The Moxie Books Blog

People worry a lot about writing a boring-ass book.

And when I say people, I mean me. I worry. About everything, all the time—but specifically, right now, about writing a basic-bitch book.

I also worry about people hating it, but I worry more about them not caring at all. As Oscar Wilde said, “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” At least if people hate my book, it moved them to feel something—and isn’t that the end goal of all of our writing?

People worry a lot about writing a boring-ass book.

And when I say people, I mean me. I worry. About everything, all the time—but specifically, right now, about writing a basic-bitch book.

Check out these 8 mistakes to avoid…

“You’re an author? That’s so cool!”

“I self-published it, it’s not in Waterstones or anything,” I replied.

I had this conversation—paraphrased, natch—a few years ago, just after I wrote my first book. I felt uncomfortable with the praise, like publishing it myself was pure vanity. I’d forgotten about this convo.

Then a few weeks ago an email dropped into my inbox and poked me in the brain.

“You’re an author? That’s *so cool*!”

“I self-published it, it’s not in Waterstones or anything,” I said.

This was a conversation I had—paraphrased, natch—a few years ago, just after I wrote my first book. I felt uncomfortable with the praise, like publishing my book myself was pure vanity. I’d forgotten about this conversation.

“Your bladder is lying to you!” I hiss to myself, between iron-clamped teeth. “You do not need to pee again.”

And yet, I’m gonna go and try to squeeze out another drop anyway because what if it’s not lying, and I pee myself right there on the stage?

It is not that kind of show.

I’m about to go onstage and perform the trapeze routine I’ve created to Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night...

“Your bladder is lying to you!” I hiss to myself, between iron-clamped teeth. “You do not need to pee again.”

And yet, I’m gonna go and try to squeeze out another drop anyway because what if it’s not lying, and I pee myself right there on the stage?

It is not that kind of show.

“What if we made the door?” I said...

When life throws you bathroom door quotes for £656, make your own damn door.

My husband and I are—well, I’d like to say halfway through renovating our 400-year-old cottage but honestly I think we’ll die of old age before we’re done.

“What if we made the door?” I said...

When life throws you bathroom door quotes for £656, make your own damn door.

My husband and I are—well, I’d like to say halfway through renovating our 400-year-old cottage but honestly I think we’ll die of old age before we’re done.

If you’re considering not writing your book this year, think again. If you’re tempted to put it off for any reason—please think again.

The world needs your story.

If you are any kind of a misfit—if you don’t fit into the straight, white, male, cis-het, neurotypical, elite world, or if you have a message and a mission that challenges the status quo—there will be others like you looking for someone who looks like them. Maybe your book will rock their world.

Let’s talk about running.

People think, because I am a trapeze performer and I am slim and have defined muscles, that I am also fit. They think I have good stamina and can do things that fit people do, like stride up a mountainous slope without getting out of breath.

If only...

The truth is, my cardio fitness is utter balls.

Protests vs riots. Assertive vs angry. Passionate vs emotional. Confident vs up-herself. Speaks out vs rails against.

How much attention do you pay to the language that seeps into your brain every day, through the radio, newspapers, social media?

How much do you understand about the effect it has on your thoughts and beliefs?

When I were a lass, Enid Blyton carried me away from my bedroom with tales of adventure and whimsy.

​And also tales of schooldays that were so far removed from my own, I could barely imagine what it must be like. Mallory Towers and St Clares boarding schools, for one, a world where tuck boxes were a thing, and nobody seemed to mind that their parents had sent them away.