Promoting Yorkshire Authors

Author Questions - Children's Author Group Session of 13th February 2025

Linda Jones hosted another Children's Author Group on 13th February 2025 and before the meeting, had put the questions to writer Craig Hallam, having them up her sleeve as she asked each of the attendees their thoughts on the question and how they'd answer it.

It was a productive and enlightening session, even if our answers didn't always match those of our invited guest.

Craig is a multi-award-winning international author. You can find more about him at Craig's Website (opens in a new window). Here are the questions Linda put to him and his answers - how would you have answered them?

1. At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer? For me, it’s as soon as they put “pen to paper”. But that can also be fingers to keyboard, voice to text, or however else you get your writing done.
   
   
2. What difference do you see between a writer and an author? Honestly? Not much, if anything. I usually think of a writer as someone who does all kinds of writing, say for content creation, blogs, articles, or anything else. Authors tend to write things particularly for publication, but that’s about it. The skills and jobs of both overlap massively. It’s probably a matter of choice on the individual’s part. What do they feel most comfortable describing themselves as? 
   
   
3. Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not? Oh yes! And I have on a few occasions. I currently split my work between darker books under Craig Hallam and lighter stories under C B Hallam. I’ve also written some fairly spicy stuff under another name that I definitely won’t be sharing.
   
   
4. What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?  Usually that I need a break. I either need to change project for a bit (I’m usually working on a few things at once) or draw/paint to rest my brain, or get out of the house for a walk. I think Writer’s Block is just letting you know that you need something.
   
   
5. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews? Honestly, I don’t read my reviews very often.  Only if someone says “Hey, I left you a review”. I do most of my sales face-to-face at conventions and signings, so I often get people coming back the next year and we chat about the book there. It’s one of the best parts of the job for me. Except for when someone asks a question about a character and I don’t have a clue what to answer.
   
   
6. Are there therapeutic benefits to modelling a character after someone you know? I’ve never actually done it. Is that weird? But I’m sure there are tons. The first one that comes to mind is people you don't like as fodder in a murder mystery 
   
   
7. What is the most difficult part of your writing process?  Focusing on one job at once. I’m usually writing one, editing another, and researching the next one. It helps me to make sure I’m working on something at all times.
   
   
8. How long have you been writing or when did you start?  I’ve written ever since I was a kid but I only started submitting for publication about 14 years ago. I guess that’s when I started being serious about it. It feels like five minutes and forever at the same time. 
   
   
9. What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? Just get writing. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people who have a great idea but never actually write anything. They have vast worlds in their heads but I see them year after year and they still haven’t written anything. Just start with a single scene. Start with the ending, if you like. But the only way you’ll ever get better at the craft is to start writing. 
   
   
10. What, to you, are the most important elements of good writing? Oh wow. That’s a tough one. Maybe connecting to your reader. If you’re not connecting through a character, an interesting plot, or an intriguing world, then no one is going to want to turn the page. Other than that, everyone has their own style, influences, and ideas, and it’s all so subjective.