Perfect Procrastination
I’ve been procrastinating too much recently. So much so, that I’ve put off writing a blog since November, even though there have been some exciting things happening in that time.
No more.
Grab a cuppa, and let’s catch up…
I am venturing into the world of children’s picture books! Years ago, I wrote some silly poems for both Squidgelings when they were off school poorly. Delighted to say that BInk thought The Rainbow Flower was worth putting into print, and after initial thoughts that I would try to illustrate the book myself, I instead approached a fabulous artist who will be working with me to bring the story-poem to life. (Check out Shayna’s artwork here: https://www.facebook.com/ShaynaPaints)
I published my first collection of short stories and flash fiction for adult readers. I called it Hollow Daughter, because I realised that I write a lot about women and girls, often in fantastical situations. It launched in December, and seems to have been well received. There’s this review, for eg : https://everybodysreviewing.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-by-paul-taylor-mccartney-of.html I am proud of many of the pieces - pulled together from over ten years worth of prompted or competition pieces - but I am really proud how the cover, designed by Stevie Ashurst, compliments the theme so well. If you haven’t got a copy yet, it’s available to purchase via Amazon or Bedazzled Ink
3. I’ve knitted lots! Mainly socks for other people, and a few for Christmas presents. My favourite pair (for myself) were made up with tiny scraps of left-over sock wool, following a pattern I found called Seaglass on Ravelry. And Ravelry’s one of the reasons for procrastinating - I had a sock wool mini-skein Advent calendar this year, and I’ve been searching for patterns to knit a shawl/scarf with them. I’ve yet to decide… Also knitted my first jumper in years, which turned out well.
4. There were two family bereavements - on the same day - the week before Christmas. Both funerals took place in the New Year, and I’ve since heard of five other deaths (not related to us) so it’s been a very sad few months. Grief weighs heavy.
5. I’m trying to get Tilda #5 finished. I thought I had the ending all sorted…was almost ready to type ‘The End’. But every time I get close to finishing, the conclusion slips away. I can’t work out whether Tilda’s story has morphed into something different as I’ve progressed through the other stories, (remember, the grand finish of Tilda #1 was originally meant to be the finale of my ill-fated ‘Rurik and the Rings of Issraya’ series!) or whether I never had a clear enough idea from the outset of where exactly she would end up in this final book. There are too many possible ideas floating around my head and they’ve become tangled and unworkable. Perhaps it had something to do with the meno-brain that affected me so badly when I started writing this particular story? Or perhaps I’ve done all this work and the story was never meant to be what I’ve written? I am persisting…pushing through the blocks to force myself to make it all make sense and be the only ending it could be after Tilda’s journey to this point, hoping that it won’t disappoint the reader. And that pressure is also a cause of procrastination - I know I’m avoiding Tilda (poor lass!) and so I end up in a vicious cycle of looking for something to keep myself busy where I don’t have to think. Or write.
6. Still on the subject of Tilda, I have always added my novels to the school library as they’ve been published. The kids seem to like the fact that one of their ‘Library Ladies’ writes stories. One pupil has recently read Tilda of Merjan, and she came down to the library to check out Tilda and the Mines of Pergatt. She said that she really enjoyed the book, that she could feel everything as though she was there, it was so real. And then she asked me what Tilda wore, because she wants to dress up as her on World Book Day. (I pointed her to Tilda and the Dragons of Kradlock, because in that story, Tilda wears typical Kradlockian clothes which were based on the churithar suits worn by the women of South India.) She’s been so enthusiastic about Tilda, her friend came to the library at the same time to take out Tilda #1 to read for herself…
7. Another library lass, who has had some difficulties with reading, has been asking us to help her to find books she might like and be able to read. Not all of our suggestions were enjoyed, but over time we’ve seen her blossom from a timid reader, searching for books with pictures and not many words, to someone who comes confidently into the library, knowing that she is capable of reading longer books and with a good idea of what she’d like to try next. Last week she told us ‘we’ve been reading Michael Morpurgo in class. I think I’d like to try one of his books.’ It’s such a joy to see reading confidence grow, and this pupil recognises that fact because she made the Library Ladies a thank you note! It also underlines the positive effect of having one or more librarians present in school, who know the library stock well, who are enthusiastic about getting kids reading, and who allow (up to a point) free choice of reading material.
So there you have it. We’re caught up, and I have work to do. I need to finish Tilda #5…need to keep in touch more through this blog… and need to get back into the habit of writing prompt-driven stuff to get my creative juices flowing.
And maybe I need to set the knitting aside for a while.