M J Johnson
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Books
    • Niedermayer & Hart >
      • Reviews for N & H
      • The Prologue
      • Sample the Book
      • Animations
    • Roadrage >
      • Reviews for Roadrage
      • Roadrage Sample
  • Contact Me

Keep On Keeping On

26/10/2011

0 Comments

 
When I was just a lad, I remember one wet afternoon when for some reason, now lost in the vast ocean of time, we were congregated in the school hall and told to entertain ourselves.  Our temporary sport teacher, a Welsh cap, came across and asked me what I was so busy writing.  "My novel" I told him confidently.  I went on to explain that it was about a secret agent (very big at the time) called James Wheaton.  I had filled about half a thin lined scholastic type exercise book in large handwriting, and written ten or more chapters.  I remember asking him if he thought I'd almost written enough for a book.  He tactfully explained that what I'd written would probably only amount to a few pages in print.  I was disappointed, I'd pictured a whole series of James Wheaton, Secret Agent stories in bookshops within weeks! 

I can't say I wrote very consistently over the next thirty years but from time to time I'd try my hand at a script with a friend.   We generally received good feedback and were invariably urged to keep writing, but these partnerships always seemed to lack the resilience to keep going, or work came up for one or other of us and we went our separate ways.  I didn't consider writing on my own until later.  I'd never had much difficulty with ideas for stories, but to be absolutely honest, I didn't think I'd have the staying power, the sheer grit and determination needed to write and revise until the job was done.

I'm pleased to say, I did manage to do it, and what's more I found the experience utterly exhilarating.  I can't say I enjoyed the eighteen months of uncertainty, raised hopes and disappointment that followed; by the end of which I'd been taken out to lunch by an editor from a large publishing house, also a literary agent who wanted to represent the book and had been assured by a prominent person in the world of publishing to, "Trust me, it's going to happen."

For a while after it went pear-shaped, I felt a bit like a crushed bug and didn't even feel like writing a shopping list.

Anyway, I did eventually get going again. That's the most important thing in life, I reckon - To Keep Going!

0 Comments
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    ​Amazon.com
    my read shelf:
    M.J. Johnson's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    M J Johnson

    You can join Martin on
    Facebook
    If you'd like to subscribe to this blog, click on the RSS Feed button below

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Family Matters
    Film
    Historic/Factual
    Might Raise A Smile
    Miscellaneous
    Music
    Niedermayer & Hart
    Places Worth A Visit
    Roadrage
    Tea 'n' Coffee
    Theatre
    TV Stuff
    TV Stuff
    Wales
    Wilhelm & Laszlo
    Writing

    Archives

    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.