Own it.

On not being afraid to say what you really, really want.

When I was asked in the first class of my creative writing MA, what I wanted from the course, I said that I wanted to see my book on the 3 for 2 table in Waterstones. Everyone else said something like ‘I want to learn how to write dialogue’ or ‘I want to finish my novel.’ I assumed I had mastered dialogue, written the novel, found an agent, been accepted at a publishers, been published already and now was on special offer by the biggest book retailer in the country. I put my naked ambition out there. It sounded a bit arrogant and more than a little out of touch with reality.

Five years later, I saw my book on the 3 for 2 table in Waterstones after having seen a whole window dedicated to it, after the launch party, after the agent and blah blah blah.

I always tell my students to be honest about what they want. If you want to write your grandmother’s memoir, self-publish twelve copies and circulate them to your family, then own it. That’s success. If you would like to be a short story writer and win a competition, own it. Become a master short story writer, enter every competition and celebrate your wins. If you honestly want to win The Booker Prize, own that too. There is nothing wrong with aiming high, nothing wrong ambition and the self-belief that comes from many hours of study, learning the craft, taking your writing seriously. The journey to The Booker might be long and might never happen but if that’s what you want, say it, own it and go for it.

We shouldn’t measure yourself against anyone else, or try to wear someone else’s version of success. We won’t be comfortable, it won’t feel true and we will lose our way. The self-published memoirist and the would-be Booker winner are both writers and both deserve success. One will be harder to achieve but nothing is impossible.

As Bette said, I want it all and I want it delivered. Why not?

Go well.

Kit