Reflections

It is the Winter Solstice as I write this and I always think of this as the true turning of the year. Reflections have been the theme of the week literally and metaphorically. With the shortest day and longest night I have enjoyed being cozy in fluffy socks, drinking tea and reading. The cats have enjoyed this too because I am still for long periods of time and act as a human heater for them. I have two books on the go at the moment one is an old favourite and the other is one I have seen discussed on ‘booktube’ which intrigued me. Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather is my favourite festive read and I particularly love Susan the no-nonsense governess and granddaughter of Death. She deals with monsters under the children’s beds by hitting them with a poker and depositing them in the garden. She’s brilliant. My other read I have just started and is The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence. I love the premise of this fantasy novel set across two worlds and hope it lives up to the promise.

I also received my manuscript assessment back from Sammy (my editor) this week and so my writing focus has been on editing. When the email arrived I had a real moment of doubt that required me to give myself a talking to. I have to say that although I was dreading it I found the feedback really useful. I can see how it will help shape my work and my voice in the future. It is a strange feeling to get such a detailed critique of my story from somebody who is looking at it from a very different point of view. To have somebody reflect my story back to me through the lens of their own experiences is really interesting and is something I hope some of you will help me with as test readers in time. Sammy has done an excellent job of making sure every comment is constructive and helps me understand how readers might experience the world I created and the narrative.

I’ve also entered a short story into the Oxford Flash Fiction competition. I was inspired to write from the narrative point of view of an 8 year old by coming across a photograph of myself at that age. The story is about a girl and her imaginary friend playing in the garden whilst something she doesn’t understand is happening between the adults in the house behind her. I am not the girl in the story and it is not autobiographical but it does explore something we experienced as a family. They say you should write what you know and that is what I have done. It was important to me that my Mum had read it and was comfortable with the story before I sent it out into the world and so I shared it with her. Her feedback was lovely and we reflected on how that period of time was one small part of our lives and how much we have to be grateful for.

I have been gifted a beautiful new notebook which I am going to use for my world building notes and a coaster which declares that ‘I am a writer. Anything you do or say may be used in a story’. My husband lives in fear of this since I mentioned that I want to go on a writing retreat hosted by a forensic psychologist. He has read my work and although a man of few words he has expressed relief that he has not so far appeared it.

Best wishes to all of you for the festive season and a peaceful, prosperous New Year.