Wednesday 3 October 2012



LIFE ON THE HIGH WIRE

I’ve done it, by George I’ve done it! I submitted my book to a publisher.  It was like leaving one’s first-born at the school gate at start of term. Have I done enough to prepare him for this day? Will people like him? If they don’t, will he survive the experience? Actually, it was much harder than that. Waving off a child to school has undertones of ‘Yippee, freedom!’ (Yeah, yeah, I know I’m an un-natural mother. Love me, love my lack of maternal feeling!) But the freedom bug is never really allowed free rein because it’s all over in a few short hours and after a week you are inured to the delirium of free-flight, anyway.  There’s still the housework to be done, even if it is done quicker without junior underfoot.

Submit a manuscript, however, and you are sentenced to months on a high wire in the circus of the writer’s life.  Have I done enough? Will they like it? If they don’t, will I survive? Is it worth starting another book yet if, after many months, the publisher replies with ‘like this but requires some re-writing’? Should I let the new book idea incubate a little longer and concentrate on short stories until I know one way or the other? It’s exhausting keeping one’s balance on the wire.

I have decided to pretend the book has been accepted, requiring nothing more of me until I face the barrage of cameras and world fame at the celebrity book launch: a harmless fantasy if it allows me to get back to my computer and tackle the next project.  

But I might just indulge in a small siesta first.


4 comments:

  1. Answers to the Q's in 2nd para are:
    -are you serious?
    -Of course!
    -Indubitably
    -never mind starting a new book how about finishing one you've already started?
    -No because any more incubation and you'll have hardboiled eggs!

    From your ever-loving eldest daughter :)


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    1. Well, of course what I should have said was 'continue on with the one I've started' but there is more drama in slight prevarication of the truth!

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  2. Congratulations - a significant achievement! My advice is to just bask in the magnificence of having 'done' it. Plus what they don't tell you is that when it's accepted, it opens a whole new round of hard, hard work. So relax, and enjoy the hiatus in whatever creative way you like.

    Oh, and remember your friends when you're handing out invitations to your celebrity launch!

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    1. LOL AND THANKS! KEEP ON WORKING AT BEING ONE OF SAID CELEBRITIES FOR THE OCCASION!

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