Writing a second novel

Six months ago, I decided to write a second novel after my first attempt was rejected, but with some encouraging words from agents. I had two ideas in development, chose one of them to focus on, and spent about a month developing the plot and characters. Then, on 21 October last year, I started writing it.

Every week since, I have written between five and six thousand words of the novel. I made a timetable and am sticking to it religiously, ensuring that I give myself at least three hours of writing time every morning. As a freelancer, I am able to give myself this flexibility, which is a massive advantage. The current word count is 53,134 and my target is 90,000 words, which I will reach by the end of next month. I am then giving myself three weeks for rewrites before submitting to agents again after the Easter break.

The novel is called Contrary States and it’s about three adolescent friends losing innocence, finding love and paying the price for both. The previous book I wrote (which, surprise surprise, was heavily wine-themed) had very limited commercial appeal - arguably none at all - so I have deliberately written a book which is aimed at a wider audience. I would like to think the quality of the writing is still good, but the themes are much more universal and therefore relatable.

The equivalent in winemaking is when a producer researches the market, consults with his importers and creates a wine that is designed to appeal to reach a certain consumer. It’s a very commercial approach (and all too rare!), and for some people in the wine industry, it might sound crass and inauthentic. I have a much more pragmatic mindset, and if quality isn’t compromised then I’m entirely in favour of commercially minded projects.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that my new novel will be successful, but at least I am reacting to the advice I’ve been given and attempting to create something that the marketplace actually wants - hopefully.