Shortlisting success
I am thrilled to have had my novella-in-flash First, Do No Harm shortlisted in the Weatherglass Inaugural Novella Award, with final judging for the winner from Ali Smith. There were 150-plus novellas submitted, and 5 reached the shortlist.
This is the third time this little book has been shortlisted. It's also had "near-misses" with three publishers - rejected with personal notes - over the past few years. So each time it's come back to me I have taken a good hard look at it, tried to work out what's not working or what could be done better, what's essential to the story and what isn't, and have reworked some of it.
I used to hate editing and only loved the process of creating the story in its very early stages. These days I now really enjoy editing, and have realised that it's every bit as much "writing" as the initial creating.
I've had writing friends congratulate me on the shortlisting - thank you all! - and some have also congratulated me on my persistence. And that's probably the key - the willingness to keep taking something back to its bones and its intention, and trying to make sure that all rings true.
So I'm crossing fingers for the next stage of judging, and beginning to think of the next project...
Press release in The Bookseller, 4 March 2024.