It’s been a little while since I’ve done an update on writing, my book or anything creative. I figured I’d use February’s blog to do just that.

The Murder of a Superhero

In August of last year, I shared my book with a handful of people. I’ve collated feedback and in the next couple of weeks will do one final edit. From there it’s a case of submitting the manuscript to literary agents. If one sees something of value, they will represent me and pitch the big publishing agencies to publish my book. That sounds straightforward, but there is inevitable rejection ahead and only a slimmer of hope that things pan out the way I’d love them to. To see my book in Waterstones soon I will need someone to back me.

Leeds Writing Group

On a weekly basis I jointly run a writing group in Leeds and have done so for three years. With two thousand members each week we can have as many as twenty to forty faces turn up. The concept is simple; turn up and start writing. With poets, novelists and screenwriters we create the environment needed to concentrate and work on passion projects. After the writing finishes, we go for a drink to socialise. This week we had one of our open mic nights where members attend to perform work. The picture of me at the top of the page is me co-hosting said event. I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t massively out of my comfort zone, stood before thirty people. Beer consumption was a definite ally.

The Rewards of Escaping the Comfort Zone

This week my workplace welcomed Ant Middleton of SAS: Who Dares Wins fame for a motivational talk. Like the little fanboy I am I eagerly listened from the audience. One part stuck with me the most surrounded bankable moments. Whether something goes right or wrong by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone you create a new space for yourself to grow. It’s an idea I’ve heard in different forms before. The idea you plant seeds before you know what they’re going to grow into.

I guess the purpose of this post is to reassure other people who also have creative hobbies. It’s hard work. Getting people to bother to read a post you’ve done or finding energy to write after work can be draining. Standing on a stage with an entire room’s attention on you is daunting. Online is a bubble where we only see people’s highlights, none of the boredom or grey behind the scenes. I want to be honest with people that while some outlets mentioned in this blog are going well, many don’t. Which posts work, which don’t. How many words to limit a blog post to. Balancing a million different outlets which are all time hoovers.

At the moment I’m just trying to create these bankable moments. Fail all the time but learn even when I do so. Sharing my work, writing posts that often sat unread, stand before a room on stage. To anyone with creative aspirations, all I can say is do it. You may fail but if you never push yourself, create bankable moments and learnings, nothing is going anywhere.

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