Q&A with Samuel Burr
Samuel Burr, bestselling author, Real Writers Circle member, and trustee, updates us on his writing and talks about the importance of community for all writers.
“I come away from each meeting feeling so inspired by the tenacity of other writers. It energises me and makes me want to sit at my desk and get to work.”
Q. Sam, where are you in your writing journey?
I’m currently writing my second novel. I’m trying to bring in all the lessons I’ve learned about writing over the past 10 years and everything I hope readers have enjoyed about my debut, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, while pushing myself in new directions. I’m always looking to improve as a writer.
Q. How is it writing book two?
I loved writing my first book. When I wrote Puzzlemakers, I put everything into the story. I had total faith in the idea and didn’t lose that faith at any point (though I had plenty of crises of confidence and head-in-hands moments!). I didn’t think beyond that book. Then, I was lucky enough to get a two-book deal. When I signed the contract, my fear was I wouldn’t know what book two would be and I wouldn’t love it in the same way. Luckily, I’m genuinely excited about this novel and it’s given me that same funny feeling in my tummy that my debut gave me. Rather than pressure, I feel like writing book two is a huge opportunity to imagine a story that will satisfy readers who enjoyed Puzzlemakers and reach a new audience by offering something a bit different, too.
Q. We first met when you attended a RWC session on memoir. What brought you to Real Writers Circle for the first time?
I like to feel plugged into a community. I was writing Puzzlemakers and had left a job in television where I was surrounded by colleagues, where I was constantly collaborating, and suddenly found myself feeling quite alone. Puzzlemakers is all about community and the importance of connecting with others and I wanted to find a fellowship of my own who understood the challenges of being a writer. The prospect of coming together with other writers in a social setting to talk and share and connect really appealed to me. I loved the vibe and felt very welcomed and comfortable among other creative people. Book-related events are often held in quite soulless places. Meeting up in a lovely venue like a nice pub, makes you feel relaxed. There was nothing stuffy or stale about it.
Q. How has being part of the Circle supported your writing?
It's unique to get so many writers together in one space, in a social setting, and to encourage people to connect and share ideas. There’s no hierarchical structure at an RWC event. You are surrounded by writers of different backgrounds and with different interests and you can learn something from everyone.
I love hearing about the challenges writers have overcome and learning from their experience. I love witnessing the journeys and lengths writers will go to, to get their stories out there. I come away from each meeting feeling so inspired by the tenacity of other writers. It energises me and makes me want to sit at my desk and get to work. As a published author, it reminds me what an amazing opportunity I’ve been given, and to make the most of it.
Q. In May 2024, you and YA author Tanya Byrne participated in an event we hosted as part of the Brighton Festival. That was a milestone moment for us. What did it mean to you?
Puzzlemakers had just been published and I had done a lot of promotional events, but I hadn’t done anything quite like that. Having that platform and being on the stage at The Studio Theatre at The Dome in Brighton was thrilling. It was the first time I’d had a dressing room! The audience was mainly fellow writers and I could talk about the craft of writing in a detailed way and know they would understand. The opportunity to talk about my journey to publication and hear about Tanya’s was pretty special. When you put writers together in a room it sparks an energy that's different to any other audience. I loved it.
Q. We are thrilled that you are one of our trustees. What’s exciting about it?
I love being a trustee. It allows me to give back to a community that has been so supportive of me. I have learned a lot about publishing over the past few years and am really keen to share those lessons. There is so much about the publishing industry that is mysterious. If you don’t work in publishing or have an agent or editor, as a writer you can have lots of questions about the intricacies of it all and no one to ask. Bringing a group of writers together means you can dispel some of that confusion.
Being able to share experiences and lessons we’ve learned is invaluable. It also allows me to engage with as many other writers as I can to build my network. Half the battle as a writer is having a strong community around you that will help you build the career that you want. Contacts are really important, whether that’s someone to read your work and give feedback, or build you a website. As a concept, the Circle would work anywhere. What’s exciting is thinking about new locations where we can build those connections and expand the Circle.
Q. And finally what’s your one tip for writers looking to get published?
I have a background in TV production and always think of the pitch first, how to frame it and sell it before I think about the characters and how to develop the story. For me, it’s really important that I’m confident that I can describe my idea to someone quickly and they’ll understand it. Agents receive so many submissions. As a writer, you need to get their attention and make the job of your agent and editor as easy as possible. If you give them a well-crafted pitch, they’ll feel more confident talking about your book to other people.