Four posts and still going . . .

 

A notebook is a writer's friend. (Photo from personal collection.)

Dear writers and procrastinators,

Welcome to this, my fourth posting to this blog detailing my adventures in writing and procrastination – and, now and then, my little successes!

The next couple of months are a little exciting for me: I am celebrating seeing a little of my work and name in print, in two writing magazines published here, in the UK. You can read a piece of poetry I wrote, All Dead Things, in issue #248 of Writers' Forum, and an extract from a story I began writing last year will be analysed and critiqued in Writing Magazine's Under the Microscope segment of their magazine.

The poem is a meditation on the things unsaid between family and how they can damage the bonds between them, almost like rot in the roots. Unfortunately, I didn't win the competition for which I submitted this poem to the magazine, but it was highly commended and shortlisted. 

The extract that will be analysed in Writing Magazine is from a story that has toxic relationships as its central theme . . . a story where none of the characters are very likeable! I am interested in this subject because I have found myself in unhealthy relationships myself, and conversations about unhealthy and toxic relationships have moved closer the fore in recent times. I think how and why people come to be in relationships that are harmful to them, and how and why they stay in those relationships, is a subject worth discussing.

And so, a heartfelt thank you to those who have deemed my efforts worth ink and consideration. And, to you, dear reader, for your time and attention – I know they are valuable. If you can help just a little further, please consider liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing this posting.

If you can, you can buy me a coffee, to keep me awake as I tap away at this keyboard, here – rather than turning this space into adverts disguised as articles, I throw myself in the kindness of readers. Donations keep my writing alive.

And so, thank you and best wishes.

PS At a time when cost of living and energy crises are taking a big wet bite out of everyone (well, except for those with more than enough already, of course), I know an ask for donations from readers is an ask some cannot answer. Please don't hate me for asking though – getting remuneration for writerly endeavours is just bloomin' hard and, unfortunately, one needs money to keep one's efforts alive.

You can find me on Twitter here.