​Writing a book is pretty simple. You come up with an idea. Sit down. Start writing.
 
It’s as easy and as incredibly hard as that.
 
I’ve found that the worst part of writing a book is the self-doubt, the fear of not being good enough, the worry that no one will care, that either no one will read your book, or equally horrifying, that lots of people will read it and hate it. You haven’t even typed a word and you’re already planning for its failure.

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

​One Good Idea
 
You only need one good idea. It has to be  a strong one though, something that hooks you and won’t let go.

I’m always coming up with things that interest me, but if you’re going to write a whole book and survive the editing process, you have to have a story that you can’t let go of. Or that won't let go of you.
 
When I have an idea, I jot it down in a notebook, then carry on with life. If I keep coming back to it, or I start planning the story in my head, I know I’m on to something.
 

​What if...?
 
My favourite question to ask is “What if...?” My idea for The Choice came from visiting a cake decorating shop and then driving past a fast-food restaurant. I’d heard on the news about sugar and fat being addictive and so I asked myself a few “What if...?” questions.

Good Housekeeping wanted to run an author panel at LBF on entering writing competitions. As the winner of the previous Good Housekeeping Novel Competition, they asked me if I would like to take part, along with my agent Amanda Preston and Clare Hey, head of Orion (my publisher). 

​I couldn't quite believe it when I got the email, it would be my first author event, which was hugely exciting, if a little daunting. I wondered what I had to offer the audience. All I have is my own experience, so I decided to speak from that.

LBF, Olympia & Author HQ

If you've never been to an event at Olympia, or a big conference style exhibition, it's hard to describe the chaos and mass of people. We got lost twice on the way to meeting my editor, despite asking for directions twice and having a map. It was crazy, loud and there were so many people!

I was pleased to see other people in wheelchairs, but I always find it a little disconcerting being physically lower than everyone else, especially in a big crowd; it feels claustrophobic.

I hadn't anticipated how many people would be at the Author HQ panel. I thought we might be lucky to get ten, possibly twenty people there. I was wrong. It was completely packed, with over a hundred people (best guess!) and more milling around the area.

I was surprisingly calm, I think all the public speaking at WI has helped. I didn't love wearing the microphone though, it looked like I was going to be a backup singer for Madonna!