Author Vicky Gray talks about how she persisted to achieve her writing goals
Vicky Gray
After relocating from the UK to Australia, non-fiction writer Vicky Gray began writing for a variety of travel publications, and had her first book, Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts: A Brit’s Guide to Moving Your Life Down Under, published in March 2009. She talks to EssentialWriters.com about the importance of getting your name out there, anyway you can.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I have always enjoyed writing and luckily people have always enjoyed reading what I write. But I think what really inspired me to write Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts
When I started answering emails for a relocation website, I found myself determined to make sure I was giving people the right advice and I got such a buzz out of liaising with official departments and knowing that I was making a difference in people’s relocation experiences, mainly due to the fact that I was able to empathise with so many people on different levels.
Did you receive any formal training?
Other than an ‘A’ level in Drama? To be honest I am no great scholar, I did qualify as a podiatrist in 1999 and the theory side required many essays to be written. I always managed to keep within the guidelines of ‘1,000 words’ or whatever other requirement they needed - but the tutors would always comment on ‘how I saw things from a different prospective’. I always hoped that was a good sign.
How did you find your first writing work?
I had got to the stage where I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get my work published. After so many rejection letters, you can’t help but feel a little despondent. As luck would have it, I met a new friend who had just migrated to Australia and had just had her first book published.
She gave me just the encouragement I needed to approach the bigger media and offer to write for free, just to get my name out there. Once I had got the first ‘yes’,I suddenly became confident in my writing again, then the work just began to flow… It really was a snowball effect.
Where are we likely to see your work?
At present I write articles for Australia & New Zealand magazine and their website as well as various other newspapers and magazines.
I run my own blog at www.australiauncovered.com, but my book has taken up most of my spare time (I say spare, but I have three children!). At the moment I’m concentrating on writing lifestyle features and interviews to promote my book.
What are the biggest challenges of the job?
Sometimes you can go for weeks without anybody needing an article or feature, then suddenly a few people will want one at once.The problem with that is, it can happen when the children are on school holidays.
So you suddenly have to put your writing head on, when you are making dozens of cheese and tomato toasted sandwiches and have play doh stuck in your fingernails. That said, being an author is great because it fits in around the children.
I have managed to become organised enough to always be one step ahead though now, I had a cunning plan to always have a few 500 word articles at the ready, and just tweak them for whatever style is needed.
What are the biggest perks?
When I am writing the hours just fly by. Having to pop back to the UK isn’t bad either. It’s great to catch up with my two sisters and my mum. I am very lucky and I am really grateful for the hand I have been dealt.
How do you adapt your style to suit different publications?
Most of the time the publications are pretty much in the genre - either relocation, humorous or inspirational, or all three. I prefer the latter, which is the main tone and premise of the book. Occasionally other fields contact me for articles, so I just research their style and adapt my own to suit them. It’s good practice to write in other styles.
How did you make the transition between writing features and writing Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts?
Actually, the book came first. It was initially written in diary entry style until I realised that I wasn’t going to get it published with that approach alone!
So writing short, feature-style articles was already what I did best. Writing Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
When I finally received recognition for my writing - I remember the email I got from the Senior Editor of a magazine:
“We get so many submissions from people, claiming that they are the next Dickens when in fact they are verging on the illiterate… Happily you passed with flying colours…”
I was ecstatic to say the least. Then I just kept on getting more and more work. I still get excited now, even when something small gets published.
What advice would you offer an aspiring writer?
Never lose focus and always write about something you feel passionate about. Your readers will be able to tell if you aren’t thrilled to be writing articles on satellite navigation systems, so stay true to yourself!
One other thing… never give up. With each rejection remind yourself that you are only one ‘no’ nearer to a ‘yes’.
What are you working on now?
I’m mainly working on articles and maintaining the blog on my website. I’m also getting involved in marketing Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts
I also have a new book in the pipeline. It’s another relocation guide, but with more emphasis on inspirational stories about expat life. Some of the stories I am collecting are just hilarious, and hopefully they will help others to not fall into the same traps!
For more on Vicky visit www.australiauncovered.com
Didgeridoos and Didgeridon’ts
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