Clare Flynn with Anderida Writers chairman Tony Flood (left) and vice chairman Nigel Gearing
Award-winning author Clare Flynn provided excellent advice for writers when she spoke to Anderida Writers at the Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne, on Tuesday, September 16th.
She spoke about methods for writing fiction, getting pubilished and marketing for both traditional and indie routes.
Clare, the author of ninteen historicial novels and a collection of short stories, said: “When writing fiction myself I simply make a start and see what develops. I usually come up with a location and imagine characters, but I don’t start with a plot in mind. Other writers may prefer to plan everything first, which is fine, but it is vital to make a start. You cannot edit a blank page.”
She said that it is sometimes necessary to be ruthless after writing a draft, and revealed: “I wrote 12,000 words of what eventually became my latest book but, after re-reading them and getting the input of my critique partner, I realised they weren’t right. So I deleted them and started again. It became a very different book.”
Her advice to anyone suffering from writer’s block is to walk away and do other things, such as reading, watching a film, going for a walk. “This should give you time to come up with fresh ideas.”
Clare, a former International marketing director and strategic management consultant, also advised on getting published and then marketing books. This includes joining writing groups and networking with other authors and learning from them.
Ms Flynn’s eighteenth novel, The Star of Ceylon, was published by Storm on June 9th, 2025. It is the story of Stella Polegate, unacknowledged research assistant to her anthropologist father, and Norton Baxter, a young, ambitious civil servant in 1906 Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. Her nineteenth book, Under a Southern Sky, set in Australia during World War Two, will be independently published under her own imprint, Cranbrook Press.
You can find out more about Clare and her books at https://clareflynn.co.uk/
Anyone wishing to join Anderida, who cater for writers of all levels, can email chairman Tony Flood at tflood04@yahoo.co.uk
Article submitted by Author, Tony Flood, Chairman of Anderida Writers, Eastbourne
Author Tony Flood, who lives in Eastbourne, spent most of his working life as a journalist, initially on local and regional papers and then on nationals. He was also Controller of Information at Sky Television and enjoyed a spell with ‘The People.’
In his celebrity book My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled, Tony recalls: “My work as a showbiz and leisure writer, critic and editor saw me take on a variety of challenges – learning to dance with Strictly Come Dancing star Erin Boag, becoming a stand-up comedian and playing football with the late George Best and Bobby Moore in charity matches.”
My Life With The Stars provides revelations and amusing anecdotes about showbiz and sports personalities including Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, George Best, Kylie Minogue, Eric Morecambe, Tom Jones and Des O’Connor. Tony also writes in other genres and his crime thrillers have been endorsed by best-selling author Peter James. They are Triple Tease, Stitch Up – Killer or Victim? and Fall Guy – who really killed his wife?, and all feature compassionate copper DCI Harvey Livermore. In addition, there’s a fantasy adventure for youngsters called Secret Potion and a book Tony has co-written with wife Heather, aptly titled Laughs and Tears Galore – short stories and poems with twists!
Tony, the chairman of Anderida Writers, also writes theatre reviews for Unknown Kent and Sussex online magazine, the Eastbourne Herald and BourneFree Live, as well as playing veterans football for Sovereign Harbour Veterans. He is the oldest – and slowest – player in the team.
Contact Tony:
