One of my first readers really liked my latest book (Book Nine, still in draft form, once known as the Inbetweenie). The other said it was ‘fine’. The second was damning with faint praise, you might think, though this particular person isn’t one for superlatives, so I’ve forgiven her. I’m extremely grateful to them both for taking the time to read and comment, and I hope they stay my first readers for a very long time. But neither reader had a huge amount to say about it, or many suggestions for improvement, and of course, I’m thinking that this is Not Good.
It’s one of the long traditions of authordom to feel that no news (or not much news) is Bad News. In my mind, there should have been a lot to say about my book, most of it negative. Plot holes, missed opportunities, lack of signposts early in the book, shallow characterisation, strands left unresolved. All the things I think about all my books at one point or another. My immediate thought was: how can a new book be ‘fine’ — or ‘good’, even, without a whole list of suggestions/improvements/vital edits/minor changes?
What I didn’t think was: oh, great, this book is perfect just the way it is. Because I know it’s not. I want to knock my readers’ socks off, and I haven’t done that. Yet. Of course, none of my books has done that (yet) and anyway I know it’s not that sort of book. I’m not Barbara Kingsolver or Margaret Atwood, Colum McCann or Elif Shafak, after all. I know I’ll never be like any of these writers, by the way (and I’m sure they edit and edit until their books are utterly brilliant, which they are). Nonetheless, in my own way, in my own style, I really would love to knock my readers’ socks off.
I also know that my agent (my ‘new’ agent, who hasn’t yet had the chance to comment on any of my work) and my editor (whoever that might be) will find much more to comment on, and maybe together we can create something that will cause a few socks to get lost in the reading. I hope so!
By now you might be thinking that I’m doing myself a disservice. Perhaps I should be thinking, “Brilliant, this book’s clearly going to number one in the Sunday Times fiction chart and I’m going to make a shedload of money!” Or, more likely, “This book is pretty good, actually, and people are going to buy it.”
But this book is in a new genre for me — one in which I’m still finding my way. I’m expecting my first cosy crime novel to be missing a few crucial elements or to be overdoing the wrong things. I’ve written (and had published) eight psychological thrillers to date, and I still don’t feel like a master of the genre, so it’s not surprising that I’m feeling like I’m swimming in uncharted waters with the cosy crime.
Anyway, the minor changes suggested by my first readers are done. I was going to give it a couple of weeks to simmer while focusing on Christmas, but I’ve changed my mind and done two things to take it to the next stage. A writer friend has kindly agreed to fact-check the setting — because I’m paranoid about the people who like to nit-pick on facts — and I’ve sent it to my agent.
Yes, I’ve sent it to my new agent, for her to read and inwardly digest after Christmas. I’m not, of course, expecting her to pounce on it excitedly and promise to report back before the holidays — I’m not that naive, and she does have a family. It just felt right to get it off my desk, so to speak, and clear the decks before January. I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of it.
After Christmas, I’m going to start Book Ten, my next psychological thriller.
It’s always an exciting moment, starting a new book, and this one has spent quite a few months waiting for the go-ahead. At one point I was in danger of getting fed up with the idea, it was taking so long, but my lovely (new!) agent has commented and given it fresh impetus, so I’m looking forward to getting started. Not planning, but actually writing, and seeing where the story takes me. I’ve done some research on the setting, which spurred me on, and I have images in my head that need describing in words.
In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy Christmas, read lots of novels, and catch up on schmaltzy films. Thank you for being one of my small but loyal group of subscribers — I love the feedback I’ve been getting on these posts!
Here’s wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.
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