I dreamed of being an author - then my dream came true. Here's what I learned from the experience...
Do you dream of writing a book? Is being an author a big goal for you? It’s been one of mine since I can remember. I am the classic story of a girl who read Enid Blyton and wished she could be the person who wrote the book.
When Bridget Jones was published, I used to read it then start again. I absorbed it. I dreamed of writing a rom com fiction novel. Then, in 2015, that dream came true. And, since the book is called Boyfriend by Christmas, and it’s almost Christmas (ten years on from the book coming out!) I want to share some of the story of how it came to be and what I’ve learned from the process. (Spoiler alert: I am not a multi-millionaire with a Netflix deal).
I’ve shared before about how I turned my love life into my career. And how baring your soul can be a double-edged sword. And it was thanks to my heart-on-sleeve writing that the book deal came about.
But it was a slow burn.
I’d actually had the original idea for the novel five years before I secured the column about looking for a boyfriend by Christmas. I’d had the idea that a woman was given an ultimatum by someone - her mum in the original idea - to find a bloke. The mum tells the character on New Year’s Day that if she hasn’t got engaged by the next Christmas, the ‘wedding money’ will be spent on a new conservatory.
The original working title was Miss Havisham’s Dilemma. I loved the idea of a thwarted single woman called Miss Havisham!
I even met with an agent to talk through that idea - it wasn’t to be, then. She didn’t feel it worked in the way I wanted to do it.
So it sat, just a thought and some notes, for years. Until I went to Metro newspaper to do some in-house shifts on the features desk. One dark evening, just before we were all heading home, heart pounding, I went up to the Features Editor. “Would you be interested in a dating column?” I asked. I pitched my idea. And she loved it!
Boyfriend by Christmas was born. That was October 2014. I was going to write a weekly column all about my dating exploits, going to as many events as possible, writing about dates and my quest to find love.
I went to speed dating, ‘moustache dating’ for Movember, crazy golf for singles, and even ‘pheromone dating’ where you had to take a t-shirt you’d slept in for other people to sniff (!!). I went on an ice skating date and even met someone for a coffee at the M40 services. I often giggle to myself about that one as it’s the services I often stop off at on the way home to the Cotswolds. Mr H rolls his eyes when I inevitably mention that we’re at the ‘date services’.
Anyways. This was back in the days when X was Twitter, and an agent messaged me on Twitter, saying he’d seen my column and asking if I’d considered whether it could be a book. Had I?! Course I had.
We met, chatted through the idea, and he told his friend from Penguin (as in the publisher). The next thing you know, I’m pitching ‘The Next Bridget Jones’ to Penguin at their offices on The Strand and they offered me a book deal.
It sounds like the stuff of a Rom Com doesn’t it? It feels like it, typing this. I know this is not the way most book deals happen. I did not write a full manuscript and pitch it endlessly. I got very lucky, I think.
I had a tight deadline - May the next year. I spent the next few months holed up in my flat - I was living in West London at the time - writing, while working full time at Metro. I’d write before work, write when I got home. I’d print out parts of the book to read on the tube, and I had notes all over the walls of my bedroom. I can remember watching a show called Mob Wives late at night as I typed. I am VERY good on a tight deadline - better with a short one than a long one! And I got it done. It had clearly been waiting to come to life.
I remember when I saw the cover and it wasn’t a chintzy scene. I was elated.
Launch day was epic. That was November 2015. My agent and Penguin sent flowers (I still have the card that was in them), there was a party with goody bags (I called in some favours) and the office ‘Prosecco fountain’ was filled. In the book, the characters have a ‘random cupboard of booze’ in the office and many people think it’s made up but I really did have lots of odd alcohol options that I’d been sent by PRs in those days. Life in the media was a very boozy life.
I had reached a career pinnacle - the ultimate dream come true. The book went on to be published in German and Czech, and I really did wonder if this was it. I was going to be a full-time author. I was the new Helen Fielding/Marian Keyes/Adele Parks.
I carried on writing about my love life - I even went to New York to write about the dating scene there. Yep, BA flew me Business Class (you think people make this stuff up for books and rom coms but it does happen!)
Well, here we are ten years on, and I’m not a full time author (as you know!). And yes, Mr H read it - and still wanted to carry on going out with me *phew*. If you’re a manifesting fan, let me tell you that the love interset in the book is a fan of a flat cap and so is Mr H. Coincidence? You tell me, Universe…
I had actually created a mood board before the whole column and book deal happened - it was a double-sided pin board. One side had all things to do with romance and the other had things to do with a book deal and agents. I remember telling a friend only one side came true. “Or, did the two sides combine?!” she replied.
Well, who knows. But I’ve kept making mood boards…
Anyway, let’s get to the career lessons! Because there are some amazing lessons as I look back over this decade between being Jenny Stallard, author of Boyfriend by Christmas and Jenny Holliday, Coach and Writer. (Yes I know, Jenny Holliday would have been the BEST author name for the book!!).
Patience is huge when it comes to a ‘dream career’ moment. My original idea didn’t land, and it took years for it to resurface. You need to have faith in your ideas, keep them on the back burner if they’re not on the front one.
Always speak up with an idea! If I hadn’t said to the Features Editor that evening I wanted to write a column, the book would never have become a reality.
Believe in your ideas. Nurture them, let them grow, give them space to breathe and develop.
You may have to accept that the dream moment isn’t a permanent change. This was a biggie for me and, if I’m honest, I still do dream of a TV company coming calling - or another book deal!
There will be critics. Not everyone will like your success - or what you’ve produced. Yes I read the reviews - they’re not all kind!
Be prepared for failure - or feelings of failure. I don’t believe my book failed but I’m not living on the royalties… so yes there is an element of ‘not huge success’. What I’m saying is be prepared for the dream not to be the big shift and success you might imagine.
Be in the moment when it all goes right. Celebrate, have a party if you want to, be in the centre of things and let that moment glow around you so that in ten years’ time you can look back at a photo of yourself and think ‘crikey, don’t I look fresh and young. Well done former me!’
I look at myself in that photo and am reminded to hold hard to dreams - especially at this time of year when there is sparkle and magic in the air, and people are wishing and hoping and there’s talk of mistletoe kisses and Jude Law in The Holiday (one L).
What are you dreaming of for your career? Is there a big goal, a huge ‘moment’ you’re hoping for, planning for, preparing for? I’d love to know! Or, has it happened - what was it and how did it feel?
Thanks as always for reading. Below are ways we can work together - my coaching prices will change in January 2026 and I’m also working on a group coaching programme which I hope to share with you next week!
xJenny
BOOK A POWER HOUR BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS
Want to offload about a career issue before Christmas? Book a one on one Power Hour, 60 minutes to escape the noise and confusion that’s going on around you. To book, email me.
ONE ON ONE CV OR LINKEDIN AUDITS AND COACHING
I offer one on one CV coaching and LinkedIn coaching. My USP is that I bring coaching and editing skills to the call, challenging you to up your game on your CV or your profile. If you want more ‘ready to action’ advice, you can also book a CV or LinkedIn audit. We do those over email, where I use my coaching skills as well as writing and editing experience to share where you really need to make changes.
Read my latest recommendations from happy clients on LinkedIn. And you can read more about how we can work together on my website or click the video to come and find me on Instagram. I’ll share some pics of the columns on there, too, in the coming days.
Oh, I nearly forgot. If you like a bit of average rom com fiction, you can buy Boyfriend by Christmas, too.
As someone who's a fan of romantic fiction, and flirting with the idea of writing romantic fiction, this is a really interesting post! Did you keep writing fiction after this book? Weren't you keen to write a follow up? Or do you feel like you've done it, and it's not an experience you're keen to revisit?