Hello my Freaky Darlings,

I’m a firm believer in celebrating the small victories and all the steps along the way in my writing career. When I finish a novel I pop open a bottle of Bubbles and get a pizza. When I finish a novella I pop open just a bottle of Bubbles, and when I finish a short story I either go out for a latte or get a big slab of my favourite chocolate. So when I finished a short story yesterday, titled ‘A Useful member’ (stop giggling and get your mind out of the gutter, it’s not that type of story) there was nobody available to get some coffee with so I went to the shops and got a massive slab of Top Deck.

I think it’s important to celebrate those small steps along the way. It makes me feel that I’m accomplishing something. The publishing industry moves at a very slow pace and you often face rejection, so if you don’t celebrate things along the way, it can all end up getting to you and it can all be overwhelming.

I also celebrate the bigger victories. When I sell a novel to a publisher, I once again pop open a bottle of Bubbles and get a pizza. When I sell a short story to a magazine or an anthology I once again get a slab of Top Deck. What can I say? I’m consistent.

How do you celebrate your small victories?