Miracles Do Happen


Hello fellow writers, forgive me for being so late today! It seems crazy that I have a whole month to prepare for my post yet I seem to leave it until the last minute. To be honest I tend to write the post only a day or two before it's due because I like to share my heart with you in ‘almost’ real-time! Well, this is ‘real’ real-time!


Some of you may have noticed I’ve been a little off-grid as of late, not that I’m a huge chatterbox on social media, (I know, I know, I need to get out there!) and so I thought I would share with you why and this time, it’s not family dramas – though they can be quite fun to write!!


You see, a miracle happened. A month or two ago I took part in the ACW Writing for Children Zoom Day and, though I was a little nervous, I absolutely loved it. The opportunity to share my experience was great but, even better, was the opportunity to “meet’ new and old ACW friends (goodness I’ve missed those writers’ days!).


A week or so following this event, I received a call from a commissioning editor asking me if I would like to write a book for them and so, to cut a long story short (ha ha!), I have been incredibly busy preparing proposals for two books; one fiction and one non-fiction. A miracle indeed! 


This whole experience has taught me a few lessons and I thought I’d share them with you:


Get into the habit of saying “Yes!” I have Wendy Jones to thank for this one! I attended one of her many inspirational talks and her advice to say "Yes!" stuck with me.

Kill all thoughts of Imposter Syndrome. If you’re asked to take part in something it’s because you have something to offer. (My boss taught me that one when I popped into his office to tell him I’d been asked to speak about writing for children and yet I wasn’t even published! Will I be found out?!!)

Writing a synopsis before one has written the book is a lot harder, especially if you’re the sort of writer who likes their story to unfold and emerge as you write it. However, it’s refreshingly rewarding (and possible!).

If you think writing a chapter will take one day, double it. It will probably take you two days!

Just do it. (Both Nike and Richard Branson are fans of this small but effective phrase, though Richard Branson’s own version is a little ruder)

Miracles are real.


That’s all for today, folks. Xx


Comments

  1. Well done, Nikki! (And I really enjoyed your input to the writing day.)

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    1. Thank you, Susan. It was really good fun, wasn't it?!

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  2. Amen to this! I'm also in a similar situation of having been offered some writing work rather unexpectedly and thinking - really? Are you sure I'm good enough? They wouldn't ask us unless they thought we could do it!

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    1. That's brilliant news and very exciting! And, yes you ARE good enough!

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  3. Thank you so much. This is much-needed encouragement and I will take your message to heart and get into the habit of saying, "Yes."

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    1. Brilliant! Sometimes, I find that if I overthink something I'm more likely to say no. Whereas, sometimes you've just got to go with it! If God is in it, it will all work out!

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  4. This is brilliant news! Well done, Nikki. Inspirational post :)

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  5. Oh Nikki, great great news!!!! And I knew you would have a book coming up. I could see it. Delighted for you!!

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    1. I'm very excited and teensy bit terrified!!!

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  6. Fantastic news, and OF COURSE you can do it.

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  7. This is the most marvellous news, Nikki! I'm delighted for you :D

    I have to ask what the books are? I love your blog posts so I can only imagine how good your books will be. Well done you!!! 😃👏x

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    1. Ooh, thank you, Martin. I'm writing a non fiction with a friend about confidence for teens and then a couple of teen stories encompassing various social and cultural themes. Xx

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  8. Congratulations Nikki! Also, I loved you upbeat blog post. Very inspiring, thank you!

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  9. Wonderful news, Nikki. Well done! Many congratulations 💐🎊🎈xx

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  10. Thank you, Debs! And, to you too!!! Xx

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