Ros, you are one of the best writers I know. I NEVER re-read books yet I’ve re-read all of yours at least 3 times. For what it is worth I deeply admire you, your tenacity, your ability to overcome the odds and if I had the resources I would happily support you financially. I’d be interested in hearing what you need and what difference it would make to getting yr next novel published as that has to be the goal. What the heck can be done about that? Mail 100m’s of copies of Nothing Becoming to famous authors? Anyway, I’m sure we could find a good number of your friends and Substack followers who could put together between us a fund. I think more than the finance it might help you feel that extra lift form all the people that know how good you are. Could a group of us get together to brainstorm a plan to get Mary Evans published? I’ve no idea but am happy to do whatever. Anyway, you lovely woman, I feel deeply humbled to know you a little more than many and I cannot believe why no-one has picked up Mary Evans. It seems you like the EFT stuff and are pretty good at it and I think you should do more of that on 1 to 1’s. I know you’ve said to me on the past that you no longer it but you can easily earn £75 and hour. I paid that woman in Hereford £95 for 1.5 hours but really not sure it has had any effect. I’d for sure pay you the same and am even more sure it would be more effective. I would love to do monthly sessions like I do for my body physically with my sports injury therapist. Well I know this despair will pass. Keep writing, keep sending out stuff to papers and magazines and keep being you. If you don’t have a YouTube channel maybe you should create one, find an angle…
The route to getting my existing novel (or the next one) published is the same as it's been for decades: get it into the best possible shape for a publisher, hand it an agent who is passionate about it and will champion me and my work (my current agent fits the bill) and then hope it lands on the desk of someone who is wowed by it and in a position to say yes and sign off a good advance. There is no other way for lit fic That is the route.
The fact is, the book I have spent a decade on is just too large for the market, cannot be sold as a trilogy or duology, and needs to be reduced by 50% to be commercially viable, so that is the task ahead.
Financially, the dream would be to have enough income to pay off my mortgage; I have 18 months left, and some extra borrowing on it that has to be settled. That way, at least, I wouldn't have to wonder whether I am going to have to give up the house, which would break my heart.
Yes, I will probably need to start offering 1:1 EFT. And it's good, useful work. (I'm sorry your local practitioner wasn't very good. They're always quite mixed, in my experience).
But it is also another fracturing of attention, the hour here and there, breaking me away from the deep focus that writing requires. And I am already split in so many directions. This has been my issue for a long, long time. I just want to write, and not have to scrabble for cash.
The RLF grant will keep me going for a couple of months (on top of my Substack income), and I'll be seeking another grant or two early next year. But yes, maybe crowdfunding to aid the next book, if needs be.
Well, all I can say, Ros, is "What the f*ck - when is it going to bloody end?" Your raw honesty captures that scream into the night brilliantly. Cut the damn book by 50% - it will be brilliant. You are a writer - a wonderful writer. You are going to be one of those 'overnight success stories', and you can laugh like a drain and say, "Yeah, Right, Ha Bloody Ha Ha."
I’m very positively hoping that there is a very bright future ahead for you, Ros. There is still plenty of time for your wonderful writing to receive the acknowledgment it deserves. I understand your feelings of despair as I have had a difficult life myself, although in a different way. It’s a long hard slog and we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t sometimes react like this to life’s adversities. I became a disabled NHS employee trying to hold onto my profession while bringing up teenagers alone, so I do understand. Sending a hug and lots of love. You have climbed many mountains before, and I’m sure you will climb this one too xx
Some but not enough success may be more cruel than none at all. I hope there’s solace in the recognition that you can’t do anything else because you know yourself.
Best writing on Substack. Very few others can keep it this real, and certainly can't sustain it to this high a level. Whatever happens to literature will happen, but the pendulum swings
As a writer, I deeply appreciate how this essay stakes the stark truth about a writing career, the one I always aspired to but lacked the courage and self-confidence to undertake. Hang on. Hope on.
Thank you, Don. I truly appreciate your support. It has been a hard road to tread, but it always felt like the only road for me, so taking it didn't feel like something I was choosing, but like it was choosing me.
Wondering if Gurdeep would say no effort is ever wasted, whether in this life, the next or the next? Have been listening to and reading Viv Albertine (The Slits) and love how she says sometimes it takes ages for excellent work to 'surface' - she tells herself it is her job to stick around long enough in this life to see it through.
This was a really honest and heart breaking summery of a creative career in todays climate Ros. I try to be positive but the future scares me. Like someone said, we are all artists til rent is due. So many people with dreams and creations that are not seeing the light of day because art requires time and contemplation and that is hard if you work full time and have family obligations. We lose the gifts of people! I really don’t have the answer but I trust you will get your book out in the world.
Oh Ros! [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No1 concerning silver clouds or something]
How awful for you! [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No2 concerning this too and shallow passing or something]
I'm now experiencing vicarious writerly depression [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No3 concerning halving problems and something]
But seriously (I was actually being serious) you may be on the brink of breakthrough, again, or you may not; either way you are an exceptional woman, writer, talent, and all round worthwhile person. Please hang in there until the wind shifts.
I’m so sorry this is a tough patch. I would say two things, though I am really unqualified to comment…trust the turning of the Solstice and any dreams you have tonight. Also, I’ve read more books this year than ever before, and I don’t believe literature is dead!
That's heartening. I would love to see a backlash against screens/reduced attention spans and a return to reading. Our culture is so impoverished by fewer people reading books. We have Burning the Clocks here in Brighton tonight for the Winter Solstice and I shall light a candle and burn something myself, I think.
Re yr specific ideas I’d love to delve into poetry and learn more about how it works and how to appreciate it. I know what I like but I’ve never been happy with lit crit approaches to appreciating poetry.
Ros, totally feel you on all this. I have an idea for you: how about serializing a novel, perhaps starting on Substack? Charles Dickens did it…Or a poem a day from the archives? You have devoted readers and kind souls here on Substack… and probably a wide community from teaching… Just brainstorming here. And sending love and HOPE
Don’t think I haven’t thought about those things, Christine. But neither suggestion would lead to a book deal or financial security.
People have already proved that serialising novels doesn’t work anymore; very few people want to read fiction that way. It would be like throwing a novel in the bin; I wouldn’t do it to myself.
Occasional bouts of despair are a standard hazard for the profession. The only path is faith, courage, grit, and continue, trusting that all will be well.
If I knew how, Professor Dig. I dearly wish to. I meditate every day, seeking guidance, and for the last three weeks, though I was raised an atheist, I have been praying.
I know you've got this, Ros. Just keep writing, we need you ❤️
I will, Kathie, until the lights go out. Thank you. 💜
Ros, you are one of the best writers I know. I NEVER re-read books yet I’ve re-read all of yours at least 3 times. For what it is worth I deeply admire you, your tenacity, your ability to overcome the odds and if I had the resources I would happily support you financially. I’d be interested in hearing what you need and what difference it would make to getting yr next novel published as that has to be the goal. What the heck can be done about that? Mail 100m’s of copies of Nothing Becoming to famous authors? Anyway, I’m sure we could find a good number of your friends and Substack followers who could put together between us a fund. I think more than the finance it might help you feel that extra lift form all the people that know how good you are. Could a group of us get together to brainstorm a plan to get Mary Evans published? I’ve no idea but am happy to do whatever. Anyway, you lovely woman, I feel deeply humbled to know you a little more than many and I cannot believe why no-one has picked up Mary Evans. It seems you like the EFT stuff and are pretty good at it and I think you should do more of that on 1 to 1’s. I know you’ve said to me on the past that you no longer it but you can easily earn £75 and hour. I paid that woman in Hereford £95 for 1.5 hours but really not sure it has had any effect. I’d for sure pay you the same and am even more sure it would be more effective. I would love to do monthly sessions like I do for my body physically with my sports injury therapist. Well I know this despair will pass. Keep writing, keep sending out stuff to papers and magazines and keep being you. If you don’t have a YouTube channel maybe you should create one, find an angle…
Have a good Christmas love. Sx
The route to getting my existing novel (or the next one) published is the same as it's been for decades: get it into the best possible shape for a publisher, hand it an agent who is passionate about it and will champion me and my work (my current agent fits the bill) and then hope it lands on the desk of someone who is wowed by it and in a position to say yes and sign off a good advance. There is no other way for lit fic That is the route.
The fact is, the book I have spent a decade on is just too large for the market, cannot be sold as a trilogy or duology, and needs to be reduced by 50% to be commercially viable, so that is the task ahead.
Financially, the dream would be to have enough income to pay off my mortgage; I have 18 months left, and some extra borrowing on it that has to be settled. That way, at least, I wouldn't have to wonder whether I am going to have to give up the house, which would break my heart.
Yes, I will probably need to start offering 1:1 EFT. And it's good, useful work. (I'm sorry your local practitioner wasn't very good. They're always quite mixed, in my experience).
But it is also another fracturing of attention, the hour here and there, breaking me away from the deep focus that writing requires. And I am already split in so many directions. This has been my issue for a long, long time. I just want to write, and not have to scrabble for cash.
The RLF grant will keep me going for a couple of months (on top of my Substack income), and I'll be seeking another grant or two early next year. But yes, maybe crowdfunding to aid the next book, if needs be.
Well, all I can say, Ros, is "What the f*ck - when is it going to bloody end?" Your raw honesty captures that scream into the night brilliantly. Cut the damn book by 50% - it will be brilliant. You are a writer - a wonderful writer. You are going to be one of those 'overnight success stories', and you can laugh like a drain and say, "Yeah, Right, Ha Bloody Ha Ha."
I’m very positively hoping that there is a very bright future ahead for you, Ros. There is still plenty of time for your wonderful writing to receive the acknowledgment it deserves. I understand your feelings of despair as I have had a difficult life myself, although in a different way. It’s a long hard slog and we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t sometimes react like this to life’s adversities. I became a disabled NHS employee trying to hold onto my profession while bringing up teenagers alone, so I do understand. Sending a hug and lots of love. You have climbed many mountains before, and I’m sure you will climb this one too xx
Thank you, Maureen. Yes, there is still time, though as another commenter wrote, 'the tunnel is narrowing'. I have to stay positive. xx
Some but not enough success may be more cruel than none at all. I hope there’s solace in the recognition that you can’t do anything else because you know yourself.
I'm honestly glad I've had *some*. I think I would be in a much worse state if I hadn't!
Best writing on Substack. Very few others can keep it this real, and certainly can't sustain it to this high a level. Whatever happens to literature will happen, but the pendulum swings
Thank you, Carl. I appreciate your support so much. Let's hope it swings in my direction next year.
As a writer, I deeply appreciate how this essay stakes the stark truth about a writing career, the one I always aspired to but lacked the courage and self-confidence to undertake. Hang on. Hope on.
Thank you, Don. I truly appreciate your support. It has been a hard road to tread, but it always felt like the only road for me, so taking it didn't feel like something I was choosing, but like it was choosing me.
Hope you get your Christmas wish, but damn it makes for good stories. Hoping for less tragedies moving forward.
Wondering if Gurdeep would say no effort is ever wasted, whether in this life, the next or the next? Have been listening to and reading Viv Albertine (The Slits) and love how she says sometimes it takes ages for excellent work to 'surface' - she tells herself it is her job to stick around long enough in this life to see it through.
This was a really honest and heart breaking summery of a creative career in todays climate Ros. I try to be positive but the future scares me. Like someone said, we are all artists til rent is due. So many people with dreams and creations that are not seeing the light of day because art requires time and contemplation and that is hard if you work full time and have family obligations. We lose the gifts of people! I really don’t have the answer but I trust you will get your book out in the world.
Oh Ros! [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No1 concerning silver clouds or something]
How awful for you! [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No2 concerning this too and shallow passing or something]
I'm now experiencing vicarious writerly depression [insert meaningless but helpfully intentioned meme No3 concerning halving problems and something]
But seriously (I was actually being serious) you may be on the brink of breakthrough, again, or you may not; either way you are an exceptional woman, writer, talent, and all round worthwhile person. Please hang in there until the wind shifts.
I’m so sorry this is a tough patch. I would say two things, though I am really unqualified to comment…trust the turning of the Solstice and any dreams you have tonight. Also, I’ve read more books this year than ever before, and I don’t believe literature is dead!
That's heartening. I would love to see a backlash against screens/reduced attention spans and a return to reading. Our culture is so impoverished by fewer people reading books. We have Burning the Clocks here in Brighton tonight for the Winter Solstice and I shall light a candle and burn something myself, I think.
Re yr specific ideas I’d love to delve into poetry and learn more about how it works and how to appreciate it. I know what I like but I’ve never been happy with lit crit approaches to appreciating poetry.
I'll definitely include poetry; a few people have said they are up for this.
Ros, totally feel you on all this. I have an idea for you: how about serializing a novel, perhaps starting on Substack? Charles Dickens did it…Or a poem a day from the archives? You have devoted readers and kind souls here on Substack… and probably a wide community from teaching… Just brainstorming here. And sending love and HOPE
Don’t think I haven’t thought about those things, Christine. But neither suggestion would lead to a book deal or financial security.
People have already proved that serialising novels doesn’t work anymore; very few people want to read fiction that way. It would be like throwing a novel in the bin; I wouldn’t do it to myself.
Occasional bouts of despair are a standard hazard for the profession. The only path is faith, courage, grit, and continue, trusting that all will be well.
Faith, courage, grit and trust. That’s a great recipe for going on in 2026. May the writing gods beam sunshine upon your path.
If I knew how, Professor Dig. I dearly wish to. I meditate every day, seeking guidance, and for the last three weeks, though I was raised an atheist, I have been praying.