Jane Fallon

Jane Fallon, the author of Getting Rid of Matthew, Foursome and The Ugly Sister, shares her best writing moment so far. 

I find that writing comes in waves, so any period when the words are flowing easily counts as one of my favourite writing moments. There was a period, though, that is pretty unrivalled in my memory of the times I have enjoyed my work the most. When Penguin bought Getting Rid of Matthew, my first book, I had written 30,000 words of an eventual 100,000.

Jane Fallon

Jane Fallon

I love my little office up in the attic. I'm surrounded by my favourite things. Notice my small furry assistant in the bottom left hand corner.

I love my little office up in the attic. I’m surrounded by my favourite things. Notice my small furry assistant in the bottom left hand corner.

 

The few months after were blissful. Someone – and not just someone, but Penguin, the publishers I had always dreamed of being associated with – liked my work enough to want to publish it. I had no concept then of the attention the book would get, or the self-conscious second guessing that would inevitably come when writing another book after the first has been an unexpected success. I didn’t think about how it would be received, or whether my publishers would like what I was writing. I just wrote.

Obviously it’s impossible to ever go back to that naïve and stress free approach but that doesn’t mean I don’t still get enormous satisfaction from what I do. I still consider myself the luckiest person in the world. It’s just that sometimes it gets harder to lose yourself so completely in what you’re writing.

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Laura
I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.

4 Responses to Jane Fallon

  • Jamie Bales says:

    Kat, if you’d taken the time to read, or listen to the audio version of ‘Getting Rid of Matthew’, you might be in a position to better understand why the book was bought so early on. I dare you to put in down after reading, or listening to, the first 30,000 words. If you manage that, you’re a stronger person than I! I enjoyed the book so much I read it through twice in the space of a week, & if that’s not testament to its quality I don’t know what is. Congratulations to you Miss Fallon & all the best, from an avid reader!

  • Frank Cromer says:

    Kat, you had to “go there” and get all snarky. I applaud anyone who can get a book published. If Ms. Fallon’s writings were “shite”do you think her career would continue as it has because of her roommate? (They’re not married btw). No. And don’t be surprised when Ollie (their child, err, feline) gets a book deal, too– then you can get really jealous and stick your head in an oven.

  • Kat says:

    That is great but i’m sure the fact that you were Ricky Gervais’ Mrs had nothing to do with them accepting a work from a debut writer that was just over a quarter completed …

    I hope writers who look for advice from you realise that this is not the way things usually work.

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