Dealing with failure

It's not always easy!

I always joke that the thing I’m best at is dealing with failure. I’m used to being knocked back, and I pride myself on my ability to pick myself up, brush myself off and start again. One of my favourite podcasts is How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, because I see the value in learning from the things that didn’t go to plan. Some people might call me determined. My mum would call me contrary. Either way, my mantra (taken from Dory in Finding Nemo) is “just keep swimming”.

But sometimes it’s hard, isn’t it?

Every writer knows that this business needs thick skin. We have to be resilient. And I am. I take criticism, listen to suggestions, make edits. I understand when my ideas aren’t right for the market, or for my publisher, or for me. I have written two novels that went on submission and didn’t sell, and another that no one even wanted to submit. And every time I shrug off the disappointment and I just keep going.

This week, though, I got a rejection from something that I really, really wanted. Something I’ve wanted all my adult life. I thought I had a good shot at it. But it turned out that I didn’t – I didn’t even get past the first round.

So my confidence, my self-belief and my pride have all taken a knock, at a time when I’m feeling a little fragile anyway. It’s been a hard week.

I’ve had a few days to think about it all now, and here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to focus on writing my next books and coming up with fabulous ideas. At the moment I’m learning about my grandmother Jess (in the picture above) who was in the WAAF, and my friend’s grandmother Edna who was a firefighter in the Blitz, to inspire stories. Talk about resilience? They could teach me

a thing or two!

And I’m going to remind you all that my new book Victory for the Sewing Factory Girls is released digitally one week today (June 20). The paperback will follow in November.

What I’m reading

I’m currently racing to the end of The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne by Freya North. I am loving it.

I’ve always enjoyed Freya North’s writing since the days of Cat, Sally and Chloe and the others, and this is a great story. I also love the 90s setting. It’s a really lovely read.

What I’m watching

Last night I watched the last episode of Inside No 9. It’s been one of my absolute favourite TV shows in recent years. I have all the scripts and I think it’s a brilliant bit of telly, storytelling and writing. Reece Sheersmith and Steve Pemberton are very clever.

The last episode was funny and understated and generally spot-on. Now I’m going to go back and rewatch them all from the beginning.