Who is Sandra Norval?

Who the Hell is Sandra Norval?

Well, exactly!

I am a writer, author, novelist, whatever you want to call me, I write stuff. One day I hope to get stuff published too. Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to get involved with some brilliant writers’ circles, attended some amazing talks, pitched to an agent once or twice and learnt just how hard I need to work to get there.

I aim to share my experiences with those of you out there who also write stuff and hope to get published. At the moment I consider myself to be a learning layman and whilst I try to take on board the advice I’m given, the path to publication is still a slippery one. There are many things that I have already learnt, but Mount Publication is tall, steep and from here at base camp, I can see a lattice of possible paths.

Half of the problem is learning what I don’t know. Once I figure that out, I can make a map, plot a route, plan alternatives, start out on my quest. But that is really only the beginning.

You see, the thing is, the publishing game is tough. And it really isn’t a game, it’s a business. This means that ‘they’ intend to make money out of us if they can, if they can’t, or even just think they can’t, then it’s game over for us. So it’s up to the likes of us, an unruly mob of unlikely heroes and heroines, taking our first steps up that mountain, to convince ‘them’ that we are the ones. The ones that will make it, the ones that will stand firm, make it to the end of the road, still have integrity, plant their flag on the summit and sell a gazillion copies, film rights, graphic novel rights and end up with a full set of merchandise. (You know, the quilt cover, lunchbox, mobile phone case…)

I stop to draw breath and wonder, how did J. K. Rowling feel at this stage of her career?

Anyway, back to the action. So you stand on the plateau at the top of Mount Publication, the breeze whips the flag and your hair ribbons around wildly, your cape snaps out behind you. Fighting hard against the pull of the wind, you lift the flag ready to stake it into the ground and declare your success. All you need is to be acknowledged as worthy of being printed, as being likely to draw in a crowd, not just another peasant fading into the background.

And to do that people will need to know who you are.

So how do writers like us go from being no one to being someone? Well a good start is to do more writing.

These days it is not very likely that a writing hermit would get published. This means, for one thing that people need to read your life’s work, whether at a writers’ circle, on an online writing forum or even an agent or publisher. But this isn’t actually quite what I mean. In this age of communication, you need a presence. You need to be somewhere out there in the ether, your spirit floating around doing your publicity for you, taking root in people’s minds. Think about it, how many times have you had that Hallelujah moment of making a connection, recognising a name that you saw in an article somewhere turning up on the front of a book, on the screenplay credits, on another forum, in a magazine? That name could be yours someday.

Self-promotion is often frowned upon if it is just shameless. But, getting your name out there does not have to be shameless.

So yes, here’s a bit of a confession, this is me doing just that, but as I keep on climbing that mountain track, as I share the stumbles and the discovered caves that lead to shortcuts, I hope that we’ll all learn a thing or two. Like any good quest, the clues are there along the way. I’ve been lucky to have been exposed to some great information so far and like a good travelling companion I am willing to share with those I travel with.

Next time I’m going to take a look at my first efforts in the novel writing world and rip them apart. I now know why it didn’t work and you will get to see why too, in the name of making sure that you don’t make my mistakes. That article will be called Killing Mary Sue. It wasn’t a peaceful death but it was necessary for the good of all.

So, who the Hell is Sandra Norval?

I am.

And I am a writer.

Title image by st3to.

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