Author Mark Wilson joins Simply Write with Polly to talk about his debut novel, Full of Beans, a time-traveling detective story, and the steady work it took to bring the book to life. Mark shares how he built the story with detailed outlines on graph paper and wrote during evenings and weekends while holding a demanding day job as a researcher working toward a cure for Rett syndrome.

We talk about persistence, building a writing routine, and continuing to write even when you’re unsure where the story is going. Mark also discusses the role of beta readers and professional critiques, and what he learned about point of view and character development through revision.

He explains why he chose to publish with a concierge publisher that allowed him to keep creative control while getting professional support for design and marketing.

Mark is now at work on the sequel, with plans for a trilogy.

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