Matt Lynn

Matt Lynn is the author of Shadow Force, Fire Force, Death Force and most recently, Ice Force. He’s also a Journalist and the CEO of Endeavour Press.

Describe your typical writing day.

Writing is a job like any other and you have to treat it like that. After helping get the kids ready for school, I start up my computer and start writing. It’s always easier first thing in the morning because your mind is fresh, and you have been thinking about it overnight. I read an interview with Wilbur Smith once where he said he left a sentence half-finished so it was easy to get started again the next day.

I set myself a target of 1,000 words a day. Once I’ve done that, I can start dealing with e-mail and all the other things that need to be done.

How do you approach planning before beginning a book?

I do an incredibly detailed plan. I did quite a bit of ghost-writing, and when you do that you have to have a plan to show the publisher and ‘author’. But it is a good discipline. It is much easier to throw stuff out of plan that isn’t good enough – and, as I think Beethoven pointed out, it’s the notes you don’t write that really count.

Do you have an editing process?

I finish the book before I read anything back. Then I edit it ruthlessly.

Where do you find inspiration?

I write action thrillers, and I am also a journalist, so I draw a lot from what is happening around the world. Last year I did an instant e-novella called Black Ops: Libya based around the fall of Tripoli. There is always a conflict somewhere, and where there is conflict, there is a story.

Tell us about your route to publication.

It’s different for everyone. I was working as a business journalist at The Sunday Times and I wrote a financial thriller which got a really good deal from Random House. Those books did okay, but financial thrillers are not a big genre. I then did a lot of ghost-writing – thrillers for military guys. They did really well, including several number one books. So after I got fed up with that I started writing actions adventure thrillers for Headline.

Which three books have made the biggest impact on you?

Heart of Darkness by Joeseph Conrad.

Catch-22 by Joesph Heller.

The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth.

Is there another author you admire?

Well, hundreds. Frederick Forsyth, Len Deighton, Wilbur Smith, Michael Creighton in thrillers. Heller and Conrad obviously. Dickens and Trollope among the Victorians. It’s hard not to be impressed by Tolstoy. Where to begin?

Which three things would you take with you to a desert island?

A Kindle. An iPod. A penknife.

Which book(s) are currently on your nightstand?

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. I only read one book at a time. Fantastic book.

Who would be your ideal dinner guests?

The philosopher Karl Popper. Or Katherine Hepburn – but that would be an ideal date.

Is there a character from fiction you’d like to meet?

Milo Minderbender from Catch-22. I’d ask him to be my agent – now that man could get you a deal.

Best/Worst thing about being a writer?

Best? A few times I have seen people reading one of my books. That is a thrill, of course. There is always pleasure in putting together a sentence you know really works, or a witty line of dialogue.

Worst? The terms and conditions of the job are terrible – no one in their right mind would take it.

Are you working on anything at the moment? Tell us about it?

My new thriller Ice Force is just out. And I’m working on a series of instant novellas. The next one will be Black Ops: Olympics. Try and guess what it is about!

As well as being an author, you’re the CEO of Endeavour Press. What five tips would you give someone wanting to submit a manuscript to an agent or publisher?

Write a really good blurb.

Say what the market is.

Describe how you will help market the book.

Are Endeavour Press taking any new submissions this year? What would someone wishing to submit need to include (submission guidelines?)

All three of the above would be a really good start. We’re very keen to hear from new writers so do get in touch if you have something you think might interest us. All the details are at the Endeavour Press website.

For more information on Matt, visit his website. 

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.