Catherine Daly Tues March 1st 8pm

[catherine daly]

Yes, Everyone, it's my turn this month- so don't be shy!
Loads of questions. If you can't make it on the night, post your questions now, and I'll answer as many as I can.

;Dxx catherine

[lisa]

Yippeee!! Your in for it now Ms. Daly!!

I just have to go to my French tomorrow night as I'll be missing it next tuesday for some reason!!! ;D

I'll post my questions on here after if thats okay!

You have been warned......!

[Mary]

Hi Catherine,
Can you tell me if it's okay to use actual names of shops, restaurants etc. in fiction writing without first seeking permission?

thanks a mill,
Mary

[marie]

Hi Catherine,

I won't be able to join you tomorrow night so here's my question:

Who are your favourite writers?

Thanks,
Marie

[Nic]

Hi Catherine,
Just wondering, when you read a book by another author can you just enjoy it for what it is, or do you find yourself thinking "I would have done it this way, or made this happen".
Thanks, Nic...

[Emma]

Hi Catherine - im a newbie here and this is my very first post so go easy on me!! First of all, congrats on a great site - Im delighted to have found it. Here's my question: When starting out, did you begin by writing short stories or did you go gung ho with a novel? My friends look at me like Ive lost the plot if I say Im seriously thinking about writing a novel and have advised me to 'crawl before I can walk' by starting with short stories. What do you think?

[lisa]

Emma, I was thinking the exact same thing myself. Good question girl!!

Ive got my college tonite catherine so wont be able to make it at 8.00pm.

When you decide to write a novel, how much of the story do you have in your head already, before you even put pen to paper, or finger to lap top?!

Would you know before you start more or less how its going to end?

[lisa]

Sorry Catherine, another one.....or two!

Do you still use a little book that you carry around all the time for thoughts and ideas?

Do professional writers like yourselves, have a 'selection' of characters, that they can just 'dip into' and pull a few out for each book, or do you 'invent' them as you go along?

At one of the writers stuff talks, Tina Reilly showed us some of her early work where the editor would send it back with all red lines through it, would that still happen to you even now? Like would an editor ask you to change, omit or add new bits in to what you thought was a finished piece of work?

[claire]

My question would be, where do you start? How do you know where a story should begin? I think the end is something that develops as you go along but just where does the story begins? Does that make sense!

[catherine daly]

No One here yet?
I hope I'm not going to be 'talking' to myself.
but I'll get started on the questions already asked. I'll answer them more of less in order, and I'll try to 'quote' each question so you'll know what I'm on about.
Anyone who wants to jump in with a question- be my guest.
;D

[catherine daly]

Mary said:

Can you tell me if it's okay to use actual names of shops, restaurants etc. in fiction writing without first seeking permission?

Mary, I think it’s okay (I’ve never asked for permission anyway), after all if you write about Grafton St and don’t make any mention of Bewleys (sob!) or of Brown Thomas, it’s going to look a bit fake.
But definitely don’t write anything adverse. For example, if your character is going to suffer from food poisoning the day after eating a dodgy burger, the café better be a fictional one, with no close resemblance to any real establishment!!
If however your character is going to fall in love with his/her eating partner because the dessert is so heavenly…<br>

A simple rule of thumb:
Would anyone have any reason at all be unhappy about what I’ve written? If the answer is yes- Change it. Think of the libel laws

I’d also be a lot more cautious of using real people in cameo roles, unless you’re referring to them in reference to actual historical events.

[catherine daly]

marie said:

Who are your favourite writers?

Ah now Marie. Asking someone to chose a favourite writer is like asking them to chose a favourite meal. It really depends what you're in the mood for at any time.
I usually have three or four books on the go at a time. One of those will usually be one of the ‘Irish Girls’- because it’s lovely to relax into a countryside and characters that you’re familiar with. There’ll also be a volume or two of short stories…<br>Other writers I love include: (I scuttle off to look at my book case and return grinning- books, even just looking at ones I’ve enjoyed, are an almost physical pleasure)
Carole Shields, Ann Tyler, Garrison Keillor, Colm Tobin, AS Byatt, Margaret Attwood, Peter Carey, Ian Banks, Ian Mc Ewan, Deirdre Madden, Alice Munroe, Spike Milligan, JG Ballard, Henry James, Paolo Coelho …. Sorry but I haven’t got all night, and any moment now I’m going to start panicking that I’ve forgotten some – oh yeah- early John Irving, Stephen Donaldson, PG Wodehouse, Terry Pratchet…<br>I really have to stop this…<br>

[claire]

Hi Catherine, didn't think I was going to make it as I have one very sick child in bed at the moment. He is sleeping now, thank God,lets hope it's abetter night than last night!

[claire]

Are there any writers out there that you don't like ;D

[catherine daly]

Aha!!
I'm not alone anymore. Hiya Nic. hi Claire- hope you're little one sleeps well. There's nothing worse than a sick child who cant' sleep.

[claire]

Thank God this is on tonight. Anew shoe is starting here, I'm sure you know it 'Desprate Housewives'. Hubby didn't want to watch it so I'm recording at the mo. He put football on and is now conked out snoring on the sofa Ah well, a bit of peace

[catherine daly]

Nic said:

Just wondering, when you read a book by another author can you just enjoy it for what it is, or do you find yourself thinking "I would have done it this way, or made this happen".

Hi Nic,
That’s something I used to do before I started writing, I think in a lot of ways it’s what spurred me on to write myself. But now I try to just enjoy what I’m reading (and if I don’t I’m in the ‘life’s too short’ camp- I abandon it, give it a few more tries at other occasions and if it still fails to capture me- forget it!!)
More often I will look at something someone else has written and marvel at the way they’ve done something.
The way they’ve managed to get into their story for example, or a novel storytelling structure, a unique voice. There are so many different types of story than the linear beginning, middle and end. I love when a writer draws me into a different type of story structure without my even noticing. For example Anita Shreve’s Light on Snow, slips between past and present effortlessly, but the boundaries are clearly defined- even chapter by chapter if I remember rightly.

But at the moment I’m reading ‘Middlesex’ by Jeffrey Eugenides (almost certainly spelled wrong!). The transitions between past and present, first person narration and third person, and the almost bewildering array of viewpoints, are all breathtaking. It makes the book almost impossible to put down.

[Nic]

Hi Catherine, hi Claire. I've just stopped in for a quick look as I have to go out this morning so don't have a lot of time. Just thought i'd check this out while I'm eating breakfast (and Tianna is strapped in her high chair eating hers so don't have to worry about little fingers pressing buttons that shouldn't be pressed).

[claire]

Hey nic, glad you made it this time

[Nic]

Claire you'll really enjoy Desperate Housewives. It started here about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I tape it on monday nights because i don't finish work until 10pm.
Talking of T.V shows Catherine, do you ever get story ideas from watching something on telly?

[catherine daly]

Guest-Emma said:

When starting out, did you begin by writing short stories or did you go gung ho with a novel? My friends look at me like Ive lost the plot if I say Im seriously thinking about writing a novel and have advised me to 'crawl before I can walk' by starting with short stories.

Hi Emma, and Welcome- I hope it won’t be the last time you join in one of our discussions.
To be honest, I actually find it easier to write long than short. A short story requires a huge discipline, you need to know exactly where you’re going, and how you’re going to get there before you set off. A novel gives you more latitude. You can let the story develop, allow new characters to step up and demand to have their story told.
Maybe I just like overwriting!

I did try writing short stories before I wrote my first novel- but they were awful. Now, I occasionally write a short story and when I do, it’s a lot better than anything I attempted before.

But writing of all types is an apprenticeship. While you’re writing you’re learning. To learn, you need to make mistakes, discover them for yourself and find ways of correcting them. A novel allows you to make a lot more mistakes than a short story!!

[catherine daly]

Nic said:

C
Talking of T.V shows Catherine, do you ever get story ideas from watching something on telly?

I'm sure I do, but I can't think of anything specific right now. I think everything you see, hear, watch just enters your brain and sits in your unconscious until you need it.
I think I'd be more likely to get a definite story idea from the news, or a factual program than from a drama. In a drama, the story's already been worked out, and another writer has put their spin on it.

[claire]

I remember Maeve Binchy saying once that she somtimes getsideas from snippets of conversation that she overhears!

[Sarah C]

Hi Catherine,
How long does it take you to finish a book and have you started the next one yet?
Sarah C

[catherine daly]

lisa said:

When you decide to write a novel, how much of the story do you have in your head already, before you even put pen to paper, or finger to lap top?
Would you know before you start more or less how its going to end?

Hi Lisa- sorry you couldn’t make it, but maybe you’ll catch the tail end.
At the start of a book, I usually have three or four strong characters and an interesting situations for them to find themselves in. (The full extent of their situation may or may not be obvious to the reader). I’ll have a rough idea of how I want the story to develop, and I usually have an ending in mind. But that’s not to say the characters fall in with my plans!!
‘All Shook Up’ was fairly obedient, and being a beginner, I was a bit of a control freak, and I didn’t let the plot step too far out of line.
In Charlotte’s way I gave up trying to be too bossy when at a very early stage I needed a new character called Paul, a bit as a foil to Emily, one of my main characters. But Paul dug his heels in, got under my skin, and more or less wrote his own story.
In the novel I’ve just finished, (no final name yet), I just started with an idea. A woman in a car is talking to herself. She’s trying to imagine how her daughter is going to react when she tells her of her plans to re-marry…<br>Then the daughter, the ex-husband, his girlfriend, they all reacted differently, and the story took off…<br>

[Nic]

Ok ladies I'm going to love you and leave you. Tianna's nappy definately needs changing then I better go and have a shower and get ready to go. I'm going shopping for an outfit to wear to my brother-in-laws wedding which is 3 weeks away. Hope I find something today or i'll be stressing until I do.
Have fun everyone and I'll talk later,
;D ;D

[Nic]

Oh and Claire i hope your little man feels better soon.
See ya!

[catherine daly]

Guest-Sarah said:

How long does it take you to finish a book and have you started the next one yet?

Hi Sarah C and welcome.
Tough question. The fastest I've ever written a first draft was in four months, which was of the book I've just submitted to my publisher.
But then I re-write, and re-write, and re-write .... So it's impossible to say how long the book's actually taken.
I wouldn't start re-writing straight after finishing the first draft, or any subsequent drafts. I read the whole thing, then put it away in a drawer for a while (up to 3 months) while I work on another project.
When I take it out again, I re-read the whole thing through, take notes and work on another re-write etc etc etc, until my editor screams
'Enough already the typesetters are waiting' and i have to hand it over- a huge wrench I can tell you. I spend the next few nights waking up in the middle of the night thinking of more changes...

I think it was early this year that I stopped thinking of changes I wanted to make to 'all shook up....'

[Judi Curtin]

Hi Catherine,
Do you find that the Internet is a huge distraction? I sit down at the computer, and before I know it, half an hour has slipped by, and I haven't even opened one of my writing files. (Like now, for instance)
Have you some clever way of disciplining yourself?
Judi

[catherine daly]

lisa said:

Do you still use a little book that you carry around all the time for thoughts and ideas?

Do professional writers like yourselves, have a 'selection' of characters, that they can just 'dip into' and pull a few out for each book, or do you 'invent' them as you go along?

A notebook- I always try to carry one but I hardly ever use it!! Again, for ‘All shook Up’, I had all these notes written down, things I wanted to include, so I worked them in. By the final draft most of them had been written back out again. The joins were too obvious, if you can see what I mean. The bits looked ‘worked in’, looked like soap-box passages, or ‘humorous’ stories, about as in context as a joke at a funeral. Now I tend to trust things to come to me while I write.
One thing I always wish I had an endless supply of scribbled down is names. Names are really hard!!