Staff Q&A: Joe Shillito
At Troubador, our team is made up of a mixture of talented individuals. We thought it would be interesting to share with you an insight into the lives of staff members who are writers and published authors. Today’s Q&A is with Joe Shillito, Senior Production Controller:
What do you write?
I primarily write fantasy. I’m currently working on the first in an epic fantasy series and completed my second draft last week, so I am currently knee-deep in pages as I work through the next edit!
How long have you been writing?
I have only really been disciplined with my writing since I started working at Troubador, around three and a half years ago. Surprisingly, once I had replaced my student lifestyle with a regular 9-5 routine, I actually found it easier to schedule a consistent time for writing. I did of course still write prior to working at Troubador, but less regularly and never with the end goal of finishing a book.
What is your writing routine?
Under normal circumstances, I have quite a busy life, trying to fit writing between work, playing in a local brass band (which takes a surprising number of evenings and weekends), exercise and, more recently, planning a wedding! This means I have to be disciplined with setting aside time for writing and sticking to it. I write every day at work during my lunch hour, and I try to fit another hour at the end of the day before cooking dinner, on days when we don’t need to rush out to a rehearsal.
What have been the challenges or advantages of lockdown for a writer, from your POV?
One big advantage is the lengthening of the day as a result of working from home and not needing to commute. For me, this means an extra hour of time which I can put towards the things that I want to achieve, and writing is high on that list. This can be a double-edged sword, though – with so much extra time during the day, it can be tempting to put off working on the book if I am not feeling ‘in the zone’. This is why it is so important to set a routine and stick to it (see below).
What is your one tip for writers during this situation?
The lockdown has the potential to play havoc with your normal writing routine, so it is important to set yourself a new one. For example, my fiancée starts work half an hour before I do, so I have committed to sitting at my desk and writing for that half hour before I start work. It may not sound like much, but those half hours add up. The important thing is to keep writing – it can be a nice break from the strange reality we find ourselves in!
Ending on a light note, can you tell us a literary-themed joke!
What would you find in Charles Dickens’s kitchen?
The best of thymes, the worst of thymes.
