Twixtmas

Does anyone know what day of the week it is, let alone what date? Every day over the holiday period seems to blend into the next, when the most difficult decision to make is what book to read or what cheese to eat.

I've been spoiled for choice with reading material- both festive books and Christmas gifts thanks to family and friends.

And I did very well with beautiful writing gifts too, thanks to my thoughtful godson.

Speaking of cheese, we were spoiled for choice with a gorgeous cheese platter when we got back for our annual Christmas theatre treat. 'The Shop at the Top of the Town' at the Theatre at the Mill didn't disappoint. And neither did the cheese platter. You'd have thought that by now we'd all be fed up looking at cheese, but clearly not, as it soon disappeared.

Let's hope that by the time all the cheese in the fridge has gone (which won't be too long) I'll be ready to get back to some writing.

Not all writing groups are like this...

At the weekend our writing group gathered for our Christmas get-together. As much as we look forward to our monthly meetings, our annual summer retreat and our Christmas party are the highlights in the year.

I made some writing fuel (cranberry and orange muffins) to help get our creative juices flowing before the party started.

As well as catching up on our writing news, we did a couple of writing exercises and shared them in the group. Then the party started.

I feel very blessed to have been part of this writing group for so long. We encourage each other and have become friends along the way. And not only do we have very talented writers in the group, we also have very creative people who paint and make their own Christmas cards,

 and draw, sing, play music, act, cook and bake.

Everyone brought something for the dinner. Our starter was a gorgeous goats cheese salad,

followed by three bird roast, ham, roasties, a seasonal red cabbage salad, sprouts, cranberry sauce, chutney and gravy.

We finished with tiramisu and berries for dessert. Our Christmas party was a lovely way to bring our writing year to a close. Here's to another good year with our very special writing group.

November highlights

I decided before November commenced to give NaNoWriMo a miss this year. Instead my writing goal was to catch up with some reading and to rest. This turned out to be a goal that was both achievable and rewarding. 

I managed to finish reading a couple of books and start a few new ones. These included short stories, autobiographies, crime and festive novels. I also managed to add to my 'To Be Read' list, purchasing some gorgeous books at The Secret Bookshelf.

I caught up with reading friends, sharing our news and early festive cheer. Their early Christmas gifts were (unknown to the givers) very appropriately themed - there will be more news on this soon!

Needless to say, the Mars bar squares are long gone. During the month I took part in a couple of writing Zoom calls - one was a SCBWI Ireland catch up. It was good to reconnect and hear news and the presentations. Later in the month I attended a Zoom children's poetry book launch - so many fun poems were packed in. I got a lovely surprise in the post a couple of weeks later when a book prize arrived from a writing competition I'd entered.

And in between, I managed to get some writing done, including a new short story and some new poems. I'm thrilled that three of my festive poems have been published on the Dirigible Balloon's website today. Here is the link to one of them Calendar Countdown

A writerly weekend

I've had a lovely writerly weekend, despite some horrible wet and windy weather at times. On Saturday I was back down at Coney Island catching up with my writing group. The weather gradually cleared up as we caught up on news, drank coffee, ate blackberry and ginger muffins aka writing fuel and did some writing. By the time we were leaving, the sun had come out.

And it was still warm enough to sit outside with a coffee and another borrowed copy of 'The Author' when I got home.

Yesterday I had a meet up with another group of writers, some of whom I hadn't seen since before Covid. It was energising spending time with these talented, creative people and sharing our writing news (some of which is VERY exciting) as well as tasty treats (some of my chocolate brownies and lemon drizzle cake below).

I feel incredibly fortunate to know so many writers who have also become good friends over the last few years. They are generous with their time and their encouragement and I feel very blessed being part of these creative groups. And now that I'm fired up with the enthusiasm that rubs off when you're around creative people, I need to get on with some writing....

BookweekNI 2022

Autumn seems the perfect season for Bookweek NI to take place, when darker nights encourage more indoor activities.  This year, more in person events have been taking place.

I've been celebrating Bookweek by catching up on my reading, enjoying ebooks by Santa Montefiore and Jojo Moyes on the NI Libraries Libby App. I've also been reading books written by authors closer to home.

I've listened each evening to short stories from the newly published collection, 'Dance Move' by my writing pal Wendy which has featured on BBC Radio4 all week. You can catch them here on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001d5lc

I also tuned in and enjoyed some livestream events hosted by LibrariesNI featuring local writers talking about their writing.

And motivated by Bookweek events, I've got back to my writing again after a break, and submitted some work. Serendipitously during Bookweek I've had some exciting news about a book related opportunity but more news will follow in time about that. Stay tuned! 

What a difference a day makes

 We were back down at Coney Island yesterday for our writing group meeting. And while we all know autumn is on the way, it arrived with a blast yesterday.

The bright blue skies and sparkling sea we'd left behind at our writing retreat had gone, and had been replaced by grey clouds, drizzle and an angry sea. The dreich weather didn't dampen our spirits as we caught up on news over coffee and seasonal blackberry and ginger muffins.

We did some writing exercises, stretching our writing muscles. Later yesterday when the rain kept me indoors back at home I settled down to dip into a back copy of 'The Author' borrowed from one if the writing group.

This afternoon outside in the sunshine I enjoyed the tail end of summer and this magazine - there's some very interesting, informative and helpful articles in it.

In a blink it was over

And in a blink it was over! It seems no time since our writing group was preparing for our annual retreat. All year we look forward to spending a couple of days in a tranquil setting with fellow writers who have become friends.

My last minute preparations included baking summer berry muffins which went down a treat - Writers need writing fuel!

After we'd navigated our way through a traffic jam (rare at Coney) we settled in with coffee and muffins while catching up on news. This year a sandcastle competition was taking place on the beach as we arrived  - the cause of the traffic jam and the perfect inspiration for a group of children's writers.  I was amazed by the wonderful sand sculptures and sandcastles 

and inspired to put pen to paper at one point in response to these marvellous pieces of art.

My favourites were definitely the mermaids - I named this one Shelley

It's difficult not to be inspired in such a beautiful location where no two days are ever the same.

And we were blessed with beautiful weather which enticed us on to the beach for a paddle  - it was glorious in the evening sunshine - the perfect way to relax before dinner and after a day of writing.

New Anthology

Earlier this year I submitted a piece of work for consideration for a new poetry anthology being facilitated by the Creative Ireland programme.  Some time afterwards I heard my poem, 'Eau de Phosphorose' had been selected. And this week a copy of the anthology, 'Chasing Shadows' arrived in the post.

I'm enjoying delving into this gorgeous anthology  finding pieces written by writing friends from across Ireland. 

Sources of Inspiration

It's been a wee while since I posted on the blog. I've been really busy these last couple of months. We had a big family celebration last month and I was chief party planner, so unfortunately my writing had to take a back seat in the run up to the event. 

It was a privilege to be able to plan and organise my auntie's 100th birthday celebrations in Scotland. And I'm really pleased all went according to plan. She is an amazing lady who has inspired me and I'm pleased she inspired my nieces to write a poem to celebrate this milestone event. 

I was looking forward to getting back to Coney to see my writing pals when I returned home. But it was not to be. 

After avoiding the plague for the last two years, covid caught up with me and floored me for a few days. The fatigue lingered longer. I dread to think how I might have been without vaccinations. Thankfully it's behind me now and my former energy has eventually returned.

I was however able to join the Coney writers by Zoom - they were all there in person and I chatted with them. It was good to see them to relieve the monotony of self isolation but I soon tired and had to go and lie down! 

To help build up my energy and strength, we ventured out to a local park one evening for a walk. I'd heard from a friend that my poem 'Land of Linen' was on display here so we set off in search of it. After checking almost every tree in the park we were about to give up when we found it, in a very obvious place 🤣 

Seeing my work on display, alongside writing by Lord Carson and David Lloyd George (prime minister when my Auntie was born) helped remind me why I write and how much I've missed it recently.

So last week I sat down and wrote something new. Inspired by my new writing nook in the garden, I took the opportunity to enjoy the good weather when a couple of ideas nudged me to pick up my pen again. 

Back to Coney

With signs of spring appearing every day, and some gorgeous sunny days last week, it's been a bit of a shock to the system to be experiencing cold weather again. So yesterday morning, when we woke up to frost, it seemed it would be a day for the big coat again. Choconana muffins baked, I headed back down to Coney to meet writing friends. 

We caught up over coffee and shared our writing news (One of my writing pals had spotted my poem 'Land of Linen' on display in Randalstown). 

We made some writing group plans and then did some writing. It's so lovely to be able to meet up again in person and all the more lovely on what turned out to be a beautiful spring day.

Coney never disappoints. 

Catching up Again

Over the last few weeks I've taken part in a couple of very enjoyable and helpful online writing workshops. On dark, wintry nights they can be much more appealing than having to venture out in cold, wet, windy weather. Not only were they enjoyable, but I managed to write new pieces as a result of the inspiring facilitators - thanks Shelley and Shirley!

But on a beautiful, sunny spring morning yesterday, it was lovely to be back for an 'in person' workshop at our beloved Coney.

It's good to see more 'in person' events being organised again. Over the last fortnight I've taken part in a couple of 'in person' workshops locally, and it's good to be back in a real room with fellow writers once more, learning from each other. 

But yesterday while we were at our regular writing workshop in Coney, there wasnt much writing done. Our focus was very much on catching up with each other. Over coffee and (of course) muffins

we spent more time sharing our news and pieces we've been working on, than doing any writing. It's a indicator that there is so much more to writing than committing pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Equally important are the connections we make as writers, and if we are very lucky with supportive, like-minded people.

As well as talking about the recent workshops I've attended, I shared my news that I'd had a poem published in the Belfast Writers' anthology, 'Worlds within Worlds', now available in ebook form as well as in paperback, Buy Worlds with Worlds

I've also had two poems for children published on The Dirigible Balloon. You can read them and also hear me reading them here It's Very Dark and What the Sea Saw

 

All things come to those who wait

It's felt a bit like groundhog day (ok - officially Groundhog Day WAS last week) every day for a while. We're still living in strange times and still interacting remotely to keep safe. In the last few weeks I've taken part in a few online writing workshops and at the weekend our Coney writers met up remotely.

It was good to connect over coffee, catch up on our news and also to write. We really stretched ourselves with some difficult writing exercises from the comfort of our homes, while the stormy weather raged outside.

We do miss meeting up in person, but thanks to technology we can still stay connected. With signs of spring appearing, hopefully it won't be too long until we can meet up together in person again.

Today The Belfast Writers' Group launched a new anthology  'Worlds within Worlds'. It's been a while since I submitted a poem for consideration for this project but I knew it had been accepted and the anthology was in development. It's understandable that many projects have taken longer than anticipated in the last two years with so many other challenges. 

So it's exciting to see it come to fruition and it's definitely been worth waiting for. It's now available to buy on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RWZNB8P

Review of the Year

The start of a new year is often associated with setting goals for the year ahead. I haven't decided what my 2022 writing goals are yet, other than to continue writing and developing my craft. For now, I want to take stock of my writing in 2021.

The year started well with three of my locally set stories being included in Jo Zebedee's 'Everyday Magic'.

During continued lockdowns our writing group met virtually, bringing support and encouragement to each other. I also took part in a number of online writing workshops in locations I otherwise wouldn't have had time to travel to, including a Poetry workshop on the first Northern Ireland Writers Day. March saw my poem 'I've a Date' published on 'Inspiration in Isolation's' site https://www.inspirationinisolation.co.uk/post/i-ve-a-date

March also saw my award winning photograph 'The sun sets on summer' being brought to life at the Waterways Storymaking festival.

This awards ceremony took place remotely during lockdown - it was lovely to see the winning images and listen to the poems and stories which were shortlisted and won.

May saw three of my poems published  - two in Dreich's third book of 'wee poems'

And another I'd written a very long time ago in an anthology, 'To Dads - with love'

Over the summer when restrictions eased our writing group was able to meet in person again. The highlight of our year was definitely our writing retreat in August. Having had to hold our retreat virtually last summer, we made up for it this year, even if we didn'tget the weather we deserved.

September saw my story 'Return to Sorrento' published by Bradt in their gorgeous anthology 'Travel Write'.

For me, my writing highlight occurred in November when a colleague sent me a photograph she'd taken when out for a walk. It features a poem I'd written as part of Northern Ireland's 'Centenary Scripts' and it is on display in a number of locations across  the local council area. 

Since then I've spotted the poem beside writing by WB Yeats and John Hewitt and have been sent photographs of it by family and friends.

The writing year finished on a high with the Christmas anthology 'Underneath the Tree' which features my story 'Secret Santa' raising yet more money for good causes.

Here's to another successful writing year in 2022!