If you are an Australian children's writer, I'm sure you know her; and if you are a reader of Australian children's literature, I'm sure you read her books. Dianne Bates is one of the most prolific writers I have met and one of the kindest. When you start out as a writer, it cannot be put into words what having an expert support and encourage you to grow as a writer. Dianne first did this for me when she sent me her manuscript feedback, many, many, many years ago. It gave me courage and the realisation that I too, could be a children’s author one day!
Dianne is not only a highly
awarded author but a great writers' mentor and
advocate of Australian children’s literature. She has founded several
sub-branches of the Children's Book Council of Australia Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) of NSW and was awarded The Lady Cutler Prize
for distinguished services to children's Literature in 2008.
Here is a woman, who knows the ins and outs concerning both sides of the fence of publishing; as an author and co-editor of a national children's magazine, Puffinalia (Penguin Books) and editor of another national magazine, Little Ears as well as a book publisher.
Dianne was born in Sydney and
studied at the University of Wollongong. Her writing career kicked off with her first
book, Terri published by Penguin Books in
1980. Since then, she has published over 130 books, mostly for young readers. Some of these books have
won state and national awards; others have been translated into French, Danish
and German. Her junior verse novel, Nobody's Boy and junior
novel, The Shape, have won CBCA Notable Awards.
Dianne has toured for the
National Book Council and has undertaken commissioned writing for a large
number of organisations and has worked on the editorial team of the New South Wales Department of education School
Magazine. Dianne is married to prize-winning YA author, Bill Condon, whose awards include the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award for Youth Writing and three CBCA Honour Books of the Year. She lives in Wollongong, NSW where she works as a freelance writer and manuscript assessor and writes a popular blog, Writing for Children. You can find out more about the Buzz Words Magazine here.
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Q.1 Di, What
sparked your interest in writing your first published book Terri, and I must
ask, was it the first manuscript you’ve ever written?
DB: Yes, Terri was my first
manuscript. I wrote it basically as I was socially isolated, living in a hut on
a mountain. I’d reached the age of 29 and felt that I’d never distinguished
myself in any way other than as a mother and failed wife so decided to have a book
written and published by the time I was 30. This is what happened! So, setting
a firm goal is a biggie if you want to achieve.
Q.2. The
length of your published books list is inspiring. Where do you get your ideas
from and how do you develop them into a book-length structure?
DB: Ideas are
never a problem for me as I’m curious and alert to possibilities, seeing ideas
in everything, everyone and everywhere. I always finish whatever I start so I
don’t start a book until and unless I’m convinced I can finish it (though,
having said that, I’m struggling at the moment with a work-in-progress). Quite
a few books I’ve written are non-fiction, so I decide on the number of chapters
for the book and then write chapter headings and go from there.
Q.3 What
are the highlights in your writing career that called you off guard?
DB: Getting my first Literature Board grant was exciting: I’d applied of
course but didn’t really expect to get one. I am always grateful for that grant
as it showed, even before I’d had a book published, that someone believed in my
talent. Winning two children’s choice book awards (WAYRBA and KOALA) were two
other unexpected windfalls.
Q.4 Can you
tell us what themes you explored in your stories and why?
DB: Most
of my books are written in the social-realism genre so I’ve explored subjects
such as fostering, domestic violence and family disharmony: often I base these
subjects on my life experience. On the other hand, much of my fiction has been
humorous; as a classroom teacher I came across many reluctant readers, so I
wrote for them.
Q.5 This is
a very deep question: Are you a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantser’?
DB: I’m both,
depending on the book I’m writing but mostly I’m a pantser. With my most recent
book, I wrote in a way I’d never done before, writing chapters all over the
place and then looking for how to slot them together. This presented a problem
as the story time frame was only three days and nights, and I finished up
having more action than I could fit into this time!
DB: I wrote a series of humorous books
about fictional bushrangers: I’d love to see them animated (e.g. Desert Dan
the Dunnyman). I’m sure they would be hugely popular with children.
Q.7 What
was the best writing advice you have received that you would like to share?
DB: Read as many recent children’s
books as you can if you are writing for children.
Q.8 Many
authors started their career as avid readers when they were young. Growing up,
what was one of the ‘classics’ that imprinted itself on you? Did you have any favourite
authors you’d read more than others?
DB: There wasn’t the same choice in reading books when I was a child as there is
today, but I was a huge Enid Blyton fan, especially enjoying The Famous Five
and Secret Seven series. I also loved Heidi and The Swiss
Family Robertson. The first book I read as a teenager was How Green was
My Valley.
Q.9 As
a writer, you give life to many, many characters. If you could swap places with
someone of your own creation for one day, who would it be?
DB: Grandma Cadbury
from the four-book series I wrote is feisty, energetic, sociable and
adventurous.
Q. 10 What’s
your current project about?
DB: I have started a book based on my childhood experience of being sent to a children’s home, but it’s stalled: I have interesting characters and a sea-side setting, but so far no story! It will happen, though I don’t know when!
DB: I have started a book based on my childhood experience of being sent to a children’s home, but it’s stalled: I have interesting characters and a sea-side setting, but so far no story! It will happen, though I don’t know when!
Q. 11 You
have been in the writing game for decades, your experience extends to both
sides of the fence of publishing. What, in your opinion, are helpful traits in an emerging writer?
DB: Persistence is paramount. Treating writing as a
business. Write and read frequently and be prepared to wait forever and a day
for publishers to respond to your submissions. Networking helps, too. Also, and
this is a biggie – learn how to effectively self-edit. I highly recommend
joining a writing critique group (face-to-face or online).
Q. 12 What
Australian children's book(s) you read in the past twelve months stood out for
you and why would you recommend them?
DB: Lenny’s
Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee (Allen & Unwin) It is rare to find a book,
especially one for children, which employs a writing style which is
distinctively different from others. Its language is quirky and engaging. I
absolutely loved it and it’s become my favourite ever children’s novel.
I would
also highly recommend the fantastical Vincent and The Grandest Hotel on Earth
by Lisa Nicol (Puffin Books) as it’s super imaginative and spell-binding.
The
Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire by Nat Amoore (Puffin Books) was a
wonderful read. Told in first person present tense, the story is fast-acting
and has moments of high drama with splashes of humour.
Thank you, Di, and happy writing, everyone!
You can find Dianne Bates and Buzz Words Magazine on Twitter: @BuzzWordsZine
and visit her blog Writing for Children and website http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/
