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A story writing thread: About four years ago, someone who I used to go to school with got in touch with me on Facebook out of the blue to ask if I’d ever done anything with my writing as she still remembered the stories I’d read out in class at school.
At the time I was in a job I didn’t love, but hadn’t written anything that I’d shown anyone for a long, long time. Her message was a bit of a now or never moment & I signed up for a @cbcreative writing course where I started writing #AllInHerHead.
I finished the course, managed to win a competition run by the lovely @amandareynoldsj who mentored me. I rewrote, rewrote & rewrote my book. And rewrote some more. And more. Found the wonderful @AgentSophieL who agreed to represent me. Rewrote some more.
Rewrote some more. Submitted the manuscript & got offered a 2 book deal with @orionbooks & the amazing @harrietbourton as my editor. Rewrote a bit more. #AllInHerHead was finally published in April this year, just as we went into lockdown.
Tonight, I received this message from my friend & it felt absolutely incredible. So I guess there’s a couple of things I wanted to say - firstly, you never know the power your words have to inspire others, even if they’re just an off hand comment.
Secondly, to all those aspiring authors out there - do not give up. It’s not easy, there will be more drafts than you ever thought possible, but you can get there.
Lastly, debuts who launched in lockdown haven’t had the easiest time, and there are a few of us who have made it onto the #NotTheBookerPrize list at @guardian - there’s one day left to vote, so do consider them if you fancy voting.
