Persistence, Patience & Pitching
Many people mistake caring, consideration for others and
admitting your faults as a sign of weakness. I hate it when people won’t just
hold their hands up and admit they were wrong. EVERYONE makes mistakes, it is
part of being a human being. Strength of character is admitting and knowing
the difference between right and wrong and acting upon the wrong and putting it
right. Strength is supporting people instead of dragging them down and strength
is accepting we are all different and embracing diversity.
This weekend has been pretty naff really. It started well
with Lucas playing football and
Then Sunday we needed to be in Sheffield by 9.45am and with
roadworks on the M1 it meant leaving the house an hour before. That wouldn’t
have been a problem if I hadn’t tried to juggle a plate multi tasking and
re-decorated the whole kitchen in hot milky coffee (not latte I'm from Yorkshire)!! Typically,
it smelt lovely but it resulted in us being late and I hate being late! The
match was tough but Wes was rewarded with a very well earned Man of the Match.
He loves the rugby in this higher division – every cloud really does have a
silver lining.
This week I took a time out just to take stock of my past
and chill for a little bit. Life is so hectic that sometimes I just don’t
have time to think. When you are on your own you don’t have anyone to bounce
thoughts off and it is so easy to get stuck in a reactive environment which can
lead to you falling backwards instead of moving forwards. So now and again I
take stock. I talk to myself, I zone out and I look back which then helps me to
look forward. Try it sometime and see how it works for you. I’d be interested
in your thoughts.
It’s funny how life changes, isn’t it? My life has taken so
many twists and turns and it does resemble a F1 track only my finish line keeps
moving. When I enrolled on my degree course, I had in mind that I would run my
own website design business and build websites and databases – I love
databases, sad I know! BUT that really wasn’t what I wanted to do. I WANTED TO
WRITE!!! There were two parts of studying that I loved – research/reading and
writing. The writing element gave me great satisfaction especially seeing the
end results. My best work was looking at the impact of the strategic management
of information systems on the Rugby Football League (YES! Rugby again – it gets
everywhere!). I got my highest mark of 81% for it (yes I was naffed off I didn’t
get higher!). When I graduated I never envisaged I would directly use so many
of the new skills I’d learned in my new career as a writer. However, I do,
things like Innovation & Enterprise, Computer Forensics, Javascript
programming, database design and website design and management. I have put all
these skills to good use, as well as my sales and customer service experience
gained in twenty years as an Insurance Broker. All paths lead to this moment in
time. I realise whilst writing this blog, that writing takes up a very small
proportion of my working time. Hopefully one day I will have people to help me
carry out all the non writing tasks.
I knew developing a writing career would be tough but it is
much tougher than tough yet strangely rewarding! I am more than up for the
challenge and believe this is the right time to put all my previous life
experience to good use. There are no quick results, no multi million pound
handouts – in fact there are no handouts full stop. As well as the ability to
write, you need sheer hard work, persistence, patience and pitching. I’m in it
to be successful, failure is definitely not an option.
Persistence
DO NOT GIVE UP!!! I repeat DO NOT
GIVE UP!!! Oh it’s easy to say I know but much harder to maintain BUT if I’d
have given in after every no or after every nasty, vindictive attempt to put me
off, I don’t know where I would be now, probably six feet under if I'm honest. I look back over the knock backs I have
had in my life and know the majority of
people would have thrown in the towel long before now but I’m a fighter!! I
will keep fighting until there is no breath left in me.
Patience
As a new writer, success won’t happen overnight. It’s
encouraging that my first EVER novel has been published but it is only the
start of it. Once your book is published, you need to get out there and sell
it, build an audience and keep plugging away. In addition, as with any new
career I am learning on the job. I listen to my peers and sift out the
information from the internet. I already feel my writing has improved and I
will continue to learn and improve.
Pitching & Plugging
No one promotes you better than yourself. You have to
convince people they not only want to read your work but they need to read it. I
thought I would get more support in this but only because I assumed I would.
Lesson learned. There are so many paid services on offer for authors but when
it is your first novel you could easily spend more than you earn tenfold. I am
steering clear of these types of services. I have used one and felt it was not
worth the money, they promised and did not deliver.
The story so far... my grand plan
This is what I have done so far to promote my work.
I have written and maintained my own website
I am on twitter @beyondthepast1 and @charlespr2d2
My facebook account is here
I am on Linked in and have joined lots of groups and
discussions – it is hard to keep up with them all at the moment
Google Plus – I have a google plus account attached to the
blog and I do like google plus.
I am on Instagram but have to confess I don’t
use it as much as twitter.
Local Press – so far I have been in the Yorkshire Evening
Post & Wetherby News
Local interest – I have been into Wetherby , where the story
is set and leafleted and spoke at the local high school. Getting out there is a
great way of raising your profile. In October I have an author talk at Wetherby
library
Joined networking groups – we are very lucky because we have
Wetherbyhour. I was a member of the group prior to publication but it is a
great group organised brilliantly by Jo Maltby. It is Wetherbyhour and Sant
Angelos that are hosting the book launch this Tuesday.
Joined other websites – I am on the Authors Database,
Goodreads, The Bookshelf Cafe, Amazon UK and .com in Author Central and many other book websites. In addition I have
contributed posts to an Authors Way.
Blogging – I wasn’t even planning on writing a blog and I
certainly didn’t know what to include in it. It is really fun to do and I am not
short of topics, as you can probably tell.
Goodreads Giveaway – I currently have two copies of my book
listed for a giveaway and within 24 hours of listing it, over eighty people
added the book to their reading list and over 180 people have entered the
competition. You can enter here.
Book Trailer – This was produced by Pegasus Publishers and
has been a bit of a hit. It is excellent, even if I do say so myself. - this is pinned to the right hand side of this blog or my website x
I am sure I have missed something and will find some other
ways of promotion. That is the beauty of a new career. I am learning on the
job. Apart from the book trailer, I have organised everything else myself so I'm giving myself a huge pat on the back! Especially when I know how hard it is to cope with Menieres and bringing the boys up alone. Life is tough but I'm tough too.
The effects won’t be felt overnight but being seen and heard
are the only keys to successful marketing. You do have to work hard in anything
you do and this is no different. I am confident the rewards will follow.
Scotland
I must admit the Scottish referendum last week was
absolutely fascinating for me. I love politics particularly when it comes to
people’s behaviour. I am relieved the ‘no’ vote won but for totally selfish
purposes. All us Northerners have to stick together, although a Yes vote would
have sent Westminster into a spin which would have been interesting to watch and would have possibly led to a few resignations! The
problem with Westminster now is it is full of ‘career MPs’ not ‘caring MPs’.
The latter are few and far between now and that is sad. All we can hope for is the Scottish
referendum teaches us all to speak out and challenge the powers that be.
Personally, I think we didn’t give Gordon Brown a chance but that is my
personal opinion and his speech last week was inspiring.
BBC Short Story Awards
This week the BBC short story awards shortlist was announced.
Out of 550 entries, 5 were shortlisted. Congratulations to my fellow authors. This
was my first year I was eligible to enter and I will be entering next year too,
My entry, Bank Holiday will be available on my website Tues/Weds of next week
for you to read FREE – my gift to you x
My next blog will be all about the Book Launch and signing –
I am nervous but excited too. I just hope people turn up and I’m not left
twiddling my thumbs.
Well I’m off to do the ironing. I know I lead such a glamorous life but that’s
what us Mums so and boy we do it well.
My final two targets for this year are to get onto a health
fitness regime and to find a partner in crime, someone to have fun with. This
time though, it will be for the right reasons.
Have a great week and thank you for your continued support.
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