How a well-planned writing schedule helped Amanda Willimott write her debut novel

What was your writing process like for Winter of the Wolf ? Did you have a writing routine or any regular rituals?

I started at the beginning.

I set aside all that well-meaning advice about the ‘correct way’ to write a novel and instead played to my strengths – organisation and structure.

I created a detailed plan with exploratory research, plotting and more research. I write historical fiction, so a lot of time is devoted to research. Then I laid out all my scenes. Knowing what I needed to write each day was crucial for keeping me interested and excited.

Each day before work, I wrote for thirty minutes or until I hit 500 words – whichever came first. If I didn’t hit that word count, I’d pick it up at lunchtime, or the end of the day.

On weekends, I would write for four hours each day or until I hit 2,000 words. My goal was to write a 100,000-word manuscript. What kept me going was knowing that if I completed my daily writing goals, I would reach 100,000 words. It was inevitable. And it worked!

How did you first come up with the idea for the book? 

Inspiration can come from the most unlikely of sources. For me, it came from a promo for Downton Abbey, which included the song 'She Wolf' by David Guetta featuring Sia.

Listening to it, I imagined a story about two women, a deep friendship spanning decades, themes of family, love, betrayal, power and loss and werewolves. I wrote a short story about these two women and then put it aside.

Years later, one of those random thoughts popped into my head, 'Was there a time in history when people thought werewolves were real?' A quick Google search told me that they sure did! One trial sparked my interest: Gilles Garnier, the werewolf of Dole, who lived in the forest with his wife, Apolline. I resurrected my previously-written short story and it slowly grew into what would become Winter of the Wolf.

What surprised you most about the publishing process?

I was delighted to discover that everyone was really supportive and enthusiastic about my book, including my agent, publisher, editor, marketer, publicist and sales team. Publishing is a business, but it’s made up of people who genuinely love books and are passionate about supporting and promoting Australian authors. 

If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be and why?

The eponymous character from the late Elizabeth Peters' immensely popular historical mystery series, Amelia Peabody. Amelia is intelligent, unintentionally hilarious, can speak for hours on Egyptology and loves cats – the perfect dinner companion.

If you were a character in a novel, what would be your signature quirk or catchphrase?

I would always find an animal to pet.

Other characters are talking? I’m cuddling a stray cat.

Other characters are looking for clues to solve a mystery? I’ve found a friendly dog.

At a tension-filled dinner party, I’m scratching a parrot under its chin.

My catchphrase would be: 'If not friend, why friend-shaped?'

Which fictional world would you want to live in, and how would you survive or thrive there?

I would love to live in the world of The Secret Garden. Transport me to Misselthwaite Manor in the Yorkshire moors, and I would be very content pottering around the garden, going pony trekking and eating hearty English cooking. The weather might be a challenge, but I’m from Melbourne. I could handle it.

What's the weirdest talent or skill you have that not many people know about?

I can quickly look over a typed page and instantly spot double spaces between words or after full stops. Sadly, it’s a skill that impresses no one.

What's your go-to karaoke song, and how well do you perform it?

I love karaoke and will always sing ‘Let It Go’ from Frozen. Let’s say that I perform it with energy and enthusiasm. As for quality . . . well, I’m no Idina Menzel or Jemma Rix!

Where is your happy place and why?

It’s more of a what than a where. It’s a bathtub. Give me some bubble bath, a book and regular hot water top-ups, and I’ll stay in for hours.

What is your #1 tip for aspiring authors?

Play to your strengths. When it comes to writing, there is no shortage of advice on how, what, when, where and why you should write, from books, articles, podcasts, blogs, courses and social media. Take what you need to fill the gaps in your knowledge and then do what works for you.

If you’re a morning person, write in the morning. If you’re organised and a planner in life, then treat your writing the same. Work with your strengths, not against them. And remember that there is no single correct way to write a novel. There are thousands of different journeys you can take. Just make sure you get it done because there’s no feeling like the accomplishment of finishing a first draft.