
The above thread comes from my new social media home (Yes, I’ll update the links on the main page ASAP) on Bluesky (I decided to leave Twitter for many reasons, mostly that it had become quite unpleasant on there with lots of fake accounts and a great deal of cruelty being amplified by the new ownership… it was no longer the place where I could mostly ramble about books and movies, or trade bad jokes and puns with other writers). And I posted it because I wanted to be honest about the fact that publishing a novel is scary. And that, yes, I am a little scared about the upcoming publication of THE FRIDAY GIRL.
For those who prefer to have text, the posts read as follows (edited to allow it to appear in one block, where it originally appeared across three posts):
I had forgotten a few things about having a book due to be published. Mostly The Fears. The fear that people will actually be reading it and you’ll be waiting to know what they think. The fear that the book will slip out unnoticed. The fear that you forgot some key element. But The Fears’re balanced out by the fact you know you loved writing this book and somewhere out there is at least one weirdo like you who’ll enjoy it. Having supportive publishers/editors makes a huge difference — especially when you feel their passion for the book. & along with the Fear there’s a genuine excitement that comes with pre-publication. A moment of infinite possibility that accompanies The Fear & reminds you that you’re writing cos you love it & you know the work and passion you put into this. I am so excited to share THE FRIDAY GIRL with everyone later this year.
And The Fear, as mentioned, is genuine. I have had it every time I publish a new book. Because in the lottery of the publishing world, it can feel like there are more books than readers, and that books are competing for readers’ attentions so hard that no matter what you do or how good you believe your work to be, it is still likely to simply below some people’s radar.
I’m a big reader. I read for my day job (as an editor) and I read for pleasure. I was known, when I was a bookseller, for reading at least seven books in a week (there was a different one in my bag for every lunch hour), and this wasn’t even scratching the surface. But I still can’t catch up on all the books I want to read. There are books I intend to read and forget about, or buy, and then keep keep pushing back down the pile because another feels more urgent. There are books I want to read by authors I love that I have to balance against authors who are new to me (because we really can’t just read the same authors over and over again — the real joy of reading comes from opening ourselves to a multitude of voices and points of view, as long as those voices connect with us on some emotional level).
So I understand how it can happen — and that’s what The Fear is about. You worry that what you wrote might not be noticed or might not connect with readers. And, as an author, you need to power through that, and to trust in the process. In this case, I have an editorial team who’ve been bloody wonderful and hugely encouraging, and a whole network of people who’ve helped me write what I consider one of the most ambitious books I’ve written yet. I’m really hoping it will connect with readers, but I also have to shake that fear off and trust in the process.
Even more, I have to remember that I am the author, and that I am proud of my work. I worked hard on this book — I sweated through the difficult moments, made every effort to create a world and a cast of characters who live and breathe in ways that feel real. I wrote a story that gets to heart of its drama, that creates a sequence of events that escalate and end on a moment of shock. I wrote a story that conveys its anger and joy at the world. And, God, I’m proud of it. And I should be.
Will it be enough?
I don’t know. But it helps me overcome The Fear. The rest.. its in the hands of readers. But I do believe that if you crack open the cover of THE FRIDAY GIRL (Or any of my books) you’ll find something that will keep you turning those pages…
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