The Importance of Being Able to Pivot

I have to start by saying my title’s slightly tongue-in-cheek. I have an aversion to certain buzzwords and phrases – ‘pivot’, ‘lean in’, ‘bossing it’ – which I believe should never be used unless you’re Michelle Obama or Sheryl Sandburg. A better title might be: Why I Switched from Children’s to Adult Fiction. The answer is, it just kind of happened.

My writing journey – although I also dislike the ‘J’ word – began 15 years ago, in 2009. I’d just graduated with an MA in Glass from Sunderland University, based at the National Glass Centre, and had never really intended to become a writer. My parents always read to me as a child, our home was filled with books, and I enjoyed listening to ‘story tapes’ (very old-fashioned!), but, other than a Point Horror stage in my teens, I wasn’t an avid reader. But on graduating from my degree and becoming a self-employed glass artist, I had an idea for a middle-grade, fantasy-adventure, inspired by my time at the Glass Centre, so – having decided I needed a fallback plan in case the glass artist thing didn’t work out (how naïve!) – I began writing. There followed months, then years, of re-drafts, agent submissions and form rejections. Every now and then I’d get a full manuscript request but, ultimately, the feedback was the same: close, but not close enough. 

Then, in 2016, there came a glimmer of hope: I won a Northern Writers’ Award. I’d read the stats on how many writers go on to be published after winning and – though I’m a born pessimist – was hopeful. But although the award was invaluable in so many ways, and led to more full manuscript requests, I still didn’t find representation. After that, I wallowed. My sister – not a writer of fiction but a far more prolific reader than I’ve ever been – had given me, somewhat bluntly, the sage advice early on that No one ever gets their first book published*. But I hadn’t wanted to hear it: it was my children’s book or nothing. I had no more ideas in me. I didn’t want to have any more ideas. So I decided to give it one more shot and, in 2017, got a part-time job so I could work on my writing at times of year that were quieter for my glass business. And then a funny thing happened. Having sworn I wouldn’t write another thing if I didn’t get anywhere with my children’s novel, in 2018, inspired by Netflix docuseries, The Keepers, I began my first attempt at adult fiction. I’m not sure how common it is to switch genres, especially from children’s to adult, but, to be honest, I didn’t really give it much thought. I felt excited about writing in a way that I hadn’t in a long time, so dived right in. I’m not saying it was easy – it wasn’t – but I think I was probably always more suited to writing adult fiction: I’d gone from the old adage of ‘write what you know’, with my children’s novel, to ‘write what you love’.

After that, everything seemed to happen pretty quickly. In 2019, I was long-listed for Mslexia’s novel writing competition. Then, after having surgery a week before the first lockdown in March 2020, I used my recovery time to redraft my manuscript, and began submitting to agents once more. I signed with Marina de Pass at The Soho Agency that summer, followed by a two-book deal with Headline in 2022. My debut novel, The Summer She Vanished, came out in 2023, with my second book, The Night of the Crash, scheduled for this October.

Looking back, I honestly don’t know if I’d have started writing had I known just how long it would take, or how hard it would be. But I’m quite certain that, without all those years developing my writing on my first manuscript, I’d never have found representation for my second. So for anyone else in a similar position, my advice is this: allow yourself time to wallow, then move on. Take every scrap of feedback, good or bad. Don’t be too precious about your work to make changes, or too proud or afraid to start again. Don’t give up. And, if all else fails, remember: no one ever gets their first book published…

*Disclaimer: I’m certain there are writers who get their first book published, but my sister had a point!