I haven’t posted for a while. COVID and lockdown coincided
with landslide changes for me. Work, health - physical and mental -, and small creative
successes.
I’m hoping the writing stepping-stones
will lead to solid success (if publishers don’t shun me over this NOTTS UNESCO article, lol).
My WEM
mentoring with Niki
Valentine is proving invaluable, and I’ve had hugely generous feedback from
the talented author that is Rebecca
Netley too.
During this shitty pandemic, like many of us, I’ve immersed
myself online, nerdily attending writing festivals, courses,
webinars. Familiarising myself with today’s publishing industry. Engaging with talented
bookish people and making brilliant friends. Being forced, by Covid, into this
virtual world has been tiring but worthwhile, for me.
Connecting with my chosen industry has been like understanding nature, you must be on the ground, moving between the trees, imbibing the atmosphere, drinking in the scents and sounds. It’s the only way to get to grips with it (and hopefully find a way in). Admittedly hard to do when you’re juggling two disciplines/jobs. I feel deeply for all creative people still striving to do this. It's a fucker, it really is.
Personally,
I’m relieved to report I’ll be leaving the day job this year, through medical retirement.
And will focus 100% on getting my fiction published. But with
hopefulness and positivity comes the threat of maybe appearing over-confident, which I'm not, so I’m
trying to strike a balance online. But my novel in progress is improving. I’ve
had glowing feedback from professional sources, for which I’m eternally
grateful. My wilting self-belief has been nourished and restored, and I’ll be giving this all
I’ve got.
Thanks for reading. I don’t want to bang on or bore you, so I’m going to leave
it there.
Looking forward to us all emerging from the covid fug, like
the weary fighters we all are. 😊
