Case studies: Writer: Tom Vowler

Tom is a novelist, short story writer and lecturer. He holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the Open University from 2006 and a Masters in creative writing from the University of Plymouth from 2008.

During my Masters I was always writing and, as it involved a lot of focused writing and workshopping, it helped to develop and refine my work. My short story collection The Method was published in 2010 and won the Scott Prize (2010) and The Edge Hill Readers Award (2011). Around this time I also began working as an associate lecturer in creative writing at the University of Plymouth, a role that I really enjoy. I am also the fiction editor for the literary journal Short FICTION and teach an online course The Art of the Short Story .

Being a writer means working hard and being proactive. Finding an agent and getting published can be a full-time job in itself. I was constantly submitting work to literary journals and competitions, as well keeping up my profile on my website and by blogging (How to Write another Novel ). Most publishers these days don't deal with writers directly but through an agent, so finding one is essential. This usually involves sending them the first three chapters of a novel with a synopsis. I think for writers to find an agent they really need to put themselves out there. My lecturing and online teaching, blogging and editorial work, put me in touch with a lot of other writers, as well as agents and publishers. Networking is a very important part of being a writer and getting published. Eventually all the hard work and dedication was worth it though, as I secured a two-book deal with a major publisher, and my forthcoming novel, a psychological thriller set on Dartmoor, will be released in 2013.

I think my postgraduate study was crucial to my career development. It allowed me to take my writing seriously, adopt a professional attitude and really understand what was required in order to become a professional. It has also been essential in my role as an associate lecturer as most lecturers need at least a Masters to teach in higher education. I really enjoy my teaching role and hope to do more of it in the future.

A typical day for me as a writer, lecturer and online tutor involves the composition of new material, editing, researching, and preparing my online tutorials. It's really important for me to approach my work in a professional way. It can be very easy to get distracted and, as I'm my own boss, it's essential I'm disciplined and manage my time effectively. It's very rewarding when research, writing, drafting and redrafting comes together, but it can also be hard work. It takes a lot of stamina to work on a project for a year or two. It also takes a lot of self-belief not to give up when things don't go as planned, but determination and discipline are part of the job. The plus side is that no two days are ever the same, and seeing all the hard work pay off by getting published is incredibly rewarding.

My advice to would be writers is, get to know your craft. To understand why great fiction works means understanding the mechanics. Read, write, join a writers' group, sign up for creative writing courses (in person or online), but most importantly - find an original voice of your own.