Summer Reset

I am a summer soul; during the summer months, I feel invigorated (and somewhat sociable - even for a shy Cancerian). My birthday is on July 9th, which aligns with brighter skies and flowers blooming. I'm often tempted to put the laptop aside, forget my writing projects, and dive into gardening or meet friends for long coffee breaks and relaxed dog walks.

This year, with all the lovely hot weather I did just that and before I knew it, I started to feel a bit lost. This bewildering feeling began to wash over me, and then I realised I hadn’t dedicated any proper time to writing for several days. Although I jot down a brief diary entry daily, a single line a day isn't enough to maintain my sanity. I decided I need to reset my writing goals and also made a commitment to sharing more often - albeit it with the willing dog and the handful of friends who might read this blog!

So, here I am once more at my amateur website, trying to jot down some random musings from my life as a writer!

Did I tell you that I gained my Masters in Creative Writing and Wellbeing? That revolved around writing my first memoir (which was a major achievement!) and now that is completed I have a little space in my brain again to finish off the sequel to my first book.

I still haven't secured an agent, but I'm steadfast in my goal to collaborate with someone who believes in my work. It seems my first middle-grade novel has slipped under their radar, despite my daughter insisting it's the best book ever written. If you're interested in reading it, you can order it through the British Bookshop link below.

Recently, I came across a humorous article that poked fun at the trend of celebrities releasing children's books. It feels like us regular writers are now competing with famous personalities. What bothers me is that when celebrities are interviewed about their book projects, they often treat the opportunity to write children's books as something trivial or expected. I strongly believe that writing for children is a true privilege!

Attention, agents who are looking for genuine writers!!!

Oh well, honestly I think there will be a backlash against celebrity children's books.

And while we're on the topic, I can't stand all these books about bogeys and toilets... surely we can provide our children with something better! Perhaps that's why the National Literacy Agency is warning that children are reading for pleasure less often. Naturally, they are! Too many young kids have swapped reading books for gaming on devices. It's a sad reality. I'm not opposed to AI, but I strongly believe that a child reading a paper book outside in the fresh air will be much happier than one confined indoors gaming—it's just common sense, right?

Anyway, I really didn't come on here to moan about the publishing world!

I wanted to suggest a few simple ideas to reset your writing goals during the summer:

1. Go through an old notebook and reread your past words. Perhaps you will become inspired by an old story or a poem you started, but never finished.

   *Please see the poem I wrote yesterday which I began in march.

2. Click on that unfinished manuscript on your desktop. The one you committed to completing by July. Ask yourself if you would you like to finish it?

   If the answer is yes, get on with it!

   If no, file it away for another time. Don't bin it.

3. Write a poem every morning for a week. Wake up 20 mins before everyone else (including the dog) and write...'Today' at the top of the page. See what words follow...make a list of what you see, or feel or hear. Remember a poem is a poem if you assert your right to label it so!

   Lists are poems too!

4. Treat yourself to a new notebook. Choose a size that you enjoy writing in. Leave the first few pages blank so you don't feel under pressure to write something perfect. Or, you can write a note in the front pages warning snoopers that it is private and not to read it (living in a busy house I do like to do this).

   
   

   Your summer writing starts today. It doesn't have to be perfect.

5. Enjoy x