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Imagine if you became a famous writer
Adventures in book signing
My latest novel Careering is published by Sphere and out now in paperback
‘Imagine if you became a famous writer!’ said the woman, as I gripped my pen. ‘Then I’d have a signed first edition!’
My ego was stammering out a response. ‘Look, I’m certainly not famous but I’m not…wholly unknown. I’ve written quite a few books, now. I’m trying. I was quite pleased with how this was going, but now I’m not so sure.’ Just keep smiling, said my brain. Keep your mouth shut. It’s best not to speak, now.
The woman sighed. ‘I suppose that now you’ve written my name in it, I can’t give it away, or donate it.’
‘Shall we have a little cry?’ said my ego.
Hush! said my brain. Focus on the possibilities! Imagine if you became a famous writer!
I suspect that for most of us, when we say we want to be writers, what we probably mean is that we want to be famous writers.
Perhaps there are two ways of looking at it. The first is that writing is my job, and I am always hoping for a promotion. It’s an insecure and rackety business. To keep doing it, you need to write things that other people would like to read and spend their money on. Winning awards, and having your work adapted for stage or screen, can…
