charles barrow's writing

A cold winter walk through a grey London park was hugely brightened by this unexpected sight. A flash of emerald green, a visitor who stayed to make a home here, and very welcome too. Photo is the author's own.

Last week British author Brian Conaghan won the Costa Children’s Book Award for his third novel The Bombs That Brought Us Together. His first two novels remain unpublished (as yet). Brian has received over 200 rejections from agents and publishers but remained focussed on his goal which was simply to get a book published.  He describes himself as tenacious and stubborn, he says he kept writing because he felt he was probably getting better at it. That is already sounding like a major understatement. His book is now in the running to win the Costa Book of the Year award which will be awarded on January 31st. I wish him luck, and tip my hat to his talents and his tenacity.

So, 2017, what delights does she have in store? After the ‘couldn’t make it up’ events of last year I wouldn’t even hazard a guess. But I’m feeling quite relaxed about things. Throughout last year I felt pretty stressed about my writing - It’s taking too long, it should have been finished months ago, it’s a rubbish story and I’ve even written the rubbish badly - but I’ve decided on a calmer approach to my writing as a way forward. I’m going to take my time and do a thorough job, what’s the sense in rushing things and making mistakes? I want to find the fun again, I want to enjoy the process rather than resent it or be enslaved by it. So that’s my one and only resolution this year, relax and enjoy.