The who, why and how of ‘Is write’.

Mad, isn’t it?

How a desire to write and be read can be so all-consuming.

I’d never been a good reader. Through school, I read what I had to. Throughout university, I hardly did that. I was in my late twenties when I fell in love with books. It all began after reading Mark Billingham (Sleepy Head). I loved it so much, I booked him as a guest on a radio show I was producing. In the chat before he went live on air, I asked him what crime fiction I should be reading, and he told me I had to read George Pelecanos. He was right. Shoe Dog, my first experience of George’s writing, is fantastic. I then managed to book George on the same radio show and asked him about being a writer and he told me to read. Read as much as you can, and your writing will be better for it. 

That’s where and when my obsession with crime fiction began. And the more I read, the more I wanted to write.

Over twenty years later, I’ve written three full-length novels and have more rejections than there are stars in the sky. I’ve been on courses, had mentors and have a network of incredible writer friends who have all encouraged and inspired me.

The odds of being published are against me. It’s a 1% chance, if that (according to some quick searching). It’s a goal I can aim for and strive for. I need to be good first and get better, but then it’s all about learning and luck. Who knows what will happen?

The thing is, I love writing. Disappearing into wonderful worlds, as well as getting to know and love characters. This site is all about my writing, my reading, my learning and my experiences. Maybe it will help others who are in the same boat. 

Is write.

Oh, why ‘Is write’? That’s because there’s a saying in my hometown, ‘Is right.’ The definition of which is this (according to Scouse Dictionary):

Is Right is Scouse for:

I agree

Good idea

Well said

“Is right, lad. Is right.”

Good idea? Is write.