I’m pleased to be able to welcome debut novelist Janet O’Kane to the First Draft hot seat today.
Janet O’Kane grew up in an age before Young Adult literature, so she went straight from Enid Blyton to what her Mum liked reading: crime novels. And despite occasional dalliances with other types of fiction, that’s where she has happily stayed.
Her career before turning to writing full-time included selling underpants to Roger Moore in Harrods and marketing nappies for Boots. It was when she helped run a GP surgery that she decided a doctor would make an excellent main character for a crime novel.
Janet lives in the Scottish Borders with her stonemason husband and two cats, two dogs and far too many chickens. She is now working on the sequel to No Stranger to Death.
When you set out to write something, what’s the first thing you do?
Because I write crime fiction, I start off by imagining where a dead body could be found and who might find it. No Stranger to Death came about because I went to a Bonfire Night party and thought a huge bonfire would be a good way of disposing of a corpse or at least destroying any useful forensic evidence. Similarly, as I walked across the historic Union Bridge which connects England to Scotland, I imagined someone being dropped into the River Tweed below. This provided the opening to Book 2.
Do you have a set routine approaching it?
I try to be at my desk for nine and write for two or three hours morning and afternoon. I’m not good at grabbing the odd few minutes to write.
Pen and paper or straight to keyboard?
Definitely straight to keyboard, although I often tackle sticky plot problems when I’m walking the dogs, so I keep a tiny notepad in my pocket alongside their biscuits.
How important is research to you?
Although I write fiction, I try to keep it grounded in reality because readers expect this. I’ve also found that fact checking can lead to insights and spark off ideas which greatly improve my stories.
How do you go about researching?
It’s all too easy to be distracted by the internet. One minute you’re checking if Police Scotland is one word or two, the next you’re looking at tattoos. Or is that just me? I particularly like to talk to people about their jobs. My main character in No Stranger to Death is a GP, so I approached my own GP and asked if she would give me some insights. And my brother-in-law is a policeman, so he’s been on the receiving end of quite a few questions. I also try to visit locations which feature in my books rather than just look at photographs, to be able to call on all the senses when describing them.
How do you store everything?
I have several magazine files where I squirrel away anything from a paper napkin printed with lots of great Scottish words to an NHS leaflet about confidentiality. I type up notes from visits and interviews, saving them as Word documents, and have started using Pinterest to keep images.
Tell us how that first draft takes shape
Very slowly! I’ve discovered that my approach to writing fiction is completely different to copywriting, which I did for several years, and the academic writing required by my Open University degree. For those, I planned in detail what I was going to write. But with fiction, I’m a pantser, writing a bit, planning a bit, writing a bit more and so on. In the early days of No Stranger to Death I wasted so much time trying to outline the whole story and being paralysed by my inability to do so. Now I know what works for me, and I stick with it.
Are there any rituals you have to do or items you must have with you while writing that first draft.
I’m surprisingly superstition-free when I sit down to write. All I ask for is a lengthy stretch of time, and silence. I do have one constant companion: Katy the cat, with whom I share my chair. Luckily it’s big enough for us both, although this does mean I’m permanently covered in white hairs.
Does the outside world exist or are you lost for a period of time as the magic works?
Time disappears rapidly when I’m writing, but I can’t mentally block off the noise of the outside world, so no working in coffee shops for me. And although I have the luxury of not going out to work, I do help run my husband’s business, which means I have to answer the phone if it rings.
What does your work space look like?
A bit messy, full of books, pieces of paper with vital notes on them and cat hair. But this doesn’t stop me writing. I muck it out every now and then, when it gets too bad.
Edit as you go or just keep getting words out?
I try to keep going, although not always successfully. I use square brackets to make notes and highlight queries on my MS, and also keep a separate document called ‘Things to go back and add_delete_change’.
Word counter or other method of keeping track of progress?
I’m a slow worker, so daily word counts tend to be discouraging. That said, I will try to be faster and more disciplined with Book 2, now I have readers asking for it!
Roughly how long did that first draft take? And what shape was it in?
I’m embarrassed to say how many years it took me to complete No Stranger to Death, although in my defence, I studied for an Open University degree and had several jobs during that time. The novel has needed numerous edits since, because it was far from reader-ready.
In what format do you like to read it through?
Now there are so many options, I use them all, trying to fool my brain into thinking it’s never seen a piece of writing before. Reading on a Kindle isn’t the same as reading on an iPad, and sometimes just changing the font can be enough to make something jump out that I failed to notice in a previous read-through. I’m also a fan of reading aloud (although my Scots accent is pitiful).
What happens now the first draft is done?
I believe in the advice about leaving any piece of writing to stew for as long as possible. And the completion of a first draft, however scrappy, always warrants some sort of celebration.
You can find Janet on Amazon, on Facebook and Twitter.
To read any of the previous First Draft Q&A’s you can check the list Here.
To be a part of the First Draft series, just get in touch and let me know. Along with the answers to the questions, I’ll need a profile photograph, a first draft photograph and three links that you feel are your most important. Please don’t think I’m fully booked up, if you’re thinking about it – Get in touch! It’s been a great series so far, lets see where 2014 takes us!
Jane Isaac says
Wonderful post, Janet. I agree, doggy walks are excellent moments to ponder those tricky parts! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for hosting, Rebecca:)
Annalisa Crawford says
Janet’s mention of the square brackets made me chuckle – my WIP is littered with them at the moment! Crime writers are scary, aren’t they? I won’t be walking a tall bridge with you any time soon, Janet 🙂
janet O'Kane says
Ha ha, that’s what my Mum says about crime writers, Annalisa. Though actually you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer bunch of people.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Thanks for hosting Janet.
Janet – Thanks for sharing how your stories come together. That moment when the body is discovered is really important in a crime novel, so I can see why you start there. And readers really do want that sense of authenticity in what they read, and there’s nothing like some research for that. I wish you much success.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
From Police Scotland to tattoos – that is quite a jump!
Jacqui Murray says
What a comfortable writing world you’ve created, Janet. I’m wondering how you scratch out the notes while walking the dog–but I love the multitasking. I may borrow that.
DJ Kirkby says
Six hours of writing per day? I am impressed, and envious. I tackle plot problems whilst running. I wonder how many other writers use exercise to do the same thing?
Wendy Ewurum says
WOW Rebecca its been such a long time I didnt even know you has a new blog. I just dropped in to say hi but ended up really enjoyoying your interview. Janet is a dream interviewee and your questions are awesome.