Belfast, Brussels, New York

It's been great to spend time doing some of my favourite writerly things over the past couple of weeks and really good to get back to more in-person events. Zoom meetings definitely still have their place in shrinking the world and making opportunities accessible anywhere.

Last weekend it was great to meet up with local writers in Belfast at our SCBWI social - the first time we've had a get together for three years. It was lovely to see familiar faces again over coffee and a cake. Even though we've kept in touch online, it's not the same as meeting together. It was good to hear what everyone is working on and how we've managed to keep writing (or not) since we last met up.

While it's great to get back to the way things were pre- pandemic, there are definitely some advantages to online meet-ups. One evening during the week I was able to take part in a SCBWI online webinar with a literary agent based in Brussels. 

And yesterday I was able to attend the SCBWI winter virtual conference in New York. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear the speakers and while not quite the same as a trip to the big apple, I didn't need to worry about flight connections, jetlag or lost luggage 😀.

Yesterday morning I took part in a poetry workshop in Belfast as part of the LookNorth Festival. Again it was lovely to be at an in-person event with other local writers. There is energy in a room you can't capture on a Zoom call. Ably led by local poet Maureen Boyle we had a very enjoyable morning inspired by art.

I can see the benefits of both the in-person and the zoom meetings and hope this hybrid approach will be the way forward. How else could I have arrived in New York from Belfast on time?

In between on a busy but thoroughly enjoyable writing day, I managed to #squeezeinaread - even if only for a little time.

A weekend of writing

After a busy week it was good to spend time at the weekend on writing related activities. The weekend got off to a good start when my edition of 'Writing' magazine popped through the letterbox to provide new inspiration and ideas for writing projects. It usually takes me the entire month to read it from cover to cover as I like to dip in and out of it.

On Saturday I was back down at Coney Island for a workshop with my writing pals. We caught up with each others' writing news (and there was a LOT to catch up on!) and did a fun writing exercise. And of course we were fuelled by coffee and muffins - this time of the chocanana variety.

On Sunday evening I was on BBC Radio Ulster's Kintra programme talking about and reading from my award winning story 'Worth Hir Saut'. If you missed it, you can catch it here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hw1w (only available for the next few weeks) 

My story, along with the work of the other prizewinners in this year's Linenhall library Ulster Scots writing competition is published in a beautiful booklet, available to purchase from the Linenhall library.

Fair plaised wi masel

Am fair plaised wi masel. Absolutely delighted and thrilled! I'd heard a few weeks ago that I'd been shortlisted in a local writing competition and yesterday on a crisp, sunny January day I set out for the awards ceremony in Belfast's Linenhall library.

This is the oldest library in Belfast and houses one of the largest Robert Burns collections outside Scotland. I've known his work for as long as I can remember, having heard poems recited at home and learned songs at primary school.

It was very fitting therefore that we gathered at the Linenhall library the day after Burns night for the 2022 Ulster Scots writing competition awards. 

My story 'Worth Hir Saut' took shape last year during a writing workshop I attended in Carrickfergus museum. I was inspired by the museum's exhibition 'A Most Proper Verdict' which examined attitudes to crime and punishment in 19th century Co. Antrim. A fact in the accompanying brochure about the prisoners' rations stuck with me and prompted my story.  

Changing the POV in an early draft of the story enabled my main character to come alive and I was very clear from the start how she spoke. Even in an early draft written in English, she spoke in Ulster Scots.  After having been in Scotland for around a month last autumn, I re-worked the entire story in Ulster Scots and submitted it to the competition. It was the first time I'd attempted to write anything in Ulster Scots and while that was challenging, I was so familiar with the language as older generations in my family had spoken it at home.

I was therefore thrilled yesterday to find out that my story was runner up in the competition's prose category. The judges provided very encouraging feedback which is very much appreciated. My story, along with the other winners is included in a beautiful booklet developed by the Linenhall library where copies are available to purchase.

New Year, New Opportunities

There's nothing like a blast of cold January sea air to blow away the Christmas cobwebs and stir the lethargy that developed over the holiday period. The bracing sea air and bright sunshine at Coney yesterday brought energy to our writing group.

We spent time catching up on news and doing some writing exercises, interspersed by apple and cinnamon muffins and coffee. I never fail to be amazed at the variety and quality of writing produced by my writing friends in Coney, inspired by a writing prompt - yesterday's prompts were old photographs. And often these little nuggets we develop in writing exercises are revisited and go on to grow into a bigger piece - a poem or story at a later date.

Getting back into a routine is good, and it's good to set some goals and build some structure to the writing year, whether that be specific annual, monthly,  weekly or even daily goals or putting dates in the diary for future writing workshops and events. It all provides structure. Starting strong in January can be easy. Maintaining the momentum throughout the year can be much more challenging. Inspired by meeting my writing pals again yesterday, when I returned home I started some planning for this writing year. Now the challenge will be sticking to the plan.

Looking back - Looking forward

I didn't make any specific writing goals a year ago, other than to continue writing and developing my craft. I'm pleased to say I achieved these, enjoying the writing journey along the way.

An added bonus was a little bit of success along the way with several acceptances and publications.  I had a number of poems featured in anthologies locally and nationally and continued to spot my poems on trees in local parks. 

2022 also saw several of my poems for children featured on the Dirigible Balloon's website. https://dirigibleballoon.org/

It also saw the return to more in-person meet ups with writers. I took part in a couple of online writing workshops but it was exciting to go to a series of in-person writing workshops in the spring in Carrickfergus museum and to write new stories. It was good to get back to meeting other writers to share, learn, have fun together and be inspired.

2023 looks to be an exciting writing year already. I’ve been shortlisted in a local writing competition and will hear more about that in the next few weeks. Some of my writing friends have new books launching this year and I'm really looking forward to celebrating their successes with them. My godson gifted me a very appropriate Christmas present which I've already started to use.

And although I'm beginning to pack away my Christmas decorations for another year, there is one decoration that I'm keeping out. 

Mr Owl was gifted to me by a writing friend and I've already decided that he's going to be my writing mascot in 2023. While he may be wearing a Santa hat, he will be very appropriate to me in my writing journey this year. The gold star on top of his Santa hat will inspire me to strive to improve my writing and his tangled Christmas lights will remind me to look for writing inspiration throughout the year and not be put off when I get stuck. As an owl he's the fitting companion as I take on a new voluntary role from tomorrow in the writing community with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) as Ireland Regional Adviser.

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.