Hey Folks
As I've not posted for a while, and I've still not finished Midnight Falcon by David Gemmell, I thought I would do this writing post. I'm way behind my reading target for 2021, so the reviews are few and far between.
My writing status at the moment is best to be described as "paused". I set up in Camp Nano so it would fire me up to write and finish "The Cubby Hole". A haunted house short story/novella which I started to get me writing! DOH!!!
"Neil, you literature lothario what is the problem?" You may ask.
Well I think the main problem is my confidence in writing. When you don't do something for a while you forget. With me, it's my uncertainty with even simple writing techniques like sentences, spelling, grammar and the way to show dialogue.
Then there is my lack of faith in my stories! Are they good enough, original enough, written well, make sense.
I'm sure some other authors go through this at some point, even well established published authors. Especially with today's climate.
By that I mean there are most likely more writers out there than the seventies and eighties. This now includes authors self published, and the rise of smaller publishers.
The Covid Pandemic probably got more people writing, as well as reading, thinking they could make some money. Sadly a small percentage get offered deals from the "Big" five publishers.
Plus authors have to be careful not to offend and get backlash in this crazy "Woke" age, where a matter of opinion can get you cancelled.
Yet - it's not all doom and gloom.
Book sales are apparently good even with the pandemic. More people are self publishing and some are picked up by publishers.
Smaller publishers are doing well and writers do get their dream of being published.
In my Writing group Zoom meeting the other week I learned that one of our writing buddies has signed a second book deal with a publisher. Another writer is close to achieving this also. This is on the back of another of our writing group already winning writing awards, having two short story collections published and a novella coming out.
So what shall I do about my writing ?
Well the answer is clear I suppose. Just write and enjoy it and in time I should improve. I haven't exactly got my dream of being a published author by forty, but that's on me, procrastinating too much. Plus my confidence in my own writing hasn't helped but should improve.
There is a glitter of hope out there, you just have to reach for it!
Well hope you enjoyed my chat - if any authors have any ideas to gain confidence then let me know in the comments.
Chat soon friends.
Neil x
