Our Writer Of The Week is author Gillian Harvey. Gillian’s short story, “Out Of Water”, is in Special 276, which is on sale now.
In your story, there’s good chemistry between your characters. Is romance easy for you to write?
I’m interested in people and relationships – whether romantic or otherwise. And connection between people is often the key to a successful story. I wouldn’t say easy, but the more I’ve written, the more I find I can build those connections between characters in a way that feels natural. I enjoy creating emotional connections in my work – both for the characters and the reader.
The protagonist in the story has a phobia. Do you have any you can share?
I used to have a terrible phobia of dogs when I was younger. I’d avoid going to friends’ houses if they had dogs – and used to dread my paper round as a child as the last house on the route always had a loose (albeit friendly) pooch who’d come running towards me.
Having children helped – I didn’t want to pass my fear on to them so did my best to overcome and not show it in front of them.
Then, finally, we got a puppy when I was in my 30s. Getting to know a dog’s character diffused the fear – he wasn’t a “dog”, he was Max and one of the family. I now love dogs. It’s quite a turnaround!
Modern or historical stories – do you have a favourite?
I love novels set in the present day, ones I can imagine happening right now. I like to consider modern dilemmas and concerns and find contemporary-set books more relatable. That said, the older I get the more I’m drawn to historical novels set in 1990s and 2000s – reliving my younger years.
What drives you forward as a writer?
I just love writing. I love playing with language, exploring imaginary worlds and scenarios. Being a writer as a profession comes with a lot of ups and downs, and it sometimes can be tricky. But whatever happens to me career wise, I will write – whether it’s for myself or thousands of readers. It’s like giving my brain an escape from day-to-day life – a wonderful holiday.
As a successful novelist, what’s the appeal of writing short stories?
With novels, you spend a lot of time with certain characters and scenarios. It’s great fun, and I love getting to know the people in my imagination. But there’s something wonderful about a short story – how much can you reveal about a character in a short time? Can you pack enough emotion into a couple of thousand words? It’s a great challenge and also enables me to explore different genres and themes.
Finally, has anyone given you a piece of advice that you still adhere to as a writer?
It sounds simple, but the best advice I’ve received and given is “don’t give up!” Even the most successful writers are plagued with self-doubt. Writing is a very personal thing and criticism or perceived failure can hit hard. But as long as you enjoy it, it’s always worth putting one word in front of another.
Thanks, Gillian!
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Alan Spink I am a member of the “Friend” Fiction Team. I enjoy working closely with writers and being part of the creative process, which sees storytelling ideas come to fruition. A keen reader, I also write fiction and enjoy watching football and movies in my spare time. My one tip to new writers is “write from your imagination”.
