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What a To Do

This morning I’ve logged on with a renewed fervour for writing. How did this come about you may wonder. Well, here’s the How I Got Here list:

– recent breaks away to visit family have cleared the lockdown/shielded brain fog that developed over the past year. During that year, I began Later Writer, my space for writing about writing as an older person

– recent problems with day-to-day life, nothing major, just irksome quandaries, have all been examined and resolved, even if possibly shelved until a future decision date who-knows-when. For now, I’m settled with my husband living out our retirement quietly and surrounded by our books and hobbies

– I’ve decided it’s time to practise what I preach and Get On With It!

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The Write Ingredients: Inspiration

Using inspiration is like knowing where you keep your frozen foodstuffs – they are there when you need them and perfectly safe as long as you keep the freezer plugged in and the contents topped up.

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The Write Ingredients: Confidence

Using confidence is like taking the L plates off your vehicle when you’ve passed your driving test. At some point you can stop thinking about how to drive and just get on with it.

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Owls Are Wise?

For many years, I developed a deliberate collecting strategy – no taxidermy, but papercrafted, embroidered, knitted and crocheted owls have all been encouraged. Whilst I still balk at the idea of owning a real live owl, we did adopt one, remotely, at a Cornish owl sanctuary where I experienced the thrill of a feather-light bird landing on the outstretched glove that encased MY hand.

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The Meanings of Sound

Rather like the Freewriting challenges I set myself – and you – from time to time, here’s a poetry one for you.

Topic: use several interrelated nouns and sound words in a playful way

I will aim for about 12-14 lines…

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Auto/Biographical Writing

Over the years, I’ve written many pieces of my own history, mainly as good practice and also as self-help. Often it is hard to know what you believe or understand until you have spoken or written the words yourself. I try to be a good listener to others but, in truth, I’m a better reader. So my strategy for self-awareness has stood me in good stead.

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Book Reviews

In the early 2000s, I ran a website where I promoted and reviewed UK-published children’s books. It was before the social media explosion that gave rise to many of the aforementioned book-related online information and interaction…

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Freewriting (4)

I’ve written this piece as a response to an earlier post: Brainstorm Your Next Story I have no need to develop the theme – if any of you wish to use the material for your own creativity, be my guest.