Brave New World
This week at the wee writing bureau I have been keeping myself busy as I wait for feedback from my editor. I’ve polished my child narrator short story ready to submit for a competition in a few weeks and starting planning out my letters for the epistolary effort. I then spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon with friends at the final session of our Mastermind group. I always find this time of year is when I am at my most introspective. As the old year passes and the new begins feels it like a crossroads, an opportunity to leave some things behind and create space for something new. So this meeting came at a good time for me as we reflected on the last three months together our thoughts turned to what next year might bring. The last three months have been amazing for me as I have started to write again, bought my beautiful wee writing bureau, created this blog and sent my work out into the world. I feel more fully myself than I have ever done.
When the conversation moved to our big dreams it came as a bit of surprise when the words ‘I want to build a world’ came tumbling out of my mouth. Where had that come from? The slightly startled looks on my friends faces were followed by the not unreasonable question of what, exactly, does that mean? Now, lack of ambition has never been my issue but even for me this is a reach. I want to build a world in which to set my stories a place that can hold epic adventures, where short stories unfold and flash fiction explodes. A place you can lose yourself or just pop in for a visit and be home for bedtime. It is the writer’s equivalent of a castle in the sky.
I excitedly informed my nearest and dearest of this grand plan and being as I am a ‘little bit witchy’ they were unconcerned. The children are unimpressed unless I intend to write a best selling series of novels and set them up for life. My Mum (when we established I said build a world not row it) took a minute to consider this statement from all angles before declaring that seemed about right and asking when I was planning to make a start. My husband was positively enthusiastic because this he believes (somewhat optimistically) will keep me out of trouble and more to the point out of the shops. Alas, I am sure world building will require many notebooks and colours of ink. Possibly a new crystal or two for the vibes and certainly eleventy billion flavours of tea. Still, we can let him have hope can’t we?
How does this fit into my plans for my work on Project Copper? I think this world could be the golden thread that runs through the stories and will give shape to the themes. It is part of the same big project and I am already realising this will need me to develop and hone a new set of writing skills. It is exciting and daunting just as any dream should be. So thank you to Kelly, Eliz and Pauline for giving me the space to realise this is what I want to do next and the confidence to take the next step.
