Writing; the lonely Art – Part Two – a Solution of Sorts

Back in November I wrote a post, Writing; the lonely Art, about how writing: unlike all the other artistic disciplines, isn’t one that can be displayed, exhibited, or performed for quick and easy consumption, and therefore how it can be difficult for the non-writery folks in your life, to comprehend how you’re doing or see your progress. 

Obviously this is why having writer friends around you that help support you and vice versa is so imperative, but sometimes you still want to show/explain to a non-writery friends or relatives when they’re interested.

So after a lot of thinking I came up with a solution of sorts. A way of visually displaying and recording my writer’s journey in a way that can be easily shared. Making the most of the pre-Christmas photo printing website sales, I designed a photobook of my writing journey from 2010 until 2019.

In the book I’ve put photos of competition long-listings, short-listing’s, honorary mentions and wins, either certificates, web-site announcements, screen shots from twitter, to show my small achievements. I’ve also put in photos’ of my volunteering for SCBWI, work in Book Shops and time with Book Bound and The Golden Egg Academy. Along with photos of the many friends I’ve made along the way. 

It’s not quite a ‘record of achievement’ nor is it a ‘portfolio’, it is more of a record of my journey to share with people who are interested and for me to look through in those times where rejections are coming in thick and fast and I start to doubt my ability and progress. A small thing to reminding me how far I’ve come, and that although I may not be published, that I have had small successes and that I have gained a wealth of writery friends.

Writers Worries, a Whimsical post about Waist Lines and Word Counts

So it February, and everyone is smugly sticking to their new year resolutions or failing them miserably, but what if your resolutions directly conflict with one another?

Rather predictably as a writer one of my resolutions is: Write More.
But as a woman whose hit a certain age my new year’s resolutions also includes: lose weight.

These two seemingly sensible resolutions are actually at odds with each other. Why? Because losing weight means culling calories and exercising. But it is universally known that writers are fuelled on coffee and cake, and I’m not running on unleaded black Americanos. No, I drink full leaded lattes! Plus writing is a lot of time sitting, typing or scribbling in notepads.

Like most writers I find that there’s a direct correlation between the consumption of coffee and cake and rising word count.

I’m faced with a predicament; how to lose weight and gain words?

So, as I’m here nibbling on my lettuce and wondering how I’ll get the energy to type, if you are a writery folk, please do send tips on how you keep your waist lines trim and your word counts healthy.