Romance Writer Charlie Cochrane on Why She Writes

Charlie Cochrane writes good romantic fiction, really good romantic fiction. But why does she do it? Read on and find out...

I could be flippant and say that, like O’Brian’s Dr Maturin, I’m a serial obsessive and writing is my latest ‘thing’. However, it’s gone on too long to be just a passing fad – I stared in fanfic (yes, shoot me now) about five years ago and haven’t stopped penning stuff since.

So why do I carry on when the time expended doesn’t equal the financial reward gained?

• Because every e-mail or comment from someone who’d read one of my books and it’s made them laugh or cry means as much as a pocket full of five pound notes. It’s just about the greatest thrill (with certain notable exceptions) a woman of my age gets.
• Because it’s a fantastic way of using what’s already in my brain. I’ve daydreamed all my life, made up stories in my head all my life – it’s great to put them into a work of fiction.
• Because I have these blooming characters in my head now, itching to escape and have their stories told. Nag, nag, nag – worse than children.
• Because some of the writers I’ve met online are some of the nicest people I know and logging in of a morning is like stepping into the office. And it’s nice to have two jobs (writing and freelance training) that I can do mainly from the comfort of my own home.
• And last – but by no means least – because Him Indoors would like me to have a JKR type success and allow him to have the early retirement he dreams of. Pipedream maybe, but a nice one. 

Biography

As Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice (like managing a rugby team) she writes. Her favorite genre is historical gay fiction,  but she's making an increasing number of forays into the modern day. Visit her online here.