Water off a Writer's Wings
A new year and a new blog entry! Apologies for the slight delay but I am back again with another writerly update on my progress over December and mid-January…
Perhaps the most drastic change in my focus is the fact that I am no longer entering my manuscript into this year’s fiction competition. As mentioned previously, I have been following the progress of the competition itself and its winners for some years now and I believed myself ready to embark on finally finalising my piece ready for entry into the 2021 edition. However, over the Christmas break I have come to realise that in pursuing such an endeavour I am ultimately rushing and ruining the standard of my written work. As a Masters student, I have an array of different analytic essays and creative pieces to complete and over a very limited deadline, one of which also being the deadline for the fiction competition. As much as I believed I could split my time successfully enough between manuscript and university work, inevitably I realised that although each piece could have been completed the standard would have been sufficiently ruined. I am glad that I recognised, in my opinion, the unsatisfactory progress that I was making before it was too late and I began this year with a completed but unpublishable manuscript and over six essays that barely scraped the mark boundaries. As such, I am focusing solely on my Masters work and shall be returning to my manuscript after finishing my course.
All is not lost however! This experience has shown me the value and importance of patience in the writing world, something which my lecturers and other authors have constantly presented to be true. This time I am listening to such advice properly. Plus, in allowing myself time to wait and placing my manuscript at the back of my mind, it allows the world within to grow and for my thoughts to process the gaps in plot and development until a time when I can efficiently write them on paper. Well, type them on my new computer. If there is one thing that has constantly presented itself to be true, it is that returning to this story after a long break only makes it better. After all, it is not going anywhere after remaining in my mind in its initial form for the past nine years! It’s just a case of waiting for the appropriate time with a version that I feel has developed enough for it to be seen by other, professional eyes. It could be a year, two years or more, but I am certain that it will be worth the wait!
Speaking of my Masters course, I am submerging myself into my assessments - which is the main reason why this entry has been delayed. Frankly it is a lot of work, especially after having the break between my undergraduate and postgraduate courses, but I finally feel like I am getting back into the routine now. The old muscle memory is returning and I feel more at ease working on my essays. I must admit, one of the main benefits about this course is the fact that these assessments are not written purely for a university mark, but are also there to help in our future career as writers. For instance, we can tailor our investigations to whichever writing industry we aim to be a part of, whether that is becoming a lecturer, wanting to be part of a renowned book publishing house or acquiring an agent for a specific genre of literature. In essence, we are creating an encyclopaedia of information which we can then use to guide us forward into our post-university careers, rather than finishing education and finding ourselves stuck in a cavernous chasm of uncertain direction. This was one of the benefits that I was told during an Open Day last year, and it has definitely proven to be true. Already, I can see the direction I want to take myself, both in terms of my career and writing, which comes as a huge relief after the craziness of the past year. After all, a little hope goes a long way!
Easily one of the more exciting elements of my writing journey so far has been my email conversations with a lovely author. One of my MA assessments allowed me to contact someone with experience in the children’s publishing world and I was really lucky enough to receive a reply from a published children’s author. Not only has she given be advice for my assessment, but I have also been able to bank such knowledge about the publishing world ready for when I believe my manuscript is ready. It is really reassuring to know that there are published writers that are willing to help and inspire you, even if it a few simple words of encouragement. After all, we all share the same desire for our words to be read and admired by others. (Note: the author’s name has been kept anonymous until permission has been granted).
So, what about my writing goals for this next year? Well, if 2020 has taught me anything it is to be prepared as well as motivated. That is why I am fully motivated to work on my writing, whether that be via my dissertation, other Masters work or through a few scribbled down notes of inspired ideas for my manuscript. I am hopeful for a future where we can meet the people who mean a lot to us, whether that be in the Spring, Summer, Autumn or later, but for now I am going to concentrate on the one thing that I can control and predict - writing. Pandemic or not, I am and shall always be a writer. All other roadblocks and obstacles are, to paraphrase the saying, water off my wings.
I wish everyone the best for 2021 and hope that those pursuing writing endeavours, or any for that matter, find success in these next few months! Stay safe and I shall see you for the next (hopefully more timely) entry!
Until next time,
Emily
***
Light as a Feather
Introducing a new development to the end of my blog entries, a little snippet of light-hearted texts, images, videos that will better your mood or provide some form of written inspiration. So, for this entry, enjoy some images taken from yesterday’s snowfall - and a cockerpoo who relished her time in the cold!
