The fire was lit, I had a mound of three blankets on my chair, and the words were mounting up and up – I was in a little cottage with a friend, and we were on a writing retreat.
We had taken long stroll along the local canal, bought the very best cherry scones to devour, and retraced our steps back to the safe confines of our three hundred year old cottage with its fire – oh it was as cosy and peaceful inside as it was bleak and wet outside.
It was that evening, of course, the shower broke. I was in it. I stood there, perturbed and panicked with hot water pouring forth like a torrent of unceasing wroth from an angry god. Eventually, when the truth was revealed – that it wasn’t that I couldn’t turn the shower off, but that the shower itself was broken – there was a WhatsApp call to the owners and an attempt at turning the water off at the mains (unsuccessfully). The shower ran all night. We fled to a bookshop the next morning and had tea and crumpets in the cafe while it was mended.
Regardless of the hijinks that ensued – writing was done, words were written and books had been purchased.
PROJECT #1: VIKINGS BUT ALSO NOT BUT ALSO SCI-FI
This is crawling forwards slowly and not so surely. They’re stuck in space at the moment. And I’m stuck with them.
Status: draft zero.
PROJECT # 2: SCI-FI NOVELLA SERIES
I spent the writing retreat dedicated to the third novella; it was wonderful, the characters came alive with every new word. I’m most excited for the two main characters’ connection and the way they interact. Each novella switches the POV and I enjoy the different perspectives. It’s just enormous fun. It feels like some sort of episodic space drama – the wacky ones.
Status: 3rd novella draft zero nearly the half way point.
PROJECT #3: CONTEMPORARY FARCE
With studies and other projects piling up, Project Three is firmly on the back burner for the Spring. There’s some elements that still are being rethought in my mind and I can’t get a clear hang on the characters.
Status: Still marinating in the back of my brain.
PROJECT #4: SHORT ‘N COSY
My most Important Project – a short cosy story hopefully worthy of the NEW! and UPCOMING! SUMMER 2025! Wanderer’s Post that I am very, very excited about. If you would like to get your hands on the very first issue, that’s right here. I want this story to be a blanket of warmth around your shoulders, a touch of morning sunlight, and a fresh cup of delicious tea. You know, that sort of thing.
Status: Getting done, son!
PROJECT #5: DOOM, GLOOM, AND GENERAL DEPRESSION
Occasionally, I lean into the nihilism that sits at the back of my head threatening to drown my usual delightful optimism. This short story is about a cult, an end-of-the-world, and a relationship that tugs the main character between a promise to her dead sister and survival itself. WHAT WILL SHE CHOOSE?
Status: First thousand words down. I’m reading The Road for research and my gosh, it’s so, so bleak.
The writing retreat was just what I needed; I tapped words and sipped tea and the thought – organic and sincere – sprung into my mind: this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Spring is now here and with it comes bright flowers, birdsong, blossoms and hopefully – warmth & sunshine. I can’t wait. Though life is busy at the moment – full of work, a spot of travel, and university studies – writing is inching forwards. I am looking forward to the summer when my studies pause and I’ll have more time to delve into my writing.
Happy writing/reading!
of words & books 
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