EDITORS UNEDITED: Clare Harvey

Clare Harvey has been editing with us for just over a year, and she’s quickly become a go-to editor for historical fiction. We love her no-nonsense approach to writing and editing. Here’s what she had to say:  

Q: So that we can learn a bit about you, tell us about one writing-related thing you’re proud of, and one non-writing related thing you’re proud of.  

It seems terribly show-offy, but I’m just really proud to be published. It was a lifetime ambition, and to see my books in bookshops, libraries and even supermarkets was fab, and worth all the hard work that went into getting there. And non-writing? It’s got to be my kids, who are growing up into wonderful young people. I’d love to take credit, but I think they’d be just as amazing without me. 

Q: What brought you to the world of writing? What keeps you writing?  

I always thought writing was what other, more accomplished or glamorous people did, but in my twenties my brother-in-law’s best friend got published, as did the woman I was working for as a nanny, at the time, and I thought that if ‘real’ people could do it, maybe I could, too. In the end, though, regardless of whether or not you’re published, writing becomes a bit of an addiction. I’m currently doing a PhD in creative writing, and because what I produce might be a bit more experimental, it may not be something publishers want, but that’s no longer the most important thing to me – I just love the creative process. 

Q: Tell me about what you’re currently working on. 

I’ve got a dual timeline historical fiction novel with my agent, and I’ve just started a creative writing PhD at Coventry University. Alongside that, I’ve been writing co-created fiction celebrating the reading experience through an arts council funded project called I Am A Reader (https://www.iamareader.org.uk), which has been an absolute joy, and I hope to continue to work with the project as it develops. 

Q: You’ve just received a new manuscript to critique: what’s the first thing you do? Walk us through your editing process.  

First, I print it out, which sounds very ‘old school’ but research has shown that we absorb information better if we read hard copy, rather than on screen. Then I make a cup of coffee, pick up a blank exercise book for note-taking, and my fountain pen, and sit down to read. I scribble notes down as I’m reading, along with page numbers, etc. When I’m writing my feedback I try to think of it in terms of things I notice and questions I have, because that allows the writer to have the space to come up with their own creative solutions, rather than telling them what to do or what not to do. It takes a long time, and it’s actually quite an intense process, but hugely rewarding when a writer tells you it’s been helpful. 

Q: How do you manage being on the other side of the editorial process – when your own writing is being edited? What should an author who is receiving critique for the first-time be aware of? 

It’s been said before, so it’s a bit of a cliché, but feedback is a gift, even if it doesn’t feel like one! It’s hard not to feel crushed. There’s a Samuel Beckett quote that sort of sums up my attitude: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” 

Q: What writing do you get most excited about working as an editor on? What really makes you intrigued by a submission?  

Editors are just readers, and we respond to hooks, cliffhangers and drama in the same way. The writing needs to keep raising questions in my mind that make me want to read on.  

Q: What do you read for pleasure? Is this different to the writing you enjoy working on?  

I do love historical fiction from the twentieth century, which is also what I write, but I also like a spot of nonfiction, and contemporary fiction, too. If someone recommends it, I’ll give it a go. At the moment I’m reading a popular science book called Quantum Physics for your Dog (or something like that – it’s supposed to be a physics professor explaining quantum theory to his spaniel), Tessa Hadley’s Late in the Day, and the book of short stories from the I Am A Reader project. 

Q: Finally, if you could only give one piece of advice to all aspiring authors, what would it be?  

Do it because you love it, not because you think writing will make you rich or famous (because it probably won’t, in all honesty), and if you’re serious, keep at it, and don’t give up. 

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