Author Alice Peterson discusses the importance of determination when it comes to writing
© Andrew Crowley
Alice Peterson is an author, voluntary worker with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and a former tennis player. Her published writing includes Another Alice, Look the World in the Eye
In the earlier edition of Another Alice
, A Will To Win, Tim Henman provided a foreword. Why was it missing from the revised edition?
It was important to have Tim’s foreword in A Will to Win, in that it reinforced the standard of tennis I had reached. However, we decided to omit it from the new edition, as the only disadvantage of the foreword was that A Will to Win was often categorised as a sports book, which is completely wrong.
How did you find a publisher for A Will To Win?
I bought the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook and looked up literary agents, as they had been strongly recommended. Clare Alexander at Aitken Alexander Associates accepted my book, and then she did all the work securing a publisher for me.
Did you face much rejection initially? How did you deal with it?
Rejection is very hard to deal with, but all you can do is pick yourself up and try again, and keep on being positive. I believed in my book, and that is important when facing rejection. Four publishers rejected A Will to Win, but than we secured Macmillan, which was fantastic!
Why did you decide to revise A Will to Win and republish it as Another Alice?
I wanted to republish it because it was out of print some years ago. When I give talks to charities, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, nurses, medical students and any others in the health care profession I like to have copies as a backup to my presentations.
I have also received in the past many emails from people who wanted to buy a copy, so it was frustrating having to tell them it was no longer in print. I decided to try and get it republished when the time felt right, and I feel RA has a much higher profile now than when A Will to Win was first published.
I wanted to give it a new title, to reinforce it being a new fresh edition, with added chapters. I also think a new title and cover gives the book a new lease of life.
In Another Alice, the early part of the book was written in a very fresh, young voice. How much of this was sourced from your teenage diaries?
A lot! You are quite right. I used to write diaries all the time when I was playing tennis, and it brought back to life so many tennis memories: the pushy Mums, the competitions, the fun, the crush I had on my coach, the other players. It was great fun rereading them.
How did you make the transition from writing from your own life to writing fiction?
I love writing fiction because it is pure escapism and I enjoy creating characters. However, my novels are always very true to life stories. I often base characters on people I know, and much of my fiction writing still comes from my own experiences.
What do you find the most challenging aspects of writing?
Being on my own. It is a solitary thing to do, and sometimes I wish I were in an office with people around me.
I find it hard always being disciplined, and often stare at my computer thinking I have to write something today!
My agent once gave me the good advice to try to write 1,000 words a day – it’s a good target to have in my mind. I also find it hard to think up new storylines.
What do you enjoy most about it?
I love the freedom. Being a writer means I can write from anywhere, so if I feel like visiting my sister in Dorset during the week, I can, because I can just take my laptop with me. I’ve also bought a dog, which I wouldn’t have been able to do if I’d had an office job.
I also love it when the writing flows and I know that the story is taking shape. There is nothing better than a good day’s writing. That feeling is addictive.
With your novels, what comes first – the plot or the characters?
The plot and then the characters.
How important was it for the character of Bells in Look the World in the Eye
to be disabled? What do you think this brought to the book?
Bells was based on a cousin, and it was very important that she was disabled, because it gave the novel a powerful message.
Sam and Bells’s sister Katie live in Notting Hill, in a stylish minimalist home, with everything they could want for, but when Bells comes to stay, she soon tears apart this idea that to be happy you need all the mod cons and the perfect lifestyle.
Bells is by far the most perceptive of all the characters, and really is the star of the story.
How manageable is your Rheumatoid Arthritis now?
It is manageable but I still have to have surgery, as the damage done during those first ten years was so appalling and irreversible. If anyone has just been diagnosed I’d advise them to get in contact with the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society – for information and support (www.rheumatoid.org.uk or 01628 823524).
In Another Alice it seemed that the characteristics that made you such a promising tennis player were the same ones that helped you to cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis. How do you feel this translates into your writing processes?
I am pretty determined and I think you need to be, to be a writer. Unless you are right up at the top of the profession, there are so many highs and lows, and I don’t give up easily when going through tough times. I can be a little terrier when I want something, and I believe you need that temperament.
Whose writing do you admire?
Jane Austen. One of my favourite books is Pride and Prejudice (my dog is named Darcy). I have just finished a book by Haruki Murakami which I loved. He puts things in such a beautiful descriptive way, which makes me wish I could write like him. I also think Khaled Hosseini is a natural storyteller. His writing is powerful and compelling and I cried at the end of the The Kite Runner.
How would you describe your writing style?
Unflowery, frank, fast-paced, funny/quirky and moving without being sentimental.
Where do you carry out the majority of your writing?
In London. I have a nice writing space in my sitting room. And sometimes I write when I’m staying in Winchester with my parents.
What advice would you offer an aspiring writer?
Don’t show your work to too many friends, it’s best to find a good agent who will give you the most honest feedback. Try not to take rejection personally, just keep on going and believe in yourself.
Also, you have to be patient! Nothing happens overnight and I find I am usually always ‘waiting’ in this job – for reaction, news, agent’s feedback and to see if a publisher will say ‘yes’ or ‘no’!
What are you working on at the moment?
A novel. It’s a romantic comedy. It’s a lot of fun; I’m really enjoying writing it. I’ve also adapted my novel Look the World in the Eye
For more on Alice, visit www.alicepeterson.co.uk
Another Alice: An Inspiring True Story of a Young Woman’s Battle to Overcome Rheumatoid Arthritis by Alice Peterson is published by Icon Books (RRP £7.99) and available from Amazon.co.uk. To win a copy of the book, please send an email to judy@EssentialWriters.com
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