My guest today is Womagwriter, Alan Williams.
When did you start
writing, Alan and how did you get into writing for womags?
You have probably not
heard of me. I’m not one of those names you see in magazines all
the time. I’ve been fortunate, however, to carve out a niche market
in Australia.
I began writing whilst
in a U3A group in Tasmania in, Cygnet, the town in which I taught.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t until I was here, in France, that I decided
to tackle it seriously and send my stories off to magazines. It was
2012.
I’d discovered Kath’s
guidelines on Womagwriter’s blog and sent off two stories I’d
written years earlier, to That’s Life in Australia as well as other
stories to many of the British magazines. Six weeks after, I sold one
of those initial stories to That’s Life so that encouraged me to
persist in my writing. Without that initial success I would probably
have given up trying by now.
You're a man (you
probably already knew that) Do you think that's an advantage or
disadvantage when it comes to writing for magazines which cater
mainly for women?
To be honest, Patsy, I
don’t know. When I’ve been the only guy amongst twenty females at
the Woman’s Weekly Events I’ve attended, I’m very conscious of
my status. It’s a little intimidating as, despite having been a
Science teacher for years, I don’t have a great deal of
self-confidence.
Also it’s not the
sort of pastime I would boast about to a group of Rugby players down
at the pub at lunchtime when they’re sinking a tinny or two … not
unless I had a death wish.
I’m proud that I’m
a Womag writer and that I’ve had had success in this genre as I
respect the readers, the stories and all of the fellow writers that
I’ve met. I enjoy what I do.
Not many men read what
I’ve written however one did read a Take A Break story from earlier
this year. His comment that I must be in touch with my feminine side
was a compliment (I hope) and I took it as such. It’s difficult for
me to convey the strong positive emotions that I find in Womag
stories however, when I can achieve that, I’m very proud.
It’s been suggested
that I use a female pseudonym but that’s not me and I think it
would still be obvious that I’m a man as I cannot write like a
woman. Realistically, I don’t feel it matters to the editor. In
fact, that difference in approach may set me apart from the similar
style of many other writers. Unfortunately for me, I’m often too
different.
Most of my stories are
in the first person allowing me to have fun with the characters,
toying with idiosyncrasies or personalities. Also the main character
is usually a woman, sometimes strong, sometimes a heroine, sometimes
apprehensive or scared but generally an average person dealing with
the trials of relationships or dramas that happen to us all.
Are you a
disciplined writer producing a steady stream of stories, or do you
wait until you're in the mood?
I write every day, even
if it’s only composing the entire story in my head then typing it
up over the next few days. My present problem is the inspiration for
stories. I often fall back on song titles to act as prompts, e.g. The
Pied Piper by Crispian St Peters or Substitute by Clout, both of
which have become fine, strong, but as yet, unpublished short
stories.
Most on my tales begin
as a title – something quirky that grabs my imagination. For
example The Pastel Blue Kangaroo, The Neverwhen or When Gravity Went
Wild. I did a guest blog on this site some years ago about this
topic. It isn’t a great problem if the editor then alters that
title as the story is still there.
If I wake up and feel
in a daft mood, then I write amusing pieces (often poking fun at male
attitudes). If my wife gives me a kiss, I’ll write a romance. I’m
actually a romantic at heart and always have a positive, uplifting
ending, whatever I do.
I think I'm right
in saying you've had most success with Australian magazines - do you
have a connection to that country?
I am an Australian by
birth although I lived, with my British wife, in England for 19 years
and am now exiled to France since 2007. It would seem that Australian
editors see something in my work that doesn’t fit too well with
British Womags. I can understand that. My stories, even the romance
and heart-warmers are probably too plot heavy for them. It’s a good
thing that rejections don’t upset me greatly. And I do know that
I’m not in the same class as others like yourself or Della (whom
I’ve met a number of times). Christine Sutton has also helped me to
adjust my style for Britain although, judging by my meagre success
there, I’m a slow learner.
I sent off my invoice
for stories 14 and 15 to TL last week so I my writing style seems to
suit them as there have been three editors since I started.
Dare I say it, I do
believe Aussies have different brains, due to the greater exposure to
UV, fresh air, vegemite sandwiches and fairy bread whilst growing up.
Not necessarily better, just different. I write a lot of Sixth Sense
stories for That’s Life but I do sell them Romance, Heart-warmers,
Revenge and Light Bites as well.
You don't live in
Australia now though - does living where you do pose any
difficulties when it comes to submitting to UK and Australian
markets?
T’internet is a
wonderful thing and so the Aussie markets are usually okay for me.
Unfortunately the local
French Post Office tends to close on a whim, displaying a sign with
‘Exceptional Closing’ proudly taped to the door. Even when it’s
meant to be open, it is closed one day in three and was, in fact
closed all of August. The reasons, I’m sure, are varied, ranging
from the Postmistress breaking a nail to the Postmaster needing to
take his pet cow, Alphonse, for walkies.
Consequently posting
submissions to the U.K. can be … challenging. More often than not I
return home, letter still in hand, saying words that won’t be found
in any English-French dictionary.
I've heard that
some writers use real people and situations in stories, especially
if something has annoyed them. Do you ever do that?
Don’t tend to become
annoyed (French Postal Service excepted), so no, I don’t use real
people. Occasionally I use myself and my own experiences but what
writer doesn’t? Sorry, just remembered my first wife. She often
finds herself appearing, usually when something disgusting or
horrible is about to happen. Does that count?
Can we read any of
your stories other than in magazines?
I do have stories in
Anthologies in Australia, Ireland and Canada but they would be hard
to track down, I think. I have one story in an anthology, By My Side,
with Alfie Dog (along with you, Patsy). The story is Star Bright –
a whimsical romance with a touch of magic thrown it. My other taleson Alfie Dog are stories that are otherwise unpublished, written some
years ago. However they do include one from my other writing genre –
Children’s fiction where I’ve had some publishing success also.
What has been your
happiest or proudest writing moment so far?
As is often the case,
it would have to be my first acceptance. I’d written a fantasy
story about a jilted girl and her grandmother called The Cool, Dark
Place. The grandmother surprises the girl by demonstrating a gift –
the ability to remove negative emotions and replace them with
memories of the girl’s 5th birthday that she had kept in jam jars
within a cupboard; the cool, dark place.
That story has been
reprinted in Scotland and Canada as well.
To see my ideas and
words in print with beautiful accompanying photos was, in itself,
magical.
Can you pass on a
tip for other womag writers?
I was once told by a
fellow writer that I was very brave to have the courage to submit my
stories to ‘proper magazines’. It took me some time and
discussions back and forth, to understand her own fears. I send off
over 100 submissions per year to all sorts of magazines or
occasionally competitions. Not just Womags even though most of my
stories are written for that genre. Maybe I have a thick skin to deal
with the numerous rejections or, more often, hearing nothing but I
keep submitting, even to those magazines that have never accepted one
yet.
My advice? Don’t be
disheartened. Believe in yourself. I know I have a lot to still learn
but I’ll continue to try showing editors those ideas and skills
that I already have. Maybe one day even Woman’s Weekly will show
some interest. You never know unless you try.
Thanks Patsy for asking
me to do this. It’s great to be a part of this web community.
