Nicola in Paris: Why my meeting with the mayor was a big fail and how I started writing fiction
Why writing is like rugby; full of inexplicably shaped curve balls which are very hard to catch | Plus events and opportunities & weekly writing prompt
Bonjour mon ami,
Oui, that’s the extent of my French I’m afraid. Shamefully, I have a GCSE and still struggle with the basics. Alexa, add learn French to the list... Anyway, I am back in the daily grind after an extended period of travel which sounds dead posh (and I know I’m lucky). What it meant was I went on lovely budget mini moons to the Cotswolds and Zakynthos then came back to the day job for a week. I then developed a Greek-swimming pool inspired nasty ear infection and needed antibiotics before flying to Paris, where I was hearing-challenged in 35-degree heat and covered in sweat with only the badly chosen contents of my hand luggage for a weekend. Which was for the best on balance (or in my case no balance) as I went to watch the opening ceremony/game of the Rugby World Cup: France v. New Zealand and style was not required/would melt off anyway.
Don’t laugh
Those who know me are laughing hollowly right now as they know I may be a news journalist but the only subject to which I am clueless is sports with balls of all shapes. But we were a mixed bunch of press there to write about /film as a travel/experience/news piece, rather than the game itself you’ll be glad to hear, although we did have a ‘proper’ sports reporter in our midst who was covering later games for the nationals. There was also a lovely content creator who was writing for an upmarket travel website but whose main job is as influencer for many sporty-inspired brands - she was a huge rugby fan and fit as flea. She even went for her morning run around Paris in the heat, although she did admit getting a bit lost. Her social stats are astonishing, and she was very glam. I could only watch in awe as she set up her content; there is an awful lot us journalists and writers could learn about self-promotion - it’s not a dirty phrase, we need it. A discussion for another newsletter.
The Olympics are coming
In case you are wondering, we were invited by the City of Paris itself to showcase the city ahead of it’s starring role hosting next year’s Olympics. They rolled out the red carpet for us, with a reception from both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Paris and a famous rugby player or two which was lovely of them. Sadly, my flight from Manchester was delayed a mere 4.5 hours (groan, I could have flown there and back twice in that time) so I and the ‘proper’ sports reporter who was also on my flight, missed the entire reception . Instead, I spent the time waving my credit card around in Accessorize, getting a coffee high on multiple double-shot lattes, and perusing the new book releases in WHSmith somewhat jealously. Sadly, my attempts to blag my way into the lounge failed miserably.
I did, however, get to Paris in time to hit up the Rugby Village before the game which was like a broiling pan of fans of all nationalities getting on famously. Football could learn a thing or two from French rugby fans sharing a drink and happily learning the Haka (Māori ceremonial dance for the uninitiated) from their Kiwi rivals in sky high temperatures with serious humidity. It was so unfathomably hot (it’s September!) There were spray showers at the entrances raining down on fully dressed and sodden fans to cool them as they caroused to the backdrop of movie-famous monuments on the Place de la Concorde. Quite the sight…
Yes, that’s all very well, but what about writing Nicola?
What with all this wedding malarkey, mini-mooning and press tripping, my book querying has taken a back step. I find I can only send out a couple of queries at a time for agents, then I wait with anticipation for the rejection, moon about a bit with a sulky face, listen to 90s boy band ballads, eat too many carbs and binge Netflix - then start again.
As always happens, I have started to have certain misgivings about elements of my manuscript (is mentioning the pandemic a no no?) and I’m now contemplating yet another draft. Plus, I’m wishing I had just written a nice single genre novel that sits neatly in a section in a bookshop. The only problem is I wanted to tell a compelling story only I can tell - not tick a box - but I do understand it is much harder for agents to sell to publishers. There are no easy answers to this - if there was there would be no newsletter. But writing is like rugby - full of inexplicable curve balls - and catching a break is tough.
I’ll start at the beginning of my writing journey
I will tell you mine if you tell me yours. No, really, I’d love to connect and hear other writer’s stories. I’ll even share on here with your permission; how people found their way into writing, journalism, and content endlessly fascinating.
My story is normal. I was that child, the one too shy, unattractive, and insecure for a social life who used books at a psychological prop (I realise now). My happy place involved a bed, a book, a cup of tea and crisps and honestly not much has changed. I was pretty average at school but as I grew up I realised that I was well educated, not from the classroom, but because I had devoured every book I could lay my hands on, so my general knowledge of life and vocabulary far exceeded many of my peers - even if occasionally a bit random. It’s all accessible these days via Tik Tok I am sure but back then, I learned about everything from sex to the habits of serial killers from between the pages; I read anything from Susan Coolidge (What Katy did) to Danielle Steele and Charles Dickens. Whatever I could lay my hands on essentially – usually age inappropriate.
Become a journalist, they said
For me it really did begin as a child and on learning in a book about journalists becoming best-selling novelists, I decided on that path and after a great deal of time wasted doing the wrong degree (not many decent journalism degrees back then) and then not wasted travelling extensively and having a good time, I finally embarked upon a post-grad diploma in newspaper journalism and learned media law, shorthand, public affairs - all the good stuff. I was not a natural journalist at first because you need to be seriously confident and brave to be good - not arrogant - but you need to be able to approach people, ask questions and then listen carefully as email journalism was not a thing. I struggled to fit in the newsroom for the first few months.
But journalism and writing are about soaking up information and turning that into something compelling, whether fact or fiction - and everyone has a story. And being a reporter is not about being the loudest and most popular person in the room. So, I got my first job, gradually developed the special kind of resilience you need to succeed, and several decades later I am still doing the journalism and I have ticked lots from my career bucket list from work as a BBC radio presenter, to being on Sky TV, to being a weekly and daily newspaper editor and meeting/interviewing multiple Prime Ministers and travel writing. This sounds awfully show-offy but the point I’m trying to make is where is the novel that was my entire goal?
If prevarication was an extreme sport I would be crowned the champion.
So my latest manuscript is a Word file on my laptop that only my best mate and my sister have read in full. It can’t be just me in this situation.. but it’s a good job I developed that resilience. Next week I’ll share my novel journey so far in more detail and also showcase another writer. I’d love to hear from you too.. Have a great week and don’t forget we are in it together
Nx
Upcoming events and opportunities
The Word festival in Blackpool is taking place next month from October 12-15. Just in its second year, visiting authors include Val McDermid, John Whaite Jack Meggitt-Phillips, Milly Johnson, A.J. Pearce, Ciannon Smart, Sophie Hannah, and Michael Davies.. and more. Entry fees vary.
The Bath Children’s Novel award for writers of children’s fiction is taking entries until November 30. The entry fee is £29
The annual Manchester and Salford Anarchists Book Fair takes place on Saturday November 4, from 10am to 4pm at the People’s History Museum, Bridge Street, Manchester. They are also looking for volunteers.
(Last minute reminder) The Women in Journalism Autumn 360 Networking Event takes place on September 25 at 6.30pm at the October Gallery, 24 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AL. The AGM will be held online via Zoom the next day, September 26 at 6.30pm. The website is HERE with more details about the not for profit organisation.
The Cliveden Literary Festival takes place on September 30 to October 1 at the stately home (of Profumo scandal fame) in Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF. Wide range of speakers including Emily Maitlis, Maggie O’Farrell and Simon Sebag-Montefiore.
If you would like me to include your books and writing or journalism related event or opportunity please email: writerejectrepeat@substack.com
Weekly writing prompt:Inspired by BBC North West on X
