Author Interview With Tim Bedford

Today, we have an interview with Tim Bedford, and, I must say, this was one of the interviews that I really loved doing; Tim’s answers are just dripping with personality and humour, so this just means that you have to read it!

So, what exactly do you write?

Oh, dear. That’s a hard one. I’ll write anything really, especially if people are paying me for it (see the day job). I’ve written poetry and fiction, the latter in a range of genres but have recently self-published my first book which is a humorous version of a very old tale. At the moment I’m probably easiest categorised as humour/fantasy; but watch this space.

How would you describe yourself in a short third person bio?

Tim Bedford lives in an old farmhouse which he inadvertently renovated some years ago, where he spends a lot of time herding cats. Though he’s had a varied work history he has finally managed to bully a career out of his first love – writing. He’s a copy writer by day but by night (and any other time he can squeeze out of life) he loves telling lies on paper. Sorry, that should be ‘writing fiction’.

What made you initially want to write? Has your motivation changed since then?

I didn’t. I can’t help it. I’d have preferred a high-net-worth career like plumbing or something. Writing happens to you, I think, not the other way round. In the end you either have to give in and go with it, or give up and run off. The latter is probably the sensible option.

What do you think is the most important part of writing?

Probably editing. It’s not my favourite part but it’s crucial.

What is your favourite part of writing?

The heady rush when a story hits, knocks you over and drags you off to the nearest keyboard. Often this means finding yourself chained to that keyboard for very long hours indeed but there’s nothing like it.

Tell us an interesting fact about you.

I was once mistaken for a tourist attraction – while feeding squirrels in a park – by some Japanese tourists who took an awful lot of photos. Admittedly there were a lot of squirrels, sat neatly on a bench in a row, taking one nut at a time and then fighting amongst themselves. Then some pigeons landed on me (which inevitably led to more photos). I got a disciplinary for being late at work that day. Happy times.

Do you have a day-job, (other than writing)?

No, at least, I make a living as a freelance copywriter; it’s a very different kind of writing but it pays and it certainly hones your skills.

Do you prefer a physical book or an ebook? Why?

Both; I was dubious about e-books when they came out but like most writers (and cats) I’m naturally inquisitive. Now I think e-books are fab but I don’t want the real-world sort to die out. I buy ‘special’ books (keepers) because there’s something deliciously tactile about them. There are however more books in the world than I can possibly house and so I love my e-reader for reducing the need for more bookshelves.

Tell us about your novel.

Originally this was written as a Christmas present but written very badly (really just a draft). Revisiting it I decided it was time to make a better job. It’s very loosely based on Red Riding Hood, but attempts to fill in some gaps in the story like the lack of pony to go with the riding hood. It now owes as much to The Crucible and the Vicar of Dibley in terms of the plot. I wrote it around the time I returned to the rural backwater that I grew up in, where many things are still, shall we say, traditional. OK, no, let’s say backwards, and I think that influence might well have crept in there somewhere as well!

So, how long does it take you, on average, to complete a first draft?

Ah. The piece of string question. I have a number of drafts in first draft form, some took three or four days (12-16 hour days) others formed out of scraps and notes over months and years. Three or four days might not sound like long but these are very, very rough drafts. The next stage of them will probably take six months or longer. Then the hard work begins!

Which projects are you working on at the moment?

I’m working through a pile of drafts of various sorts; apart from the day job I’m planning to publish a second humorous novel this year, as the original draft is fairly complete. I’ve got a couple of short stories that I’m also working on; I like to have more than one project on at a time so that I can skip about if block attempts to corner me.

How do you come up with the titles for your books? And do you have the final title before completing your book, or after?

I have a working title while I’m working on them, if only so I can find the actual file I need. It’s sad to report these titles tend to go along the lines of “that ghost one about that woman and that other woman”. Usually I let titles cook at the back of my brain until one pops up; this can be at any point in the process. Occasionally I have the title before I’ve started but I’ve found that’s a dangerous approach – a title can be very dictatorial, I prefer to let stories happen how they want to before I go in with my editing machete and labels.

How has writing changed your life?

Hard one that; I’ve always written one way or the other so its not really changed my life. I changed my life to make proper room for writing – that meant lots of changes, uncertainty, upheavals, challenges and more uncertainty. Did I mention challenges?

Where do you get inspiration for writing from? Do you listen to music whilst writing or have a ‘writing cave’?

I have no idea where I get inspiration from – I guess it comes from everywhere and everything so I just keep my ears and eyes open. Believing in inspiration is probably a bit dangerous as it can lead you down the path of waiting for it to hit; I’m pretty sure statistics would show that a bus will hit you first. I have an office at home for the day job and I tend to use this for my own projects too. I can only have music on while I’m writing the intolerably messy first draft; for editing I require no distractions, so yes, I’m a bit of a caveman.

Is there a particular form, style or genre that you’d like to have a go at writing? Why?

I think that genres exist for the (traditional) publishing industry. Writers just write (look at the hoo-hah round poor old J K Rowling since she tried to break cover and get away from ‘her’ genre). I’ve got projects on in a range of genres but the one I’d probably most like to get pigeon-holed in one day would be ‘literary’ stuff; but then who wouldn’t? I guess the answer to ‘why’ is because people tend to take you seriously rather than asking you four times in a row what you actually do for a living and yet still looking a bit blank when you answer.

Favourite book and/or author(s)?

C’mon Madeline, how long have you got? Margaret Atwood, Fay Weldon, Charles Dickens (only two of his actually), Terry Pratchett, Alifa Rifat, Jess Richards, Angela Carter, Raymond Carver, Tennessee Williams, Leonora Carrington (if you like surreal stuff and haven’t come across her – look her up). My all time favourite book is Wuthering Heights; I’ve read it most years since I was thirteen which unfortunately means nearly thirty times. I’ve read widely over the years and ultimately I love any good teller of tales.

Do you think it’s necessary to have a degree (of any sort) in order to be a successful author?

No. I have half a degree in Creative Writing which was interrupted by family illness; taking some time to study writing actually pushed me into writing for a living, though not quite through the route I’d planned. I think studying your craft is important but formal qualifications aren’t absolutely necessary. I love learning and spend as much time doing it informally as I can.

What would you say to those who want to become a writer? Any advice?

You want to become a writer? Are you mad? Have you ever thought about plumbing? It pays well and there’s a real shortage of plumbers. No, seriously, I’d say write every day, it’s old advice but it’s the best I can offer. Oh, and be brave.

Thank you very much for your time.

No, thank you; it’s been a real pleasure – though the questions could have been easier!

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You can find out more about Tim by visiting his blog, or following him on Twitter @tjbedford.