2008 & 2009
Writers Digest Best Writers' Site
2010 Critters Best Writers' Info Site
"Tell Me
About Yourself, Rob"
Rob Parnell
I was born in Winchester
in the UK to a fairly middle class family. We didn't have
a lot of money. Dad was a lorry driver and Mum ran her
own dressmaking business. I have a sister Helen who is
two years younger than me.
I don't remember my childhood as being anything but
ordinary. It wasn't anyone's fault but I felt slightly
'out of sync' with people, friends, even my family. I
felt I was an outsider, looking on, mostly unmoved by the
rest of the world, though I found it fascinating that
others took everything so seriously. From a very early
age, probably around four, I knew that writing would help
me deal with that odd sense of disassociation.
Anyone who gets my newsletters and writing lessons will
know most things about me. I don't keep much secret. I
don't think writers should. I'm a composer at heart. I
like to create things - and music can do that instantly.
I write pretty much all the time when I'm not actively
running the business or relaxing - by which I usually
mean strategizing over the next project, whatever that
may be.
I'm a restless soul, constantly trying to push myself
into new arenas. It doesn't matter how much I try to let
go, my brain seems to have another agenda. Currently I'm
fascinated by directing and making short movies - as well
as my fiction and my website of course. Oh, and I write
regular columns for Aurealis, Mike's Workshop and
Jozette's Desk.
Writing is something I've always done, even before I
could read very well. I think it's about control. The
world is an insane place if you think about it, full of
crazy people bent on violence and destruction - even nice
people seem to expend ridiculous amounts of energy on
being cruel to each other, demanding love or whatever
they need to get by.
Real life has no happy endings, no overwhelmingly good
purpose I can discern. Writing is different. In writing
you have an opportunity to make sense of things, to
create order from chaos. That's why I think writing is
sometimes more true than life.
A long time ago I took a correspondence course in the UK.
(I live in Australia now with my most precious darling,
Robyn.) I think I took it to kick myself into taking
freelance writing more seriously. I didn't do much with
it though my tutor assured me I could write well enough
for publication. I didn't believe him at the time.
I've always had issues with my self confidence when it
comes to writing, something I'm only just coming to terms
with, even now. I think the reason why I have taught
writing for almost a decade is that I've really been
teaching myself all along! I hope that doesn't sound bad.
I belong to the Australian Horror Writer's Association
and Australian Writer's Guild. I enjoy going to writing
seminars though I'm shy about meeting new people - Robyn
helps me there. Oddly I don't mind giving talks and
workshops. I enjoy those. I guess it's the musician and
performer in me. I completely understand those actors who
say they're shy. I get it.
I write full time, I'm happy to say. It was always a
dream to do just that and although it took me a
relatively long time to make it happen, I finally worked
out how to balance a self employed income with being
single-mindedly creative - which, as any artist will tell
you, is not always financially rewarding.
I feel very lucky now that I can write fiction in the
mornings before our assistant arrives and then work on
running the business for the rest of day - or until Judge
Judy comes on at three!
When I'm fired up by a project I can write at any time,
except when I'm drunk perhaps! As long as my mind is
clear on the direction of the story, the screenplay or
the non-fiction I'm writing, everything's fine. I guess I
prefer mornings because I have the most energy. I write
until I'm too tired or too wired to continue.
I read and write horror and thrillers mostly, though I'm
working on a couple of YA and kid's stories at the
moment. My screenplays are not always genre specific -
but I always verge on the darker side. I think I like to
explore the dark because I'm fascinated by the human
condition - what makes people tick when they're exposed
or in peril. It's funny because I'm not particularly
adventurous and I loathe physicality but I will happily
put my characters through hell.
I've thought a lot about what makes a good story over the
years.
Recently I've concluded it's "Total Immersion",
by which I mean that when the reader is absolutely
convinced by the reality of a story, then it's working
best. Not many writers know how this is achieved but when
you see it, you know it - and you love them for it.
Lots of things inspire me to write. I generally don't
wait for inspiration nowadays - the wait can be too long.
Often I'll have an idea that merges two disparate notions
into one. The old "Wouldn't it be interesting
if..." kind of thing. Sometimes I'll be inspired by
a TV program or something I've read. Sometimes when I'm
relaxed, strolling along the beach or driving I'll get
cool ideas. I'm very inspired by other writers - just in
principle - not their ideas. Plus, I find that reading
bad writing can set me off - I feel the need to do
better.
I think routine is the key to creativity - and being
consciously committed to your goals. If you think too
long about anything, you'll stop and question your
motivation. Best to keep focused and just do it, as Nike
say. The best way to deal with 'starting' is to get going
before you question what you're doing, and whether this
is the right project to be working on. Often nowadays I
find I'm immersed in writing and didn't have to deal with
'getting started' bit. I think that's good, the way it
should be.
I set goals every day. After lunch I go into my office (I
don't write in there) and take time out to meditate on my
goals for the week, the month, the year. I make lists and
prioritize over and over. I listen to my intuition and
put things at the top of the list that I actually want to
do.
I get our assistant to do some of things I know need to
be done but I don't feel like doing myself. (Sorry, Elyse
- she's going to read this!) Mostly I have very long
lists of things to do that I use my 'strategizing hour'
to go through and cull into the most urgent - or the most
fun. I realize I'm very lucky to be able to do this - to
be guided by my instincts and not have to worry about
money - but it seems to be working for me.
My objective in everything I write is to connect with the
reader. I want my writing to be transparent - so
there&rsquos no barrier between my mind and the
reader's. I think that's important. Sometimes it can take
a lot of editing and rewriting. It can be a long process.
It's ironic that the purpose of editing is to make your
writing look as though it's the first thing you thought
of - to make it flow naturally, without hiccups, without
losing the reader.
It's the hardest part I think - but also the most
rewarding.
The most surprising thiing that writing has taught me is
that I had so much to say. Often when I sit down to write
I don't have any clear idea in my head, sometimes nothing
at all. So it comes as a great shock when I look up after
an hour or so and see hundreds of words and a thread of
logic running through them that must come from my
subconscious.
I can't remember who it was but someone once said,
"I like to write because then I know what I think
about things." That's true for me.
I find research tiring, especially on the Net. My brain
gets frazzled by information overload. Way back I used to
do a lot of research for fiction and articles until I
noticed that I wasn't actually writing - and the data I'd
gathered wasn't doing its job, that is, to inspire me.
Nowadays I do very little research - usually just
checking facts after the writing. I find I'm much more
productive if I write first, assume I know all the facts
and arguments etc, and then see if I need to prove them
afterwards. I hope I'm not the only writer who works this
way - but I know I have a good memory and will use it in
preference to looking things up before I start.
How long does it take me to write a book? It depends. If
I'm obsessed enough I can get the first draft down in
three or four weeks. Mostly I'll take two or three months
though - because I have other commitments of course.
Sustained focus on a project is good for the flow of the
manuscript but it'os not always practical. Fiction is
different because some projects take years - dipping in
and out of them after the first draft, etc. We have a
screenplay that we've been reworking for over two and
half years now - different producers come and go and they
want different things. I have novels that I keep coming
back to and reworking. And I'll usually rework a short
story or article just before I send it out or post it
online.
I see writing as an organic process that doesn't really
have a beginning or end - just a handy deadline sometimes
that forces you to stop working on a project.
My mother thinks that writing is not a proper way for
anyone to make a living and hasn't read anything of mine
since I was fifteen, and then it was a story she didn't
like. Dad, well, he's not a great reader, preferring to
wait for the movie version. I recently showed my Dad a
story I'd had published in an anthology which he
dutifully started and then after five minutes said,
"Okay, just tell me what happens."
Thankfully my partner Robyn is my editor, proof reader
and sounding board, especially when it comes to fiction.
We often brainstorm ideas around the pool table.
Being more of a teacher than a novelist, my books are
more like courses, or written lectures. I have around
fifty published online on various aspects of writing,
motivation and self belief. "The Easy Way to Write a
Novel" was published in paperback in 2004 and that's
still a favorite. I've had around a dozen horror short
stories published in magazines and anthologies but I'm
still waiting for that elusive novel contract. It will
come, I'm sure. It's on my list of goals. ;-)
I have several works in progress. A horror novel I'm
submitting to publishers, another that I'm about half way
through. Currently I'm writing one short story a week too
because I have a three year plan... that requires that I
write one short story a week and submit to magazines,
ezines and anthologies. My partner and I are also
co-writing two screenplays because we have interest from
Hollywood.
Plus I keep getting distracted into making short films,
mostly for fun, and recording odd bits of music.
What else? I'm working on a big Internet release about
making money online - something I know a little about -
and I'm planning another writing course called 'Anatomy
of a Bestseller.'
I don't handle rejection well - or criticism for that
matter, which is probably why I don't submit more, and
prefer to self publish my work.
For a long time I have believed there's no such thing as
writer's block. You're either writing or you're not. You
shouldn't give a name to something that you're not doing
because that gives it the power to affect you. Besides
which, I've noticed over the years that the only way to
deal with writing problems is to write more. When you
stop and think too hard, you can end up not writing for a
myriad of unhelpful reasons. Best not to question the
mechanics and just get on with it.
I own a publishing company. I've published
about thirty books for other people - plus a few of my
own.
I think it's good for writers to self publish, especially
given the fact that getting published by traditional
publishers is seemingly so difficult. I do wonder
sometimes if publishers have any idea what they're doing
- the whole industry seems set up to say 'no' to
everyone. And many fine writers are rejected and self
publish and go on to be bestselling authors. What does
that tell you? That certain writers know better than
publishers, for one thing!
I think if you believe in your ability then self
publishing is a great experience - but only if you have
the motivation to go out there and relentlessly publicize
yourself and your books. That's a tough call for most
writers.
My partner's the expert on publishers. She's had over
eighty books published so far. I've met some of her
publishers. They're just people. Often very supportive of
writers and genuinely sorry they can't publish more. They
all say one thing though - that 99% of the MSS they get
are not publishable at all. Usually because they've not
been properly presented - as in edited, proofed and
polished to perfection.
It surprises me that the majority of writers can be so
cavalier about their submissions - and ultimately their
success.
I've had a few agents, as has my partner, though we don't
use them at the moment. To be honest, we can't find
anyone who works as hard as we do. It's a challenge to
find someone who actually does anything except pop up
when there's money to be had. It's the old Catch 22. When
you need one, they're not interested. And when you don't
need them because there's a deal in the offing, they're
like 'white on rice' as our Hollywood producer says.
We're looking for an agent who has no other clients but
us, someone who can dedicate time and expertise to just
one end - making us famous! We've had tempting offers
from US promoters - it's not as though we're work-shy
after all - but we're still looking for that elusive
wunderkind. I'm sure he/she will arrive soon. (Hint: now
would be a good time.)
Lots of people - my subscribers mostly - have nothing but
praise for my work. Robyn thinks my fiction is the best
she's ever read but - alas, no awards. There again, I
don't enter competitions. Maybe I just can't accept the
possibility of losing!
I wish I could say I like skydiving or kayaking or
collecting antique furniture, but I can't. I like to
travel because it gives me ideas for stories. I like
reading. A lot.
I tend not to think in terms of compartmentalizing my
life into work and play. It's all the same to me. But
when I completely let go, I like to be with Robyn, doing
anything, nothing, I don't mind.
At the moment I'm reading The Tower by Simon Clark,
almost at the end. It's a horror novel, fun. Before that
I read The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani. Loved it.
Next: The Cellar by Richard Laymon. Looking forward to
that. I read a novel a week on average. Can't help
myself.
I believe that self promotion is the key to any writer's
success. Sure, you can have a bestseller if you're a lazy
hermit but it's not the norm. I prefer the James
Patterson model - get in people's faces, get yourself
noticed and sell one book at a time. There's a lot more I
could do - and will when I'm ready - but I may need more
staff to be able to fully embrace the kind of PR
necessary to compete in today's marketplace.
My subscribers write to me every day. That's one of the
reason we employed Elyse - to deal with the thousands of
emails we get weekly. Before Elyse, we found that we were
doing nothing but answering queries and messages of
support all day. It became a crazy way to spend our time.
We realized the success of The Easy Way to Write was
getting completely beyond what we could manage. I think
maybe because I was always committed to answering emails
- and being in constant contact with my subscribers had
been fine eight years ago but now it's a full time
business on its own. But that's good. It means we're
providing a service that means a lot to many people. It's
actually very humbling to have such a huge fan base. But
it's a responsibility too, one that I care about deeply.
I think ebooks are wonderful. I know it's hard to sell
fiction in digital format - although I hear Kindle is
doing better than expected. I think writers should
embrace all media - including screenwriting &ndash if
they want to stay relevant and working full time.
Sitting at home in your garret might be a nice fantasy
but it's a big world out there and the demand for good
writers is actually enormous - it's just that writers
often don't see the opportunities staring them in the
face.
My best advice for writers I think is not to limit
yourself. Sure, when you're successful, specialize. Find
your niche and then work it. But until then, experiment.
Write in all genres. Take on any freelance assignment
you're offered, paid or not. Write non-fiction, articles,
company reports, anything and everything. It's all good
experience - and will help your writing and help you hone
your unique voice, your best asset.
