Just a writer, standing in front of a literary agent, asking them to represent her

The one where I got married and rejected on the same day

Hello, my name is Nicola and I just got married. And rejected. Again.

I finally did it. Picture by the marvellous Toni Darcy (anyone else spot a spooky figure in the top right window?)

Fortunately not by the groom.

But first the wedding. I was never that girl with a curl, a scrapbook and a dream wedding dress so I was delayed somewhat (several decades) in the decision to actually tie the knot. Obviously there’s a story behind that for later and to, be fair, there were also so many books that just needed reading and words writing. But wasn’t it lovely to finally be the centre of attention as a bride and drink bubbles in the morning with my sister and best friends in matching robes, then pledge my troth* to my Gray (small break while I Google ‘troth..’) in an historic hall known for ghosts and with a gruesome back story of priests getting their heads chopped off. There’s a whole story about the dress (we don’t get on) but what a wonderful day and now I’m back where I belong behind my laptop. I have to pay for the doughnut wall somehow.

Troth: Loyal or pledged faithfulness (Merriam Webster dictionary)

Then to the rejection. The literary agent couldn’t possibly know I would choose to read her email declining to represent my (excellent) novel on my wedding morning. Glossing over my checking of emails on my wedding day, which tells you so much about me, it’s not her fault. After all she didn’t abandon me at the alter but she did abandon me in the depth of the book querying trenches from whence I toil. I had better wedding gifts than that.

The lightbulb moment

That’s when it struck me - right there in my ivory gown in my beaded crown. There are so many of us wonderful, tired, battered, optimistic but lonely fellow querying writers out there, buffeted by the cold and occasionally lukewarm waters of rejection, perilous self-doubt and wavering optimism. There are debut novelists, drowning under the pressures of negotiating the politics of publishing and facing the terrifying realities of self promotion and the looming deadline of book number two. Then there are the writers who want to be journalists, the journalists who want to be authors, the would-be novelists who just want to be inspired to get started and the industry professionals who want to find the next stars. Most of us are juggling the day job, the family, the cost of living crisis, health issues, extreme prevarication, Netflix.. the list goes on. Many of us, young, old and in between, are simply lost. We all need support, our mental wealth depends on it. So what if we could all be friends and help each other? It sounds like a match made in heaven.

Write. Reject. Repeat is born.

But who am I?

Hi, I’m Nicola Adam (my middle name is Kristine with a ‘K’), I’m from England, a journalist by trade and my day job is in a large regional news organisation where I lead and manage editors across the north. My background is news and crime reporter, columnist, opinion writer, travel writer, editor and general journalism leader. Well, I try. I became a journalist as like so many others I wanted to write. Ironically, and as is the fate of many half decent reporters, I don’t do much of that now so instead I write novels by night. My first languishes in a drawer, my second is out on query and has had four rejections so far. I’ll absolutely share that journey in more depth on here. I also once wrote a real crime book about notorious murders, which is sadly no longer in print. When I was four, I wrote and drew a picture about Vikings in Valhalla to which I glued pasta and sprayed gold. My finest work.

I also love radio, podcast and TV/video/streaming. I have worked in community radio (Chorley FM, coming in your ears - no really) and also as a weekly presenter of a Sunday show on BBC Radio Lancashire, which I used an an excuse to interview authors every week before the cuts came and I was chucked out on my proverbial ear. I frequently contribute to national radio from Radio 4 to Times Radio plus comment on news all over the place. I also turn up pop up on TV occasionally and feature in Hold the Front Page on Sky Max where I boss about (very good comedians and hopeless journalists) Nish Kumar and Josh Widdecombe. I recently wrote and presented a true crime documentary for Shots TV (Freeview 276). Get me.

But who am I really?

Controversially, I’m a passionate advocate for and identify as a northerner despite accidentally being born in Greater London/Surrey where my dad worked briefly at a power station. My late mum (bloody breast cancer) and my alive and ass-kicking astronomer dad come from Manchester and Glasgow respectively but took the family trotting around England and Wales when we were children. I attended a lot of schools as a result- where I was very un-cool and shy - but good at English and I was a competitive swimmer which gave me community. I have a brother and sister, three nieces and one nephew and no children, again a story for another day. I’m a clothes hoarder with a tan leather handbag/purse problem. I like crisps and travel. I can’t sing. My blood type is coffee.

In lockdown we moved to a beautiful barn in the depths of the Lancashire countryside surrounded by sheep, cows and the southern-most fells, which is very much a work in progress. Two years on, still no curtains.. I wake up early.

What to expect from this newsletter

I’ll share my own progress as a writer, some of my more newsworthy journalism antics, my travels, and probably tell you what our tame (wild) bird Mr Pheasant McPheasantface has been up to (spoiler; eating us out of house and home and bringing along his entire family to the feast). Don’t let me get started on the moles.

But really this is about all of us so I plan to gather tips and advice for writers and journalists, opportunities and guidance plus talk books until the cows come home (and they do here, every night). I also want to showcase published writers, new authors, querying authors, experienced journalists, inexperienced journalists, influencers, publishers, agents.. all of you. Please get in touch if you’d like to feature; you do not need to be a famous author though I will certainly locate some of those too. I’ll be sharing full interviews plus plenty of quick Q&As and lots of bookish/media inspo. This article is free but I can see a small subscription in the very near future - we all have to earn a living.

Why did I start it?

I’m frustrated with my novel journey - the emptiness of querying and difficulties of making a writing life work - and want to engage with all of you out there. I’m pretty tired of all the social media. I used to adore Twitter but now it’s dull, I love Instagram but find the algorithm unfathomable, I’ve not really mastered Tik Tok though #BookTok seems ace, find Linked In pretty fake and though I love You Tube and filming, my video editing skills are basic. I have a website already (mainly travel and books) but I want to write for a community, for new friends, to help others and help myself. I’ve been dithering about Substack for a while but now I’m here and what’s more, I pledge my troth, weekly at least.

Sign up below, let’s create something amazing together. I’d love that. N x