So for the last few weeks now I’ve
been either giving advice or pushing out some motivational words in the hopes
that someone who started off this year like I did, will finish it in kind of
the same manner. Today, I am not going to do either of these things.
There remains about a month until
my first book, ‘Mr Locke’s Diary’, becomes available for those of you out there
who are interested to buy can finally do so. I don’t know your individual
interest levels in this, but let me say that I’m sweating pretty hard right
now! I’ve learned a writer not only suffers for their art, but their art does a
pretty good job of rounding off the experience on its way to the public. I
don’t doubt the quality of my work, as many painstaking hours have gone into
preparing it for its maiden voyage, but I, like any chef or parent out there
fear its rejection.
This, I suppose, after the
dreaming, planning, editing, begging, publicising, cover art designing, more
editing, more campaigning and dreaming and once again editing we arrive at
publishing. The last step is no less difficult than all the previous steps,
even if it is the goal.
Of course, anyone who is serious
about this line of work knows the writer’s job does NOT end at this last step,
your role just shifts slightly to marketing. If you have been good you’ve
already amassed online followers, blogged regularly and talked avidly about
your achievement since you first signed that contract. I think I would score
well on my effort. When I first found out that I was being taken on, I wasn’t
sure, in honesty, if it was my friend or I who was the most excited, either way
I found myself pinned to the ground in a hug as we were both shouting for joy.
Now I’m at my desk, checking,
rechecking, getting myself out there (and sometimes I’m actually doing
University work) all in preparation for my and my book’s futures. I’m still as
elated as that first day, because after many reasonless rejection letters, I
will soon be in print.
I suppose two words of advice to
round off this mostly intimate talk; a rejection letter doesn’t always mean
you’re a bad writer, it just means, ‘we have enough people’ or ‘it’s not what
we’re interested in’; and secondly, you can always benefit from having a friend
on hand for the tears and to pop open the champagne.
Until next time, read, write, live.
Ciao
You can find me in my usual hidey
holes:
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