1K Book Challenge: The final results are in for everyone to have a squiz at
What a hectic 12 months this has been. The last quarter of 2016 saw me full of nail-chewing nerves (though I didn’t actually chew my nails — I comfort ate instead). It was going to be reasonably close, with a final surge in sales.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, the 1K Book Challenge involved me declaring that I would get a tattoo if any one of my books reached 1000 sales between April and the end of December last year.

If I had to choose one term to discuss that sets my teeth on edge, it would have to be constructive criticism!

Can someone please explain to me what is constructive about criticism? According to oxforddictionaries.com, one definition of:

• Constructive is, ‘Having or intended to have a useful or beneficial purpose.’
• Criticism is, ‘The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes.’

When put together, aren’t those two words — constructive criticism — an oxymoron? (Or am I being a moron?) Regardless of my moronic status, nobody likes being criticised, myself included.

The other day I was silently bemoaning the fact that for so much effort I’ve had so little (financial) reward. Then I thought of the numerous fruit trees in my backyard. It was at least three years before they started to produce a good harvest. Being a ‘successful’ author is much like that. Just as you need to tend and nurture your garden, in order for it to bear fruit, you need to tend and nurture your writing … eventually it should bear fruit. Well, that’s what I’m hoping. I must admit that I am rather impatient and eager for that ‘success’ now, but the fruit tree analogy has put things back into perspective for me. Of course, ‘successful’ is a very subjective term. For me, it means earning a modest income that would enable me to quit my day job, and be no worse off financially than I am now.

This may seem somewhat off-topic, but I have to say that Aldi’s white chocolate — Choceur brand — is almost to die for. For those of you who don’t know, Aldi is a discount supermarket. I promise I’ll get to the point of this post shortly. Now, if my brother was here he’d be telling you that white chocolate is not chocolate. Technically he’s right, and if I were to talk about an off-white creamy confectionery that melts in your mouth, you’d probably know what I was talking about … but white chocolate is easier and instantly recognisable.

Don’t dream about it, do it! Everyone has a story to tell. Some of us just don’t realise it …

Have you found your story? If you haven’t written it, why not? Are you scared? Do you feel like you’re standing at the edge of a cliff, worrying about the fall? Let yourself go. Simply enjoy the view and forget about the rest — that’s what writing is about.