Write Reject Repeat turns 20 & Scottish author Julie Shackman says 'keep going!'
Opportunities & events including BBC Short Story and Young Writer awards, free journalism taster courses, Oxford Literary Festival, book publisher/influencer social
My dear wordsmiths,
Happy 20th edition of Write Reject Repeat! To celebrate, we have another best-selling author with us this week and she’s representing Scotland - no pressure. Julie Shackman is a journalist turned feel-good romance writer with five novels under her belt and a sixth due for release at the end of this month (One More Chapter - Harper Collins). She has some great advice and tips plus a Romanian dog called Cooper which certainly resonates with me. And don’t forget Write Reject Repeat also includes some great resources & opportunities for authors and journalists - admittedly you have to scroll to the final section of this newsletter but it’s worth it..
Just a little plea to consider recommending this newsletter if you are a fellow Substacker - I’m happy to recommend back. And please subscribe & share if not already as this is still a young newsletter and I need all the support I can get to leap upwards and onwards - I didn’t launch with a massive mailing list like so many and need the help of this community. You can also follow me via socials (I’m better at some than others..) They are all on here..
Anyway, how are you? Have you started the year with a bang or are you re-starting it now as I plan to? I was never the best at resolutions and now the frost has set in and the skies are blue, the shire is looking beautiful so it’s much more tempting to leave the house for some fresh air than sit and write words. The top image is is sunset at Beacon Fell looking across to Morecambe Bay (it’s 10 minutes from my house - you can see it out of my windows) so you can understand why I prevaricate. Or maybe I’ll rename these sojourns my ‘plot walks’ as I do think better in the fresh air!
Work started busily with back into BOOKY podcast planning & recording and planning editorial strategy for 2024 across our city world titles (in my day job I manage editors of titles across the north for National World brands - think Yorkshire Evening Post, Sheffield Star, Manchester World, Blackpool Gazette etc. x 9) and I was working at the weekend. As I write we still haven’t taken our Christmas tree down (I know it should have been down days ago) But I’m not mad about it. I’m also loving all the new year TV series - the adaptation of Harlen Coban’s Fool Me Once is great. But it’s all distracting me.. some things never change. I need to take Julie’s wise advice..
Meet..author Julie Shackman
Julie Shackman is a best-selling feel-good romance author with the HarperCollins imprint One More Chapter. She has had five novels published with them to date and her sixth, The Bookshop by the Loch, is out in EB and audio on January 31 and in paperback on February 1. Julie has written ten novels in total and been shortlisted for a number of short story and poetry competitions. She also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. The Bookshop by the Loch is available for pre-order HERE.
‘You need to be able to write but you also need to stick with it, take on advice and keep going.’
Julie Shackman
Tell us about you
I trained as a journalist and studied Communication and Media , but I always wanted to write feel-good romance. I'm obsessed with books! I live in Scotland and have two grown up sons.
How did you first develop an interest in writing?
I've always loved reading and grew up surrounded by books. I was awful at Maths at school, but seemed to have a talent for English and creative writing and my late Mum and grandparents encouraged me. I loved to day dream and lose myself in my imagination. I've received so many rejections over the years from publishers and agents, I could've literally decorated my bathroom with them and even though I really did feel like giving up on a few occasions, I'm so glad I listened to my Mum, who always used to say, "Never give up."
What do you consider your biggest achievement so far?
I think my biggest achievement so far, is seeing two of my books stocked in Sainsburys! It was almost surreal, seeing my novels on the shelves and people on social media, taking pictures of them and sending them to me. I'd often stroll past the book shelves in supermarkets and wonder what it would feel like, to see my own work nestled there, beside so many talented writers. Dreams can and do come true!
Who is your writing hero?
There are a few authors that I really admire, but in particular, Jennie Colgan and Trisha Ashley. They craft such wonderful characters, breathing so much life into them and their descriptions are beautiful. I find when I'm reading any of their books, I just lose myself between the pages and hate when I reach the end. If I could reach the writing standard and heights they have, I'd be thrilled.
What gives you the most joy?
It's when readers reach out to me and tell me how much they love my books and that they made them laugh, cry and just feel better. Other times, readers have said they've fallen in love with my hero, which is one of the biggest compliments and that they felt like they were there and living the story alongside my characters. Receiving feedback like that, really does make all the slaving over the keyboard worthwhile.
What would be your dream career high?
To have one of my books adapted for film or TV. That would be incredible. Screenwriting is such a unique talent, I wouldn't even begin to try and adapt one of my novels myself. So if there are any TV or film production companies out there who might be interested, please feel free to get in touch!!!
Top advice and tips
‘All it takes is one person to say yes’
Julie Shackman
Perseverance - It might sound a bit of a cliche, but I was once told, "A published writer is an unpublished writer who never gave up" and that helped me, when more rejections were flying into my in box.
You need to be able to write but you also need to stick with it, take on advice and keep going. All it takes is one person to say yes. There are SO many authors out there, who will readily tell you about the avalanche of rejection letters and emails they received, before they were accepted by an agent or publisher and a so-called "overnight success" often takes years to achieve. So don't compare yourself to other writers. Just read a lot, write a lot and don't give up. If you want it badly enough, it will happen.
Write what you can, when you can - I used to beat myself up if I didn't get at least 1k words written every day, but now I've come to accept that life can and does get in the way. If I have a day where I feel I haven't been as productive, I usually make up for it the next. I always carry a notebook around with me and lots of pens, so that if inspiration strikes or I want to push on with my WIP, I can. Like most writers, I'm a stationery obsessive!
Writer's Block - If I find I'm struggling to write or push on with a certain chapter or part of my story, I'll take a long walk or play music. Often, I find I'm at my most imaginative when I'm walking Cooper, our little Romanian rescue pup. Being out in the fresh air definitely helps. Or like I said, listening to music and lyrics is great too. If I try to force ideas or inspiration, it doesn't work.
Julie's latest book, The Bookshop by the Loch, is available here to pre-order now, published by the HarperCollins imprint One More Chapter. It's out in EB and audio on 31 January and in paperback on 1 February.
You can reach out to Julie on her social media platforms here:
Website: julie.shackman.co.uk
X (formerly Twitter) @G13Julie
Instagram - Julie Georgina Shackman
Facebook - Julie Georgina Shackman
Thanks so much to Julie!
News, events and opportunities for writers and journalists
BBC National Short Story Award & BBC Young Writers Award: Submissions opened this week for The BBC National Short Story Awards with Cambridge University and the BBC Young Writer’s Award with Cambridge University.
The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, and four further shortlisted authors £600 each. Radio and TV presenter Paddy O’Connell, host of Radio 4’s Broadcasting House and co-host of the weekend edition of the BBC’s popular Newscast podcast, will chair this year’s BBC NSSA judging panel. The deadline for entries is 9am (GMT) on March 18, 2024.
BBC Young Writers Awards: 2024 mark the 10th anniversary of the BBC YWA, which is open to 14-18 year-olds. BBC Radio 1 Presenter Katie Thistleton returns as Chair of Judges for the YWA for the seventh time. The deadline for entries to the BBC YWA is 9am (GMT) on Monday March 25, 2024.
Book influencer and publisher social (online): Aimed at booksellers, librarians and book bloggers, the Northern Fiction Alliance is holding this event which will see multiple northern publishers - including Saraband, Comma Press, And Other Stories & more - present their latest 2024 books and run giveaways. Thursday March 28 at 7pm
Free journalism workshops - News Associates: If you’re interested in a career in journalism these free, hands-on workshops will give you a glimpse into the industry and NCTJ training on offer by News Associates. Offered in person in London and remotely, the same session is offered on multiple dates. Suitable for those looking to get into news, sport, online or broadcast journalism.
Oxford Literary Festival: Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Oxford Literary Festival, which takes place March 16-24. The 2024 programme looks to the authoritative voices at home and from around the world to debate and tackle head on the issues of the day. With a commitment to freedom of speech, the festival hosts speakers from all sides of opinion and events to boldly tackle controversial topics as well as the well-trodden paths of discussion. There’s a huge lineup - from Ruby Wax to Dame Jacqueline Wilson plus Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves team up to discuss the importance of place.
Seven sources of free images for journalism: As every journalist knows, every story needs a picture. This article at journalism.co.uk suggests where journalists can obtain rights-free images for use in articles.
Hope you enjoyed & don’t forget to share!
If you have journalism or writing event or opportunities you would like me to promote please get in touch! Have a lovely week, Nicola xoxo