Looking over the parapet

I usually find starting out on a new venture a little nerve racking, but publishing my website for the world to see feels very much like the time I had to brace myself to abseil down a cliff face...

For some time now, I've been able to keep my head below the parapet because I planned to get my site up and running by 'the summer', which was way off in the future. I could tell people about my writing because it was too early for anyone to read it and judge me, so I felt safe.

One day last March, Richard, my husband, and I got chatting to two very nice 20 something year old girls on the train to York. We talked about the usual things people do when they first meet, such as work, hobbies, et cetera and I mentioned that I was writing my first book. I find it's easier to tell this to people I know I'll never meet again. To my surprise, they seemed really impressed and the next thing I knew one of the girls was writing down my pen name in her diary and asking when it would be finished. I said I was hoping to have it completed in 'the summer', when I'd also have my website set up and running too.

I have now finished writing the draft of 'Waking Up', and am working through the first edit. However, a couple of weeks ago, I had a bit of a wake up call. One of my friends, who is also a writer asked me when I planned to publish my book and website and, as usual, I said 'in the summer'. That's when it dawned on me, it is 'the summer'!

I may have been a touch optimistic about finishing my book by 'the summer', but, as it's my first one I think I can let myself off the hook this time. However, my website is a different matter, I have no excuse, other than procrastination. So today I am sticking my head above the parapet so I can publish it in 'the summer'.

Amanda x