J is for Joy

Margaret talks about the joy of writing

 

Anyone who hasn’t written a book cannot possibly know how much pleasure it gives the writer. Admittedly it’s hard work at times but it is also extremely rewarding.

As a romantic novelist I create characters who live in my head for months at a time. They become my friends. I know every intimate detail about them. I’m often asked whether I base any of them on real people; on myself, my family, my friends, but, no. They’re all pure imagination. I did actually hear from one reader, a distant relative of mine, who was sure I’d based a character on a family member. I hadn’t, not consciously at least.

But the people in my books do become real when I write about them and that is the joy of writing. I live their life vicariously.

There is immense pleasure in creating new characters and learning their story, then re-telling that story to the readers. I make copious notes before I even begin to write but I don’t plot my book out in detail. I prefer to let my characters tell me their story.

I cannot imagine a job that would bring me as much joy as writing does. Admittedly I have bad days, days when I think I’ll never write again, but thankfully they are few and far between.

                                                    JOY