A Best-Selling Author’s Perspective on Reading, Writing and Making a Difference
Sally Hepworth’s best advice for writers is simple: Read, read and read some more.
The Melbourne, Australia-based author of six best-selling novels says she’s always shocked to hear that aspiring authors aren’t active readers. “It’s a prerequisite,” she says. “It has to be.” Hepworth urges anyone who wants to write a book to read a lot of books within their chosen genre, and to also pay attention to which authors are doing well so they can discover why.
With her novels translated into 20 languages and available around the world, Hepworth knows a thing or two about publishing success. Although her creative process has evolved over time, she considers herself a “plotter,” planning the major turning points along the way and fleshing out a synopsis (including the ending) prior to writing.
But the process always begins with her initial story ideas. “My ideas come from the news, a dream, a conversation with a friend—everywhere,” says Hepworth. “Usually, I have two or three little ideas and a big overarching theme that come together to make a book.” Her latest novel, The Mother-In-Law, is a prime example: “I combined a troubled mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship with a murder-mystery and an overarching theme of never making assumptions about what others are thinking, along with several other little ‘seeds’ like privilege, the value of money and the things we don’t communicate,” she says.
Hepworth’s path to publishing success began with the lengthy process of securing a literary agent. “It took about a year and approximately 368,000 rejections before one offered representation,” she laughs. Hepworth encourages writers to find a list of agents via the Publishers Marketplace or through an agent search, and then to check their websites for submission guidelines. “Once you’ve got a list, it’s just a matter of having thick skin and a lot of tenacity,” she says. Hepworth answers questions about literary agents and publishers in her ‘Writerly Wednesday’ posts on her Instagram account.
After she completes a manuscript, Hepworth’s publisher provides initial feedback before the book proceeds to the macro editing process. “Macro edits,” she explains, “are substantive edits focusing on the structure of the story, the characters, the motivations and the plot.” Those changes are followed by copy editors correcting grammatical errors, typos and continuity mistakes. Then, it’s on to the proofreaders for a final look before proceeding to the printer.
The Mother-In-Law, by the way, has been optioned for a TV series by PaperKite Productions, a production company founded by actress/producer Amy Poehler. “This was the work of my Los Angeles-based literary and film agents, who are working hard to generate buzz about the book,” says Hepworth. “I haven’t been very involved with that part of the process, but it was a real thrill meeting Amy Poehler.” Despite the current TV and film industry shutdown because of COVID-19, Hepworth remains hopeful that the series will ultimately get made—and that she’ll have a ringside seat to watch the book-to-TV process play out.
Hepworth—who lives with her husband, three children and a dog—says her writing hasn’t been directly affected by the pandemic, but she now writes more from her home office rather than the local library. Her family’s quarantine activities have included putting together puzzles, baking bread, cooking and reading. “It’s actually been quite lovely,” she says.
Asked how the current global racial unrest is affecting her life as a writer, Hepworth admits she’s been giving the topic much thought. “I have been reading a lot about systemic racism, particularly closer to home with indigenous Australians,” she says. “It has made me think a lot about unconscious bias, privilege and being actively anti-racist. I am committed to continuing to educate myself and amplifying the voices of people of color until we have rectified things.” Though she’s not currently planning to write a book specifically on racism, anything she spends time thinking about tends to find its way onto the pages of her stories in one way or another.
Currently, Hepworth is gearing up to release her sixth novel, The Good Sister, in Australia. It is scheduled to be released in the U.S. and U.K. in 2021. She is also in the midst of writing her 2022 book. “No rest for the wicked,” she says.
