Monique McDonell:Fellow Traveller Number 5 - Hachette/ QWC Program

May 9th, 2010

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In twenty words or less tell me why you write

I write to bring to life the characters that live in my dreams and to see what hey want to tell me.

Do you have any formal training in creative writing? And how long have you been writing?

I wouldn’t say I have formal training. I did a minor in Creative Writing at University but the teacher was so nasty I didn’t write again for ten years. I’ve always written. As a child I wrote books and books of poetry and I have many half started novels. I began writing again in earnest about five years ago and have written a book a year since then.

What do you consider to be your successes as a professional writer?

I don’t really consider myself to be a professional writer yet because I am not making money out of it. I think I would say that any success I have had has been due solely to persistence.

You were selected to take part in the QWC/Hachette Australia
Manuscript Development Programme in 2008. What were some of the highlights? What impact did it have on your writing and professional development?

For me, just being chosen was a highlight. It was very affirming. The opportunity to sit down with Vanessa from Hachette and get her feedback on my novel was completely wonderful. I found Kim an inspiring lecturer and I got so much out of what she told us, especially with regard to plotting.
The chance to spend the week with seven other writers from around the country and just focus on writing and sharing ideas was invaluable. The gift of the ongoing friendship with those writers is a total bonus and a delight.
Being part of the program gave me lots of confidence which has led to me throwing my hat in the ring in other competitions and I think it made me feel legitimised in my writing – that it was more than a hobby.

What do you really love about writing?

I really love starting a new story. It’s like I’m heading off on a wonderful journey with new friends and we have so many opportunities to get to know each other better.

Rejection comes with the job of writing, so how do you get over it and keep going?

I’ve had plenty of rejection. I consider myself a bit of a writing bridesmaid – as in “always the bridesmaid never the bride”. I am much better with rejection now than I used to be because I have come to understand that it isn’t personal and has almost nothing to do with me at all. I have to say a standard rejection letter or e-mail doesn’t even affect me anymore. I do find it harder when I get very close and still can’t quite get over the line. To help me get through it I go to the second-hand bookshop and read a book by an author in my genre, usually one with two or three books, and preferably a book I don’t love and I think “Somehow he/she got over the line so there’s no reason I can’t too.” (You don’t want to choose anything too awe inspiring in these situations because that just fuels the feelings of inadequacy!)

What are you working on now?

I’m working on some women’s fiction with romantic undertones. At the moment I’m about 2/3 of the way through a novel.

What books are you reading and where is your favoured reading spot?

I am reading lots of chic-lit and women’s fiction because that’s what I write. Apart from that I just finished Barbara Kingsolver’s, The Lacuna which I loved and The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which I didn’t. I have a wing chair in my living room that I love to read in. I snuggle in there with a cup of coffee and float away.

monique