Books

Writing a book? Be the weirdo who enjoys it

We thought how we could use our collective experience to help other writers and the Inspiration Project was born

Hazel Gaynor
Catherine Ryan Howard and Carmel Harrington
Fri Nov 17 2017 - 06:18

They say everyone has a book in them, but having an idea for a book and turning that idea into words on a page that make sense and entertain people you have never met … that’s a very different scenario altogether.

Whatever mythical beliefs exist about writers’ fabulously bohemian lifestyles, with days spent wafting dreamily from chaise to chaise, leaving a trail of cigarette ash in their wake, the less romantic reality is that writing a book is VERY. HARD. WORK. And that’s just the start. Pitching the book to an agent and publisher, dealing with rejection, editing the book, copy editing the book, proof reading the book, promoting the book, finding readers for the book (the list goes on), is all still to come after you type The End and fist bump the cat.

Did somebody mention the word “enjoy”?

Hazel Gaynor

Carmel Harrington

Catherine Ryan Howard

When put like this, it’s no wonder the world is littered with half-realised ideas and novels without end. Faced with the task of writing 100,000 words that may never be read, is it any surprise that so many writers run out of enthusiasm, or time, or self-confidence, or good gin? If the hardest part of anything is starting, the second hardest part is finishing (cake, excluded). But if you do start, and if you can scramble your way to the end, you’ve already given yourself a much better chance than those who are still talking about starting, and who knows what might happen next.

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So, here’s a thought.

Instead of abandoning your grand idea to write a book because it all starts to feel a bit too much like, well, writing a book, what if you could go somewhere to be informed and inspired, rather than stay at home becoming increasingly exasperated and deterred? What if you could – steady on – enjoy the creative process you’ve embarked on, rather than gnashing your teeth and clicking refresh because surely they must have read the manuscript by now? What if there were very practical things you could do to give yourself the best possible chance of being published? What if, instead of talking about writing a book, you actually started writing a book? Hmm? HMM?

Having been there, done all that, and very happily still doing it, we – Hazel Gaynor, Catherine Ryan Howard and Carmel Harrington – started to think about how we could use our collective experience to help new writers get started, to help frustrated writers get to The End, and to help disenchanted writers fall back in love with their words. So often when we were trying to get published we heard how incredibly difficult it is, not to mention how tough it is to make a living from writing if you do get published. While none of it is easy, the good news is that it can happen. In the last five years we have all made the leap from slush piles and rejection letters to global publishing deals and bestseller lists, and now (hallelujah!) make a living from our writing and believe others can, too. Having got this far, we asked ourselves: what advice would have helped us before the good stuff started happening, and what did we learn after our books hit the shelves?

What began as a tentative discussion between three writing friends (there might have been gin) quickly developed into something serious and tangible and The Inspiration Project was born; a writing retreat with a difference, where writers at any stage of their career can check-out of their busy lives and check-in with their writing. Our weekend creative time-outs focus on delivering practical advice about the publishing industry and developing a career as a writer, while also giving participants the time and space to write. Our Inspiration Shots – dynamic 45-minute coaching sessions packed full of useful information on everything from writing a synopsis to understanding the publishing process – are interspersed with blocks of uninterrupted writing time, writing prompts (for those who need them), and one-on-one mentoring sessions.

We know from experience how difficult it can be to find time to write and think without distraction, so The Inspiration Project events are programmed to make every minute of the 48 hours with us count, before participants return to their busy lives. Think of it as a HIT workout, with less sweating and more wording.

Like what you've read so far? Why not join us, or to use the words of Elizabeth Gilbert in Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear, "Be the weirdo who dares to enjoy."
The first Inspiration Project weekend will be held at the Seafield Hotel and Spa Resort, Ballymoney, Gorey, on the Wexford coast, from January 12th-14th. Full details at theinspirationproject.ie