn out to be. Get it out of your head or you might well forget it. Now, what is the story about? Jot down a few sentences as a summary of your concept. You don’t even need to have decided on a title at this stage – work in progress is fine. As an example of the premise for my recently published novel, The Buddha’s Bone, I jotted down that a university graduate goes to Japan and is out of her element with culture shock and the language barrier. Of course, this story took a darker turn as the book unfolded, but my basic premise was about the main character navigating her new life in a foreign country.
2. Chapter planning
Once I’ve got my basic premise sketched out, I like to start chapter planning. I don’t always plan in order, but I try to jot down what I want to happen in each chapter in a few sentences. Leave gaps or a few blank lines under each title number so that you can write ideas later as your plot unfolds. Here’s a sneak peek into the chapter plan for my debut novel, Gods of Avalon Road, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance book, which started life with the working title, Kerry’s Flat:
Chapter plan for Kerry’s Flat, which became my debut novel from Blossom Spring Publishing, Gods of Avalon Road
3. Character development
What age is your main character and, if relevant, main villain? What is their job? What country/city/place do they live in? What is their primary motivation in your story? What do they look like and is their appearance relevant to the plot? I like to think that I know my characters as if they were real people. You should know things about them even if you aren’t going to use those details in your story; it gives your characters more emotional resonance in the book if you know why they react as they do.
4. Point of view/style
Are you going to write in first person (I) or third person (he/she/they)? I chose to write Kimberly in The Buddha’s Bone in first person as, being literary and psychological fiction, I wanted it to feel personal, almost like a soliloquy at times, whereas I wrote Kerry and Gavin’s alternating POV’s in Gods of Avalon Road in third person to capture the action. What about past tense or present tense? What fits your story best? Did it already happen, or is the reader experiencing it in the moment?
5. Research/notes
I like to flip to the back of my notebook to jot down research. For Gods of Avalon Road, I had to research occult rituals and pagan incantations. I also had to brush up my knowledge of the Roman occupation in London and life in ancient Britain. I took photos of artefacts at the British Museum and Museum of London and visited locations, timing the distance to walk between streets.
Research back in 2013: Battersea sheild at the British Museum, used for description in Gods of Avalon Road
Once I have done all of the above, I like to get stuck into typing my first draft. A work in progress can change a great deal from the first concept to the finished manuscript, but if you have sketched out your ideas at every stage, you can use that as a checklist later. I tend to go back through my chapter plan later and write in red pen the date on which I finished each one, as this gives me a time frame later for my own reference. Hope all this helps you too on your own writing journey.
Now that my supernatural horror manuscript (novel WIP#4) is complete and off to the printer for my editor to check, I have begun research for my next two novels. Did I mention that novel WIP#4, 5 and 6 are all part of a supernatural series set in Northern Ireland? Well, now you know!
Pictured above is the product of an afternoon spent doing research in the library. I have a lot of homework to do for background on the forthcoming two books in the series. If you read the titles, you might have an idea of some time periods that will be appearing in these books. It has been a long time since I studied John De Courcy and Edward the Bruce’s conquest of Ireland. But it has also been 9 years since I have done any historical research for a book – the last time being my research on Roman Britain back in 2013 for Gods of Avalon Road – and so I am excited for my new projects.
I haven’t decided the order in which I’m going to write these books. I might begin both simultaneously and see which grabs me the most. For now, I’m getting stuck into my reading homework and planning my chapter outlines in the notebook pictured above.
I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Novel WIP#4 will be released in October this year. If all goes to plan, novel WIP#5 should be ready for publication in 2023 and #6 in 2024. One thing for sure is that, no matter what, it’ll be a literary adventure.
Leilanie Stewart 