The Write Stuff with... Karen Hamilton

Today's it's my stop on The Perfect Girlfriend blog tour and it's my pleasure to welcome Karen Hamilton to the blog to talk about her 'Typical Writing Day'.

If I wake up early, I sometimes start writing straight away or I jot down random thoughts that have come to mind. Otherwise, I get up at 7.30 and walk my children to school. I'm at my desk by nine with a cup of tea (current favourite ones are Earl Grey or Camomile) and I do about an hour of admin (both work and home related) including replying to messages and mails, this is also when I usually check social media. I update my to-do list and re-arrange according to deadlines. From then on, I write as much as I can, with as short a break as possible for lunch. 

With The Perfect Girlfriend I had dates, time-lines, seasons stuck up beside my desk and I made a collage of images that made me think of Juliette. I've taken these down now and replaced them with new ones for my second book. If I find myself getting distracted by mails or social media, I switch off notifications for a few hours.  My writing day ends when my alarm goes off again at 3.15 and I walk back to the school.

From 3.30 onwards, I am involved after-school activities such as cricket, swimming, football, drama, scouts, to name a few! I carry my Kindle everywhere, I edit on it and re-read what I've written that morning wherever I am: at the side of the pool or in a hut by the football pitch. My Faber group still meet once a month and we give feedback on each other's work, so I also do this then or read friends' first drafts or proofs I've been lucky enough to be sent. I rarely write in the evening, it's usually rubbish and I then have to re-do it in the morning. I go to bed as early if I don't have anything on in the evening.

On a non-typical day I can write anywhere. Luckily, I'm able to zone out distractions as I'm not keen on quiet. At home, I write with Radio One on in the background. The Perfect Girlfriend was written on a plane, on lots of trains, at children's soft-play, in cafes, in libraries, anywhere I can. I always take my laptop out with me if I know, or suspect, I will get an opportunity to work. My favourite part of writing is editing, I love it, so if I'm at that stage then I will probably carve out extra time at the weekend, or in the holidays, as I once I'm immersed in editing then I can lose track of time and I get a bit twitchy if I'm drawn away from it!

I write down ideas all the time as I've learned that I will never remember my latest 'great idea' no matter how many times I think I will. As a result, I have post-its around my desk with various words and names on them (some of which I struggle to read as my handwriting is really bad)! and loads of random words and thoughts in my phone. 

Juliette loves Nate.
She will follow him anywhere. She's even become a flight
attendant for his airline, so she can keep a closer eye on him.

They are meant to be.
The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing.
Because Juliette has a plan to win him back.

She is the perfect girlfriend.
And she'll make sure no one stops her from
getting exactly what she wants.

True love hurts, but Juliette knows it's worth all the pain...

My review of The Perfect Girlfriend will be on the blog this afternoon so make sure you pop back later to see what I thought... was it a bumpy ride or a smooth flight?