This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Remember that you can listen to Anna’s podcast novel on her website www.annabellwrites.com and follow her on twitter @annabell_writes
Now I’m going to be apologise in advance this week for my column being a teeny tiny bit soppy, but hey I am a wannabe chicklit author, and I’m getting married next week. I’m sure you’ll forgive me.
A few months ago I read a Writing No Drama blog who said that the difference between those that say they’re going to write a book, and those that actually finish said book, is often the cheerleader behind them. Well that for me is really true.
I honestly couldn’t have done any writing without my fiancé S being my cheerleader. When I drunkenly announced that I wanted to have a book published when walking past Random House one day, he didn’t laugh and he told me to go for it. I’d applied for the Apprentice and written a really good application form. My interview for the show didn’t go so well, but S had been impressed with the writing, and told me to have a go at writing the book.
So I did. And now he keeps me writing. When I’m sitting in front of another rerun of America’s Next Top Model, he tells me to turn it off and get writing. I’m not that naive not to realise that he wants to put some football on TV, but still without him prodding me to put my laptop on, I often wouldn’t be bothered.
He is also pretty good at keeping stocked in sweets and rations my chocolate buttons as writing incentives. Every 100 words (or fifty if I’m having a bad writing day).
He’s also the one I read my work to, despite the fact that chicklit isn’t his preferred genre, and I read him all my novelicious columns to make sure they make sense. Apart from maybe this one as I think he might be all embarrassed!
He’s my sounding board for my ideas on novels, and ideas for chapters. He usually pulls a face and politely tells me that ‘he’s not to sure about that.’ I then go off and sulk, and usually come back with a better idea.
He also helps me when I’m writing either from the male perspective or when I’m trying to write male dialogue, he helps me put into male language. Usually he laughs at me and tells me that no man would say that.
S is undoubtedly my cheerleader, championing me through my book writing process and I couldn’t write books without him. I’m so excited to be marrying him, and him being my cheerleader is just the icing on the cake.