Writing Magazine

Reframe the narrative

Gillian Harvey

When I signed my first publishing contract, I’ll admit I was naïve. I had a fixed idea of what it meant to be a published author and it went something like this:

• Get agent

• Get publishing deal

• Book is sold in supermarkets and all bookshops

• Success or failure

• Another deal or failure

• Upward trajectory… or failure What I’ve realised since is not only was this a bit simplistic, it

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