Member-only story
Write Your Book Now No Matter What Fears You Have
Get It Down Then Get It Out There
When I started my first serious attempt at writing a novel I was scared of what others might think. Over many years and before computers I had written longhand, various short stories, radio drama scripts, articles, and poems. In the old days I typed them up on my Mum’s portable typewriter and I sent them off to a few companies like the BBC or even newspaper Sunday magazines. I had a few rejection letters and felt hurt then left off for a few years.
In the meantime, I had letters to the press on politics printed, and a couple of poems in some local fund-raising events, but just felt the shame of failure.
I had always been an avid reader of almost anything in print and as my work took me overseas would carry a library of paperbacks in my luggage and even collect more at airport lounges, charity shops, and hotels. My work assignments would often mean that I was alone during time off, in a room or a site cabin for 3 or 4 months at a time.
Then the invention of Kindles and later E.Readers revolutionized the weight of my luggage and I could travel with a cabin size bag instead of a large suitcase. I would still pick up the odd book from a shelf as I went on my way, but it had made a huge difference.
