Hi Hattie. A publisher requested my full m/s and on Tuesday emailed to say they are going to offer me a contract! I am over the moon and it is literally my dream come true to have a novel published by the traditional route. With a little luck and lots of hard work, this is just the beginning for me as a novelist. I’m not giving up my day job just yet though!
Loved this post, the journaling mention, the important freedom of writers and what many go through to hold on to that freedom. And I related to the grey days and the relief of them, maybe their interiority? Finally, your comments on social media really hit home for me, as I begin to promote a new novel coming out in fall. I have such a love-hate relationship, and you're right, it's exhausting. My only consolation and why I continue is that I can give some encouragement to others like me, the writing community out there, since we are all struggling. As you do in this newsletter. Thank you.
Since I’m not an official writer, I have limited my time on social media. The past few weeks I have found reason to slowly dip back into it. I just find that it isn’t good for my mental/emotional health. As far as writing goes, I wrote in abstentia at our last creative hour. I set a timer and wrote. It has led me to start writing on Sundays, setting my timer but being free to stop whenever. I love this new routine that insures that I am writing something. Anything. I thank you for that.
I guess I should say a “published” writer, although I bet there is an article in an elementary school news paper that I wrote. 😊 There is what my minister has referred to as the “thinning of the veil”. Moments in our lives when the veil between heaven and earth is so thin that you can see God here. As a member of the church choir, I have a forward facing view of our service and the congregation. As a result I see instances almost every Sunday where the veil is thin. This happens most often during the services where communion is served. And I usually send my minister a quick message about what I observed. What I have written about for two Sundays now is what I have been sending him, using a lot more detail. One long collection. It makes my heart happy.
This sounds wonderful – my mother is in a choir and, though she's not religious, I think she finds it very spiritual. A beautiful thing to write about.
Singing can truly be very spiritual. Is she part of a church choir? Through the years there have been many times I received more of a message through the music than the sermon. Are you familiar with the “thinning of the veil”?
It's not a church choir, but they sing a lot of classical choral music that tends to be on religious themes. I hadn't heard of the thinning of the veil until I read your comment above – it is a lovely metaphor and while I might interpret it in different terms as an atheist, I think I do recognise the feeling you're referring to!
The feeling would be the same. I have these moments during our worship services. I used to text my pastor afterwards and share the experience I had that day. When I joined your writing moments, I decided that was what I would write about. And it has continued pretty much every week. I find that now I’m looking for those moments to write about, I don’t see them as easily.
Amusing moment during communion. A small child said “cheers” to her parents and they clicked glasses before consuming.
A great post and update, Hattie. I appreciate your honesty on feelings and journaling. Bafflingly, it's only something I started doing this year! But I've managed to keep it up every day since January (well, couple of missed days here and there) and I agree, it does make a difference to well-being and a sense of slowing down and being more at peace within my mind.
I know what you mean about the sluggish lethargy with heat, too, though I'd gladly take some right now as it's brrrr down here in Melbourne (relatively brrr, of course, but the houses here are made of tissue paper and they don't believe in double glazing, so 🥶).
I hope the weather has improved in Melbourne! It's still quite grey in the UK. I am slow to read your comment, but you've inspired me to get back to the journalling (which I haven't done for the last two weeks, whoops).
Plodding! I love that you used that particular word. I’m plodding along too, editing a ms too but without a pub deal, or an agent. One page at a time. It’s all we can do.
I really enjoyed this post. Especially the parts on writers facing exile or prison and your thoughts on journaling, it sparked some profound reflection in me.
Thank you for your thoughts, Hattie! PEN international work and interview quotes were inspirational. I too would like to quit social media but can a writer afford to do it…?
Hi Hattie. A publisher requested my full m/s and on Tuesday emailed to say they are going to offer me a contract! I am over the moon and it is literally my dream come true to have a novel published by the traditional route. With a little luck and lots of hard work, this is just the beginning for me as a novelist. I’m not giving up my day job just yet though!
Rosy this is such wonderful news. Congratulations! Thrilled for you. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Hattie. I’m still on cloud 9!
As you should be! Enjoy every minute.
Congratulations!!!
Thank you! 😀
Loved this post, the journaling mention, the important freedom of writers and what many go through to hold on to that freedom. And I related to the grey days and the relief of them, maybe their interiority? Finally, your comments on social media really hit home for me, as I begin to promote a new novel coming out in fall. I have such a love-hate relationship, and you're right, it's exhausting. My only consolation and why I continue is that I can give some encouragement to others like me, the writing community out there, since we are all struggling. As you do in this newsletter. Thank you.
Thank you Mary, and congratulations on the new novel. And interiority is the perfect word for it!
Thanks, Hattie!
Since I’m not an official writer, I have limited my time on social media. The past few weeks I have found reason to slowly dip back into it. I just find that it isn’t good for my mental/emotional health. As far as writing goes, I wrote in abstentia at our last creative hour. I set a timer and wrote. It has led me to start writing on Sundays, setting my timer but being free to stop whenever. I love this new routine that insures that I am writing something. Anything. I thank you for that.
Donna, you're an official writer here! I'm so happy to hear you've been doing Sunday writing sessions. I feel the solidarity! Thank you.
I guess I should say a “published” writer, although I bet there is an article in an elementary school news paper that I wrote. 😊 There is what my minister has referred to as the “thinning of the veil”. Moments in our lives when the veil between heaven and earth is so thin that you can see God here. As a member of the church choir, I have a forward facing view of our service and the congregation. As a result I see instances almost every Sunday where the veil is thin. This happens most often during the services where communion is served. And I usually send my minister a quick message about what I observed. What I have written about for two Sundays now is what I have been sending him, using a lot more detail. One long collection. It makes my heart happy.
This sounds wonderful – my mother is in a choir and, though she's not religious, I think she finds it very spiritual. A beautiful thing to write about.
Singing can truly be very spiritual. Is she part of a church choir? Through the years there have been many times I received more of a message through the music than the sermon. Are you familiar with the “thinning of the veil”?
It's not a church choir, but they sing a lot of classical choral music that tends to be on religious themes. I hadn't heard of the thinning of the veil until I read your comment above – it is a lovely metaphor and while I might interpret it in different terms as an atheist, I think I do recognise the feeling you're referring to!
The feeling would be the same. I have these moments during our worship services. I used to text my pastor afterwards and share the experience I had that day. When I joined your writing moments, I decided that was what I would write about. And it has continued pretty much every week. I find that now I’m looking for those moments to write about, I don’t see them as easily.
Amusing moment during communion. A small child said “cheers” to her parents and they clicked glasses before consuming.
And thank you for the official writer status.
Good luck with book writing Hattie!
Thanks so much Emma x
A great post and update, Hattie. I appreciate your honesty on feelings and journaling. Bafflingly, it's only something I started doing this year! But I've managed to keep it up every day since January (well, couple of missed days here and there) and I agree, it does make a difference to well-being and a sense of slowing down and being more at peace within my mind.
I know what you mean about the sluggish lethargy with heat, too, though I'd gladly take some right now as it's brrrr down here in Melbourne (relatively brrr, of course, but the houses here are made of tissue paper and they don't believe in double glazing, so 🥶).
I hope the weather has improved in Melbourne! It's still quite grey in the UK. I am slow to read your comment, but you've inspired me to get back to the journalling (which I haven't done for the last two weeks, whoops).
Aw, yay, that's great to hear about the journalling.
And yes, it's warmed up a little, we've had a string of surprisingly mild days.
Have a great week, Hattie.
Plodding! I love that you used that particular word. I’m plodding along too, editing a ms too but without a pub deal, or an agent. One page at a time. It’s all we can do.
Cheers from Santa Monica!
It is all we can do! Cheers to you and best of luck, from London.
Looking forward to your book! Also I love your green velvet(?) top!
I really enjoyed this post. Especially the parts on writers facing exile or prison and your thoughts on journaling, it sparked some profound reflection in me.
Thanks for your work! :)
Thank you Alan!
Thank you for your thoughts, Hattie! PEN international work and interview quotes were inspirational. I too would like to quit social media but can a writer afford to do it…?
Always good to read these, thank you
Thank you!
The List by Yomi Adegoke sounds very interesting!