Further thoughts on this writing lark

First of all, a big thank you for the kind words and practical ideas to the (temporary, I hope) slough of despond I've been wallowing in for a while. I am touched by your willingness to offer suggestions and I am full of ideas. Thank you. Thank you.

In case you didn't see it, I would like to flag up one comment in particular. It's this one from Vanessa Gebbie. You all know how much I admire Vanessa's writing. She's never been one to sit on her laurels and pontificate about being A Published Writer. It's always the writing with her. She writes: 

"There is a book called 'The Right to Write' by the same lady who wrote The Artist's Way - and although I have never managed to 'like' TAW, this is a gem. 
Written for anyone who just wants to write, and enjoy it - and that makes sense for us jaded ones, as well as newer writers starting out. Ive just been using it and quoting madly at newer writers... an aid to freeing up. Etc etc - and a good supportive read as well.

But also - do this.
Draw a pair of glasses (as in specs) at the top of a piece of paper.
Then underneath, at left of page,draw a stick-person 'you'. 
Next to that draw a cloud full of writing stuff:, lotsa words, maybe something like a pile of 'books' poetry, stories, novels, flashes non fic etc etc, 
And on the right - another cloud - with a £ sign, a cup for prizes, the names of top publishers, fame, fortune...
Now put on the specs. 
You only have two lenses. Focus on the writing products and the money etc, which so many writers do, and you leave out YOU.
Focus on YOU, and your writing-cloud, and the other stays blurred... and thats how (it can be argued) it ought to be.
Its my attempt at a Margaret Atwood cartoon - to show how we need to look after us in all this, rather than get caught up in the fight to be published, win stuff, etc etc.
---
And the reality is this - opening a package from Amazon just now. My hardback, published last November, to some lovely reviews. Withdrawn from a library, unread, and sold for 1p.
I'm still writing!"

Vanessa, you are and always have been an inspiration!

I actually have that book in my collection and must admit I haven't looked at it for a while. It's now back on my bedside table for inspiring dippings-in. More importantly, Vanessa's wise words brought me back to where I began and where I should still now be. To me, the physical and metal act of writing is more important to me than the prizes and the publishing successes. Of course, winning a prize is a huge buzz and a confidence boost and finding someone who likes my writing enough to want to publish it is wonderful. If I was offered a good publishing deal right now I would grab it with both hands!  However, when push comes to shove I would rather be proud of what I have written and work hard to improve even if it never sees the light of day. And no, I am not Aesop's fox. I still want to be published and am still actively seeking it. But not at any price. 

I have noticed recently how many of my writing acquaintances are increasingly announcing success after success, Contract after contract without what I would call a hard-earned apprenticeship. Nice work if you can get it, you might say but that's not how I see it. When I look closely at the books, read extracts and consider the publishers, I am disappointed to find some very fine writers indeed whose work I have critiqued with joy seem to all too quickly transform themselves sausage- producers of (mainly e- ) books that increasingly lack spark and originality. I'm not even talking about those who have chosen to self-publish digitally. (And you all know my views on that.)  It is easier and easier these day to call oneself a "published author" and let's face it. Non-writers don't see any distinction. In addition, genre publishing is soaring, especially, it seems, fantasy and erotica or a combination of both. And the kind of writing I love reading is increasingly pushed to the margins - which is why, as I said, in a recent post here, why I love real independent publishers who are willing and able to put quality before profits.

Call me an elitist and dinosaur and some of you will.  In fact plenty have done so already. Tough.

I'm not envious or begrudge anyone their place in the sun - if that's how they see it. It's just not what I want to do. As you know, this blog is about writing and not about how to get published. More and more the topics on the internet forums I dip into from time to time are less about the art of writing and more about how to get a publishing deal. 

So onwards and upwards. There's be less about me and more about the art and craft of writing with some books I love along the way. Join me.