#mentalhealthawareness

It is mental health awareness week/month depending on what you read. Mental health is something I am very conscious of. It is has had an impact on members of my family in many ways. Some of my family live with its consequences on a daily basis. It is part of my life too. I have been and are being treated for depression and anxiety.

Writing is a huge part of my coping strategy. When I was first taken ill when things went wrong following the surgery and I couldn't eat. My world was tumbling down around me. I had to keep going, I was a single parent with three children. My escape valve was to write about it at the time. No one ever saw those scribblings, nor will they ever. But it rekindled my love of writing which is why I went to university and my life changed.

I am lucky in that I don't have to write because my world is falling to pieces anymore, but there are times I have to write because I am facing difficult and stressful situations at work or with my family. Those are snippets and witterings, not focused and dedicated writing. It is the focused and dedicated writing that I love doing.

I was lucky enough to have a novel published last summer (Flight published by Firefly Press). It was the fourth novel I had written, the first one to make it to the finishing post. I feel so well mentally when I can write regularly and get into writing a novel. I feel a great weight lift off and a good friend always says to me, 'I know when you are writing because you are in your happy place.'

It sounds simple then, doesn't it? If it makes you feel good then write every day, but it is not that easy. The nature of my job means that my head is full of other people's words. I am up against tight marking deadlines often. I am pressurised and the jobs are stressful. Not exactly conducive for sitting down and getting into the right headspace for writing. My head feels fractured.

I think I have mentioned this before, if I do get a moment to write, I take what I see as a Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending using precious metal like gold, whereas in my case I mend my fractured mind by reading poetry before I start writing. Poetry is my precious metal.

I know if I can write I will feel better. Stronger, brighter, happier. More able to cope with whatever life throws at me. Find the strategies that help you. Don't be afraid to self-care. It is not selfish, it is a right. Note to self: Listen to that last sentence and carve out time to write!

At our worst times, my daughter always said this was our anthem. This is dedicated to her, as she was quite right. We did make and we did fly high. Lighthouse Family High

New story, new research - my favourite time

I am at the beginning of a new book - no I can't tell you what it is about yet so don't ask- I love this part of writing though. Letting my imagination run free and allowing the story to evolve and develop as I write. Yes, I

Time to start research...

am a bit of a 'pantser', what I mean is that I don't plot intently before I start. I know what happens at the end but am never quite sure how I am going to get there. I was relieved to see on Twitter that Philip Pullman and Frank Cottrell Boyce do similar things. (As a writer you will know that we always look for our methods to be validated by others!!)

I also write cold and edit hot. I have spoken about this before. What I mean is that I get the basic story down so I know it works as a structure then go back in adding in the colour and detail. I am also lucky enough to have used the Golden Egg Academy 'Book Map' and as I write I do think in terms of that which does help too with the structure etc.

Please don't think I am telling you this is the only way to write. I am just telling you about how I write and what works for me. It may well not work for you. You have to find the way to write that works best for you.

I am hooked up in all the research I am doing. I love that bit. I am not sure if it is the academic in me but I find it very satisfying to research and find a tiny detail that there's a good chance that no one else will notice it in the book, but I'll know it is there. I try not to interrupt the flow of my writing when I am on a roll though and the words are tripping off the tips of my fingers. If I know I need to do extra research or expand an element following research, I highlight the section in yellow and may put a comment at the side to remind me, particularly if it is something specific I need to check. I can then spot it easily when I go back. I continuously research during the writing process, it never stops for me.

I am doing all sorts of research at the moment. Reading books, looking at the internet, YouTube and also talking to people. So important. However, a quick word of warning do remember to tell the person you are talking to this is for a story. I had an incident recently where I was asking a friend at the school gate if I could have a chat with her husband, who happens to be in the police force. I was explaining why by telling her part of the story. Trouble was I had forgotten to tell her it was fiction! Her response was shock and concern as to whether the child was all right. It was at this point I realised she thought I meant a real situation. I had to confess it was in my story.

This new story is going to take a lot of research, which is going to be interesting, but it is really important I get it right. This relates particularly to one of my characters, it is not a main character but it is a character with issues that needs to be handled appropriately. Luckily I have experience through close family members but also another relative teaches similar characters. However, I won't stop there. I will be referring to appropriate charities, lots more research and also Inclusive Minds.

There is no true story to inspire me this time, it is all down to me...I hope you are going to like it. Can't wait to immerse myself in the writing and doing more research...just need to finish the marking first!


The moon was important in Flight but I think the sun will play more of a role in the new book so thought we'd have a bit of 'Don't let the sun go down on me.' Thank you George Michael and Elton John!