Intro
I haven’t written a blog entry since last year, but I didn’t really have much to say at the time. Now, I do. As a writer, I have found that you experience ups, downs, and really worrying points when the little negative ‘doubting’ demon whispers in your ear. I have also found that you can beat him.
As you all know, I have been writing ‘Will Worthington and The Black Rainbow’ for nearly fourteen years. It’s been an experience that I wouldn’t change for the world, and (however naive it might sound) I honestly feel that I will see my book traditionally published on the shelves one day.
I know how hard it is out there – but that’s why I push and push and push (sometimes a little too much) because I want this so much that it hurts. I was up this morning a little before nine o clock. It’s my holiday. It doesn’t matter. I know that the more time I spend on my manuscript the better it’s going to be and the higher my chances of making it.
Through this entry today, I’m going to be talking about a few updates on my progress regarding the book, the magic of Twitter, and also reviewing ‘Flight’ a debut novel by my editor at The Golden Egg Academy – Golden Egg is something I will talk about soon, as it’s been my absolute saviour for my book.
The Writing Process
I go through a lot of self-deprecating issues with my book – but the irony is because I absolutely love writing it and I am my own worst enemy. Honestly though? During this year, I have learned how best to manage it. If there are days where nothing comes out, it’s essential not to be angry at myself. It isn’t a defeat, and it certainly doesn’t mean I’ve ‘wasted’ time. As my editor says, the ‘latent processing’ is as much a crucial part of writing as the writing itself. Your brain needs time to relax.
When I’m on an absolute roll (which I can be for hours, up to eight hours plus) I am completely lost inside my book. I don’t want to eat, I don’t want to talk to anyone, I am a machine. Up until last week I thought writing was easiest when I was at the coffee shops. I like the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop (and I frequent all of them in the village!) However, I realised something the other day. I stayed at home for a change, and I was able to write and edit tons more. It’s also useful because it means I save money.
My target for when I return from my holiday is to write at home with cups of tea and ham sandwiches when I have days off. If however I need a notebook day, that’s when I’ll head down to the coffee shops and see what I can get out.
The Golden Egg Academy
Many years back, I tweeted an author who at the time had her first book out called ‘Beetle Boy.’ Now I don’t believe in fate really, (though I’m starting to kind of believe the universe ‘listens’ to something if you want it that much) but I was working at Waterstones and ‘Beetle Boy’ was book of the month. I enjoyed it, so I messaged M.G. Leonard (Maya to most) and told her I was a writer. She told me about Golden Egg. The rest is history.
I still remember that time when I received my first email from Vanessa Harbour. She had accepted me into the academy and said my book had potential. It was my last night in Spain, and the email had made me cry for an hour. I was ecstatically happy.
That was April 2016.
When I think about how long I’ve been in the academy, I am filled with pride and as always a sense of undying frustration that comes with the longing to be published. For obvious reasons, I can’t say much about Golden Egg, but I will say that throughout my three years I have learned an extensive amount; more than I ever did at uni. I’ve attended workshops, had editorials, a full report on my book and the support from my friends who are also in the academy, looking at you Gina, Debbie, Steph, and the list goes on.
Top Ten Best Golden Egg Memories So Far (in no order)
- The moment Barry Cunningham (the Harry Potter publisher) said “Oooh, good line” after I delivered a line from my book
- Acting out my book in a workshop to my Golden Egg group
- The support and love from my editor (thanks Vanessa!)
- Making friends with a lit agent who I often talk to on Twitter
- Pitching to a lit agent (quite accidentally!) at the recent social, and her enthused reactions 😊
- Speaking with a lit agent assistant who said my book “sounded amazing”
- Speaking with a publisher at Vanessa’s book launch
- Meeting Ben Illis at Vanessa’s book launch
- Wearing a pineapple hat on a boat in Bath (also the first time I spoke to Barry)
- Going around the story museum in Oxford and the walking tour where we saw where J.R.R Tolkien and CS Lewis was inspired
I like to think I’m getting there now, but you can’t put a time limit or an estimation on the creative process. It’s a personal thing. It’s a wonderful, rollercoaster mess; a labour of love that is like homework; but a homework that you actually enjoy. Now? I’m editing and rewriting for the millionth time, though this is what I call the ‘tortoise edit’ which does what it says.
I go through every sentence with precision and understanding. I ask myself questions such as “Does this paragraph fit?’ ‘Are there too many alliterations here?’ ‘Is the rhythm right?’ and most importantly, ‘Does it make you want to read on?’
My aim for next year is to have the manuscript at a level where I move to the next stage; mentoring and then from there begin submitting. Am I scared? Yes, terrified but I also know that I have poured everything into this book and in life, you have to try. If you don’t, you’ve already failed.
The Power Of Twitter
I joined Twitter in the year 2015.
What was I expecting? Not much to be honest, because I didn’t know much about it. I began following around 50 people a day, put up little sections of my book, started to join threads like #Authorconfession which is where you answer the question of the day. I did #1linewed and put up one line from my book that was themed, eg, ‘happiness.’ I then realised that the more time I invested on my account, the more people from all over the world were listening and actually genuinely wanted to hear about my book.
It was an incredible feeling, and I wanted to keep it; so, I started my own thread called #IwriteUwrite, where I put up random observations about writing in general and asked questions inspired by the author confession account. I started using GIFS because they stood out and told people about the girl behind the keyboard. I’d share that I spent an hour acting Harry Potter and nobody would judge me. They still don’t.
One day, I decided to tweet my idol Anthony Horowitz and to my joy he not only liked what I said, he tweeted back. I think it was this “Do you mind if I use your surname in my book?” and he said “No, as long as it’s a nice character.” It was for a castle, but the sentiment still stood. I was over the moon (excuse the horrific cliché!) I then tweeted Darren Shan, Simon Mayo, Lemony Snicket and they all encouraged me with my writing. It made my weeks because these people had been the pillars of my childhood, excluding Mayo who I only discovered recently.
I am still there now, and have 16,204 followers.
Like everything, it pays to put the time and effort in and it’s so worth it. I set aside little marketing hours when I can because sometimes when I’m writing, Twitter does become a distraction. I’ve made lots of friends on there and I received a message today from one of them saying she wanted to interview me on her blog. A friend of mine from Golden Egg said to me that during the submission period it would be a good idea to put all the encouraging and supportive notes from those on Twitter into the folder you send to lit agents. I’d really like to do that!
Vanessa’s ‘Flight’
Recently, I had the privilege of attending my editor’s book launch in Winchester. As she teaches Creative Writing there, it was a fitting choice for her launch and what a cool place to have a signing. The bookshop is wonderful! I am so proud of her for making it, and I have now had the honour of reading ‘Flight’ which I’m going to review now in a non spoiler way. Don’t worry!
Vanessa’s talent for writing? Effortless.
I could talk about how wonderful the story is (and so many people have already on social media) but for me what I find the best about Flight is all the research behind it.
I have often said that I will never write a historical novel because of the research it takes and the fact that you need to make sure everything makes sense in terms of the year you’re writing.
It’s clear that Vanessa has put so much time and adoration into this novel. I take my hat off to her (I have many) This also links with the fact that she knew the main character’s journey and not just emotional one either. The path Jakub takes must have taken some thorough research too – I’ve seen the maps!
Some of the sentences she uses are glorious. I won’t say here but this is one that made me go ‘Oh wow’ when I was listening to it being read aloud at the launch. She uses the perfect balance of description and narrative so you are drawn to carry on. I was on the train to Dad’s and I couldn’t stop reading. The conflict was perfect too, and the way that the characters all meet, genius.
I would like to read the next one please.
The Next Books I Write Will Be –
I know it’s a long way into the future, but if you want to get taken on by a literary agent and publisher, you need to know what’s next on your writing path. For me? I see at least two other books in the Will Worthington series (I have planned the next two) and hope to do more.
I have begun writing another upper middle grade series called ‘Damien Skittle and The Hologram Hunters’ about two friends who discover a magical credit card. Add in bad guys, and a smattering of luck that is about to run out.
I want to get into writing thrillers too, but that’s for in the future when I’m an established traditionally published author, so I am allowed to branch out into other markets.
It’s very important to me that I don’t ‘do a JK Rowling’ and put an epilogue in any of these books because I want to be able to come back to them if I have more ideas.
As for other forms of writing, I want to try and get a poetry collection together. I like poetry, and it’s something that I want to carry on with at the same time.
The Beginning Of The End
There, I think I’ve rambled enough. Look out for updates, excerpts and more on my social media platforms.
I will get there.
I will.
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