The art of prevarication, fear of failure and why Strictly Come Dancing is to blame
Testing out the first writer chat on myself PLUS don't miss bookish news, writing events and opportunities
Hello my fellow wordsmiths,
How are you? I can’t believe Strictly Come Dancing is back already and with it, the only available gap left in my schedule for writing queries and endlessly re-drafting my novel. Nobody can say I’m not committed to prevarication. The other available spaces in my schedule are busy with - day job and normal day to day stuff aside - reading, watching You Tube videos, eating crisps, rearranging my desk area, selling clothes on second hand sites, buying more, stressing about money, talking to the sheep and cows in the next field along, complaining I’m getting fatter and not going to the gym. The games I play with my head writing-wise are endless. And this in particular is the worst phase - the rejection phase or, as I call it, endless head-fookery.
The book is written, the sensible spreadsheet for rejections and feedback is in place, but after the initial surge of enthusiasm - and four rejections later - I’ve told myself the manuscript is not genius but terrible after all. I’ve convinced myself I’m not interesting or marketable, they only want 20 year old social media types off Love Island, married to movie stars, models, or people from London, Mars or the outer Hebrides. So my 20 plus years of writing novels, learning my craft and story-telling are absolutely pointless; I should actually have poured a can of paint over my head and gone viral on Tik Tok - it would have left more time for crisps.
In other words I have a serious case of self-doubt, a terrible fear of failure and a tendency to over-think it. If you are similar - you are in the ‘write’ place. See what I did there? Groan. It’s been a long week. But did you know this syndrome even has a name- atychiphobia - Wikipedia tells me. I wonder if I can get a sick note with that?
Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) or fear of failure, also known as atychiphobia, is a psychological construct reflecting "apprehension about others' evaluations, distress over negative evaluations by others, and the expectation that others would evaluate one negatively".
Anyway, it’s been a busy week with 100mph work stress following the excitement of the wedding , the mini-moons and Paris (see last week’s newsletter) so querying has been pushed to the back of my mind, with just occasional binges of stalking social for “I’ve got a three book deal with film options in a six way auction” type posts so I can self-flagellate myself for failing. Please tell me I’m not alone..
It’s September (you knew that) which means it’s events season and as a newspaper editor (I’m actually digital only now - it’s complicated) I get invited to a lot of things - which I am very lucky and privileged to be able to do but can get a little overwhelming - not least when you are trying to rotate a selection of ‘out out’ dresses. I literally have to check pictures from the year(s) before to make sure I’m not outfit repeating my ASOS specials. But talking of Strictly, I do have one talent which is not dancing but happens to be getting random photographs with celebrities. It just so happens my big event last week was at Blackpool Tower Ballroom under the original glitterballs and the host was - Brendan of Strictly fame. So naturally..
Writer chat: Meet journalist and writer Nicola Adam (that’s me!)
Testing, testing.. It only seemed fair to test out my very first writer chat on myself but it’s you I really want. Writers and journalists - whether you are starting out on your writing journey, applying for your first reporting job, going freelance or winning the Booker prize - all welcome.
To take part all I need is a fetching picture of you (book cover too if appropriate), any relevant links and answers in the following format. Please try to write 500-700 words max - and interpret questions as you will.
Please email to nicolakadam@gmail.com marked WRITER CHAT in the header
WHO are you? (Tell us about you and your books/writing/role but also as a person)
WHAT (tell us your goal as a writer/journalist)
WHERE (where did it all start for you?)
WHY are you/do you want be a writer/journalism)
WHEN (can we read your work, buy your book, do you start your course, will you finish your manuscript)
HOW (Tips here for others - how start writing/get published
BONUS QUESTION : What are you reading now?
Here’s mine:
I’m Nicola Adam and I’m a journalist and querying author - and I run Write Reject Repeat. I live in the wilds of the Lancashire countryside with my husband and random wildlife. My recent marriage means I’m now step-mum to two young grown-ups, so I missed the tough bit. My day job is Publishing Editor at National World PLC - which is a meaningless title but what it actually means is I line manage editors and lead editorial strategy for titles across the north of England, from the Sheffield Star, to the Yorkshire Post, to the Sunderland Echo - this also includes the Lancashire Post and Blackpool Gazette where I used to be the editor myself so I have a soft spot for them. I’m also a former crime reporter and columnist and was a radio presenter at BBC Radio Lancashire where I had a weekly show for two years. Earlier this year I took part in Sky Max’s Hold the Front page with Nish Kumar and Josh Widdecombe. I like crisps.
I became a journalist with the express goal of writing - it seemed the nearest to my long-held ambition of becoming an author and I was interested in the world. 20 years later I have climbed up the journalism ladder and barely write in my day job these days (I do still write travel reviews and also opinion) and my dream of traditionally published fiction author-dom has not yet come to pass - although I do co-write ‘Lancashire’s Most Notorious Murders’ more than a decade ago. I’ve written 2.5 novels and spent a lot of years learning my craft and I’m always willing to learn. I know my current manuscript is saleable but you also need luck and timing so newsletter is also a support group!
My love of words started as a child with her nose in a book, any book, to escape from a world I did not fit into. I learned how to live every aspect of my life from fiction and I learned how to craft the rhythm of a sentence and to exploit my imagination through stories. As a result of my excessive reading my vocabulary is extensive - and very random.
My goal is to write a novel every single e person wants to read, to tell stories that make the soul sing and you cannot put down. I want tears. And I want to be on those tables at the front of Waterstones at Christmas.
I am currently querying my novel, which is a dual timeline contemporary/wartime fiction inspired in part by real events. It’s told through the diary of a young girl in wartime and the current day journal of a woman grieving the loss of her unborn child but is essentially un uplifting story of triumph in adversity, with commentary on class, expectation and finding happiness. The location is very much a character in itself - it’s Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
I am hoping to help and inspire other writers and journalists through this newsletter. But my top tip for actually completing a manuscript, article or feature is write the bloody thing. I do see the irony of this advice coming from the queen of procrastination - but it’s accurate.
I’m just about to read The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith as it landed on my mat yesterday (or rather my neighbour up the road’s mat - typical) Because Joanne Rowling knows how to write a story! The rest of my TBR pile is being shoved aside for this. Obviously, this is my latest prevarication.. That and Strictly.
Events, opportunities & bookish happenings
The Cheltenham Literary Festival: The longest running festival of its type in the world, Cheltenham Literature Festival takes place from October 6-15. Literary names for 2023 include Brian Cox, Jojo Moyes, Elizabeth Day, Charlie Mackesy, Sadiq Khan, Liv Little, David Mitchell, Heather Morris, Tim Peake, Clive Myrie, Yomi Adegoke among others.
Arvon writing courses: Arvon is a charity that runs creative writing courses, events and retreats both in-person and online, often tutored by successful writers. Grants and concessions are available to help with course fees.
Curtis Brown scholarship: Best-selling crime writer Gillian McAllister is funding a Novel-Writing Scholarship for writers with low income on the London-based Writing Your Novel – Three Months course via agency Curtis Brown. Teaching, workshops and tutorials will take place in London on Wednesday evenings with tuition from critically acclaimed author Ali Shaw. This course features masterclasses from literary agents and top publishers. The course will run from 15 Nov 2023 to 13 Mar 2024 - deadline for applications is October 29.
Life as a journalist -NCTJ: If you are interested in becoming a journalist, the NCTJ is a great place to start. With resources to help you find out more about what life as a journalist is like, from Q&As with journalists in a range of roles to information on salaries and the different types of journalism.
Meet Alan Partridge: Steve Coogan’s alter ego Alan Partridge will celebrate the launch of his new book Big Beacon at a special one-off event at Waterstones at the Trafford Centre, Manchester on Monday October 9 at 6:30pm.