A tonic of a treat

I've just returned from a tonic of a treat - time spent in good company in an amazing location with good food and good craic and with the added bonus that I also managed to write! Our annual writing retreat usually re-energises us and sets us up for writing into the winter.  This year's retreat was excellent as always. 

Top grade writing fuel is always essential and we couldn't complain about any of the food - we feasted like kings the entire weekend. Everyone contributed delicious home made delights.

Often we are blessed with fabulous weather  - this year it was a bit more changeable but that didn't stop us getting out on to the beach to relax in between focusing on working on various writing projects, reading and sharing our work and giving and receiving feedback.

Prior to the retreat I'd made a plan of what I wanted to work on and I'm pleased that most of my planned work was completed. We also started planning ahead for the coming months.

While it felt like a hurricane was making landfall when we were leaving, we came away with full stomachs, our heads buzzing from being together and energised to keep working on our various projects as we head into autumn and winter.

Creative Energy

After a break it's good to get back to routines again. Last weekend our SCBWI Ireland Belfast group met up. Due to the holiday period our numbers were depleted but we still had plenty to chat about. And it gave me a chance to use our new desktop sign our Illustrator Co-ordinator, Debora designed.

Spurred on by the creative energy that develops when writers get together I've been making writing plans during the week.

I also finally got round to recording the sound files for some of my poems on The Dirigible Balloon. You can listen to them here:

https://dirigibleballoon.org/writer/mornasullivan

And I've made the most of the good weather this weekend, getting outside to write when I can in betweencatchingup with family and friends. Yesterday morning I took advantage of some amazing weather to enjoy a coffee in the garden while I wrote a first draft of a new short story.

Fingers crossed summer has finally arrived!

Scots inspiration

I picked up my battered copy of Robert Burns' poetry at a jumble sale many years ago, when still at school and contemplating studying English literature. Ironically I studied and learned more of Burns' work at home and at primary school - his work wasn't included on the syllabus at grammar school and at university there weren't any modules as part of my English language and literature degree then covering his work.

On a recent road trip to Scotland, I took a welcome break from traffic disruption to stop off at the Robert Burns museum in Alloway, Ayrshire. I've popped in before for a quick bite to eat in the cafe and a hasty look around the shop, but this time I had a bit more time, so I was able to visit the museum exhibits.

Seeing the actual desk at which Robert Burns sat down to write and his writing set, along with some actual manuscripts was awe-inspiring. 

The museum displays have been carefully curated so that those who are not so familiar with Scots can understand fully what is being conveyed in Burns' writing.

The visit was a good start to a welcome break in Scotland and inspired me to get my own notebook and pen out to write while I was there.

Back in the groove

June has been a busy month with lots of writing related activities, and I'm pleased to say some writing too. Last weekend I managed to quickly pop back down to The Secret Bookshelf to pick up an order. It will definitely keep me occupied for a while.

Later I took advantage of the sunshine to sit outside in the garden and get on with some writing. We were due back at Coney Island yesterday so there was homework to be done in advance.

I had fun completing the task, writing a new short story which I shared with the group yesterday. It needs a bit more work but it is still a first draft. It was good to get feedback on it from my writing pals over coffee and rhubarb and ginger muffins (they were yummy).

We shared our writing news, gave feedback to each other on our work, made plans, did some writing exercises using some picture prompts and had a thoroughly enjoyable morning, despite the sun not joining us. It rounded off a busy month which has seen me getting back into my writing groove.

How many books is too many books?

It's been a busy week with some inspiring events at the Belfast book festival, catching up with writing friends and independent book shop week kicking off. 

The good news is that being in the company of successful writers, supportive writing friends and LOTS of books has got me back to my writing again after a break. During the week I took some time to dust off a manuscript I hadn't looked at for more than six months and I'm back working on it again. 

I also had a poetry acceptance from The Dirigible Balloon for my poem 'Waiter! I am most disgusted!' This couldnt have come at a better time, as I get back to my writing.

I also managed to acquire a pile of new books - well eleven, to be precise, during the last week, along with a lovely goody bag yesterday when I visited The Secret Bookshelf.

Now to find time to read them all..............

Mingling with Writing Royalty

I've spent the most amazing day at the Belfast Book Festival today. I mingled with and met writing royalty. The first session I attended today was Dame Jacqueline Wilson talking to a sold out room about her writing journey and her latest books. 

It was an absolute joy to listen to her, to watch how she engaged with young and older fans and a privilege then to later meet her and chat about her writing.

Alongside catching up with some of my writing friends today, it was also lovely to finally meet some of the Children's Books Belfast group - Clive, Colleen and Ashling - in person. After lunch we had fun at Colleen Larmour and Ashling Lindsay's session hearing them read from their newest picture books.

They are both very talented illustrators - I'm not so sure the same could be said for the attempts I made in the creative session they led that followed. But it certainly gave Marianne McShane, Myra Zepf and I a laugh. My attempts are below:

Later the whole room - from the youngest to the oldest - was enthralled as Martin Waddell read some of his picture books to the audience and talked about how he created these books.

I've been a fan of his writing since I was a teenager. At school I chose one of his books, written under the Catherine Sefton pseudonym, 'In a Blue Velvet Dress' as a prize. It was a delight to meet him afterwards and ask him to sign that book.

Altogether it was an amazing day celebrating children's writers.

Volunteers' Week

This week the contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK is being celebrated during Volunteers Week.

I've been volunteering with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) as Regional Adviser for Ireland for almost 18 months.

I've made good friends in SCBWI over the years as a member so it's been good to be able to give something back to this supportive community.

Volunteering is a two way street  - it's a chance to give back and support communities and organisations by giving up some of your free time and using your skills and experience to benefit an organisation.

I'm able to bring my planning and organisation skills, budgeting, people management and presentation skills to name but a few to help grow and support our region and lead its volunteer team.

Yes it means I'm spending my time organising 'stuff' for SCBWI when I could otherwise be writing. But I see it as time well spent as I'm helping other writers in developing our local writing community. Writing can be a lonely occupation, so this makes it all the more important to try to build up supportive communities.

A typical week can see me spending a few hours of my spare time doing 'admin' work for SCBWI, planning our next events, developing and issuing our monthly newsletter, getting to grips with how the back end of the website works and developing Web pages to advertise our events, answering members' email queries, updating our social media feeds or interviewing the Managing Director of a publishing house as one of our sessions for members.

I'm really fortunate to lead a willing and supportive volunteer team who are based across the island of Ireland. They also give up their time in supporting Illustrators' queries, keeping our social media presence current, running critique groups and in organising and hosting our in - person meet ups across Ireland. They all have busy lives too - some working full-time as well as having caring responsibilities.

Thank you team - you are all amazing!