As we stood in the Plaça Catalunya this year, grapes in hand and waiting for churchbells to chime, it struck me that once again, I was celebrating New Year’s Eve upon an unknown shore. Ten seconds to midnight, the crowd started counting down, ten, nine, eight. And then, at midnight– Nothing. The fireworks were aContinue reading “Facing 2023”
Tag Archives: writing
That Expat Girl’s Guide to Writing a Novel | Part 2: The First Draft (1)
Sometimes writing a first draft is more like getting lost in a city, and sometimes it’s more like planning the perfect vacation. Either way, things rarely go completely according to plan….
July ’22 – On Purpose
It’s been a whirlwind of a month, July, and I’m going to admit: I’ve been struggling. I’ve been struggling with my health, with my work, with my stories. There were moments, in these past few weeks, where it felt like it was all just too much to deal with. There were days when I wanted toContinue reading “July ’22 – On Purpose”
June ’22 – On Holidays
“Do you even know what a holiday is?” Confession time. I’ve just come back to the UK from a couple weeks in Malta. The Boy and I are hoping to move there soon, and so, even with work deadlines approaching, we decided to fly out and see whether we could sort out our accommodations andContinue reading “June ’22 – On Holidays”
December – On Almosts
Dear 2021, It’s been a while. We had such high hopes. Yet here we are, at the end of you, sitting amongst crumples of wrapping paper and the leftovers from Christmas dinner. And really, all I have to say to you right now is: WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT? It’s tempting to blame Covid forContinue reading “December – On Almosts”
August – On Recovery
Covid, second drafts, beach weekends, and more, oh my!
March – On Rejection
There are things they don’t tell you about being an agented fiction writer. Some of this stuff, I learned the hard way when I briefly picked up the interest of an agent’s assistant on my first novel, way back in 2012. The interest proved to be short-lived. When you’re in the querying trenches, it seemsContinue reading “March – On Rejection”
Visitor’s Guide: Ravenscourt Manor
About an hour’s drive from Eboracum in the north of Anglia, deep in the pre-historic forest known as the Blackwood, the crumbling ruins of an ancient manor house lie abandoned to the elements. The oldest stones of the house that once dominated Ravenscourt Manor were laid back in medieval days. Between then and now, however,Continue reading “Visitor’s Guide: Ravenscourt Manor”
The Absolute Beginner Writers’ Guide: Freewriting, or how to get started with creative writing in just ten minutes
Writing, like any other craft takes practice. Take the pressure off your writing and let the words flow with this versatile and fundamental writing exercise.
Salvaging Stories: On the Publication of Like Clockwork
Click Here to read Like Clockwork. Back in 2007, I found myself in a place that was becoming all-too-familiar in the worst possible way. Once again, my mind and body had betayed me, and several weeks removed from the flow of my life was the result. From the barred window of my room in theContinue reading “Salvaging Stories: On the Publication of Like Clockwork”
The Venture 