Cover Image for ‘Paisley Shirt’ photo credit: menswear market
I’ve read lots of post about How I Got Published and although I know how deeply maddening it can be to hear about another’s success, I feel obliged after all the pitfalls to share my experience with you.
I have four novels sitting in a drawer, two of which are completely unpublishable while the others may see the light of day when I get around to re-writing. I have been on my writing journey for eight years: writing regularly, attending writing festivals, having one-to-ones, keeping the feelers out, updating my blog and becoming a whizz on social media. I must have entered hundreds of competitions, and enjoyed a couple of notable wins (my name was listed in Elle magazine once). I briefly enjoyed representation but that was until my agent took maternity leave and decided not to return to work.
One of the upsides of enduring so much failure is that I resorted to seeking professional help by joining a writing course that led to a qualification. After four years of part time study I am now on the verge of changing my title to Doctor and I am looking forward to graduating in the summer! This has also enabled me to seek employment with a university where I will work with students of creative writing.
The novel written as part of my studies is still seeking a home, but in the meantime, I have signed a contract with a small independent publisher to have a collection of my flash fiction published. Paisley Shirt contains 27 stories with characters and situations to offer a range of perspectives on what it is like to live in our world.
It is wonderful to have a publisher who believes in my work and a thrill to think I will have a published book at last. It won’t bring me riches, but it is acknowledgement of the progress I’ve made. The mantra remains: never give up.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
Dr Gail – I shall take your advice and try to follow your example! Well done.
That title looks so daft when I see it written down – can’t use it until the corrections are submitted!
Nearly there. Nice shirt too!
I’m planning on wearing a paisley number at the book launch!
Keep your head though! That would be an interesting dress code! Can we join in? If invited of course. Or better to be plain and leave the pattern to you?
Well done Gail. I enjoyed Four Buses so I’m looking forward to seeing this collection.
I’m told by Gill that it may be released any day now.