Learn the tricks of the trade and 'tried and true' methods of writing success from seasoned writers!
Sister Site to Writer Gazette and EbooksCafe
Today's Date:

Writers Manual welcomes you!
Learn how to create a successful writing career!

An Interview With Richard Crowhurst

Tell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you?

I'm a relative newcomer to writing, as, until last year, I worked in the produce industry. I now write for trade publications associated with that industry and also on areas of interest to me, such as history, heritage and family history.

What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?)

I'm married to Angela, and out daughter Carey will have her first birthday just after Christmas. We've also got a Chocolate Labrador and a cat.

What is your favourite food?

I love Shepherd's Pie (when shepherd's are in season). However, there's a Gordon Ramsey recipe called 'Claridge's Chicken Pie' which is fantastic.

What is your favourite colour?

Most of my wardrobe is blue or black, and the bedroom where I write is painted a deep dark blue as well, so maybe it's blue. Some people would say that suits my personality.

What is your favourite sound?

I don't know. I like music, and the Aston Martin V8 Vanquish going trough a tunnel sounds pretty cool. Also a pack of hounds in full cry.

Who is your favourite person?

Can I cheat and have more than one?

My daughter, my wife, my best friend and my aunt & uncle (in that order).

What is your favourite place?

I'm not sure I want to share this, as in some ways it's already too popular and overcrowded. Let's just say it's a little village on the Suffolk coast. It's wonderful.

What is your favourite memory?

I have lots. I think as a writer you can't have too many favorites, you need to draw on a lot of things.

What is your favourite article of clothing?

My Barbour jacket.

What is your favourite word?

Again, as a writer, how can you limit yourself to a single word? Surely you have to love them all from 'bum' to 'unrenumerative'.

What is your favourite writers' quote and why?

I know it's a cliche, but there's one attributed to Richard Bach about a professional being an amateur who didn't quit. That kept me going through my first year as a writer. Also anything that reminds you that it's what you leave out that's important (of which there are many from Johnson and others).

What is your most favourite quality about yourself?

Professionalism (I hope), attention to detail and perfectionism.

What is the least favourite quality about yourself?

Perfectionism (I could get far more done if I didn't redraft so heavily), procrastination and my depression.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A little village on the Suffolk coast. Failing that I'd love to take a couple of months to travel across Canada. There also several places in America I'd like to visit, including New York, New England, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

What inspires you to write and why?

Something inside needs to get out. I look at a really powerful photograph or picture and think 'I want to do that with words'.

What is your favourite book and why?

I love Faucoult's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. I read it as a teenager and it made me realise what was possible in life. It's probably the one book that fuelled my urge to write more than any other.

List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why?

Umberto Eco: I love every novel he's written.
James Herbert: because he can control your mind.
The late, great, John Fowles: because he always challenges you.

What do you think makes a writer successful?

Persistance, perception and an mixture of artistry and science. They need the artestry to see the potential of anything and the skill and understanding of the craft of writing to achieve it.

Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer?

Not leaving things like 'Whta' in the final draft? (Only joking!!!) Persistance, and (hopefully) giving the editors I work with what they want. Also, delivering what I say I will and keeping in touch so if there are any problems, they're flagged up and sorted straight away.

How long have you been writing and how did you start as a freelance writer?

I've only been writing for a year. Until then I was a Techincal Manager in the produce industry here in the UK. I've always wanted to write since I was a teenager.

After I left my job due to stress my wife was understanding enough to grant me six months to see if being a writer was feasible. Fortunately I've had some modest success in my first year.

Was it through traditional publishing or online publishing?

My first piece was a tourist/history article for a website, but I write for both online and print media, as well as doing copywriting.

What was the first article you sold and to whom?

It was an article about 'Grime's Graves', a neolithic flint mine in Norfolk, which I sold to TimeTravel-Britain.com. There still one of my regular customers.

Describe how you felt when you received payment for this article.

Receiving payment was okay, but the real thrill was when I got the acceptance e-mail. Suddenly my dreams of being a professional writer didn't seem quite so impossible.

What are your goals as a writer?

I think every writer wants to write a successful novel, even if it's deep down. My problem is that I procrastinate too much. Immediately, if I can earn enough to live on, I'll be very happy.

What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers?

For newcomers, it's don't give up. I've also noticed that American writers seem to have a different, almost more militant, mindset than their English counterparts. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either, and I have regular customers in the UK, the US and Canada. At the end of the day, you have to believe in yourself, unless everyone says you have no talent, in which case it might be time to give up. Even so, 30 rejection slips with 1 acceptance proves there's something there.

What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing?

In my non fiction I hope to get a series of facts over in a concise and entertaining way, whether I'm writing for an agricultural trade magazine or a tourism website.

In my fiction I guess I'm looking to create an emotional response in the reader.

List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS).

I'm the wrong person to ask. My bookmarks are full of writing sites, but I hardly ever visit them. I also get tons of e-zines in my e-mail and I diligently follow up each link, then never look at the results again.

If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse).

Still to come (hopefully)...

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

N/A

What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience?

N/A

What have you learned about the publishing world?

Editors have a job to do as well. I know from my past career that if you can make someone's life easier, they're more likely to remember you and work with you again.

This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them?

I'd love more feedback. Although I have an e-mail link on my website (which features examples of my work), I don't think anyone's ever used it.

What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing?

I consider anything that appeals to me. My first year has gone better than I could have expected and 2006 is looking set to expand even more.

Use of this web site is an indication of your agreement with our Terms of Service. Copyright 2001, 2002 Writers Manual and Topzone Systems Inc. All contents and graphics copyrighted - Do not copy! Contact us at: editor@writersmanual.com Web Design by Krista Barrett.