Monday 19 September 2011

Taking the Plunge and telling the World!

So after obsessively looking at my roses on the New Voices competition website, and being quite happy with both the roses and the comments I finally took the plunge and told my immediate world about both my website and thus my blog!

I mean it's one thing to have strangers staring at your words when they randomly find you, or other writers who are understanding of what it takes to put yourself out there.  But knowing that people you know, that you talk to on a (semi) regular basis will see the demons that lurk in your brain, is a pretty scary prospect.  What I've learned about myself recently is, I don't care what they think (well not in this regards, I love my friends and family and their opinions always matter to me).  But I'm happy and proud of myself for doing this.  I've written a short story(approx. 10,000 words), a novella (approx. 25k) and now am attempting a novel which should be about 60k, I'm currently 8,000 words in and I think that's a pretty damn good effort for someone who has no idea what she's doing!

I've been fortunate enough to have support from the people I have told, and I've met a bunch of wonderful people in similar situations to me, all trying their damnedest to make their dreams a reality.

To all the ladies (and one man, I know of) who have submitted a chapter to New Voices congratulate yourself on making it this far.  To all the mentors, readers, writers, editors who have taken the time to comment and engage with us, thank you.

Hmm, now I think it's time I got a bit closer to that 60k mark!

x M

5 comments:

Nas said...

All the best for your NV entry!

Julie-Anne Carter said...

hey Mel.... just want to leave a comment for you here as well... I loved your entry. It's fantastic.. I am green with envy that you have been writing for such a short time.

There's no doubt you'll get published...

great effort...and best of luck

julie-anne

Mel Jolley said...

Nas, thank you so much for your kind words. ;-)

Julie-Anne, wow, really sweet of you to say, you have me blushing. You've also caught me when I've had good news, so I feel I'm really not wasting my time on this writing lark. I've just found out I've placed third on 'Pitch your First Page' contest with Breathless Press. It's only my first short story 'Feral', so needless to say BUZZING! lol. X M

Mel Jolley said...

Ooh forgot to say thanks for reading and commenting! I really appreciate it! X M

Nas said...

Go you for the second round now! Fingers crossed for you!