3 days to go...

Why am I doing this?

My son asked me this question yesterday. “Mummy, I’m proud of you, but why are you doing this?”

And there isn’t just one answer. One reason I’m doing this is for the personal challenge. To be able to look back and say I attempted something that’s never been done before.

Another reason is to shed some light on the writing process. We writers can be strange creatures – sitting alone for hours in front of our laptops, lost in our own minds. And it’s hard sometimes.

Although there are days when the words flow and it doesn’t even feel as though I’m writing them myself, there are also moments of intense frustration, wondering if the book is good enough, the temptation to trash it and start over. The self-doubt and mental pain of forcing those words onto the page.

I’ve shared this before, but a huge reason I’m doing this is that Paper Moon Bookshop in Guildford is a fantastic independent bookshop, and I want it to stay there. Hannah and Jack’s passion for, and knowledge of, books is clear the moment you step inside and they are an inspiration.

And beyond that, I want all independent bookshops to flourish in this age of algorithms and screens.

I really believe that there are books out there for everyone, and bookshops help us find them.

How did I get the idea?

It’s a bit random, but I got the idea from watching Sex and the City in my twenties. There’s an episode where Carrie and Charlotte go to see a woman who is putting on a live performance by not eating or speaking for 16 days, 24 hours a day. People flock to watch at any time of day or night, but I can’t even recall why she’s doing it.

Totally crazy, but years later it must have stayed in my head and it gave me the idea for ‘The Writer in the Window’. (Disclaimer – I will definitely be eating, and drinking lots of tea. And talking too, when I’m not in the zone!)

Am I prepared yet?

Thanks to my amazing editor Lucy, I now have a full outline prepared and over the next three days I’ll work this into chapter outlines.

Please wish me luck! And if you haven’t yet, I’d be so grateful if you could subscribe to my YouTube channel so that the live stream will work. https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorKathrynCroft

Much appreciated! x