Ups and Downs

You may think browsing through my blog that my life as a Children's Author is one great experience after another, but for every 'up' there is always a 'down'.

Sometimes you even get hit with a double whammy. This happened to me the other day. The new book, Thirteenth Wish, was not long listed in either Undiscovered Voices or The Bath Novel Award. I found out within minutes of one another. It was one blow and then another. Whilst you don't really expect to make it to know that you definitely haven't can really put a dampener on your self-esteem and make you question your own abilities as a writer.

As I was reading through the SCBWI Facebook threads of congratulations and celebrations for those who had made it, I began thinking that there had to be others who were reading them and feeling the same as me.

Without thinking too much about it I typed: 
For other slightly bruised BNA and UV entrants (like me) I thought it might be good to start a post about the ways writers and illustrators stay resilient in this heart-wrenching roller-coaster industry. How do you deal with the ups and downs?

I thought I might get one or two replies; at the last count there were 98.
It was an outpouring of honesty and it was the most beautiful reminder that while we are all there to celebrate success we can offer supportive commiserations too.

Life is up and down. Celebrate the good stuff when you can and remember nobody has just ups. Believe, believe, believe.

​You all realise I'm talking to myself right now?!