Our Writer Of The Week is Ela Jones. Ela’s story, “In A Flap”, appeared in the July 27 issue of “The People’s Friend”.
The feel-good factor is evident in your story, Ela. Is it important to you to give the readers an uplifting message?
Definitely. I love to read stories that first and foremost make me smile (it’s why I like the “Friend” so much) and I try to write the same. I’m really disappointed if I read a story or a book that doesn’t have a happy ending, or one that doesn’t make me feel good in some way. Even if it’s a murder mystery, everything has to be solved at the end and the criminals brought to justice or I feel let down as a reader.
If you aren’t enjoying a book you are reading, will you persevere through to the end or quite happily give up?
A bit of both. I read a lot on Kindle now and I think it’s easy to give up on a book if I’m not enjoying it after a few pages, mostly because with such a vast library of e-books at my fingertips, it’s easy to quickly find an alternative. But I often persevere because in several cases, when I’ve kept on reading, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Plus, I usually want to know the ending – as long as it’s happy of course!
Do you see your characters before you when you write? By that I mean, what they look like and if they have any particular mannerisms?
I do picture my characters. I imagine them in their worlds and see them in different scenarios; some of which make it into stories. It’s a good way for me to get to know the characters. I was really surprised when I saw the illustration accompanying “In a Flap”. Both characters were really similar to how I’d pictured them in my head.
Notebook and pencil or laptop? Kitchen table or study? Blank wall or inspiring view?
I use a laptop mostly, but I always carry a notebook, too. It has to be one that I enjoy writing in. I’ve just bought a pink one with gold edged pages, and I’m looking forward to filling it with new ideas and thoughts. I write anywhere and everywhere – greenhouse, kitchen table, supermarket, car park and often at night in the darkness before sleep. My imagination runs particularly wild at the end of the day, and I find my phone is useful to capture any story ideas at that time.
What’s your one top tip for aspiring writers?
Develop a writing habit, which was a tip in a creative writing course I attended. It really makes a difference. I write as often as I can. Even if I’m tired and don’t feel like it, I try to get some words down. What I write isn’t always brilliant and doesn’t have to be. Just by writing something, I’m one step closer to having a story written that I didn’t have before.
What a great tip, Ela, and well done on being “The People’s Friend” Writer of the Week!
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Alan Spink I am a member of the “Friend” Fiction Team. I enjoy working closely with writers and being part of the creative process, which sees storytelling ideas come to fruition. A keen reader, I also write fiction and enjoy watching football and movies in my spare time. My one tip to new writers is “write from your imagination”.
