11 Comments
User's avatar
Julia Golding's avatar

Very true. It’s a white knuckle ride with no one in the driving seat.

Lisa Fransson's avatar

I have to keep reminding myself of this: Eyes on my own own page, focus on the words, always.

Naomi Jones's avatar

This is all so true and such a good reminder to focus on what we can control, rather than the things we can't.

Miranda Zoellner's avatar

This is really sad to read but also insightful. Thank you for sharing. And keep keep keep going!!

D. V. Bishop's avatar

All of this is painfully true. Sigh!

Abie Longstaff's avatar

It’s so frustrating

D. V. Bishop's avatar

Oh yes. No matter how much you run around setting your hair on fire, it moves the needle so little by comparison with one of the things beyond your control.

I keep hoping for a big prize win or a Waterstones Book of the Month selection - but in the meantime, I just do what I can and blunder on!

Abie Longstaff's avatar

Waterstones BoTM is the dream!!! It makes a massive difference.

D. V. Bishop's avatar

I'm not greedy, I'll take Waterstones' Scottish Book of the Month! Still worth a thousand extra sales, depending on the book. Alas, I write historical thrillers set in Renaissance Italy so that's not an option. But I have an evil plan to bring my protagonist to Edinburgh in 1541 or 1542 so that book would be eligible for consideration in... 2030. Assuming I get another contract and my publisher fancies that as a story.

Abie Longstaff's avatar

Oo yes. Cunning plan!

Caroline Green's avatar

Wise words and timely, for me. Thanks