New Year writing goals - are they worth it?

In previous years I've often set myself writing goals at the start of a new year. Last year I didn't for a variety of reasons and the way 2020 turned out for all of us, it was good not to have them lurking in the background not being achieved when life took over and at times writing had to take a back seat.

It's been a difficult year for most of us and just coping and surviving 2020 should be enough for all of us. At times there were several writing droughts for me during the year, but I knew there would be other times when I would write again. This bizarre year also brought different writing opportunities and perversely the most difficult year we've all had to face, has been the one in which my writing has been shared wider than previous years - I had my first ebook published, poems and short stories broadcast on radio, featured in online journals, magazines and published in anthologies.

It's a strange coincidence this has happened in the first year in recent times that I didn't set myself writing goals.  I'm a firm believer in setting goals and believe it's because of the discipline of setting goals in previous years (as some of these published projects first emerged in earlier years) and that writing provided a welcome escape from what 2020 threw at us, that I can now look back over the year knowing goals from previous years have been achieved. The next challenge will be to decide what my 2021 writing goals will be.....

The Fourth Day of Christmas

I love my festive theatre trips and have really missed them this year. In other years, by now I'd have enjoyed our annual trip to the local pantomime and a Christmas dinner and theatre night out with some friends along with possibly an Andre Rieu concert. 

So this year, like so many other activities my festive theatre fix has moved online. On the run up to Christmas it was lovely to tune in to the Waterside Theatre's 'Twelve Days of Christmas' each story written by a local writer and performed by local actors.

And I'm delighted my 'Four Calling Birds' story was included in this booklet produced by the Waterside theatre.

Today, the Fourth Day of Christmas,  (December 28) is called ‘The Feast of Holy Innocents’, a day of remembrance thinking back to the baby boys killed in King Herod’s search for Baby Jesus.

You can read my story, along with all the others here. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Qwy2uuuSPRg5LJnP_u9Rryv9lGvPJq_/view

Enjoy!

Writing wind down

 As we count down the final few days to Christmas, I'm looking forward to taking a break and catching up on some reading. Already I've been dipping into  'Underneath the Tree' the Christmas anthology I have a short story in and I'm looking forward to finishing it. 

Last week a few of the writers featured in the book were invited to join the Causeway Coast book club. The group had chosen 'Underneath the  Tree' as their December read. It was lovely to meet up with them over Zoom, hear what they liked about the book and to answer their questions about our stories.

This week my copy of 'Writing' magazine arrived in the post. I always relish time to sit down and read it cover to cover and it will be in my reading pile for the holiday period. I did have a quick glance when it arrived and was delighted to find a piece I wrote about our Coney Island writing group's virtual writing retreat featured in this month's issue.

It's a lovely way to round off the writing year and to get ready to wind down for the holidays.

Christmas traditions

The first weekend in December usually heralds the start of festivities  - the Christmas tree going up, writing Christmas cards, our annual trip to the local pantomime and the Coney writers Christmas lunch. 

But not this year. Everything is different. 

I've had a Christmas tree up for a month already - it definitely helps brighten up dark days, though my main reason for putting it up so early was for the launch of ' Underneath the Tree'.

I've started to write my Christmas cards. It's taking longer than usual as I'm writing a note in each one. And I'm sending a few more than usual, to include some friends and family who may not be on my Christmas card list but their details are in my address book. I think a little note to someone out of the blue, won't do anyone any harm, especially this year.

There is no trip to the pantomime this December. I know my nieces look forward to it each year, and so do I, but like many events in the arts it's not happening this year. Thankfully we've many happy panto memories to look back on. (Oh yes we have!)

And we couldn't have our Coney Christmas lunch  - instead we opted for an evening get together via zoom. Everyone made the effort getting dressed up in a festive way - Santa, elf and Christmas tree hats competed with Christmas jumpers and a snowman jacket and matching tie. Everyone was in good spirits and could enjoy a festive tipple without worrying about how they'd get home safely later on a cold frosty night (there are some advantages in lockdown). We chatted about writing, what some of us have been doing in our spare time, giggled, shared writing news and toasted each other,  thankful of the group, the support and encouragement it provides as well as the good friends we've made and kept over the years. Here's to 2021 and getting back to Coney again.

So how did Not NaNoWriMo go?

This year being different than any before, I knew NaNoWriMo would not work well for me. I knew I wouldn't have time or energy for a 'normal' NaNoWriMo so I opted for the new normal.

Rather than trying to write the first draft of a novel, my much more realistic goal was to spend at least four hours a week writing and to work on a couple of short stories.

So how did it go?

I'm pleased to say this approach worked well. Rather than falling off the NaNoWriMo band wagon half way through November (which has happened on two previous occasions!) I clung on right to the end of the journey. 

I managed to steal at least four hours each week to write. I worked on four new short stories and submitted ten pieces of work. I attended three virtual writing meetings - one with my  Coney Island writing pals, one with SCBWI Ireland writers and one with SCBWI members across Europe (this wouldn't have happened in other years so there are some benefits to 2020!)

I received four rejections and one acceptance and attended two virtual book launches - one for Anthony Quinn's new book, Turncoat and the other for our own Christmas anthology  'Underneath the Tree'.

The approach worked - it's worth trying doing things differently 

Christmas Anthologies

In previous years, in the run up to Christmas I've treated myself to a Christmas anthology of short stories. They're great to dip into when you've a busy schedule and maybe can't get enough time to indulge in a novel. I often find I read the anthology over the Christmas holidays. What's also different from a novel is that you are more likely to return to the short stories a few years later.

'Silent Nights' and 'Murder Under the Christmas Tree' are gorgeous collections of crime stories with gripping stories from some of the best mystery writers. They make fantastic gifts and are perfect for curling up with when you've consumed too much plum pudding. 

This year I've added to my Christmas anthology collection with 'Underneath the Tree', twelve Christmas stories from writers in Northern  Ireland. And this anthology is definitely one I hope to return to for many years. The proceeds from this book will raise funds for a couple of local charities  - the Simon Community helping combat homelessness and World of Owls, supporting local wildlife. 

But what makes this anthology really special is that I've a story included in it - 'Secret Santa'. I'm looking forward to dipping into it over the next few weeks.

Counting the days

It 's hard to believe we're halfway through November already. 

And if you're counting down you'll know it's 40 days until Christmas. Henry, one of the characters in my story 'Secret Santa' would be able to tell you this too. If you want to find out more about him, you can read the story in 'Underneath the Tree', now available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-Tree-Christmas-stories-Northern/dp/B08HQ4XSZD/ref=asc_df_B08HQ4XSZD/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463155006896&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14978502887678889369&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045221&hvtargid=pla-981810675098&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Around this point in November, if I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo I sometimes begin to wobble. This year I'm not taking part in it, but still trying to stick to writing goals this month. At the end of week two, I've submitted a couple of short stories, taken part in the SCBWI Ireland catch up on Zoom and begun to draft a new short story, so still sticking to the plan, despite the many competing demands on my time.

Not NaNoWriMo

In past Novembers I've taken part in NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. But this year I knew I would have neither time nor energy to participate in this. So when I read a writing friend's blog suggesting an alternative approach, setting an achievable writing goal, I agreed to take part in this version of November.

My goal was to spend at least 4 hours a week writing and to work on a couple of short stories.

So at the end of week one I'm pleased that I've managed to stick to this goal. I have spent more than the 4 planned hours reworking a short story.

I've also taken part in the Zoom book launch for 'Underneath the Tree' which contains one of my short stories. 

If you missed Wednesday night's launch you can watch it here  https://youtu.be/t9DHSItHMnw

I also met up with my Coney Island writing buddies via Zoom when we chatted, shared our news, did some very stretching writing exercises and enjoyed coffee.

(And I enjoyed some home made white choc and banana muffins).

In between I managed to send in a submission to an agent after a recommendation from a writing friend (and received a subsequent rejection)  write a couple of blog posts and enjoyed reading a beautiful short story collection by Victoria Hislop.

Let's hope the rest of my 'not NaNoWriMo' goes as well.

Is this the new normal?

It's not normal to write a Christmas story in the spring nor to put your Christmas tree up at the start of November is it? But then what has been normal this year?

But last night, I donned my Christmas jumper, filled my reindeer mug and sat beside my Christmas tree. Lockdown had not finally got to me. There was a reason for this irrational behaviour. And it was all in a good cause, or rather two good causes.

Last night I joined 12 other writers from Norn Iron for the launch of the gorgeous anthology we all have contributed a story to, 'Underneath the Tree'. And while it was not the launch that had been planned, it was still good fun and great to be part of. What else would you do on a cold, dreary November evening in lockdown?

We met over Zoom and read excerpts from our stories to give the audience a flavour of what's in store for them when they delve into the book. Thanks to Claire Savage and Kelly Creighton for developing this project and to the Arts Council of  Northern Ireland for supporting it. 

All proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Simon Community Northern Ireland and World of Owls Northern Ireland. It's available to buy now on Amazon, 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-Tree-Christmas-stories-Northern/dp/B08HQ4XSZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1604601381&refinements=p_27%3AClaire+Savage&s=books&sr=1-1

And it might just be the perfect Christmas gift for someone you know....

Happy Halloween

Halloween like many events this year has been a bit different from previous years. I missed hosting my annual Halloween hoot for family and friends but tried to make it as enjoyable as possible for my favourite little people by delivering their trick n treat bags to them.

And to try and put a smile on strangers faces this year the decorations extended outside.

With a bit of imagination and help from my nieces an old tree trump was soon transformed into a spooky spectacle. Witchy has weathered the storms over the last two weeks and has entertained many a passerby. 

She'll be flying off again soon. Just as Halloween hoolies come to an end, I heard today a spooky story of mine, 'Fearless Fergus, King of the Castle' has been included in Derry Halloween's anthology  'The Gathering' which you can read here.

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/64733982/the-gathering

And I've just found out it was read out on BBC Radio Foyle by the lovely Anne McMaster on 30th October on the Mark Patterson show. You can listen here for the next few weeks (its around 35 minutes in) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000ntwq

In the News

Great to see a write up in today's online Belfast Newsletter about 'Underneath the Tree', launching next week. You can read it here 

 https://www.newsletter.co.uk/lifestyle/cracker-bookworms-beneath-christmas-tree-3016214

In these strange days, the launch featuring stories from authors across Northern Ireland will take place via Zoom. 

I can confirm it is a beautiful book and will make a great stocking filler.

Book Week

It was Book Week this week in Northern Ireland, encouraging us to take at least 15 minutes a day to read.

I managed to squeeze in at least 15 minutes most nights to read a chapter from the Santa Montefiore novel I'm currently reading  'Daughters of Castle Deverill' recently acquired from my local bookshop, The Secret Bookshelf.

But this year, BookWeekNI took on a different slant for me, when on Monday a copy of the poetry anthology I have a poem included in arrived through the letterbox.

I've dipped into 'Places of Poetry' this week but still have to indulge thoroughly in it.

Then this morning, Christmas came early when my author copy of a book I have a short story in, arrived in the post. 'Underneath the Tree' features twelve Christmas stories from writers in Northern Ireland and is released in a couple of weeks. It looks beautiful and I think it will be read from cover to cover, long before the Christmas season commences.

Poems in the Post

I was delighted when I heard that my poem 'Riverdance' was to be included in the 'Places of Poetry' anthology. But it was even more exciting today to receive a couple of copies of the book in the post. 

Never had I imagined that I'd have a poem in an anthology that also included contributions from poets I'd studied at school and at university, like Thomas Hardy, Anne Bronte, Robert Burns, Gerald Manley Hopkins, Lord Byron, Walter Scott, John Clare, William Wordsworth, and on a page next to Percy French. This beautiful anthology also features poems from contemporary poets from across the UK. As we head into a long winter this will be one book I'll be dipping into frequently.

Catching up with writers

 It's funny how quickly we have become used to virtual writing meetings. While we would obviously much rather meet face to face and in Coney Island it isn't possible, so Zoom meetings are definitely the next best thing. 

Fuelled by chocanana muffins (which unfortunately I can't share with fellow writers at the moment) we caught up on each other's news, chatted and then did a few writing exercises. As always, even virtually, I came away from Coney writers enthused, encouraged and raring to write.

Happy (book) birthday!

Today was a special day - the beginning of a new month, National Poetry Day and the book birthday of 'Places of Poetry'.

My poem 'Riverdance' which won first prize in the poetry category of the first Lagan Navigation Trust's Storymaking competition, features in this gorgeous anthology, the culmination of the 'Places of Peotry' project, mapping the nation in verse.

This evening I attended the 'virtual' book launch hosted by The Poetry Society where some of the poets from across the United Kingdom featured in the anthology read from the book.

It's now available to buy - check out your local book shop and enjoy!

Cover Reveal(s)!!!

The last couple of weeks have been busy, coinciding with schools returning and summer ending. Interspersed among several rejections I've received, there have been some high points. These included two Zoom sessions - one with SCBWI Ireland members (the first catch up since the beginning of the summer) and a very informative webinar about children's publishing hosted by Golden Egg Academy.

But even better, within a few days I saw the cover of not one, but two books soon to be launched which I have work included in. The first one is for 'Underneath the Tree' an anthology of Christmas stories which launches in November.

I think the cover is beautiful. The book is now available to pre-order on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Underneath-Tree-Christmas-stories-Northern-ebook/dp/B08HNB1KBY/ref=redir_mobile_desktop/257-1153980-2021622?ie=UTF8&qid=1600603952&ref_=tmm_kin_title_0&sr=8-1

The second cover is for 'Places of Poetry - Mapping the Nation in Verse' a poetry anthology containing 200 poems imbued with a strong sense of journey and discovery from across the UK. Again a beautiful and simple cover. This project has been shortlisted for 'Research Project of the Year: Humanities and Social Sciences ' at THE Awards and this gorgeous book will be launched on 1st October by the Poetry Society.

I'm looking forward to the launch for each book and holding these books in my hands.

National Read A Book Day

There seems to be a day to celebrate all sorts of events and occasions nowadays, some of which are quite obscure.  I discovered earlier today that it is National Read A Book Day which probably should really be celebrated every single day. Thankfully as it fell at the weekend there was a bit more time to read, so I marked the occasion by indulging in some quality 'me' time today, sitting down with a coffee and a chocanana muffin (left over from yesterday's virtual  writing group meeting - and still yummy)

 and enjoying  more of the book I'm currently reading 'Vanilla Beans and Brodo' by Isabella Dusi.  I haven't been able to travel to Italy this summer, so this book has been the perfect way of transporting me to the heart of Tuscany without the hassle of queues, masks and quarantine. So for a couple of hours I was there today - enjoying the sights and sounds of Lent preparations, picking jonquils and Tuscan football matches - bliss! Can't wait to read more...

Places of Poetry

Earlier this year I heard that my poem 'Riverdance' was going to be included in the 'Places of Poetry: Mapping the Nation in Verse' anthology. The poem, about the River Lagan won first prize in the Lagan Navigation Trust's first ever Storymaking Festival a couple of years ago http://www.lagannavigationtrust.org/1st-annual-story-making-festival-2018/

This new anthology which is launched on 1st October features poems about places throughout the United Kingdom, and I'm delighted that my poem will be one representing Northern Ireland. https://www.placesofpoetry.org.uk/About/

Last weekend I had fun recording a poetry reading on the banks of the Lagan as part of the promotional work for the forthcoming launch. Watch this space for more news!

Fighting Talk

A few months ago, I saw an opportunity to become involved in a Global Writing Lockdown project the organisation 'Fighting Words' was facilitating. A couple of my friends volunteer with Fighting Words. The organisation aims to help children and young people and adults who did not have opportunities as children to discover and harness the power of their own imagination and creative writing skills. It also aims to use creative writing and storytelling to strengthen children and teenagers from a wide range of backgrounds to be resilient, creative and successful shapers of their own lives. You can find out more about them here https://www.fightingwords.ie/about-us

I'm delighted that my piece of flash fiction 'There's No Such Thing as Can't' has been included in this. The 'Near and Far' anthology can be viewed here https://fightingwords.ie/nearandfar

In the Glen

 One aspect of lockdown has been re-discovering the gems on our doorsteps. 

While I'm very familiar with the area, a walk through nearby Valentine's Glen revealed there had been some changes since my last dander there, including the appearance of a plaque commemorating a murder that happened in the glen last century. Since 1952 locals have been fascinated with what really happened that night and the mystery surrounding the murder has inspired books and television dramas and has become a key aspect of local culture.

I'm delighted that my story 'In the Glen', inspired by the Curran murder, has been included in 'Stories from the Waterside'. This anthology was produced from a writing competition celebrating people's connections with Ireland's rivers, lakes and beaches. The publication has been launched this week to mark #WaterHeritageDay and can be viewed and downloaded here:

http://watersandcommunities.ie/stories-from-the-waterside/

What is a virtual writing retreat like?

At the beginning of each year our writing group makes plans for the year ahead. Along with writing goals, these plans include our schedule of workshops and our annual writing retreat. It has become a tradition for our writing group to assemble for a couple of days each August for our much anticipated writing retreat in Coney Island. 

But this year, like so many other planned events, we had to review and revise our ideas for the writing retreat, just as a good writer edits and re-edits their work.

We've managed to continue to hold a monthly 'virtual' writing workshop throughout lockdown and easing arrangements. We were loathe to cancel the retreat so considered having a 'virtual' get-together was the best option for our writing retreat. Over two days we gathered together over Zoom meetings to chat and share our writing and in between times we wrote, edited, revised and read.

There were some elements of our writing retreat which remained the same this year as in previous years.

The sun shone most of the weekend; coloured pens had been purchased; we ate good food; we received support from each other; the 'craic' was good; we wanted to write; there was no pressure to write; and we could guarantee a real belly laugh - probably the first I've experienced since lockdown commenced where I laughed so much I cried.

But it wasn't a writing retreat as we knew it. The views were different; the accommodation was different. We missed the anticipation when it would be decided which one of us would be lucky enough to secure Maddie's beach house for the weekend. The food was different. We missed Maddie's speciality dishes. We missed each other's company; we had distractions as life intervenes more when you're still fully immersed in it; and a level of anxiety hovered.

I still managed to fit in walks by the shore, albeit a different piece of shore and managed to write a couple of new pieces.

And just as many of us have managed to survive 2020 so far, we adapted to this new normal and made the best of it and wrote. 

More ups and downs

It's been another exciting writing week - with more ups and downs, and thankfully with more ladders than snakes.

On Sunday I heard that some of my poems had been published on Pendemic's website http://pendemic.ie/coronavirus-lockdown-well-meet-again-and-hippocrates-poetry-by-morna-sullivan/

On Monday I heard that another poem I'd written has been accepted to be included in a forthcoming anthology - more news to follow in due course.

On Wednesday I joined up with SCBWI Ireland members for a virtual catch up. When we can't meet up, it's good to keep in touch this way and to meet new writers and illustrators I wouldn't otherwise have met.

On Thursday I received a rejection from an agent. Later that day I heard one of my short stories has got through to the next stage in a writing competition  - fingers crossed for the next stage!

On Friday I heard a piece of flash fiction I'd written will be included in a forthcoming anthology  - again more news to follow in due course.

Then just as I thought it had been a good writing week, it got even better! On Saturday a fellow contributor to an anthology made our group aware that through her hard work in promoting the anthology, Jeremy Irons had written a few lines to support our work!

https://www.facebook.com/106058574454891/posts/143817187345696/

When we write we don't always think who might read our work. Words can be powerful!

Jeremy had this to say about our collection:
 “One of the positive realisations to come out of this plague, is how we all need each other. I hope these stories help us never to forget as we live our future lives.”

 Wow!! We are beyond delighted by his words, and are humbled he took the time to read the works within ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Many thanks to the wonderful Niamh Cooper for her part in all this. She truly is a gem!!

 Haven't got your copy yet? Head over to Amazon and buy either Kindle or eBook version of Lights on the Horizon Stay safe!! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lights-Horizon-Collection-Lockdown-Writings/dp/B088XQG786/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?crid=19SVR1GPPQRV3&cv_ct_cx=lights+on+the+horizon&dchild=1&keywords=lights+on+the+horizon&pd_rd_i=B088XQG786&pd_rd_r=437d2e56-c789-42e0-9f27-0a07178cc5e9&pd_rd_w=gXpS7&pd_rd_wg=j5ceT&pf_rd_p=fd5dad59-261a-423d-9e6c-7be719d7fb65&pf_rd_r=7TBSQYXB3F2EWD6DFT7H&psc=1&qid=1594490294&sprefix=lights+on+the+h%2Caps%2C159&sr=1-1-91e9aa57-911e-4628-99b3-09163b7d9294

This week I reckon my writing won snakes and ladders.