Kate Mosse is one of my favourite writers. I really became lost in her historical novel Sepulchre, one of my favourites.
In a week when I've been very despondent about not being able to write due to our renovations, it was cheering and uplifting to read her recent article in the September issue of Writing Magazine (UK) about the hard work involved in writing.
She advises people to write every day, no matter how limited their time. "Five minutes a day - every single day - is better than no minutes a day."
I also loved her description of characters. "I think, rather than standing there with your hand in the small of your character's back, pushing them forward saying do this and do that, as if you are the conductor of the scene, you need to have a character who turns around and holds their hand out to you and who says follow me and write down what I do. That is what you are aiming for."
And so for this Magnificent, Marvellous, Mighty Monday post where I feel totally overwhelmed by renovations and chaos in Little Brick, it's important for me to remember I can't always meet my own high standards and write for several hours minimum.
Sometimes five minutes is all you can achieve, but it's important to seize that five minutes and get something down. Thanks, Kate, for the inspiration. Her new book is The Winter Ghosts - such a lovely title and a book I can't wait to read.
