Are you a full-time or part-time writer, and how does that affect your writing?
Part-time. It definitely slows it, and I have to spend a fair amount of time reading the last few paragraphs I wrote to refresh my memory before I can start writing each time, especially if a few days have passed. I could probably publish four to six books a year if I wrote full time – to me, writing full-time means writing (or doing something related to your writing career) at least eight hours a day, just like we generally work eight hours a day.
What are some day jobs you have held, and how have they influenced your writing?
My very first job was part-time when I was in Matric (the last year of high school in South Africa) – I worked as a cashier in a local stationary store after school and on weekends. After school, my first job was as a data capturer for a freight forwarding company. From there, I worked for various shipping companies, dealing mostly with exports of containerised ocean cargo. I briefly worked in household moves, but found that too boring after having worked in shipping for so long. My last job before my current job was a little different – I worked in the marketing department of a local safari tourism company, where I was in charge of their website. Since then, I’ve been in the publishing industry and haven’t looked back. My day jobs exposed me to a variety of situations that were excellent material for some of my thriller books.
What role does research play in your writing?
It depends on what I’m writing. I often have to do research for my day job, and for the marketing and publishing side of writing, so, when I’m actually writing, I prefer to do as little research as possible. It’s one of the reasons I love fantasy so much – little to no research is required. That said, if it’s required, I’ll do it diligently, because readers can get lost in a story more easily if the writer got the facts right.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on a number of things. My work load in my day job, my family responsibilities and so on. But mostly, it depends on how easily the writing is flowing – sometimes it comes without any effort and other times it requires more effort and thinking. Completing the first draft could take me anywhere from six weeks to more than a year.
Did you independently or “self” publish, or did you go the “traditional” publishing route, and why?
I’m an indie author. I thought about trying the traditional route when I published my first book, but, after some research, I decided against it. I prefer to have the control over my books that self-publishing gives me. The only downside is that I have to do everything myself – marketing, book covers, formatting…the works.
What do you do to get book reviews?
I haven’t really done much to get reviews until recently, to be honest. I’ve been too busy writing. However, in preparation for my Wizard of Ends book tour to release the latest book in the series, I contacted more than 60 reviewers requesting a review.
How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?
Only a handful of the 60 reviewers I contacted responded (many of them actually state in their policies that they only respond to queries if they have time to read the book). However, I did get a few reviews for during the tour, so I’m happy. I need to put in more long-term effort here, I think, but it’s very time-consuming.
What is your next project?
I’ve started writing the next Wizard of Ends book, and am also co-authoring an erotic crime thriller with an author friend. That one is quite different to my usual writing, but I’m having fun with it. I’ve also got plans to publish a sci-fi fantasy short story anthology, hopefully in the first part of next year. The theme will be Space Wizards, and I’ll be putting out a call for submissions later this year (all contributors will earn royalties).
What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?
Don’t be too quick to publish your book once you think it’s ready. First, get someone else to read it – a beta reader at the very least, but preferably an editor. Ask your readers to point out any errors and plot holes, etc. You know what you’re trying to say, so it’s easy for your brain to miss things that don’t quite make sense when you self-edit. While those people are busy with your book, do some pre-launch marketing to help build some buzz (this includes contacting book reviewers). If you can’t afford paid promotion, there are plenty of free offers out there. It does take some time to find them, but they’re there if you look hard enough, and it really does help once you find the right channel for your work.
If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Exactly what I currently do as a day job – get paid to read 🙂 I make my living as an editor, and sometimes as a commissioned writer.
Want to learn more about Vanessa Finaughty?
Waking Writer 
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