Bits and pieces, bits and pieces…
It’s been a while (again!) since I blogged, so there’s lots of bits and pieces to share with you about writing and life. It’ll be a bit scrappy to read, but it’ll bring you up to date.
Super Stories didn’t make it onto the shortlist of the Lunchtime Book Club Award, unfortunately, but it did get this rather awesome, does-what-it-set-out-to-do review from one of the young judges:
‘I found this book quite handy as it gives you some good tips on how to make an AWESOME story. Even though I prefer fiction, I found this book helpful because my ambition is to be a writer. I think it’s a good book with handfuls of information but only if you want to be a writer.’ Zahra, Age 10
Thank you, Zahra - and good luck with your own writing!
In other writing news, I spent a day with the children of Loughborough Church of England Primary School for World Book Day. The children were all dressed up - kudos to the young man who was Miss Trunchbull from Matilda; the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, and Grandpa from Grandpa’s Great Escape. There were lots of other brilliant costumes too - far too many to mention! After a whole school assembly to introduce myself, I visited every class to read Granny Rainbow stories or do mini-workshops. I wasn’t in each class long enough to see much more than the ideas sparked by my story bag items or my empty bottle, but when we got together at the end of the day and heard some of the stories that had been written or were developing - wow! It’s the aspect I love most about being an author - unlocking the creativity of children (and adults) that is sometimes stifled by the National Curriculum and how it has to be taught.
I was lucky enough to be allowed to take my books in to school to sell, too; the titles I’d selected were so popular, I had to ask Mr Squidge to drop off more copies at lunchtime for the after-school sales opportunity. I never take the sale of books for granted, though - I suppose some schools don’t like authors using their pupils as a captive market - so I was grateful that the children (and their parents/carers) were enthused enough by what we’d done together during the day to want to buy what I’d written.
Tilda and the Dragons of Nargan or Tilda #4 as it’s been known up to now, is back with Bink after I filled in a rather large plot hole. It’s feeling meatier and definitely a better length, though I’ve been told it’s not long enough! Not sure if that means the story needs extra adding to it, or whether I left the reader wanting more… I’ve started to play with ideas for Tilda #5, which will be the last of Tilda’s adventures; I know where she’s going to end up, and I know some of the steps she’s got to take to get there, but I’m having trouble at the moment seeing where they link together. It will come, I’m sure. It might just take a while…
At home, I’ve been doing a fair bit of crafting. I was bought a latch hook kit for Christmas, so have had fun learning a new skill. I decided not to knit any more socks for a while, and began working on a scrappy blanket to use up the bagful of sock wool I had left over. I got it to 10x10 squares square, and then found a summer knitting project…
I’m knitting the long version, doing it in rainbow(ish) coloured stripes, and having so much colour to knit with is helping me to keep going through The Great Fashion Fast.
The Great Fashion Fast is organised by Tearfund to raise money to support people who live in poverty and are affected by the climate crisis. I signed up to take part, which means that for a whole month (March) I am limited to only ten items of clothing (not including underwear, sportswear, and I chose to include a coat because I struggle to keep warm). I’m posting daily outfits - though they’re getting pretty same-y after 9 days - on my instagram (I’m squidgesscribbles) to keep folks updated, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve already raised 75% of my £250 target. The thing I miss most about the challenge is being able to choose different colours to reflect my mood or the event I’m going to - there’s only so much you can do with ten items, especially when several of them are worn layered up. It’s not easy at all. But it’s a challenge, and what good is a challenge if it’s not challenging? It also seems appropriate to be doing this through most of Lent… I’m very aware that I have a wardrobe of choices to go back to in April, unlike many others.
(If you would like to sponsor me, here’s the link to my JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Katherine-Hetzel) Thank you x)
That little lot probably brings you up to date with where I am, so I’ll sign off with the hope that all my lovely readers and Scribblers are doing OK, given that the world is currently looking on in horror at the war currently being waged in Ukraine thanks to the arrogance and ego of Putin. I don’t get political very often, but I will say that we need to be careful to separate the man from the people he controls - I’m praying just as much for the Russian people who are suffering and protesting against the invasion as I am for the millions of Ukrainians whose lives and sovereign state have have been torn apart. I can’t do much, but I can pray.
Stay safe everyone, and give your loved ones a hug, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.