No, not the Carla Lane sitcom with Wendy Craig, as Ria the dissatisfied housewife with a pageboy haircut, one son who grew up to be Rodney from Only Fools and Horses, and one who ended up as a transvestite in Corrie. Although I do enjoy it, especially now one of the high numbered digital channels is repeating it endlessly, so I may return to Ria later....No, I mean in your stomach, those butterflies.
Ria and family in Butterflies (I don't claim ownership of the picture btw)
Clare London and I had dinner and discussed her feedback and suggested next steps for Best Friends Perfect. I left a cold and wet south London with a to do list and butterflies in my stomach. For those who don’t know, I’m a big fan of to do lists, and have at some points, had lists of lists. Whatever floats your boat (or rather keeps your boat organised) is what I say to those who are shaking your heads.
Clare recommended I approach a potential publisher which does a broad range of gay fiction which may be interested in the manuscript. Best Friends Perfect is neither a category romance, nor gay erotica. Don’t misunderstand me, there’s plenty of ‘action’ as one of the characters, Grace would say, but the sex is subtly written and it's more of a coming out story. And as for the ending, is it a happily ever after? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.
I introduced myself to this potential publisher, and although he isn’t accepting unsolicited manuscripts at the moment, he said he’s happy for me to send mine, based on Clare’s introduction! ::looks to camera:: I know, so not much pressure then! I guess the worst he can say is, thanks but no thanks, no harm done.
Over the next few weeks my writing to do list looks like this: write some back cover blurbs; write a synopsis of the book; wave my grammar and spelling fairy wand over it; take a deep breath and submit it to this potential publisher; wait, with everything crossed.
Yes, it’s scary, and yes it’s giving me more butterflies in my stomach, just thinking about it. But I think butterflies in the stomach are good, healthy, they mean you’re excited and care about something or someone. Remember the first months with a new boyfriend/girlfriend, those butterflies?
Let’s hope it’s not like one of Ria’s attempts at cooking, and more like one of her floaty, brightly coloured kaftans, so favoured by the middle class housewife in the seventies.
Do you have any interesting stories about doing things which gave you butterflies? Or any tips and hints on publishing? I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time.
Liam x
Clare recommended I approach a potential publisher which does a broad range of gay fiction which may be interested in the manuscript. Best Friends Perfect is neither a category romance, nor gay erotica. Don’t misunderstand me, there’s plenty of ‘action’ as one of the characters, Grace would say, but the sex is subtly written and it's more of a coming out story. And as for the ending, is it a happily ever after? Well, you’ll just have to wait and see.
I introduced myself to this potential publisher, and although he isn’t accepting unsolicited manuscripts at the moment, he said he’s happy for me to send mine, based on Clare’s introduction! ::looks to camera:: I know, so not much pressure then! I guess the worst he can say is, thanks but no thanks, no harm done.
Over the next few weeks my writing to do list looks like this: write some back cover blurbs; write a synopsis of the book; wave my grammar and spelling fairy wand over it; take a deep breath and submit it to this potential publisher; wait, with everything crossed.
Yes, it’s scary, and yes it’s giving me more butterflies in my stomach, just thinking about it. But I think butterflies in the stomach are good, healthy, they mean you’re excited and care about something or someone. Remember the first months with a new boyfriend/girlfriend, those butterflies?
Let’s hope it’s not like one of Ria’s attempts at cooking, and more like one of her floaty, brightly coloured kaftans, so favoured by the middle class housewife in the seventies.
Do you have any interesting stories about doing things which gave you butterflies? Or any tips and hints on publishing? I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time.
Liam x
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