Ups and Downs

The last couple of weeks have been strange with a real mix of emotions being experienced at various points - highs and lows.

Nearly a fortnight ago we heard very sad news that one of our very dear friends in our writing group, had passed away suddenly. We're all still reeling from this news. During the last week we gathered at one of his happy places to remember him.

We went along to the Black Box where he had regularly been a Tenx9 contributor and remembered him and also supported one of our group in her first Tenx9 story. A very special night.

I've just returned from a blissful few days at The River Mill writing retreat where I've enjoyed good company, the best of food and had time to write.

https://www.the-river-mill.co.uk/rooms-prices

It has been a sensory indulgence, spoiled by gorgeous food, February sunshine warming the garden between the storms. DJ the cat is the perfect host.

I took advantage of time to read and write and made progress on a new project. While I was there I received good news about a couple of very exciting writing projects, sprinkled with a couple of rejections. 

More news about one of them soon I hope. 😀 While I was here I made new connections and  memories. One of the abiding memories will be sitting at my desk watching for the first time a video made of my poem 'The Journey Home's Soundtrack'. I'd written this as part of Translink and Ulster University's 'Poetry in Motion' campaign. I'd heard earlier in the week that a video had been made with an actor reading my poem and was delighted at how it brought my poem to life. It's perfect. Here's The link to the video 

https://x.com/Translink_NI/status/1892880850791899402?t=aY2knBIyZUyTsBcukeFmqg&s=19

Dragging myself away from the River Mill's delicious food back home was a challenge  - but made all the sweeter when I returned to find my contributer copies of Yarns 4 had arrived. I'm delighted that two of my poems made it into this Ulster Scots anthology along with so much good work.

The heart of stories

February has got off to a busy start for my writing.

In the first week I've met up with my writing group, hosted another Picture This, Write Now creative session with SCBWI Ireland, attended a webinar about Getting Published, had an acceptance, done some writing and been to the theatre. Stories have been at the heart of all of these activities.

Catching up with fellow writers last weekend we shared news and stories we've been working on.

I took the opportunity to do some further work on a story at our SCBWI Ireland creative space on Monday evening. This is a great way to connect with other writers across Ireland and it's good to schedule some time to write. I also enjoyed hearing what the others had been working on.

Duting the week I had a story accepted by Writing.ie for their Mining Memories section. You can read 'Through the Keyhole' here:

https://www.writing.ie/tell-your-own-story/morna-sullivan/

I also took delivery of a hardback copy of 'Sky Surfing' from the Dirigible Balloon  - its even more gorgeous than the paperback edition. 

You can order a copy of this beautiful anthology of poems for children here:

https://dirigibleballoon.org/shop

Last night we went on a long awaited theatre trip to see the National Theatre's production of War Horse in Belfast's Grand Opera House. It was magical, with phenomenal puppetry, effects and superb acting.

But at the heart of it was a really good story  - Michael Morpurgo at his very best.

Making Connections

It's been a busy month, catching up with other writers and making new connections. While the recent storm curtailed some events, a couple of weeks ago I met up with writers and illustrators with Children's Books Belfast, meeting in Belfast Central Library before chatting over coffee.

It was good to see so many books by local children's writers and illustrators on display in the new contemporary local collection.

I made some new connections that day and heard about a local illustration exhibition which I've now recently visited.

It was lovely to see so many gorgeous illustrations by award winning children's illustrators on display at 'A World of Wonder' in Lisburn. 

And I've also been making plans with writers - but more about that in due course....

Last week I heard that my poem 'The Journey Home's Soundtrack' will be included in a new anthology with Translink, focusing on making connections. You can read an excerpt here:

Short story shortlisting

The new writing year has already got off to a great start! I've been busy catching up with writing pals and with their encouragement have been continuing to progress my work and make plans.

Over the weekend I received really encouraging news that my short story 'Fidelity' has been shortlisted in the World History Encyclopedia's Ink of Ages Fiction Prize. 

And it was great to see this in print today. I'm delighted to be in great company on the shortlist- especially as one of my writing pals has also been shortlisted in this competition.

Fingers and everything else crossed for the next stage in the competition.

And this encouragement has spurred me on to get stuck into working on another short story....

Kick starting writing

It's difficult to get motivated on a cold and frosty January morning, but the lure of good company and chat and the chance to be creative enticed us back to Coney Island yesterday. A cosy welcome and cranberry and orange muffins also helped.

We had much to talk about, catching up on each other's news and plans with many of us taking active steps over the coming months to focus on our writing. Focus was in force yesterday when we completed two writing exercises - a short story and a poem with some fun prompts. 

With tasks to be completed before we meet again, it was the right kick start to writing we needed in the new year. This supportive group together with some of the lovely gifts I received at Christmas that will help in my planning, researching and writing, will keep the motivation and focus over a cold, dark January.

Timing is Everything

December is always a busy month - so much going on in the run up to Christmas, and this year has been no different. Despite not feeling so festive this year, preparations started early with cards being written, treats baked, presents made, bought and wrapped (with special cards for writing friends!)

This left time to enjoy Christmas catch ups with friends, theatre outings, Christmas dinners. There were writing group catch ups - online and in person, with writing friends from across Europe, to much closer to home. There were a few opportunities for writing exercises, but with so many other activities happening, my writing time was squeezed out. Rejections continued to be received as editors tried to clear their backlogs before the holidays.

But amidst the rejections there has been perfectly timed writing joy during the last week. My story, 'Class Writing' was published in this week's Sunday Post's, 'PS' bumper Christmas supplement. I didn't think I could be more delighted to see my story in print, until I saw the accompanying artwork. It could not be more perfect for my story.

And today I received a perfectly timed Christmas delivery through the post. Despite a few glitches, Jonathan Humble at The Dirigible Balloon worked tirelessly to send out this gorgeous anthology of children's poems 'Sky Surfing'. All proceeds go to the Juvenile Arthritis Research project.

It's perfect timing to read my poem included, 'Calendar Countdown' with the book arriving just in time for Jolabokaflod (the Icelandic Christmas tradition that involves exchanging books and reading them together on Christmas Eve (while eating chocolate!))

You know what I'll be doing later. Is it any wonder I still believe in Santa? Merry Christmas!

Defying Darragh

All year we look forward to our writing group's Christmas get together. Last week,  we were putting the final preparations together, anticipating the fun we would have, catching up, sharing stories and enjoying our Christmas meal together.

So, with a Yellow weather warning turning to an Amber warning because Storm Darragh was on its way, we were anxious as to whether our festivities would go ahead as planned. During the night as the storm arrived, I listened as the rain battered the roof and the wind grew stronger tossing bins and their contents round the garden. Fearing what storm damage daylight would reveal, we knew rescheduling our Christmas get together was an option. 

Thankfully all of us had got off relatively unscathed and our routes to Coney had not been impeded by fallen trees. We expected some debris from an early high tide, but were very fortunate that was all that Darragh had left behind. It was a strange experience watching the wind blowing the tide out, as the the tide was coming in.

The wind continued to deliver an icy blast while we were there, but surrounded by good company and food in cosy surroundings we ignored it. We tucked into seasonal cranberry and orange muffins over coffee, catching up on news.

Later we completed a short writing exercise, creating some memorable characters and sharing our work. It didn't take long for all of us to clear our books away and set the table for our much anticipated festive lunch.

As always, everyone pitched in to the preparation of this delicious meal. We left Coney very full and very thankful for a delicious lunch shared with good friends and another year of being part of this group of supportive writers.