Is it Bird by Bird that has that poem which begins something like “we your friends have decided to neither give you the love you crave nor let you go”? And how did I go there with the ‘thats’ and ‘which’ – 3 out of 3??

My sister, Alice Major (a Canadian writer) who tells me to concentrate on what you can control—the work itself, not the publishing industry.

Charlotte Wood (again) for saying to me that she is tired of people saying that writers are fragile people. Who else would work for years on end, receive constant knock-backs and still keep on at their craft? (This makes me feel less neurotic.)

Katerina Cosgrove for being an appreciative audience.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I read this when I am feeling blue and laugh and laugh and laugh.

I should also mention writer and agent Gaby Naher, who passed on an earlier version of my manuscript, but did so via a long phone call that was full of free advice. It was gutting being knocked back, but Gaby’s feedback was so incredibly useful. She didn’t have to take the time, but she did.

I figure if I just try and follow their lead, I can’t go far wrong in repaying these debts of wisdom and goodwill.

As someone having their debut novel published in August I’ve been amazed and humbled by the already established authors who have agreed to read it, not knowing me from a bar of soap.

I think authors know that if they support other writers than they will be supported in return. It’s very “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”, but with a genuine feeling of goodwill and encouragement. I always use my own blog and Facebook to talk about what I’m reading, and I make a point of buying debut fiction rather than getting it from the library as new authors need that first initial boost to their sales to kick-start their careers. I wish I could do this for established authors too but if I bought every book I wanted I would have to eat them afterwards because my pantry would be empty. Cue sad, hungry face.