*Pre-orders are SO helpful for debut novelists as they signal to booksellers that something is popular, which means more exposure in shops and online. If Gold Rush sounds like something you might be interested in, you can pre-order it here*
Hello everyone! I am so sorry that it has taken me a while to get back to this. As you may know, my debut novel, Gold Rush, is being published very soon (18 July!) and, as a result, my focus has mostly been on that.
But now that the book is almost birthed, I fully intend on getting back to business over here. And I want to start off by sharing some things I’ve learned in the process of writing a novel. Because I’m often asked about the process and there is a LOT I wish I’d known beforehand. Here goes:
You can’t write a novel if you refuse to write a word
This might sound obvious. But I meet so many people who get stuck at the first hurdle, and can’t seem to put a word on the page. Generally, this is out of fear and a lack of self-belief. But I’m telling you, pushing past that is part of the process. No one starts a novel thinking it’s the most fantastic thing that has ever been written. And you will probably start yours by thinking it’s dire. That’s fine and normal. But if you want to actually write something decent in the end, you need to leave your ego at the door and keep going. It will get better, trust me.
Don’t worry if you’re taking inspiration from real life
I’ve been fairly open about the parts of Gold Rush that have been inspired by my own life, most notably in this piece for The Sunday Times, but this is never an entirely straightforward act within the context of being a female novelist. People always assume books written by women are about them; it’s something I’ve written about before in this newsletter. Obviously, this is insulting and speaks to a wider cultural problem with how we view and discuss female artists. Because of this, though, there can also be a degree of embarrassment surrounding those who do decide to take inspiration from their own lives. But that shouldn’t - and doesn’t - discredit the work we’ve created as a result. There’s no shame in making art out of something you’ve gone through; more people do it than you think.
Don’t keep it to yourself
When you’re working on something like a novel, it can be tempting to vow never to talk to another soul about it in fear of “jinxing” the process. This is, to put it bluntly, bullshit. Talking to other people about your creative process can be hugely enriching. I started talking about my ideas for Gold Rush in the summer of 2021 and found those conversations immensely helpful. People chipped in with thoughts and ideas that helped to shape the plot that’s in those pages today. Creativity is, in my opinion, at its best when it’s a collaborative process. Don’t let self-doubt and nonsensical “woo woo” ideas prevent you from engaging in that.
When it gets tough, just hold on
This is very simple advice I return to over and over again. I was not in the best place when I started writing Gold Rush. I was in the midst of a messy breakup, drinking far too much, having to find somewhere else to live, making various terrible decisions, and grieving the sudden loss of a friend. It felt as if everything was falling apart. During that time, the following words were particularly helpful to me. They’re taken from the pages of Bryony Gordon’s book, Eat, Drink, Run, in which she reminds readers who might be going through a difficult time that things change.
“Firstly, think not of what you aren’t but what you are,” she writes. “Secondly, remember that one day, things could happen to you that you wouldn’t be able to believe right now – the most astonishing, amazing things. Trust me when I say that all you have to do is hold on.”
That’s it from me for now — but I will leave you with a few recommendations:
This interview with Lena Dunham
This short story by Haruki Murakami
I Used to be Funny starring Rachel Sennott
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
I also made a playlist for Gold Rush, which you can listen to here
Right, I’m off to get ready to watch the football (is it really coming home? I’d love to think so…) and hopefully have an early night because I’m hosting a big old launch party for Gold Rush tomorrow night. I’ll probably write about that in next week’s newsletter, so keep your eyes peeled.
Speak soon,
OP xxx