Author of Women by Design
https://penelopeswithinbank.com/
by Trisha Bridges Smith
T4J: What are some of the books you have written and how have they been accepted by the public?
PS: I’ve written one book (Women by Design) which was published two years ago; before that I have had various articles, reviews and short stories published, in magazines and periodicals.
T4J: What training do you have in writing? Do you consider yourself to be a good writer with a God given talent? Or did you have to work to get to where you are now, taking classes on writing and such?
PS: I’ve always enjoyed writing, even as a child – there are several exercise books dating back to primary school age with little stories written in pencil! (primary school being 7-11yrs old). I had a part on a book called “Woman to Woman” published in the 80s; the editor had asked for my contribution. I began to write more seriously when my franchise business collapsed and I desperately needed a)some money and b)something to do! I enrolled on a correspondence course which guaranteed you’d make back the enrolment fee by getting work published within a year of finishing the course. I didn’t finish the course but earned back the fee within a few months of starting! (with articles, book reviews and so on).
T4J: I recently read Women by Design and loved it. Do you usually target women in your writing? What is generally your target audience?
PS: Most, if not all, of my writing has been for women (and discerning men!) I write about things which interest me and which other women (my friends, at church, on the conferences I speak on) also seem interested in. I’ll pray about ideas, I’ll pray as I sit typing – or not typing, when I’m stuck! I do read a lot, too, and always have done; and I observe people and situations – I’m what you might call nosey! I like to watch what people are doing and what’s going on! Then I jot down things I’ve read, heard, seen – I keep a book of things which have caught my eye (or ear) and have several of these books, dating back to my teenage years! Some of the quotes I know by heart – I learnt lots of them when I was younger. My family swears I have a quote for every occasion – they call it “Sayings my mother taught me!” When writing the book, I took a large loose leaf folder and divided it into lots of sections and then put blank paper into each section. Then I could make notes about what I wanted in each chapter, remind myself of things I wanted to include in different bits.
T4J: What are your next plans for writing? Do you plan to do any more books along the same lines as this book?
PS: My next book will probably be about women’s self-esteem. I’m researching the area for a thesis I have to do for a postgraduate MA which is part of my training for ordination, which I’m doing at Cambridge University at the moment. I will be ordained this summer into the Anglican Church.
T4J: What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing writing as a career?
PS: Advice for others who want to write as a career? Far be it from me to give advice! I’ve learnt one or two things along the way, most of all perseverance. Keep going, don’t give up. I was in my 40s when my first real published articles and book appeared -a nod it was worth it! Mary Wesley was in her 70s when her first book was published and she became a best seller in the UK with about 10 books after that! I think it’s important to WRITE – just to WRITE. Don’t wait for inspiration, just write. Sit down and do it, every day. Maybe a journal, maybe a description, maybe a dream. But just write a few things each day; practice, for the fun of writing and seeing the words cover the page! Write what you enjoy and know about; and then learn how to send it off to a publisher. They’ll reject it or want it changed: persevere. John Creasey had his first novel rejected over 500 times – he just kept on; eventually it was published and he became a best selling author. I’d have stopped sending it after a few rejections! But none of the people I mentioned did self-publishing, or vanity publishing as it is sometimes called. I would advise against that unless you know someone who has done it and succeeded and will show you how to do it. It can be a costly mistake. The other very helpful thing is to read – anything and everything, but especially the classics, and well-written books; and also the type of book you want to write yourself. Read, read, read. It’s amazing how helpful that can be – and fun to do as well! But above all, write. You can do it – just try!
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