You can change everything in a year
You can do things alone - but it's better with likeminded friends
Last year, for me, was the point I decided it was time to see if writing was still what I wanted to do. Or whether it had just become something to dream about when I stared out the window. It had been seven years since I’d published my last novel and life had just got so busy. After returning to work after lockdown I was struggling. I’d tasted that dream life. I’d started writing again and my latest novel ‘Where the Pieces Land’ was shaping up nicely. Yet it had to get put to one side again as life got even busier than it had been before. So, in 2021 I decided to was time for a change, I big one.
Last August (2022) I sold the family home I had raised my children in for the past 17 years. I spent the time leading up to the move clearing everything out. I lost count of the amount of skips and charity shop runs I did over those months.
Needless to say I moved out with only my small Ford Fiesta full of belongings and my youngest adult child. Even as I’m writing this it sounds unbelievable but it was so liberating. I simultaneously handed in my notice at work and made the decision to give myself a year to recoup.
Once we were settled into our new home I took a moment to ask myself the question. Is writing really what I want to do? I thought about it and as the idea of not writing popped into my head a deep sadness washed over me. I had my answer. Yes. I do still want to write. I had the rough manuscript of ‘Where the Pieces Land’ which I had started in Lockdown 2020. It was a good story but needed a lot of work. I decided this was my starting point.
My action plan was this -
Step one: Open up the manuscript file, print it out and give it a read.
Step two: Attend as many London Writer’s Salon Writing Hours as possible and join as a silver member.
Step three: Get help to bring the manuscript up to scratch. Rewrite, restructure, edit, rinse and repeat in any order until the book is ready to publish.
Step four: Update and keep on top of socials. Instagram and Facebook.
Step five: Publish the book ‘Where the Pieces Land’ and do book signings & interviews - the book was released on 12th May 2023!!
Step six: Join Alliance Independent Authors - take myself seriously as an author.
Step seven: Pause to do a happy dance.
Step eight: Start writing the next book.
I’m now nine months into my year and I have to say that it was the best decision I could have made. There have been moments of doubt but I’ve enjoyed being around like-minded people, virtually and in real-life. That for me with the biggest game-changer. I find I work best knowing that I have the support of ourselves and in turn can support them. I’m so grateful to have found my tribe. Working on my books feels like to most natural thing for me to be spending my time doing right now. Knowing this I’m determined to carry on and am currently a quarter of the way through the next book.
Incredibly, my belief in this book, and my ability, has emulated out and my readers have responded with the most encouraging feedback. It hit number 17 in the charts in the first week and has stayed bouncing around in the top 100. To think I was doubting my decision to ever write again!?!
And as you can see this time, as I start on the next book, the basic structure is in place so step two, three and five are the only steps to do this time round. This is helping me to see this laid out right now too. It feels much more manageable.
I guess my message to you is, if you are a writer of anything and you want to try and find your tribe - give it your best shot - tap into other people doing the same. It really is magical. Meaning that you will embody that magic and create great things and thus in turn inspire others. It’s a win win situation.
Wishing you a magical day, Much love, Claire x
So inspiring! Thank you for sharing, Claire x