| Robert Harris visits Thames
Valley Writers' Circle |
President Barbara Smith welcomes Robert Harris |
The Thames Valley Writers’ circle and guests from other
local writing groups recently welcomed bestselling author, Robert
Harris. TVW member, Elizabeth Berk, reported on the talk.
Robert Harris who worked on Newsnight and Panorama, became the
political editor of the The Observer and was also a columnist
on The Sunday Times. He has written several non-fiction books,
including The Making of Neil Kinnock, The Good and Faithful
Servant and Selling Hitler.
His account of how The Times was duped into buying the fraudulent
Hitler diaries became a bestseller and led him to plan another
book about Hitler’s ideas for the future of the world.
|
When it became clear that this would not work
as a factual book he turned to fiction eventually publishing
Fatherland in 1992. This was followed by Engima, 1995, Archangel,
1998 and Pompeii, 2003.
On the subject of openings he told the group that it is
vital to get the beginning right. If necessary it should be
redrafted scores of times. The first eight to twelve pages must
be so gripping that the reader cannot put the book down.
Another essential, according to Robert, is to keep up the pace
and tension. A thriller works best if the action takes place
over a very short space of time. It is important to do extensive
research, which should then be used sparingly in your story.
The confidence of knowing ten times more than you use will give
your writing an authentic feel.
The group was inspired by his advice and took away many ideas
for improving their own writing. |
