Writers' News - Magnificent Seven

Magnificent Seven

It is not easy to write when you live with a debilitating condition but one member has written seven ‘self help’ books since ill health forced her to give up teaching.

‘Having a disability makes writing harder,’ explains Márianna Csóti, whose latest book How to be a People Person was published recently by Elliot Right Way Books, £4.99.

Her condition, ME, means that she is often too tired to sit on a chair and has to work from her bed. ‘I wrap writing around my entire life,’ she says. ‘If I have a gap and have the energy to do it, I write. I can't stop myself and it also serves as my therapy.’

©James Mendelssohn

As Márianna can't guarantee how well she will be in the future she never starts looking for a publisher until at least half the book is written in draft form. ‘Then, if they ask when I can finish, I double the time that I think I'll need in case I am too ill to work at the same pace.’ So far she has never delivered late.

Márianna has had to rewrite many of her books to find a publisher. School Phobia, Panic Attacks and Anxiety in Children (Jessica Kingsley Publishers), for example, was originally written as a parenting book but no parenting publisher would take it on. So she rewrote for the professional market and included information on special needs.

People Skills for Young Adults was initially written for teachers to use with sixth formers but rewritten and the latest How to be a People Person was a much-altered version of the original. ‘I don't throw anything out that I have written. I always think it might be useful one day,’ she explains. ‘If I have already researched material to hand it makes it so much quicker to produce something.’

Life for Márianna is not what she expected ‘but’ she says, ‘writing gives it purpose.
‘Everything I have written helps other people.’

Website: www.mariannacsoti.co.uk

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