… without a spark

For over 15 years I have been writing this story in my head. I knew the ending, I knew the story and I knew I wanted to somehow include multimedia. But a story is not a story until is given the chance to roam the world. For that I needed to get off my butt, and be brave.

Writing a novel is a huge commitment. Characters want to live and demand their time in the spotlight - they nag you in the middle of the night, they get moody when you try to ignore their story because work is demanding your attention. ‘Work?’ they scoff … ‘work is for the bores.’ I would excuse myself by explaining I was writing short stories, and poetry - I just needed a holiday for the big stuff.

Then I got asked to do some editing work for Jo Parfit, for Summertime Publishing. It proved to be the spark I needed. Helping other realise their dreams of publication, and editing their hard work, confronted me with my own lack of commitment to my story and my characters. I sat down and started to write. I had found the spark and simply needed to focus! After 8 months I had just about finished my first draft and thought the hard work was done.

How wrong was I!

The last couple of months have been a steep learning curve: finding an editor, editing my work, killing ‘my babies’, overcoming multiple imposter-syndrome melt-downs, creating a website, and understanding the tip of the iceberg of the world that is called self-publication. Thinking about how to reach my target audience, creating email lists of ‘willing victims’ (i.e. friends and family and acquaintances who would support my creative outburst) and unsuspecting punters in the wild of course, coming up with a marketing strategy, seeking permission to use lyrics. All stuff I could do without …

So here we are - on the verge of publication. I am one press of the button away from going live. And making the dream come true. But I wouldn’t have gotten to this point if I hadn’t been sparked by the writers who came to me for advice - lighting my path with their bravery and creativity.

Soon you’ll be able to pre-order Chasing the Heartland, I hope I meet you further up the page!