It’s my pleasure to introduce you to an aspiring writer, Matthew Munson, someone who has a cause: educating the hearing world about deaf awareness and dyspraxia. Dyspraxia, in case you are unfamiliar with the term, is a specific disorder in the area of motor skill development. You can learn more about this from the Dyspraxia FoundationUSA and UK.
Let’s begin by asking Matthew some ‘getting to know you questions’.
Are you married? Do you have children?
No, very much single. I’ve got two godchildren, and they’re enough of a handful for me! I’ve never been overly paternal, if I’m honest, so quite happy being childless and offering child-minding services every now and then!
Where were you born and raised?
In the words of one of Terry Pratchett’s characters, “In a small town you’ve probably never heard of.” I was born in Margate Hospital, in the south-eastern corner of England, and then promptly moved five miles away where I’ve stayed ever since.
My dad was a journalist and my mum an administrator, so developed my love of words from my dad and my organizational ability (well, most of the time!) from my mum.
Where do you currently live?
I still live in the same district that I grew up in; the sunny seaside town of Broadstairs in Kent. It’s very much a tourist town that comes alive in the summer … and goes very, very quiet in the winter!
I’ve lived in my current flat for three and a half years now, and I’m thinking of moving somewhere slightly bigger – so I can transfer my “office” to an actual room! I couldn’t move far, though – I’d miss the sea too much.
When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction?
When I was ten. I was always a daydreamer with a very vivid imagination. I think it was something to do with being an only child; you had to amuse yourself a lot of the time. I was also creating scenarios at school with my friends, and I remember tuning out during double geography and writing a story. Ever since then, I’ve discovered this absolute love for writing.
Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’?
I wish I could write full-time, but I just can’t afford it yet. I’ve got a couple of different strands to my day job; I’m a civil servant working for a local authority in the customer services division, which keeps my brain amused. Also, I’m currently learning British Sign Language one evening a week with a long-term view to retrain as a Deaf communications worker or translator. That’s five or six years – and a couple of thousand pounds – away, though!
That's a wonderful goal and something you can be very proud of.
How many titles have you had published? What genres?
It’s still early days, so my successes have been small – but each one has been thrilling! I’ve had a piece of flash fiction published in a Phil Hill anthology, “Daily Bites of Flesh 2011” and I’m being included in “Chivalry is Dead” by May December Publications, out in the next couple of months.
I have been fortunate to be in the company of some very talented authors in several Word Count Podcasts, run by the exceptional RB Wood. I’ve loved the challenge of writing for a podcast, and the competition is always fierce, so it’s made me up my game!
I’ve also been included in a couple of fiction magazines and some non-fiction titles as well [The Horror Zine ]. I also write a regular column for the Hearing Times national newspaper.
How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average?
Depends on the length of the manuscript! I’ve completed one full manuscript, which took me six months to draft and another two to get to a point where I was happy to send it out to agents. I’m considering another rewrite though, because it’s been about six months and I’ve thought of several ways that I can improve on it and perhaps make it more appealing.
A short story can take me anywhere from a week to three weeks to write, depending on the length of the story and
the subject. I’m always trying to push my comfort zone, so some short stories are more difficult to plot than others.
How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule?
It depends on the day. Tuesdays are always a nightmare, because I work all day and then go straight to my BSL class, so don’t get home much before 10pm. I usually open my latest story then, but never get much done, if I’m honest.
I always aim for 1,000 words a day, but don’t always succeed during the week; 500 can often be my limit. Weekends, I try and hit 2,500 per day, even if it means getting up early. For some reason, I find getting up early at weekends a lot easier than during the week – perhaps it’s knowing that I’m focusing on my first love, which is writing!
Do you have a space where you create your work?
Yes, but it’s a small space! I’ve got a desk in the corner of my front room and is my general work space for any
activity where I need to focus; writing, doing my tax return or research. I’m equally as comfortable sat on the sofa with the laptop on my legs.
Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to?
I absolutely LOVE music – it really helps influence my mood. The type of music I listen to really depends on what
I’m writing, as I’m really swayed by music. I’ve got quite a big iPod collection, and spent ages one wet Sunday creating loads and loads of playlists, so I’m ready to go!
Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
I want to say “Yes, all the time” … but then I’d be lying. I can’t function in the mornings, I must be honest. I just don’t do mornings at all – no way, never do, uh-uh, can’t do them. Hate mornings.
Evenings are better. Evenings are the time when I wake up and actually feel like doing some work! After a day “at
the office”, it takes me a while to get moving, but I usually force myself to do an hour’s writing before dinner or before I go to bed, and then I usually free-wheel at the weekends – it’s whenever I find time!
The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete?
I hope not, I really do. I’d be surprised, although I see its function in society changing. Ebooks are lightweight and durable, so there’s certainly a place for them; we certainly
should dismiss them out of hand. However, we shouldn’t also dismiss the book – the batteries don’t need changing and you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself in the bath.
I think more people will move to ebooks as more authors do –and, as the opportunities increase, then authors will
flock to them, I suspect.
I don’t own one, I’ll be honest, and I don’t intend to until my favorite authors move solely to them; so I’ve got a while yet, I hope!
Do you find yourself needing to schedule your offline activities more carefully?
Oh yes, very much so. I have to be strict with my time, else I’d never get things done! Often, if I’m not up against a deadline, I’ll have Skype, Twitter and Facebook open all at once, just running in the background, and flip back and forth. I actually find myself feeling more inspired that way– I don’t know why!
If I’m on deadline, though, as I often am with the podcasts because of the turnaround time and my monthly column,
the internet goes OFF until I am done!!
Have you always had a fascination with writing fantasy?
Oh yes, very much so – it’s a brilliant genre and really frees your imagination to create … well, anything. You can subvert anything with that genre, and make a lot of social commentary at the same time.
Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’and why?
Hmm, not really. I love reading Tolkien and Robert Jordan, but I could never write that type of mega-fantasy – it’s such a breathtaking concept.
Terry Pratchett is awesome too, but I would never DARE compare myself to him – he’s just stratospheric. I love his
style of writing, his quick wit and his intelligence. Oh, and his bravery in the face of his early onset Alzeimer’s.
Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why?
Hmm, I don’t know about “favourite”, but the trio of main characters in my full-length manuscript “Fall From Grace” are three that really express different aspects of my own
personality at different points in my life.
Micky (the lead character) is a very confused character, torn with different directions in his life, and I was very much like that in my early twenties, trying to decide which direction to take my career. Joseph is very scientific and an atheist, both of which I strongly identify with, and Lauren is a very passionate woman, who doesn’t take prisoners … and I am very much like that too!
It wasn’t until I was about two-thirds of my way through the first draft that I was writing them to be almost extensions of myself in different ways, and was quite freaky – but it also helped inform my writing style and made me focus on the characterization even more.
People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…
I wish I knew! It could be anything – a snippet of a song, something I see in a shop window, anything. I’m always on
the look-out for something that inspires me. For instance, I had a tour round the Houses of Parliament the other week, and I’m now itching to write a short story about a tour guide. I just need to think of the rest of the story first …
If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]?
Yes, there’s one quote I’m particular proud of from a
review of one of my short stories. The review in entirety can be found here -
http://ebookit.wordpress.com/- and the quote I’m proud of says; “Where many authors will make the mistake of too
much description in the first few pages of their mysteries, Matthew comes right out with it and in less than a page you are already saying “What the…what happened?!”
Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2011?
I’ll be in a new job one way or the other in 2011 – my employers are going through a reorganization at the moment – so I’ll be having new challenges with that, and I’m hoping to get more training with my BSL as well.
Writing-wise, of course I would love to be more widely-published – surely that does without saying! I’m working to add a fewmore freebies to my website: www.writeordie.co.uk –and am currently submitting work
to several short story anthologies, to see what comes out of
that.
I think 2011 for me is about consolidating my
experience and pushing the boundaries of my confidence even more. It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it! Oh, and I’m writing about my experiences more on my blog –I always welcome visitors!
http://vikingbay.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Matthew, for allowing us to take a peek into your life. We'll look forward to more of your short stories, and particularly some new work on The Word Count PODcast!
Let’s begin by asking Matthew some ‘getting to know you questions’.
Are you married? Do you have children?
No, very much single. I’ve got two godchildren, and they’re enough of a handful for me! I’ve never been overly paternal, if I’m honest, so quite happy being childless and offering child-minding services every now and then!
Where were you born and raised?
In the words of one of Terry Pratchett’s characters, “In a small town you’ve probably never heard of.” I was born in Margate Hospital, in the south-eastern corner of England, and then promptly moved five miles away where I’ve stayed ever since.
My dad was a journalist and my mum an administrator, so developed my love of words from my dad and my organizational ability (well, most of the time!) from my mum.
Where do you currently live?
I still live in the same district that I grew up in; the sunny seaside town of Broadstairs in Kent. It’s very much a tourist town that comes alive in the summer … and goes very, very quiet in the winter!
I’ve lived in my current flat for three and a half years now, and I’m thinking of moving somewhere slightly bigger – so I can transfer my “office” to an actual room! I couldn’t move far, though – I’d miss the sea too much.
When did you realize that you wanted to write fiction?
When I was ten. I was always a daydreamer with a very vivid imagination. I think it was something to do with being an only child; you had to amuse yourself a lot of the time. I was also creating scenarios at school with my friends, and I remember tuning out during double geography and writing a story. Ever since then, I’ve discovered this absolute love for writing.
Do you write full time or do you have a ‘day job’?
I wish I could write full-time, but I just can’t afford it yet. I’ve got a couple of different strands to my day job; I’m a civil servant working for a local authority in the customer services division, which keeps my brain amused. Also, I’m currently learning British Sign Language one evening a week with a long-term view to retrain as a Deaf communications worker or translator. That’s five or six years – and a couple of thousand pounds – away, though!
That's a wonderful goal and something you can be very proud of.
How many titles have you had published? What genres?
It’s still early days, so my successes have been small – but each one has been thrilling! I’ve had a piece of flash fiction published in a Phil Hill anthology, “Daily Bites of Flesh 2011” and I’m being included in “Chivalry is Dead” by May December Publications, out in the next couple of months.
I have been fortunate to be in the company of some very talented authors in several Word Count Podcasts, run by the exceptional RB Wood. I’ve loved the challenge of writing for a podcast, and the competition is always fierce, so it’s made me up my game!
I’ve also been included in a couple of fiction magazines and some non-fiction titles as well [The Horror Zine ]. I also write a regular column for the Hearing Times national newspaper.
How long does it take to complete a manuscript, on average?
Depends on the length of the manuscript! I’ve completed one full manuscript, which took me six months to draft and another two to get to a point where I was happy to send it out to agents. I’m considering another rewrite though, because it’s been about six months and I’ve thought of several ways that I can improve on it and perhaps make it more appealing.
A short story can take me anywhere from a week to three weeks to write, depending on the length of the story and
the subject. I’m always trying to push my comfort zone, so some short stories are more difficult to plot than others.
How many hours per day do you devote to writing? Do you have a strict schedule?
It depends on the day. Tuesdays are always a nightmare, because I work all day and then go straight to my BSL class, so don’t get home much before 10pm. I usually open my latest story then, but never get much done, if I’m honest.
I always aim for 1,000 words a day, but don’t always succeed during the week; 500 can often be my limit. Weekends, I try and hit 2,500 per day, even if it means getting up early. For some reason, I find getting up early at weekends a lot easier than during the week – perhaps it’s knowing that I’m focusing on my first love, which is writing!
Do you have a space where you create your work?
Yes, but it’s a small space! I’ve got a desk in the corner of my front room and is my general work space for any
activity where I need to focus; writing, doing my tax return or research. I’m equally as comfortable sat on the sofa with the laptop on my legs.
Do you like music playing when you are writing or is it a distraction? What music do you prefer to listen to?
I absolutely LOVE music – it really helps influence my mood. The type of music I listen to really depends on what
I’m writing, as I’m really swayed by music. I’ve got quite a big iPod collection, and spent ages one wet Sunday creating loads and loads of playlists, so I’m ready to go!
Are you a disciplined writer with a set routine?
I want to say “Yes, all the time” … but then I’d be lying. I can’t function in the mornings, I must be honest. I just don’t do mornings at all – no way, never do, uh-uh, can’t do them. Hate mornings.
Evenings are better. Evenings are the time when I wake up and actually feel like doing some work! After a day “at
the office”, it takes me a while to get moving, but I usually force myself to do an hour’s writing before dinner or before I go to bed, and then I usually free-wheel at the weekends – it’s whenever I find time!
The publishing world is undergoing enormous change - do you think the novel in book form will become obsolete?
I hope not, I really do. I’d be surprised, although I see its function in society changing. Ebooks are lightweight and durable, so there’s certainly a place for them; we certainly
should dismiss them out of hand. However, we shouldn’t also dismiss the book – the batteries don’t need changing and you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself in the bath.
I think more people will move to ebooks as more authors do –and, as the opportunities increase, then authors will
flock to them, I suspect.
I don’t own one, I’ll be honest, and I don’t intend to until my favorite authors move solely to them; so I’ve got a while yet, I hope!
Do you find yourself needing to schedule your offline activities more carefully?
Oh yes, very much so. I have to be strict with my time, else I’d never get things done! Often, if I’m not up against a deadline, I’ll have Skype, Twitter and Facebook open all at once, just running in the background, and flip back and forth. I actually find myself feeling more inspired that way– I don’t know why!
If I’m on deadline, though, as I often am with the podcasts because of the turnaround time and my monthly column,
the internet goes OFF until I am done!!
Have you always had a fascination with writing fantasy?
Oh yes, very much so – it’s a brilliant genre and really frees your imagination to create … well, anything. You can subvert anything with that genre, and make a lot of social commentary at the same time.
Do you have a particular sub-genre that you enjoy ‘the most’and why?
Hmm, not really. I love reading Tolkien and Robert Jordan, but I could never write that type of mega-fantasy – it’s such a breathtaking concept.
Terry Pratchett is awesome too, but I would never DARE compare myself to him – he’s just stratospheric. I love his
style of writing, his quick wit and his intelligence. Oh, and his bravery in the face of his early onset Alzeimer’s.
Do you have a favorite character in your work(s) and why?
Hmm, I don’t know about “favourite”, but the trio of main characters in my full-length manuscript “Fall From Grace” are three that really express different aspects of my own
personality at different points in my life.
Micky (the lead character) is a very confused character, torn with different directions in his life, and I was very much like that in my early twenties, trying to decide which direction to take my career. Joseph is very scientific and an atheist, both of which I strongly identify with, and Lauren is a very passionate woman, who doesn’t take prisoners … and I am very much like that too!
It wasn’t until I was about two-thirds of my way through the first draft that I was writing them to be almost extensions of myself in different ways, and was quite freaky – but it also helped inform my writing style and made me focus on the characterization even more.
People always want to know – where do your ideas come from? Inquiring minds and all that…
I wish I knew! It could be anything – a snippet of a song, something I see in a shop window, anything. I’m always on
the look-out for something that inspires me. For instance, I had a tour round the Houses of Parliament the other week, and I’m now itching to write a short story about a tour guide. I just need to think of the rest of the story first …
If you have been reviewed, do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share with us [happy-faced or cringe-worthy]?
Yes, there’s one quote I’m particular proud of from a
review of one of my short stories. The review in entirety can be found here -
http://ebookit.wordpress.com/- and the quote I’m proud of says; “Where many authors will make the mistake of too
much description in the first few pages of their mysteries, Matthew comes right out with it and in less than a page you are already saying “What the…what happened?!”
Where would you like to see yourself both personally and professionally in 2011?
I’ll be in a new job one way or the other in 2011 – my employers are going through a reorganization at the moment – so I’ll be having new challenges with that, and I’m hoping to get more training with my BSL as well.
Writing-wise, of course I would love to be more widely-published – surely that does without saying! I’m working to add a fewmore freebies to my website: www.writeordie.co.uk –and am currently submitting work
to several short story anthologies, to see what comes out of
that.
I think 2011 for me is about consolidating my
experience and pushing the boundaries of my confidence even more. It’s going to be a good year, I can feel it! Oh, and I’m writing about my experiences more on my blog –I always welcome visitors!
http://vikingbay.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Matthew, for allowing us to take a peek into your life. We'll look forward to more of your short stories, and particularly some new work on The Word Count PODcast!
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