How to Write a Novel

What can I say - it's hard to write one, even a mediocre one!
They're so wonderful to read but to write one is a precarious task which requires you to suspend
all feelings of futility while writing (and after), there's a stage where you have a rickety scaffold and
know its still only a quarter, possibly a third done.
That's me, I know some writers just knock them out, three a year sometimes - how,
how the hell do they do it?


Descriptions and Brief Synopsis of Each

Don't Look Away
Hannah, a 16 yr old carer to her mother becomes homeless, she is getting deeper into drugs as a way of coping
with her risky, dangerous life on the streets. Can Hannah get back on track and realise her dream of going
to art college?



Aftershock
John, an unemployed soldier returning from Afghanistan suffering with post-traumatic stress
disorder is sent for counselling with Madeleine, who has discovered her father, David's diary – her
father served in Burma in the war and, she realises also had PTSD.
The novel draws parallels between the two men through John and Madeleine’s stories and David’s diary.



Under The Mountain
Helen returns to her home town in Wales after the death of her child and to look after her aunt who
is suffering from dementia. She gets involved with Graham, an attractive but secretive man.
In her vulnerable state Helen turns a blind eye to Graham's suspect activities as she tries to
come to terms with the death of her child.