London Writers' Salon #145: Maggie O’Farrell — Confessions of a Novelist: Writing from Instinct, Why Revision is Essential, Facing Doubt & Finding the Story’s Heartbeat (From the Vault)
48 snips
May 18, 2025 Maggie O’Farrell, the acclaimed author of *Hamnet* and *The Marriage Portrait*, dives into her creative process, sharing the struggles and joys of writing. She discusses the vital urge to create and the importance of allowing characters to guide the narrative. O’Farrell emphasizes that true writing happens in revision and the necessity of accepting honest feedback. Her journey from self-doubt to confidence is inspiring, highlighting the blend of historical fact and imagination in her work, as well as the emotional intricacies of developing strong narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Writing Demands Insatiable Urge
- To succeed in writing, focus on the insatiable urge and sticking power, not just dreaming of being a writer.
- You must be willing to rewrite and polish intensely to finish a book.
From Rough Draft to Encouragement
- Maggie submitted a rough 20,000-word draft at an Arvon course fearing rejection but was encouraged to finish and seek an agent.
- Overjoyed, she raced outside in winter, fell into an icy manure-filled ditch, but still persisted.
Read Deeply as a Writer
- To be a writer, be a reader first and voraciously consume books of all kinds.
- Analyze what works and what doesn’t, then reread to understand writing techniques.
