‘The skills I learnt studying law allowed me to realise my dream of becoming a writer’
For Danny Dagan (LLB Law, 2014), his law degree and the skills he learnt at Birkbeck have allowed him to pursue his long-held dream of writing fiction. Now celebrating the publication of his debut novel and fast-paced thriller The Game, he tells us what made him leave London for a quieter life in Northumberland and how it feels to finally see his work in print.
Why did you choose to study LLB Law at Birkbeck?
The law fascinates me, but enrolling on the course was actually an impulse. One evening, I sat at my computer, got sidetracked, ended on the Birkbeck site and thought: yes, sounds great. Why not? I filled in the application form then and there and really enjoyed the legal exercise that was given as an entrance question. In hindsight, it was a fantastic decision to take on a whim, even if I massively underestimated the level of commitment, late nights and overall impact it would have on my life. My time at Birkbeck taught me a lot about myself. I'm certainly glad I clicked submit that night.
After graduating, you left your corporate career in London to live a quieter life in Northumberland and write fiction. Tell us about your journey to where you are today.
At the time I was taking my law course, I was freelancing as a web and strategy consultant. The work was an alright way to make an income, but it wasn't really what I wanted to do. I'd take a few months between assignments to write fiction, but then I'd have to replenish my savings. In the back of my mind, I'd always had what seemed like an unattainable dream: to leave the rat race, live closer to nature, write.
Then, in 2017, in a moment of (in)sanity, my partner and I sold our flat in London and moved to a small North Sea island. We renovated a house and made it into a small guesthouse. To fund our move and the renovation, I continued to work remotely for a couple of years, but once the guesthouse was up and running, I found I finally had the headspace to spend more time writing. The move and renovation weren't easy, but I'm so grateful we took the plunge. Hearing the seals sing at night, going for walks on the beach, and, of course, writing is everything I had hoped it would be.
What was it about your studies at Birkbeck and the skills you acquired that led you to become a fiction writer?
When it comes to writing fiction, the course taught me the importance of paying attention to the meaning of every single word in a sentence. Judgements, contracts and laws often turn on minute detail. I applied the same to my writing. I often agonise about an adjective or the placement of a comma. The key is clarity and how best to express an idea that may be complex in a simple and compelling way.
Another important thing I learned was how I can be more productive. Before my time at Birkbeck, I'd wait for the muse to strike, and then I'd sit and write for a bit. During the course, I had to spend many hours, often late into the night, reading cases, analysing texts and writing assignments – fuelled by endless cups of coffee. It made me realise that to produce good writing, I had to do away with excuses and simply sit and write, write more, learn the craft. It's liberating to know that focus is something you can improve and develop.
Congratulations on getting your first novel The Game published. What can you tell us about its themes?
I guess it's a very Birkbeck novel in the sense that it tackles questions of morality and social responsibility. In a way it is, perhaps, a broader example of the "Trolley Problem" taught in ethics courses. I wanted to raise social and ethical questions, but the absolute requirement for me was that it had to be a fast-paced thriller, where every chapter compels you to carry on to the next. In the book, the children of five billionaires are taken hostage by a self-styled Robin Hood group. To save them, their parents must play: The Game.
How did you find the process getting this novel published? How does it feel to have your debut novel published?
Authors know that getting published is a long game, and you have to be prepared for endless rejections. I wrote several novels over the years that got increasingly supportive comments from agents and editors but not enough traction. Then I wrote The Game and everything changed. Within two weeks of completing the manuscript, I had an offer of a book deal from Bloodhound Books (part of Open Road Media), which specialises in thrillers and has launched a good number of bestsellers. Shortly afterwards, the audiobook rights were sold to Dreamscape Media.
Writing is a lonely pursuit, and after years of rejections, you come to doubt yourself. Getting the email with the offer of a book deal was life-changing. Then, after months of work with the publisher, editors, cover designers etc., seeing your book in print is amazing. More amazing still is seeing the five star reviews. You never know how a book would be received, and the positive reviews wiped away the angst and frustrations of years in the trenches. Well, OK, not entirely. Writers live in constant angst about their work, but there are moments, like publication day, that make all the difference.
What is next for you? Do you have an idea for a second novel?
A common theme that came up in my book's reviews was that readers had become invested in the characters I created in "The Game" and would love to see more of them. I feel the same. I've lived with these imagined personalities for many months, and it would be great to see where I can take them – so a sequel is a distinct possibility.
The Game is available to order on https://tinyurl.com/Dagan-TheGame