Categories
Adulthood Observations

Time

I set myself a very achievable writing goal at the start of 2024 – to write at least one blog a month. I knew this was manageable and secretly thought it would urge me to write more so I set it as a starting point. I’ve just sat down to write the post for February and – sorry what?!- we’re at the end of March!

How did this happen?

It’s a common topic of conversation throughout this course of life, how bloody fast time goes by. When young the school holidays which seemed so endless at the beginning were soon over and we were back at our desks copying the teachers letters compiling a story about our holidays and how much we crammed into this space in time. University went by in a flash and now each year when the Facebook memories appear I gasp at how many years have gone by since those great times. Travels seemed like they were going to last forever during the planning phase but ended so soon – now the photos and life long friendships are the remaining cherished treasure from those times.

I’d now consider myself a real adult and I hear myself frequently commenting on the speed that the weeks fly by, the months and the years.

‘Doesn’t time fly? It is so scary.’ I think we say this once a day, at least.

Really there is one thing we can take from this daily observation and that is to enjoy every speck of time that we get. Because that really is it. A speck. In the grand scheme of things. Sounding dark? Hear me out…

Rather than complaining about work each day, enjoy the five seconds it takes to lock the house before leaving in the morning listening to the spring time birdsong. The natural world waking up! Enjoy that extra minute in bed. Soak in the fresh air as you walk the length of your driveway to your car. Embrace the twenty minute commute before the pressure of the working world hits you. Sing the loudest you’ve ever sung and dance inside your head.

Bask in that three hour phone call with an old friend you’ve not spoken to in forever. The laundry can wait. Extend that thirty second smile when you receive a lovely message. Hold on for that minute longer in hugs with those you love. When your home is filled with those you hold close for an entire afternoon, immerse yourself in that feeling and bottle it up, put the lid tightly on. Keep it.

Love the moment of silence before anybody else gets home in the evening. Equally adore walking into a home full of people!

Don’t just look out and notice the lighter evenings – grin. The biggest grin that you have and go out and walk into the lighter evenings. Watch as colour returns to this beautiful world.

Life is short…

…this saying is one of the truest out there. The time we have is precious. Another one that speaks deeply. If you take every second of time as a gift and truly use it, I think you’ll find your life gets so much more amazing. Whether you’re just simply being for a second, taking a minute to drink a hot cup of coffee, postponing chores for five to listen to your favourite song, spending ten minutes writing a card to a special person or going out an hour later so that you can read another chapter. Really thinking about how you use your time is something special. Each and every second of it. It’s something I’m only learning about and improving on each day, but I can already see there’s so much beauty in living this way!

Love always, H x

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Observations Seasonal Writing

January

So, I’ve committed myself to a blog post per month. Manageable for now. If I manage more then that’s fabulous! If not I won’t beat myself up. But twelve blog posts per year minimum beats my current track record of one! Life happens as it has done massively over recent years *see post below, and the post below that and so on!* and I’ve learnt a lot about my writing style. Words hit me like BAM. And I can’t stop. I NEED to get it down in writing. I want to as well, of course I do, but it is absolutely a need. This is where the good stuff happens it simply cannot be regimented and planned.

It happened to me on Christmas morning when I had to take myself off for five minutes to write out the piece that was being created inside my mind. It happens often in messages to loved ones when I really feel the need to express strongly.

I’ll be walking along doing something completely ordinary like delivering some groceries to an elderly lady and, while walking, my mind writes a scene from a story or depicts in words the beauty I just experienced when looking out onto the fields over the pond. Train journeys I find are incredible places in which to let the mind wander and let the creative juices flow. While washing dishes, weeding the garden, walking to and from work, before falling asleep at night, just as I wake up – in fact I write all the time.

People often ask me about my writing habits. Am I working on a new novel? Have I written anything lately?! It’s lovely to hear enthusiasm for something that I adore. While I try my best to make time and I know I’ll never lose the enthusiasm, I’m learning to accept that sometimes modern, fast paced, not-enough-time-in-the-day life gets one step ahead of my putting pen to paper. Who am I kidding? Getting out my laptop and typing…

January is a great place to start this promise to myself and my followers. Month numero uno! Of the year 2024. Some see it as a dark, tiring and sad month. I see it as a month of hope and looking forward to the excitement of spring and summer. We’ve got it all still to look forward to!! And so I begin…

Live each day like it is your last.

Absolutely do that. They won’t all be good days but be grateful and see good in each and every day. Even Mondays.

Help others often.

Smile. Bask in a lay in. Soak up the beauty in nature. Get excited for sunsets, lightness. Enjoy that morning cuppa, enjoy drinking it while it’s still hot. And I mean really enjoy it. Look up at the stars and be totally amazed when it’s a clear night. Scream in joy when children tell you their achievements. Breathe in the freshness of air by the sea. Of cold air.

Love dogs. Like each and every one that comes into your life. Unless you’re scared of dogs. Then love something else but truly love it. And still love dogs. From afar! In fact love in some way every day. Love it like it’s your last chance to love something.

Hug often. We take for granted the power of an embrace. Laugh too. Like a six year old. I read somewhere recently that ‘six year olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15-100 times a day.’ Change that statistic.

Even when it’s dark outside, notice the light. On rainy days see beauty in a mundane drive with music blaring out and sing at the top of your lungs! Don’t listen to anyone who tells you to turn the music down or sing quieter!

Be. Just be.

We have the entire year ahead of us. A year that will be full of so many good, positive, happy days. Let’s be optimistic this January. Let’s not see it as a blue month. Notice hope. Remain upbeat. Rest and relax into this new ride we call 2024. Take time out to be. Just be.

If I don’t see you before, I’ll check back in February. Let’s do this. We’ve got this!

Love always, H x

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Seasonal Writing

An honest hello

As I wiped away the thick dust covering my blog, I re-read some recent (or not so recent) posts and it appears I’ve been pretty useless on the writing front for about a year! I wrote last March how I hoped to get back into it and write more regularly but sometimes I think you just have to realise that life will get in the way and this isn’t such a bad thing at all.

I haven’t written so much because I have been managing a business, managing a household and bills and all sorts of adult daily tasks. But managing I have, which is a big tick in life especially with everything being in such turmoil in the world and bills being so damn expensive.

I’ve not been so vocal because two of my closest friends moved away so I have adjusted to daily life without them, adjusted to missing them completely but knowing that our time together will be of such quality.

Blogging has been virtually nonexistent because I have been enjoying my new home, hosting with friends, loving every inch of it, sharing the space with my sister, being at peace when with people and without but also learning to be on my own on dark days – becoming stronger.

Free time has been spent in different ways and I have had some brilliant times away. I have visited my family over the sea in Northern Ireland, seen my brother get married, walked for miles non-stop chatting to the people I love, spent a lot of time at the beach.

I haven’t written so much because I have been living and to write good stuff you need to live. You need to have experiences to make up stories. Though I do know the importance of finding time.

So here’s a big honest hello…

I read something brilliant the other day written by Fearne Cotton. She said: ‘I don’t feel necessarily fired up and motivated for 2023, yet do not feel bleak about it either. I don’t want to think of a year as a block of time where it will either be great or awful.
For all of us, there will be good days, bad days, beautiful hours, stressful minutes, peaceful nights, tense 3am’s, plain sailing months, tumultuous weeks. Ebb and flow, peaks and troughs, ever-changing everything.’

Exactly that.

I’m not going to promise a third novel will come out of 2023 I just hope I write more. Baby steps… I hope spring brings joy to all, I certainly can’t wait for it. My wish is for there to be more good days than bad and more sunshine than rain. I hope that by the end of the year we can all hold our heads high and say truly that we gave it our best shot.

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

An introduction to my newsletter…

I’ve been writing this post since January, I’m ashamed to say it’s my first newsletter of the year and somehow it still hugely applies. I’ve been writing a newsletter monthly (sometimes more often) for a while now where I speak of my writing achievements, my goals, writing tips, book recommendations and, as you can see below, plenty of other stuff!

Most of the words you read my subscriber’s received in their inbox a few months ago in my non-regular but hoping to be much more frequent newsletter. If you enjoy and want more then you can sign up to get exclusive news and extra blog content here. Or by following the link at the bottom of the page, OR by heading to my sign up page on this website!

New Year, No Motivation…

I read recently on Dawn O’Porter’s Patreon how she too was struggling with writing motivation. She made a really good point in that: How can you write meaningful, authentic stuff when you aren’t living? Nothing is happening in life. Yes, we are more free and there have been less rules and restrictions lately but I know so many, myself included, who are still reluctant to venture out. Home feels safe. The virus is EVERYWHERE. Even when out it isn’t how it was. You’re always on edge. Feeling guilty. 

Merely by going for a walk the other day I sparked up some ideas and motivation to write. That was just a walk on my own by the sea. Imagine what a whole day or weekend out and about would do. 

I’m very lucky with my place of work as that alone provides so much life from all different parts of it. Reading also does this but has anyone else struggled to chill out and read?!

I have and it took me the whole in between bit between Christmas and New Year to get back into the practice of it. Recently I’ve hardly read at all. I really think we are all just COVID/ doom and gloom news consumed and burnt out. Here’s to 2022, third time lucky!! And look how that’s going already……

The moment…

My sister and I had a really good conversation the other day and, as this is my newsletter, I will relate it to writing. She is very different to me in that her choice of read is usually non-fiction over fiction. She’s currently reading a book about the moon. While I haven’t read the book, my understanding of the particular part my sister was explaining was living in a cyclical pattern and the benefits it has. Living like the moon. There are times in the month to be productive, to reflect, to get busy and to unwind.

I liken this to living in the moment. Of course, planning to a certain extent is useful, but getting bogged down with it is unproductive. Take writing for example. If I get het up on the fact that I’ve not written as much of my third book and haven’t nearly been as disciplined of late then I will just continue in a downward spiral. If instead I put that on the long finger and focus on what I have achieved and seize the day then that is far more helpful in achieving my goals. Live in the moment like today and take advantage of opportunities like being on a walk and ideas flowing, having the motivation to go back and write, and feeling good at the end of the day with a big fat glass of wine. YES.

Time

A line on a friend’s Facebook page struck me the other day: ‘The thing is, we always think we have time…’ Maybe we do, maybe we don’t but one thing that is certain is that nobody knows how long we’ve got or what is going to change suddenly. I refer to above… live in the moment. 

Be happy. See the good in the little things in life. Speak to the trees, smile at the birds, take photos of a particularly pretty sky. Don’t dwell but embrace. That is what is going to get me to my writing goals this year. I plan to produce a lot more varied content for you while also working on novel number three. Watch this space…

Has anyone else had really weird dreams?

You heard it here first, unless some scientist has already written a paper on it, there is going to be a whole lot that makes more sense as more studies go into how much COVID/ the news is taking up our brain time.

I’ve heard so many people not sleeping who have never had problems before. I’m sure it’s because our brains unknowingly are on override. For that reason I’m cutting myself a bit of slack for not putting much time aside to write.

Then there’s the content…

There is none.

While I always bang on about the fact that my novels are NOT autobiographical in ANY SENSE of the word, obviously to write about things, I have to experience or observe things. I have to live. That proves rather tricky when frequently I go weeks on end without leaving my village.

Shall I just write about my walk on the beach?

On that note, this walk has ignited my writing motivation. It took longer than usual as with everything since March 2020, but eventually ideas started to flow as I silently plodded along the beautiful Suffolk coastline. I came up with the notion for this post, for example, and actually wanted to write it. I was enthusiastic. My next newsletter has also been written in this sitting. In this one sitting?! That hasn’t happened for ages.

What I am trying to say is for all you writers out there, for artists in any form, for people working on things for years who have felt that lately the mojo has vanished – I hear you! You are not alone. Go easy on yourself. What we are living through is HUGE.

I think we are all a bit burnt out. Take care xoxo

A note…

Book 2, Don’t Tell Jack is out. Order your copies now on Amazon!

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Special moments

New Moulton Stores

People always say how they hate January. You hear of the January blues, dark gloomy days, blue Monday – which can I add is a total myth made up by the travel companies to make money, it was on the news the other day! I always went along with this but recently I have noticed that actually I don’t hate January at all.

Yes, the dark nights aren’t ideal, but I think January can be a very positive month. The end of January is when you start to really notice the lighter evenings. Sunny, gorgeous (but cold), winter days are the best. Everything is calm post the Christmas madness. It really isn’t that bad.

At the shop this positivity has shone through in charity.

The Christmas Draw raised a fabulous £225 for the charity Suffolk Mind in memory of our dear friend and customer, Gerry. Cards made by another generous and talented customer raised £50.40 for Cancer Research. The Hedgehog Hospital total stands at £835 since Feb 2020. The other boxes fill too fast for us to keep up and the Improving Moulton tub gets heavier and heavier each day. From now until the summer, the money raised in this pot will be put towards funding our Platinum Jubilee celebrations so please, pop your change in if you can. It will all add up to create a memorable occasion for everyone.

Our days get brighter still with good comments from customers. One lady said she travels from Fordham to us, passing many Post Offices along the way, for a smile. ‘Don’t change’, she said, ‘it is so lovely coming here.’ Another customer dashed in while we were closing up one day recently and stopped to say: ‘It is always happy in here.’ We were serving ‘the best Lattes in Newmarket and surrounding areas’, according to another customer who gets coffee in a lot of places! Observations like these keep us strong and wanting to continue to provide the service, keep the place alive and do best by our loyal customers.       

It’s not ‘goodbye’ it’s ‘see you soon’

As hard as it is to write and as many tears we have all cried, yes, Mike and Kathy have moved on to begin real retirement a little while later than planned. From all at New Moulton Stores we cannot thank the two of them enough for sharing their expertise with the business as we grow and expand.

The business wouldn’t be what it is today without Mike and Kathy. The energy, hard work, commitment, ideas, warmth and so much more has led to the huge positive reputation that the business has held for years. Fortnum and Mason as one customer refers to us, a little London Deli, a special place. Everything that they have put into the business over the past sixteen years gleams through in the dedicated customers, the quality goods and service, the friendly atmosphere, and the popularity of the place. The fact that these two absolute diamonds stayed on to continue their loyalty to the shop is a bonus that Hugo, Martin and myself will be forever grateful for.

While we are sad to see them go, we fully back their decision in retiring full time and enjoying some well-earned time out.

So, as we come down from the sadness and shock of this news, we would like everyone to (virtually) raise a glass to this wonderful couple with thanks for everything that they have given to Moulton Shop and, for almost two years longer – New Moulton Stores.

They will always be treasured in the spirit of this business and, though they are moving on, they will be here with us too. Mike is a regular topic when people spot the photo above the Red Wine shelf where he is jumping to head the ball, alongside Pelé…

It wasn’t just the shop…

Not only that but Mike and Kathy gave everything, all of the time, to everyone. Whether it was a story around the ever-growing table in the Packhorse garden during summertime and a good laugh too, or it might have been cooking up dinner and delivering a few portions to those who were eating alone for whatever reason. If somebody needed company, they thought of them and opened their door. They thought of everyone. Often if we didn’t stock something in the shop Kathy would have just the thing at home or not even shop related, she would have something that would help, and she would gladly give it away.

On telling people the news that they would be leaving, so many came back with memories. All were filled with goodness. So many people told me how the Dillons’ had helped them out of a really dark time or been there just when they needed it. You all know how close I am to these two beautiful people and each time I’ve cried missing them and while seeing them go I thought: how lucky am I to have a bond so strong that makes this so hard? And I’m sure many others are with me on that.

Endless good deeds, brilliant fun, unique characters, the life and soul. They weren’t just running the village shop, but they were great friends to so many, friendships built so strong that a little bit of sea in between won’t change nothin’!

While we all miss them so much, they will be back to visit for sure. So many have panicked to me worrying that they never got chance to say goodbye. I say to them…we’ll be partying before you know it!

So thank you, Mike and Kathy, for everything (I will make sure they get a copy of this Moulton Matters) from the bottom of our hearts. Moulton won’t be the same without you both physically here, but you will always be a huge part of our village.

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by dropping your name and email. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Recommendations Writing

A Sunday Morning Podcast.

I love a Sunday morning. The relaxed vibe, not having to do anything or answer to anybody, staying in bed, a quiet world outside. The nature of my work often has me naturally awake at around 6am but knowing that I can then go back to sleep with no alarm set on a Sunday makes me smile and shut my eyes. Usually this is a time when I write and read, though the past few months have been rather manic to say the least so I’ve not experienced many Sunday mornings as easy as Lionel Richie sings about.

This week I am certainly back in the game. It is ten past eight in the morning. I am onto my second cup of tea in bed and I have a pastry that I am about ready to devour. It is my treat each Saturday when the pastries arrive from the baker, a nice sweet start to my Sunday – sod the diet! I was speaking to a man yesterday who was questioning why us women frequently try to “be good”. ‘Who are you doing it for?’ he asks his wife, ‘because I don’t care?’ He had a point, so I considered buying two pastries but stuck to one.

As much as I love Sunday mornings I also love a good podcast. Happy Place by Fearn Cotton is my go to but I am always open to new ones. Recently I watched an Imagine Documentary: Marian Keyes: My (Not so) Perfect Life. I LOVE Marian Keyes as an author and a person. I found the entire hour long programme fascinating and it taught me so much about Marian that I didn’t know. When I was telling a friend about it she said that Marian has a podcast out so I searched for that this morning.

Now You’re Asking With Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn

It’s brilliant! Each episode is around 30 minutes long and they are in Dear Deirdre style. Listeners write in with questions/ problems, and Marian and Tara try to solve them in their funny, light hearted but also very heartfelt and with a point manner. They cover everything from relationships to in-laws to a resting bitch face committee and how yawning is A-OK (as long as it isn’t to passive aggressively tell someone that they are boring). I’ve already listened to two episodes and I’m about to get cracking with a third.

Anyone who follows me will know how sporadic my writing is of late and I can’t tell you when my next podcast recommendation will pop up here but I will be sure to keep you posted.

H x

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by dropping your name and email. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

Help!

Lately I have asked for a lot of it. For things in life where I haven’t a clue and others are experts. For guidance from those more experienced, both young and old. For myself. From myself.

I have asked for help from friends and from strangers. From colleagues and customers at work when I’m trying to do too many things at once.

I’m certainly someone who struggles to accept help. I feel guilty for owing people an invaluable amount. Obviously I thank them but I feel forever I will owe them when you can’t put a price on the guidance they’ve given me.

It is a strange one isn’t it because the nature of my job is helping people. We help the elderly by delivering goods and a bit of conversation/ company along with it. We help the young by giving them jobs. We help those lost in reality by directing them and others lost within their soul by providing a sounding board in times of need.

Whenever I help someone the last thing I think is about how they are going to repay me. It is the last thing on my mind. Yet when someone helps me before they’ve even done so I’m thinking of what extravagant gift I can buy them which won’t come close to how grateful I am.

Claudia Winkleman addresses this in her book, Quite. She says ‘Here’s the thing with help. People want to do it. We get really stuck sometimes and just need to unload, to spill the dirt, to share the burden. Think about you. Do you get grumpy if someone asks for advice, if someone sends you their justgiving.com link, if a friend calls to have a little cry? Do you mind? Of course you don’t. You race round, you donate, you offer services. Help. The more you give the more you get.’

The fact of the matter is I’m so lucky to be surrounded by good people. If you surround yourself with good people then you become better and they are always willing to help.

That’s my thought for today – Happy Tuesday Everyone!

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by dropping your name and email at the bottom of any page of my website. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

Stop!

For so long now I have maintained this blog. It went from a travel diary which folks at home waited eagerly upon each new entry. Then it became a way of deciding where I want to go with my writing. Through Uni, I saw the importance of having an online presence in order to be any form of writer so I began to set myself targets of posting more.

I think it went from whenever I bloody felt like it to once a month to once a week to three times a week and back to once a week. Wow. To you they might just be a little snippet of life, to me they are a few hours work.

Lately life has become a little frantic to say the least, I think that’s just part of the course of growing, but I’ve changed my blogging ways and I feel so good about it. What is the point of me sitting on a Friday morning after a frantic week and delivering you a few lines of nonsense when on a Sunday morning sometimes my sparks are flowing and I produce wonders. Far more interesting to read. I have for this reason decided to put no time pattern to my posts, no ‘I will post on Friday every week’ and therefore my posts will be of much better quality and exciting to read.

Perhaps I will go weeks without posting but then I’ll be back with a gem. Perhaps I will have a particularly creative week and write to you every day.

This is the nature of writing and who better to portray this on their blog than a writer!? Some days words just don’t happen. On others you can’t shut your mind up with them overflowing out of your head. It is why my novels haven’t had strict deadlines. You need to feel creative to produce the goods.

How artsy is that?!

Book 2, Don’t Tell Jack is out. Order your copies now on Amazon!

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is available on Amazon along with the sequel Don’t Tell Jack. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. There will be plenty of giveaways, news hot off the press and an honest insight into life as an author. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
fiction Writing

Cover reveal…

Typical author blabbing about her new release… first it appeared in my mailing list, then inside the local magazine, next we headed over on Instagram and now, here on my blog, I reveal to you the cover of Don’t Tell Jack out October 2021…………………………

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is OUT NOW. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey as I self-publish novel number two, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting

Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

They had an off tasting bit of orange, they weren’t judging your life. Possibly?

Blue sky with clouds sun light ; Shutterstock ID 1025703292

I sometimes (who am I kidding) quite often question what I am doing in life. My work, my love life, the social side of things – basically everything that makes up life. Usually this happens very late at night or very early in the morning but question I do. And fret. Oh gosh do I fret.

Another magnesium and I’m usually fine!

It’s that timeline thing again. That thing you see so often all over social media and in books. It is not a race. Claudia Winkleman put it straight in her book that I wrote about a few weeks back.

IT IS NOT A RACE.

I think we all have goal posts and given the world in which we live, it is hard not to compare. I find with my writing my questioning is highlighted hugely at social gatherings when most there went to university, on to grad schemes or into a trained profession and are all very successful. I quieten when I say that I write books. I (wrongly I am sure) feel the ‘what’s the point’ eyes from those who don’t read.

Isn’t it crazy how much we make up stories that probably aren’t even true?! Try to control others actions which will have a detrimental part to play in our lives?! Mad.

Anyway I sometimes think the momentum has dried up with Dear Brannagh as I look at work at my shrine slowly browning and curling at the corners. The copies left sitting there. Everyone who wants to know has bought.

Then this happens.

I get home from work, rush to get ready for yet another hen do and receive a text from a friend looking for furniture on Facebook Marketplace. The text is a picture of my book. My book on some strangers gorgeous chest of drawers, helping to display for a sale.

I sell three copies in a day.

I recieve a message late at night from someone who quietly follows me thanking me for being an inspiration to her and encouraging her to continue her writing.

All that happens and I am back in the game.

It’s often easy to forget these things but deep down they are always there. Be strong in your decisions. Be bold with your choices and live that life for you.

Obviously be happy for others but remember that they too are also probably happy for you. They had an off tasting bit of orange, they weren’t judging your life. Possibly?

For links to all of my writing related stuff, my link tree is below. You can also find published work in my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is OUT NOW. If you enjoy what you’re seeing here and are interested in following me on my writing journey as I self-publish novel number two, then please subscribe to my newsletter by filling in the form at the bottom of any page of my website. Thank you x

linktr.ee/HJMWriting