Wednesday 1 August 2018

IWSG (August)



Thanks as ever to Alex  and this month's co-hosts: Erika Beebe, Sandra Hoover, Susan Gourley, and Lee Lowery

Hello everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer with plenty of opportunities for writing and catching up with reading. It has been very hot in the UK (apologies to those who normally live in warmer climes but we are not so used to it here!) I do like it, it is so lovely to wake up to the sun shining and not to have to think about taking a coat everywhere but I know a lot of folks are finding it harder to cope with and our once green lands are looking decidedly brown at the moment. And of course, we cannot fail to have heard about the terrible fires that have resulted around the globe. We did have a rainy weekend here though, for which the plants and wildlife are grateful.

My summer didn't start so well this year when my husband was taken into hospital for an emergency operation, but thankfully he is well on the mend now. Life knocks you sideways sometimes.

I am delighted to report that my latest MG manuscript is now finished, edited and ready to query to agents! I'm so happy to have got here again as there have been times when I doubted myself. This is the fourth MG manuscript I have completed and tried to find an agent for. I am really hoping that the odds are in my favour this time. My writing has improved and I have learnt so much over the last few years. 

I think this is a positive post today. A little celebration of the end of another story. What comes next, well, I'll just have to wait and see. 


Question: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?
I can't really give any specific advice as I am still on this particular journey myself, but I can say that one of the biggest things to find is the persistence and resilience to keep getting up and carrying on when all you seem to hear are doors slamming in front of you. Anyone who's been there knows how hard it can be. Prepare yourself for a long haul flight! 

Thanks for stopping by today and reading. Just to let you know it will probably be Friday or over the weekend before I get to return comments and visits. I am off to do some walking today and tomorrow, so computer access is likely to be limited!