Winning helped me to trust my instincts

LAST year Georgia Fancett, 52, won the Daily Mail First Novel competition with her upcoming debut The Fifth Girl.

THE great thing about winning the competition is that I get to work with an editor and it’s completely changed the way I approach the book.

One of the best pieces of advice Selina Walker gave me was not to overwork anything — if it’s not working, do something else for a while.

I’ve also realised that you have to enjoy your main characters.

When I started the book I had a minor character — a detective who was quite a grumpy old man — but I enjoyed writing him so much that I realised I need to make him a central character.

The previous lead character became much more peripheral.

It felt like a weight lifting off my shoulders to realise that I could change things. As I grew fonder of him I changed his name slightly to Peter Rawls, because I felt softening the character gave him a new identity.

I have learned to trust my instincts and let characters go if you don’t feel them and they don’t really talk to you — it shows in the writing.

Winning the competition has changed my life in some ways, although I work with my husband in our business making vehicle alarms, so I was always able to take a lot of liberties.

But the good thing is that now I can be truthful when I disappear because I am working on the book. I still get up at 6am to have quiet time to write, which is one of the best things about running your own business.

I haven’t really done anything with the money. I sort of feel like I can’t spend it until my book is actually published — although I did take all the family away for a break, which was lovely, especially as my eldest daughter, Calico, is expecting a baby in July.

The book’s publication date has been slightly delayed because my original editor moved abroad, but at least the gap gave me some time to start thinking about my next novel!

I haven’t shown anyone the revised manuscript yet; I feel that just working with Selina is enough support for me and I don’t want too much input from too many places.

My husband, Ben, has read some of it and loves all the changes I’ve made. He’s been so proud of me for winning.

As a surprise Christmas present, he had the Daily Mail feature about me winning the competition framed and it hangs on our wall. It’s a good reminder for me to diet…