Meet WriteMentor Hub member and writer Ian Johnson
Why did you decide to join the Hub?
I was one of the original members. I tried to join another writing group, but wasn’t accepted. I felt lost, and was on the verge of giving up writing before I really began. Stuart’s Write Mentor project was open and friendly, and gave me somewhere where I felt I belonged.
How has the Hub helped you as a writer?
Initially all the advice on craft helped me understand much better how a book, pitch, synopsis and cover letter should be structured. As the Hub has grown, the contact with and encouragement of so many unpublished, agented, and published writers has kept my spirits up, through good and bad times. The Querying Agents and Competitions and Resources channels have been invaluable in keeping me up-to-date with the latest agent, indie publisher, and competition opportunities.
Why do you think it’s important for writers to be part of a community?
At home I write in my study/ writing den, and, as is the case for most of us, I do it on my own. The Hub gives me a community place, where I can virtually meet with other like-minded people, exchange conversations and ideas, and empathise/ sympathise. It is like the pub on the corner of my street, or the coffee shop down the road. It is my writing place where I meet with friends, drink hot vanilla lattes or cold beers, play some playlist music, and create beautiful words.
Tell us a bit about your writing journey until now.
I began seriously writing 8 years ago when I retired early. I have always scribbled stuff all through my life – I remember my English teacher at school being blown away by a story I did that featured an elephant – but never had the knowledge or the time available to write a full book. My initial stories were all inspired by memories of my two children Holly and Paul as they grew up. Lately my grandson Luca has been my writing inspiration. When he hit 5, I started writing picture book texts. At 7 and now 8, I write chapter books and lower middle-grade. I have found I have an ability to easily write for different ages and in different genres. So I write contemporary, historical, and fantasy stories. I write PB, CB, MG (lower and upper), teen, and adult. Quintuple threat!
What are you currently working on? What are your writing ambitions?
I have written a historical (late 1800s) adult novel THE LAST ELK, set in both Wales and Colorado, USA and based on a wonderful true story, which just needs some final refinements (increasing the role of the female characters) before I am going to blitz it with US agents. I am writing 2 adult non-fiction books, which I will query with UK agents / indie publishers. And what excites me the most at present is a new, original, different middle-grade novel which involves loads of research and tough writing, but is giving me great joy. If I can bring this off, I will have such a sense of satisfaction, no matter what happens with it. The thing is that the outcomes, whether with agents, indie publishers, big publishers, or competitions are all out of my control. All I can do is put my stuff out. Longer-tem, if I cannot gain success in traditional publishing, I shall self-publish. I have put in so much energy and time, and written so many stories, not to want to see output in the end. For Luca, my new grandson Logan, all children, and adult readers out there. “I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” – James A. Michener.
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