Writer's Relay - A Writing Collab

Meet the Authors: John Nedwill

Writer's Relay:
The story you are writing with your fellow writers is well on its way to completion. We just had a sneak peek into plot and the art, and we already have met many of the other authors. It is now your turn!
Let's take this moment to know more about you, your writing journey, and your thoughts on Wattpad and the Writer's Relay event.

So, let's start with some warm up...

What prompted you to start writing on Wattpad, and what do you like most about the platform?

John:
I came over with a group of people from Amazon's 'Write On' platform when that folded in 2017. We were all part of a flash fiction group, and wanted to keep going.

The best thing about WattPad then was the forums with their various community groups. They encouraged contacts and an exchange of ideas. Unfortunately they were shut down, which meant losing contact with a lot of people I enjoyed conversing with. But there's no turning back the clock.

WR:
Tell us one thing about your writing process that has helped you the most.

John:
I always do my first draft or two on paper. There is something about physically writing words on a page that concentrates the mind on the task at hand. It also provides a record of changes. And, as I always have pens and notebooks to hand, I can write almost anywhere.

I don't actually touch a keyboard until much later on - usually the third draft. By that time my story is pretty much done, beyond minor tweaks and looking for the gifts keft by the typo fairy.

WR:
Which author has influenced your writing the most?

John:
If you were to see my bookshelves, you wouldn't ask that question. Triple-stacked, on the floor, up the staircase ... . And I have a very wide-ranging taste in authors. It's impossible to name a single author as one that has influenced me the most. Every book I have read has had some effect on my writing - both positive and negative,

WR:
Where, would you say, do you stand in your writing journey?

John:
If writing is a journey, then I'm sitting in a roadside diner, watching the world go by and listening to classic ZZ Top while nursing a beer and scribbling notes in my little black book. Maybe one day I'll go out and try to hitch a lift somewhere. Or maybe I'll finally buy the parts for that '35 Dodge Coupe that's sitting at the side of the building and hit the road. Until then, I'm just enjoying the view.

WR:
Which of your own stories is closest to your heart?

John:
I write flash fiction mainly. So, most of my stories are over and done in 500 words. I have no attachment to them. Instead I have attachment to the characters that I use in them. I have a stable of characters that I have used and developed over the years, and I use my stories as a way of exploring their personalities. When you write short stories, you have to hit the ground and start running fast.

I have written longer form stories, but I'm rarely happy with them. For me, it is always on to the next story with no regrets.

WR:
Share two Wattpad story recommendations. Include the usernames of the authors and why you enjoyed the stories.

John:
I shall shamelessly plug two collectives: the The_Weekend_Write-In and the Ooorah profiles. Both of these are frequented by some very good writers with interesting ideas.

WR:
There is one question that many authors may have asked themselves, you included... But could there be one simple single answer? Let's hear from your thoughts...
What would be the perfect recipe for the next greatest novel of all time? One you would write or read.

John:
For a novel I would write? I have absolutely no idea. I don't write novels, and I know I never will. I have tried - doesn't every writer? - but they are not for me. It's a rare story of mine that gets to 10,000 words. As for reading? I'm an addict. I will even read the labels on water bottles if there is nothing else to read. That automatically puts my tastes in literature under suspicion.

But ... A good novel needs a satisfying ending. Not a happy ending. Not a sad ending. A satisfying ending. I know the current advice for authors is to write a good opening chapter to hook the reader in, but that doesn't work for me. Give me a last chapter that - when I read it in the bookshop - makes me nod, and I will read that book.

WR:
Now that we know more about you, we are curious about your involvement in the Writer's Relay adventure.

What was your first thought when seeing the Writer's Relay call for participants? Did you apply straight away or did you take time to ponder on your possible involvement?

John:
I thought about it. I didn't want to commit to something I would not have time for or would not participate in wholeheartedly. But I eventually decided I could contribute - Just one chapter of around 3000 words? - and so I applied.

WR:
What do you hope to gain from collaborating with other writers on this Writers Relay initiative?

John:
I want to meet other writers and (hopefully) make new friends.

WR:
Now that you are well into this relay race, what do you think of your role in the collaboration?

Writing as a group is a bit like musicians performing in an orchestra. What is your instrument in this philharmonic? And what kind of symphony will come out?

John:
I don't see this as an orchestra. To me, it is more of a jazz ensemble, with every musician getting a solo of their own. As one of the earlier writers, I'm not contributing much in the way of melody or subtlety. It's my job to lay down a solid beat that other people can build on, without dictating to them what they should do. Guess that makes me the double bass, plucking steadily away behind it all.

And, like all good jazz, I have no idea how it will end up.