STEWART ROSS
A prolific author, predominantly of children’s non-fiction, Stewart Ross explains how he fits it all in, to Lynne Hackles
MY WRITING DAY
Lynne Hackles
Stewart Ross has over 300 published titles to his credit. He’s written fiction and non-fiction books for children, won awards, written novels, plays, three librettos and a musical. Does he ever stop?
‘I write more or less full-time,’ he says. ‘I don’t think any writer scribbles away for 365 days a year. I teach courses in literature at l’Institut Catholique d’Etudes Supérieures, La Roche sur Yon, France but apart from that and the occasional workshop or talk, writing is my full-time occupation.’
Stewart’s writing days begin early in summer – around 6-7am – later in the winter. ‘I find the first part of the day is the most beautiful as well as the most productive,’ he says. ‘I don’t work set hours but to a set number of words. This depends on the sort of thing I’m working on, but usually 1,000 words is about right, especially if they look good. In other words, once the 1,000 words are completed I won’t feel too guilty if I stop. Sometimes, if things are going well, perhaps 2,000 or even 3,000 words spring onto the screen. They’re only a draft, of course, and will normally need considerable editing – or deleting – the following day.