As part of our Meet the Author feature, author Simon Hartley sat down with Reading Solutions UK to discuss his latest venture into the world of children’s literature with his newest book ‘Silence Your Demons’.
Simon’s expertise is in sport psychology, working with athletes and sports teams to help them excel in their field by achieving a positive mindset. Through his experience, Simon realised that sport psychology is actually human psychology – it works for everyone!
Simon has written many non-fiction books throughout his career to share his expert knowledge; however, ‘Silence Your Demons’ is his first attempt at fiction. Read below to find out how he got on.
Why did you decide to write Silence your Demons?
I want this to be an engaging story, but that’s not the book’s sole purpose. It doesn’t exist purely to entertain; I also want it to help. I want it to equip people with the ability to conquer their demons.
I often noticed my daughters and their friends struggling with life, insecurities, bullying, social pressures, anxieties, and self-doubt. This book is designed to help teenagers navigate their life challenges – particularly mental and emotional ones. However, it’s not just teenagers that experience these problems. I’ve written this book for the teenagers of today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
I wanted to share some powerful principles from psychology and philosophy – which I know I can help. If I write them in a non-fiction book, I’m pretty sure no one will pick it up. So I decided to write a story.
What struggles or challenges did you face while writing?
I’ll admit I had some pretty miserable hours. I did a fair amount of soul-searching. I honestly wondered what the hell I was doing.
In the midst of misery, I remembered something – there is always a point in the writing process when I’m done. I’m tired, I’ve invested so much into it and I’m ready to publish – but the book isn’t ready.
There’s also an emotional challenge – particularly when cutting and condensing. I’ve written these words. I’ve given birth to them. I wouldn’t have written them if I thought they didn’t need to be there. I have to remember that, whilst it’s uncomfortable for me, the book is always better for it.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Writing a fictional book is one of the greatest challenges I’ve ever faced.
My character Seb encounters a few seemingly impossible challenges during his journey. It’s been a similar experience for me writing it!
Through my various challenges, I’ve learned that it helps to break things down into manageable chunks. I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
How was the feedback process?
It’s not a coincidence that my greatest emotional challenges came as I received feedback.
The first editorial feedback I received didn’t make pleasant reading. On a scale of zero to ten, it seemed my book was (generously) a 2/10.
I often talk about the importance of character and identity, and how they drive our success; therefore, I’ve been working on my own character – particularly consistency, tenacity and resilience. I challenged myself to get through the “quit points” and to bounce back from setbacks.
Sometimes when I receive feedback, it feels like I’ve run a marathon only to discover I’ve been running in the wrong direction. So, I get up, tired, with sore feet, and start running again.
After another round of feedback, I was face to face with another test of character. It would have been very easy at this point to conclude that I am no fiction writer. I could have told myself I was daft for thinking I could ever write an epic story. I could have easily got daunted by the sheer amount of work ahead of me. Or I could take the feedback on the chin, learn from it, and crack on.
How did you stay consistent and not give up?
At the beginning of my journey, I committed to doing something, however small, every single day to take me towards my goal. Some days, this meant writing a decent chunk of a chapter. Sometimes, it was thinking through my plot. Other times, it was downloading my thoughts into the voice recorder on my phone.
Consistency and momentum are powerful forces, and I finished the first draft!
However, after receiving another round of overwhelmingly underwhelming feedback, I’d hit a brick wall. I had used up all my ideas. I gave this absolutely everything I had and it was only okay. To do its job, to fulfil its purpose and to help people overcome their demons, the story needed to be better than okay. And it wasn’t.
But what do you do when you’re lost? Find someone who knows the way. So I got professional help and found a proper editor. After stumbling around in the dark, this felt like a light at the end of the tunnel.
Writing this book tested my character. It took me to my ‘quit point’ many times. It knocked me down and challenged me to get back up. It put me back in the shoes of a novice, took me way outside my comfort zone and reminded me how valuable it is to fail.
It’s all character-building stuff!
How do you feel about the finished product?
Was it all worth it? It depends on what measure you use.
I could judge the success of this book by the number of copies it sells, but that is not the only, or even the best, measure of success.
I’ve come out of the process as a stronger, more tenacious, more resilient person. I can also say that I’ve emerged as a better author.
Has the book achieved the purpose you set out to make – helping teenagers with challenges?
It is already living its purpose. It has the impact it was designed to have. I’ve begun to see that this book really can help teenagers with their life challenges!
My 13-year-old daughter has been helping me through the process. We’ve spent a few hours reading the chapters and discussing how the lessons can be applied to everyday challenges. I’ve already seen her learn to diffuse her fears and anxieties, and build her courage.
If this book can help my daughter, how many others could it help too?
My dream is that this book can help thousands, perhaps even millions, of people with their own challenges.
The next job – making that dream come true.