There is a moment in every writer’s life when the dream feels too big. When the word count is low, the plot holes are gaping and the industry feels like a fortress with the drawbridge pulled up.
Then something happens that proves the fortress can be stormed.
We are absolutely thrilled that Professional Writing Academy alum Lucy Steeds has done just that. Her debut novel, The Artist, hasn’t just been published to acclaim. It has been named Waterstones Book of the Year!
This isn’t just a win for Lucy. It is a win for every writer who wonders if their hours at the keyboard actually matter. They do.
A Sun-soaked Mystery
If you haven’t yet picked up a copy of The Artist, prepare to lose a weekend to it.
The novel transports readers to the sticky heat of 1920s Provence. It follows Joseph, an English journalist who arrives at the home of a brilliant but difficult painter and his quiet niece, Ettie. Joseph intends to write a profile. Instead, he finds himself becoming the artist’s model and getting tangled in a web of secrets.
Critics have called it a “seductive combination of romance, puzzle and poetry”. It is the kind of book that reminds us why we write in the first place. To transport. To escape. To make people feel the heat of the French sun on their backs while they are sitting on a rainy bus in Birmingham.
It is a masterclass in atmosphere. Lucy blends the technical precision of art history with the pacing of a thriller. It is escapism, but with teeth.
The Road to Acclaim
Success stories often look overnight from the outside. We see the champagne photos and the sticker on the book cover. We don’t see the drafts. We don’t see the deleted scenes or the moments of self-doubt.
Lucy’s trajectory with The Artist has been nothing short of meteoric. Before securing the prestigious Book of the Year title, the novel won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Bea Carvalho, Waterstones’ Head of Books, describes Lucy as a writer of “staggering, rare talent” and notes how the book became a “word-of-mouth sensation”.
That phrase, word-of-mouth, is vital. It means readers are loving it. It means the story is resonating. Prizes are wonderful, but connecting with an audience is the real job. Lucy has done both.
Why This Matters for All of Us
We share stories like Lucy’s not to make you jealous (though a little professional envy can be a good motivator!), but to show the path is walkable.
Lucy sat where you are sitting. She faced the blank page. She wrestled with structure and voice. She was a member of our Writing a Novel online course and alumni community, learning that writing doesn’t have to be a solitary act of suffering.
The Professional Writing Academy and our online courses exist to help you bridge the gap between “I have an idea” and “I have a finished manuscript”. We provide the structure, the expert guidance and the deadlines. But the magic? That comes from you.
Lucy’s success proves that debut voices are still powerful. The industry is hungry for new stories. It wants to find the next great talent. There is no secret handshake required. You just have to do the work.
Dare to Be Next
Writing a novel is an act of bravery. It is easier to talk about writing than it is to actually write. It is safer to keep your ideas in your head where they are perfect and unblemished by criticism.
But books like The Artist don’t get written by playing it safe. They get written by people who decide to trust the process and take themselves seriously.
We are incredibly proud of Lucy. She put in the work and she deserves every bit of this acclaim. Now it is your turn.
