Coney beach, far away in time

Earlier I had a lovely Bank Holiday Saturday morning with my writing pals at Coney, including Maddie and muffins. While the mist was enveloping Belfast and heavy rain was making driving difficult on our way there, the sun was shining at Coney. Often it feels like a magical, mythical place and today was special.

Armed with freshly baked blueberry and ginger muffins I made my way to Coney to meet up with my writing pals. As we scoffed goodies and coffee we caught up on each others' news - some very exciting! 

Maddie had some challenging writing exercises for us today, which really made us think. All of these exercises are invaluable in improving and honing our work. Along with the encouragement and support from fellow writers, time spent at Coney is always special.

I always come away from this writing group enthused and invigorated for my writing and today was no different.

And knowing I'll be back at Coney beach someday will help sustain the momentum until then.

World Book Night Eve

On the eve of World Book Night I'm planning on spending some time over this wet weekend getting caught up on the books I'm currently reading. I'm loving all three books so choosing which one to read will be difficult. What are you reading?

A turn in the weather has forced me back indoors after some gorgeous sunshine earlier in the month when I was able to read and write outdoors again. It definitely felt like spring was on the way. And it definitely feels like things are getting back to normal again. It's hard to believe that three years ago we were confined to our gardens.

Over the last few weeks I've been back at the theatre a couple of times catching two superb productions at Belfast's Grand Opera House. The Ocean at the End of the Lane based on Neil Gaiman's novel was amazing and Titanic the Musical was brilliant. It was lovely to get back to first class theatre in person again.

And this week I took part in a networking event hosted by NI Screen's Ulster Scots Broadcasting Fund getting to meet other creatives and hear what they're working on. It was lovely to be back meeting people in person again. Now to get on with some writing......

Lucky ducks

There was still a substantial amount of snow lying yesterday when I set off to meet up with my writing pals in Coney.

While we'd made Plan B preparations (meeting virtually by Zoom) due to the weather, it was good that a milder day was melting the snow. Driving down to Coney we saw the countryside in a new light - alongside dirty piles of slush, there remained untainted drumlin slopes and of course the majestic Mournes still covered in a blanket of snow. It. was beautiful. But any snow at Coney was long gone by the time we arrived. 

We were welcomed by a blast of icy briny air - deinitely blowing away any remaining cobwebs.

The morning flew in as we talked about projects we're all working on, provided feedback to each other and I shared some insights from the recent SCBWI virtual winter conference.

Fuelled by blueberry muffins and coffee we worked and watched the wildlife through the window.  Ducks flying past in formation reminded us we are lucky ducks to be part of this supportive writing group.

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.