someone is reading my book

.. and I am very excited.

There is that saying – it isn’t what you know it is who you know. Sadly, when it comes to the book world, I don’t that many people. I know a lot of writers, but people in the industry? Not so many.

My father is a published author, and he knows a few people in the industry. He introduced me to a lovely lady in the book buying industry, after telling her about his son who ‘likes to write those fantasy books’. I thought that was cute.

She offered to show my manuscript, all 80 000 words of it, to an award-winning novelist to read and give feedback. This was a HUGE thing for me. I will admit that was one of the great days I have had in a while. A meeting with a lady in the business, who knew the business of writing – yes it is 12 point roman font, double spaced. There is my synopsis etc… we swapped business cards, she said she would have someone I knew and respected look at it. I then went to a cafe and wrote. I felt like a writer that day. That was awesome.

Another thing about the writing industry. Things do not move quickly. I know this, I was prepared for this. Unfortunately the author was, and is, extremely busy. Good luck to him and his new work he is producing. He is unable to read my work.

That’s okay, he handed it to his friend to read and look at. I have had a phone call and discussed my book, my work, my goals etc, on a crowded train in peak hour. Here I am saying – yes it is the first book in a five book series… yes, I am currently writing book 5. Yes, the other four books are written. On a train, where the public can hear me. Nice.

I say that because there is thing about me, wanting to be a writer, which I am reminded of. People who know me, my friends, who have read my work tell me I am a good writer. I run a writing group and encourage others to write and fulfill their potential.

But when it comes to myself, I have a lack of self-belief. I will say – I am scared of the next step, but I only say that because others have said that of me previously. I want to be a writer. I want to be published and have many people read my work. And yet, I very rarely put myself out in the world for that to happen. There is a fear there.

What that fear is of can be debated. Fear of success? Failure? Being taken seriously? Actually having real talent? (No disrespect to my friends who already believe in me…) Being a fraud?

In the background to all this are the many tarot readings I have had over the years which continually say – you will succeed with your writing. Even a great Tarot reader/teacher of mine saw this massive fear of mine and was aghast at it thinking what are you afraid of?

But it is there. This is one of the reasons I have this blog. This is me, getting myself out there some more. As a writer, or more as a person I guess, since I am not posting my work here, yet.

So, back to the title of this blog. The original author he passed my manuscript to his friend. We talked on the phone, and now I have received an email from him. He has told me he is not going to be a passive mentor. He will set me exercises in areas he feels I need to improve!

I have just landed myself a mentor? I like this. I really do like that. I like the feeling it gives me, of wanting to impress him, to not disappoint him, to show him that I am serious. I want to show those closest to me the same, but this feels different.

The first excercise he has given me is to re-write my synopsis, but remove all adverbs and adjectives. Make it first person, with very little character background. Just put it there, cold harsh, short sharp and shiny.

The second exercise is to write a scene entirely of dialogue. Nothing else. If a scene cannot be carried forward with dialogue, then there is something wrong with it. Well, not wrong, but, you know what I mean.

I will do these exercises. I am going to take myself seriously. And I will do this for the Rumble Kitty, who tends to believe in me more than I do.