Do men write romance? They certainly do, as Romantic Novelists’ Association member Ian Wilfred proves. Ian’s characters are instantly relatable and he has a knack of choosing gorgeous settings, from Tenerife to Greece to his native Norfolk.
On top of all that, Ian is one of the most supportive authors you could wish to meet. Which was just one of the reasons Jane Cable invited him to share his writing process.
Tell us a bit about you?
I’m 50+ but in my head I will always be 39. I live on the Norfolk coast with my husband and west highland terrier and I’m a member of the Romantic Novelist Association. My first book was published in 2013.
What you have written, past and present?
I’ve written and published five books. In the first four all my leading characters were women over 50 who are starting again and leaving the past behind, but in this year’s summer book, My Perfect Summer in Greece, Cheryl is a much younger heroine and this was lovely change
What you are promoting now?
My new book Time To Move On, which is out on 24th September. It’s the story of Billie coming to terms with her divorce and being made redundant, and moving to Norfolk from London.
What’s the most important thing about your process of writing?
I love to write every day even if it’s just a few hundred words. I have to keep the story fresh in my head.
Do you plan or just write?
I plan a lot more with each book I write and for me this seems to work better each time.
What about word count?
I don’t give myself a daily or weekly word count but I do like to do 40,000 words a month for the first draft. Then I take two months to rewrite and rewrite before I send it off to my editor.
How do you do your structure?
I don’t plan that – it just sort of happens. I have a beginning, a middle and an end in my head and off I go.
What do you find hard about writing?
Everything! Each book is a learning process with many mistakes made over the years, but you just have to move on and know you’re improving.
What do you love about writing?
The characters. I love the first draft when they are in your head and you can’t wait to get them on the page and bring them to life.
Any advice for other writers?
I get asked this a lot and I always give the same two answers; write every day, and read and watch every article Milly Johnson has ever done on writing tips. She is the best for advice.
You can follow Ian on Twitter @IanWilfred39. He’s great at sharing news from a wide range of romantic novelists.
