Writing Advice from Paul Kilduff
This is the final post for a while in the “Get It Written” series, brought to you by Font writers. Our featured writer today is Paul Kilduff, whose new book, Ruinair (How To Be Treated Like Shite in 15 Different Countries…and Still Quite Like It!) has sold out. Gone into reprint after just one week in the shops.
Which makes Paul the current holder of the Font Fastest Selling Writer award.
No prizes for guessing what Ruinair is about, even without the “Only 01c * price excudes fees & charges of 12.98″ stickers.
As well as this run(a)way success, Paul is also the author of four successful financial thrillers — all completed while holding down a demanding day job.
Here is his advice to you:
“1. Get Writing.
No amount of reading, courses, studies, lectures, workshops etc beats putting finger to keyboard. Kingsley Amis said that ‘The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one’s trousers to the seat of one’s chair’.
Wanting to write a book and not actually writing is a bit like sitting in your bathing costume on the edge of an inviting swimming pool with a very well-thumbed book entitled ‘How to Swim’.
2. Write what you know.
My first 4 financial thrillers were set in the City of London because I spent 6 years working there. My first non-fiction book is a European travelogue because I had spent several years visiting places all over Europe. Writing a book is hard enough without making it even more difficult. Also, readers want to see your insight, expertise and credibility.
Don’t set out to write a classic crime thriller set in the USA if you know nothing about law enforcement, crime, the legal system and have not yet popped across the Atlantic. Write about a personal experience, a family crisis, a trauma overcome or a unique insight where we will all be in awe as to how you know so much.
3. Persevere.
Accept that fact that once your book is finished it might take months, or years, to sell it. I got plenty of rejection slips for my first thriller but eventually I ended up with offers from Harper Collins and Hodder Headline.
My London agent did not sell my first travel book to a London publisher so I took the innovative step of asking an Irish agent to sell it to an Irish publisher and hey presto … success. ”
Yes, that would be us! We were immediately taken with Paul’s submission - see our submissions page - and took him straight to Gill & Macmillan, the perfect publisher for this book.
Congratulations to Paul (and G&M) on their success with Ruinair. If you’d like to learn more, to buy the book, or join in the Ruinair forum - a sort of online support group for Ruinair passengers that Paul has established - visit his website on www.paulkilduff.com.
Our next series will bring you insider secrets about publishing that writers need to know.
till then…. happy writing!
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Below George Hook steps forward with his opinions about Ruinair — with Paul Kilduff (r.) on Newstalk Radio.
One Response to “Writing Advice from Paul Kilduff”
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March 22nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
read the book man, a blast!