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Sheila Lavelle
How many books have you had published?
Over
fifty titles, plus another thirty or so in reading schemes for schools
Did you write for fun when you were at school?
Yes, all the time. Stories, plays and awful
sentimental verse. I had a brilliant English master who gave me
a lot of encouragement and got me reading Dickens by the time I was twelve.
Have you always earned your living as a writer? If not, what else have
you done/do you still do?
I worked as a clerk in an office in Newcastle
first. Then, after marriage and two children, I trained as a teacher and
taught for ten years.
When was your first book published and what was it called?
1977 Ursula
Bear published by Hamish Hamilton and still in print!
Was it difficult to get your first book published?
It
took fifteen years of trying different stories and different publishers
with nothing but rejection slips as a result. A home-study course
was the vital breakthrough and taught me not how to write but how
not to!
Which is your favourite of your own books and why?
My
Best Friend was my first attempt at a longer children's novel.
I enjoyed the opportunity to develop the characters more fully and it
has turned into a series of six titles.
Which is your favourite children's book written by someone else?
Undoubtedly Winnie-the-Pooh. I still
can't read it aloud for laughing.
How long does it take you to write a book?
A picture book text for four-to-six year olds
may take as little as two days. A 25000 word 'Fiend' novel could take
up to a year or longer.
Do you use a computer or write first drafts long hand?
I jot down notes as bits of the story and characters
occur to me and keep them in a folder. When I feel I've gathered
enough material I start drafting them on the computer.
Do you have a writing routine or just write when you feel like it?
I have to stick to a routine or nothing gets finished. About
three hours each morning is my normal writing time.
Rewriting - do you love it or hate it?
I
love editing, pruning and polishing each draft until I can't improve it
any further. What I detest is rewriting to suit a publisher's house
style (destroys one's individual voice) or to correct a copy editor's
mistakes.
Have you ever belonged to a writers' group? If so, did it help?
Yes,
one. No it didn't.
Have you got an agent?
I
tried one once with a batch of stories of which Ursula Bear was
one. She sent them back saying there was no demand for 'fantasy'
or 'magic' but would be happy to look at anything else I had to offer.
She happened to be in the Hamish Hamilton office when the proofs of that
title were being checked. She phoned me at once, furious that I
should presume to offer my work to a publisher without her say-so, and
demanding her 10% commission!
Why do you like writing for children?
They
have a great sense of humour!.
.
Do you draw the pictures for your books?
No,
I wish I could.
What advice would you offer anyone who wants to write for children?
| 1 | Read, read, read. Dissect what you read. Read aloud to hear the rhythms and cadences in the language. |
| 2 | A home-study course should be invaluable - most of us are the worst critics of our own work |
| 3 | Consult the Writers and Artists Yearbook to find out who wants what. Individual publishers will send you a list of their guidelines if asked. |
| 4 | Aim your work at a specific age group and make the vocabulary level, word length, subject matter etc. appropriate. There is a vast difference between writing for readers of four to five and ten to eleven |
For a list of Sheila Lavelle's books in print click here