Bringing My Heart Manuscript into the World

As an adult writer, my dream ambition was to write a multicultural romance between an English girl and an Iranian, because of my own personal connection to the story. But rather than having my fictitious couple settling in England, I wanted to have the majority of the story based in 1950s Iran.

The idea was ambitious. I had previously only written short novels as a teenager and in my early twenties, before taking a different study path into homeopathy!

I tackled the full-length novel in my thirties, finding it easy to incorporate the rich history of 20th century Iran. But not to go off the track, I needed a plan.

At this stage in my writing career, I had only the creativity, not knowing the skills to hone such a big project. So I sought help from my local Adult Education Centre enrolling onto their novel-writing course.

This experience was both confidence-boosting, but also demoralising at times. Reading my work out as an undiagnosed autistic woman meant I struggled on many levels with reading clearly and facing criticism for my writing, which at that time was felt to be too formal and stilted. My recent writing then had been my university essays.

I thought many times of giving up which I now understand is a common reaction for many new writers. But despite the difficulties I faced, these classes were life-changing for me. I met a new friend and amidst all the confusion, a deep friendship was formed between us.

I continued writing and found the courage to seek a diagnosis for my autism, which helped me understand my ongoing feelings of self-doubt.

Around this time I sought out a freelance editor and through her email communication, she offered me sound advice and tips to improve and edit my story.

I moved to another county and had a different novel published. This encouraged my confidence as a writer to grow.

I felt sure that my heart manuscript just needed more eyes on it. This both encouraged me but filled me with fear about its still likely rejection by publishers and literary agents. Was my story popular enough with potential readers to be a success?

I tried to keep those fears at bay by engaging with other writers on social media. For all my difficulties with real life writing groups, I was more confident with my online interactions and participated in several publishing pitch events on X (formally Twitter). I also found the courage to seek out beta readers for my novel. Their tips I feel, greatly helped my manuscript’s developmental editing stage.

But with all the best intentions, my heart manuscript was rejected hundreds of times by literary agents and publishers.

All the years I had spent on it felt wasted and I worried about the genuine stagnation of my writing career.

After many tears, I wrote another book and it was accepted for publication. I now had a publisher interested in my writing long-term, an experience both thrilling and a little nerve wracking, knowing public eyes and attention for my book could slip into my natural anxious nature. Was I a good enough writer? Would my style of stiff British upper lip connect with the readers out there?

But I still had my heart manuscript needing a loving home. I approached my publisher and she was excited by the concept of my book. My manuscript finally got accepted for publication and the E-book was published in May, with the paperback edition coming out on 28th June!

I have so many feelings still, excitement and fear of people’s reaction to my story. Will it be received the same as my other published work?

But after all the years of holding onto this story, it is now out in the world. The fear of criticism well-meaning or not, is still with me. 

The manuscript coincided with so many life-changing experiences for me, acknowledging myself as a writer, deep female friendship and being diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, amongst others. 

But as a manuscript of love, letting it go as a writer is hard and painful at times. But as a writer, it is also important to sever the invisible cord between creative and public work, despite the empty-nest feeling. I have more books to write, edit, and release into the world. Seeing my earlier work on Amazon helps me to develop my confidence and move towards my future as a writer, author, and creative person.

Biography

Kathryn Barnett lives in Hampshire, England. She is a qualified homeopath with a degree in homeopathy from Middlesex University. Her interest in natural medicine inspires her writing. 

Her debut novel, ‘Trust Me On This One, Emily’ historical fiction about the Thalidomide scandal was published by Cactus Rain Publishing in 2019.

She has since had two novels published by Provoco-Publishing, Three Sisters, in 2023, and The Call of the Nightingale in 2024.

Kathryn enjoys writing at her local coffee shop and walks to the sea inspire her writing.

THE CALL OF THE NIGHTINGALE

Alice is a typist, living with her dying mother in the 1950’s. Her sheltered upbringing is no match when cupid comes calling and she and her new boss, Behrooz Azadi fall in love. They throw convention to the wind and marry, just before her mother sadly passes away. Alone except for her husband, Alice must follow him when he is called to return to his native Persia, or Iran as it was later to be known.

By this time, Alice is a mother at the tender age of nineteen, stepping into an unknown world steeped in history and where females should be subservient to their husbands.
Against a backdrop of political unrest and intrigue which involves her own husband’s family, Alice must somehow fight for her own personal freedom, for the right to bring up her four daughters in a way that will enable them to move forward in a fast changing and frightening Iran.

At times, this means disobeying her husband, striking out for women’s rights and later, clashing with her own daughters, when they embrace Islam. Will Alice be able to accept and embrace the changes her now beloved Iran is facing? Will bending be enough before something breaks?

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing