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Grace Tierney |
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Grace’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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"The Writing Contest Expert's Guide to Fiction Contests" - more than 200 contests for flash fiction to novels "Positive Thoughts for Writers" - Helping your Writer's Soul Every Day of the Year |
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Bibliography |
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URL |
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Nominate us as a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Web Site.
Email: writersdig@fwpubs.com with as the subject. |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I chose it. Or at least, I did in the end. I spent six years studying computing at university and a decade working in that field before the pull of writing forced me to chose it for the sake of my own sanity.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) I've a BSc and MSc in Computer Applications (I.S. to American readers). I grew up in a house (in Dublin, Ireland) packed with books and my own house (in rural Ireland) is much the same today. My computer background helps with research, Web site maintenance, and self-publishing work. I'd like to think it helps me to organize and meet deadlines too, but my old boss probably wouldn't recognize that side of me! My earlier education focused on the arts side of things - I speak French, German and Irish in addition to English and I adored studying art and art history. Needless to say, English was my favorite class. I started writing in 2001.
3. When did you 'know' you were a writer? When I sold my first short story to StoryHouse Coffee in 2002. It appeared on coffee tins across North America and the check is on my study wall today. I'd made earlier non-fiction sales, but somehow that 200 word piece of flash meant more.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? Conversational, I write the way I speak, or the way characters speak in my head. I aim for humor as much as possible. There's enough sobriety in this world already.
5. What is your writing process? I get great ideas when I'm walking. I scribble those into my writing notebook before I forget them and work them up into an outline on my computer later. For books that will at least be a one liner for each chapter. For stories I will often write the first draft straightaway when the idea is still on fire in my head. For articles I'll be more structured, thinking about illustrations, sidebars, a good hook and ending, researching quotations etc and then just filling in the gaps with the best writing I can muster. I'll sometimes just get a spark from reading a submission call. Those ones almost write themselves in one sitting and often result in publication.
6. What was your path to publication? I hadn't a clue how to approach editors with queries at the start of my career, so I began with entering no-fee writing contests. I gathered a few clips that way, went to Skyros in Greece to study with Sue Townsend (bestselling English author of "The Diary of Adrian Mole") and discovered myself with a group of like-minded souls, many of them very talented, but most of whom lacked the confidence to submit their writing anywhere. I had more clips than most of them despite feeling like a novice. That, and hearing them laugh at my written one-liners, made me realize that I could really "do this". As for book publication - my two long-running columns (one for Netsurfer Digest and one for Writing Online) failed me in January 2006. Both publications closed down. It was a blow to my writing income, but more importantly it gave me time to finally tackle larger projects. I began with "Positive Thoughts for Writers" (a day by day source of advice and inspiration for novice and experienced writers on how to write better and how to succeed in this business) and now I'm releasing the Writing Contest Expert series of books of writing contest listings - the Fiction guide is out now with Poetry, Non-fiction, Contests for Younger Writers (which will be a free guide), and Stage & Screen in the works for 2008.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? I like author bios. When I first started writing I read them on every article and searched for the markets they'd published in as potentials markets for myself. I hate writing my own (what writer doesn't?), but I reckon if a reader has read to the end of your article, they've enjoyed it. If they've enjoyed it, then it's time to plug your other work! I always write the best articles I can, and then I hope that their quality will drive readers to my other work. I'm also planning to use my skills as a jewelry-maker (I started aged nine) to generate unique prizes for my promotional contests, hence marrying two passions of mine.
8. What are the biggest surprises you've encountered as a writer? How approachable editors are. How simple edits can raise a piece of writing from mundane to sparkling (try strong verbs, no passive voice, and no adverbs for a start…). How a piece of writing you've forgotten on the Web can generate a great opportunity for you later - I've landed friends, jobs, and my first speaking engagement that way. My latest book (the first in the Contest Expert Series) "The Writing Contest Expert's Guide to Fiction Contests" was a direct response to queries from writers finding my old columns from the now defunct Writer Online e-zine. I wrote a column about writing contests there for five years and it seems a shame to let my expertise go to waste when writers are constantly looking for new issues of the column - hence the book series!
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? As I said earlier, walking seems to free my mind to generate ideas. I enjoy a huge variety of creative crafts (jewelry-making, cooking, gardening, wine-making, card-making, crochet) and that keeps the spark going too, and my kids are a constant source of humour and inspiration. They're young enough to have a novel perspective on the entire universe. I try to emulate them.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? Selling the first copy of my book "Positive Thoughts for Writers." It's a topic close to my heart but the editing, publishing and promotion of it were a rewarding but steep learning curve for me, so I felt justly proud.
11. What's the best advice you were given about writing? My editor Lawrence Nyveen at the now defunct Netsurfer Digest gave all new team-members a copy of his "bootcamp" - a simple document with rules of syntax, grammar and style for the publication. I'd never seen anything like it before and I still use it to do the initial proof-read on my work.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? I'm not sure I have one. I find it hard to be embarrassed unless I'm face-to-face with someone and I usually work for editors and readers that I never meet. I've yet to reveal any of my writing to my mother though, so I guess I'm embarrassed about that. My most embarrassing moment ever was when, as a schoolgirl, I fainted in front of a class full of 11 year olds. Apparently my friend stood up and screamed "Grace is DEAD!" I still meet people who remember that, sigh.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? I find my writing income is far from steady throughout the year. Some months are terrific and others are drier than a pub on Good Friday (the one day a year when pubs close in Ireland). Smoothing that curve is a real challenge. I'd also love to be better at marketing and promotion but I'm working on it. It doesn't come naturally to generally modest Irishwomen to brag about our work, we were reared to think it rude.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? If you don't submit it, you'll never get someone to read it, much less get paid for it. Sometimes you have to stop editing and revising and just send the thing. Don't miss deadlines, a reputation for that will kill your career. Use the Web, it's your best ally. But don't say anything on it you could regret later, as it will haunt you.
15. When you're not writing what do you do for fun? I don't get much "me time" as I've two pre-schoolers. But I love gardening (I grow organic fruit and veg and herbs), reading (of course), walking (particularly on our local beaches or in Connemara when possible), and any craft that takes my fancy - there's just something very soothing about making something with my hands. I hand-sewed my first patchwork quilt this year for my daughter's cot.
16. Who do you like to read? People laugh at me because I read everything, even the ingredients on toothpaste. Having said that, I enjoy Christopher Brookmyre (Scottish black humor), Diana Gabaldon (escapist historic romance), Irish and UK chicklit (Katie Fforde and Marian Keyes are particularly good), and ever since reading the "Patagonian Express" I've enjoyed travel-writing. I used to read thrillers, crime-stories, and adventures tales by the bucket-load but struggle to find plots too hard for me to guess these days. But I really will try any type of writing - check out my Web site at www.gracetierney.com for the list of books I've reviewed and you'll get a flavor of that eclectism.
17. What's your advice for new writers? Don't give up. The more you write, the better you will get. The more you read, the better you will get. There comes a point when you start analyzing the books or articles you read and start thinking "I see how they did that" or "I could write that better" - that's your target. Also, prepare to be surprised by how nice other writers are - ask for help, join forums, get a critique partner or group, subscribe to writing e-zines - immerse yourself in writing. But most of all, if you don't submit your work, you will never sell it.
18. What are you currently working on? I've just landed a regular column again (for my local paper) but my jobs until the end of this year are promotion of the Writing Contest Expert series, my first ever stab at a NaNoWriMo novel (chick-lit), and writing "The Writing Contest Expert's Guide to Poetry Contests". Anybody who'd like to list their contest or hear when the rest of the series is released, check out my Web site to join my mailing list - I even run the odd contest there for readers and writers. |
