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in conversation with Michelle Beard …
Why did you want to be a writer? How did you get started?
My mother started reading to me when I was very young and I couldn’t wait to learn how to do it myself. When I was about three and a half, I finally read the sign on the side of a truck – Safeway! I was so excited – I had cracked the code. From then on I read everything I could, and when I learned how to shape the letters, I started writing stories. Then in Grade 4, I wrote a huge epic poem about wild horses that was published in my school paper. The thrill of creating that poem and the joy I got from reading books set me on the path to becoming a writer.
However, I got sidetracked at high school when I was told by a counsellor that writing fiction wasn’t really a career and I needed to think of another job. So I decided I would be a film-maker. However, a year into my university film course, I realized I just wanted to write. So I left university, worked for a little while as a resumé writer at a personnel agency, then went back to study creative writing. What a fabulous time! I was learning my craft from talented and generous people in an atmosphere of creativity and inquiry. I published a few stories and feature articles while I was studying, then when I graduated, I continued to write short stories while I worked part-time as an administrative assistant at the university.
In 1993, I was asked to read some of my work at a conference on Australian literature, and after hearing my story, one of the other writers, Lucy Sussex, asked me to submit a science fiction story to an anthology she was editing. Although I’d read a lot of science fiction, I’d never really written a sci-fi story before. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go and wrote 'One Last Zoom at the Buzz Bar', which is the forerunner of Singing the Dogstar Blues (and can be read on this website). Lucy accepted the story for her anthology and the publisher asked me if I would be interested in developing it into a novel. As you can imagine, I was very interested.
It took me almost two years to write Singing the Dogstar Blues. In the end, it wasn’t published by the publisher who asked me for it, but by HarperCollins Australia. It won the 1998 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult novel, which was a huge thrill, and it was also short-listed for some other awards. By then, Dogstar had a lot of support from some wonderful people in the Australian publishing industry. They helped introduce it to my lovely US publisher, Sharyn November at Firebird (Penguin), Stella at HarperCollins UK and the gang at Ravensburger in Germany.
At present, I’m writing a young adult fantasy duology based on Imperial China which is contracted to HarperCollins in Australia and Firebird in the US. The first volume is due out in Australia in 2007 and Spring 2008 in the US. You can find out more information about it in the What’s coming out next? section of this website and also in Dear Diary.
What do you do on an average day?
Coffee is the first thing on my mind when I get up. And food. I’m a caffeine, cereal and toast fiend and, until I get my daily dose, I’m not much use to anyone. After breakfast with my husband, I get ready to go to ‘work’. I think of writing as my job as well as my vocation, so I shower, put on my make-up, get dressed and turn on my computer. First I check my email and then, by that time, our two Jack Russell Terriers, Xander and Spike, have got something to say about their morning requirements. This usually goes along the line of ‘where is my biscuit?’ and ‘I need a walk now!’ After ten minutes of trying to get Xander’s lead on over his head (he gets very excited), I take him for a walk and my husband walks Spike – in opposite directions otherwise the entire neighbourhood is subject to Jack Russell mayhem. Then it’s back in front of the computer to answer emails and do any admin stuff that I need to do. About mid morning, Xander and Spike come in from ripping up the back garden to have a chat to me about their breakfast. After that is dealt with, I’m back at the computer and starting my writing for the day. I generally write in three-hour blocks – any more than that and my head begins to spin as writing fiction requires an enormous amount of focus and constant decision making. At around 2pm, I either walk down the road to the fabulous strip of cafés and shops near my home and buy myself something to eat, or I make a couple of huge salad sandwiches. Whatever the case, there is more coffee involved. Then, if I’m feeling pleased with what I have written so far, I may reward myself by sneaking a peek at Oprah. As soon as Oprah has wound up her show, I’m back at work. At around 4pm, Xander and Spike wake up from their snooze and ask for a game. I usually fill a couple of empty soda bottles with some dog kibble, screw on the tops tightly and throw them into the yard. The ‘boys’ love to undo the top and flip their bottle around with their paws to get the food out. Meanwhile, I’m back writing, and continue until my husband comes home from work. Then it’s dinner, a bit of TV if there is anything good to watch and bed.
What requirements would I need for this career?
This is an artistic career, so the ability to write well with originality and flair is usually required. Personally, you need to be a self-starter, have enormous tenacity, and the ability to be open to constructive criticism about your work. When I decided I wanted to be a writer, I studied creative writing at university and now hold a Masters degree. However, university qualifications are not required to be a published author. I also think a bit of luck may have a hand in things too – being in the right place at the right time or, more to the point, sending your book to the right publisher in the right publishing house at the right time. Finally, being able to present yourself well and to speak confidently in public are important too – these days authors are expected to appear at book shops and festivals and be interviewed for print and electronic media.
What can someone expect to make in this profession just out of college? In five years? Ten?
This is very difficult question to answer as it relies upon so many variables such as what market you are writing for, what country you are publishing in and what stage you are in your career. For instance, it is very difficult for an emerging writer in Australia, who only publishes in Australia, to earn enough to live on as our population is very small and so our market is very small. However, there are many stories of people who write their first book and hit the jackpot – huge advances, huge sales, and film deals etc. Mostly, however, fiction writing is a slow building career over many years; a writer may still not be able to solely support themselves from their writing even after ten years in the business. Even J. K. Rowling had a long wait before her phenomenal success – Harry Potter was rejected time after time before it was finally published.
What five things do I have to do from right now, in 9th grade, to get where you are today?
Read as much as possible – the good, the bad and the mediocre. It is critical for anyone who wants to be a good writer to read everything they can get their hands on and learn what is good writing. A good writer is a good reader.
Write, write, and write. A real writer is someone who sits down and gets the words down on the paper (or the computer screen). Lots of people talk about writing, but don’t actually write anything! Writing is both an art and a craft. The more your write, the more you understand your craft and develop your art.
Study some writing craft books. Your school library may have some, or buy some – there are plenty available. Learn about the craft of writing such as how to handle flashbacks, how to create rhythm, structuring a scene, and pace.
Become a keen observer. Look at the world around you and notice the detail. Watch people; how they talk, move, think. Use the five senses to create your world and then recreate it on the page. Original detail that uses the five senses is one of the keys to good writing.
Make friends with your English teacher and librarian. These are the people who share your love of language. Ask them for good books to read and, if they have the time, to read and comment on some of your creative work. And if they give you constructive criticism that seems to make sense, learn to accept it gracefully and act on it to make your work better.
What rewards has this profession given you? Why are you still doing it?
Getting my work published gives me an incredible high. Receiving the first copy of my own book with my name on it is wonderful too. I love receiving fan mail from readers who were transported to another place by my work and have made my characters their friends. I also feel blessed to be able to do something I love every day as my ‘work’. And winning awards and getting royalty cheques isn’t too bad either!
I’m still doing it because every time I sit down to write, I get a thrill in my gut. I love piecing together the many elements that make up a novel and creating a story that has both character depth and an exciting plot. I never notice the time going by when I’m writing; I get so involved in devising worlds and characters that I can end up sitting in almost the same position for hours with only my fingers moving on the keyboard. Basically, I’m still doing it because I have loads of fun and it is a constant challenge. Of course, there are bad times too – difficult sections to write, rejections, long waits to hear if a work is accepted, and self doubt – but it is all overridden by the sheer joy of writing and creating.
