Category Archives: creativity

Adventures, Books, creativity, indie author, writing

There has been writing

2024 was a busy year. I released three books, counselling and teaching was busy. There were also some soul-colouring adventures. (Apologies for not sharing, really was a rapid year).

And 2025 promises to be no different. This year, started with a combination of adventuring to write. Just after the new year’s celebration, I took myself off cross country to Dartmoor. Off to hotel where Agatha Christie no less, spent time writing her first novel. All right, it has burned down and been rebuilt since, but I assure you that the romance and energy was there.

I’ve only been on a day-long writing retreat. About a week before the Pandemic kicked off, and I found it an interesting experience. I’ve never gone off on a longer stint, beyond my desk, adventured to sit down and right.

Thinking of how successful such an experience it was Agatha Christie and feeling that this year will be big in marking ten years, I gave this a go. Travelled 177 miles south west-that was an experiment and challenge in itself. I then spent two and half days writing. I did actually write!

I’ve recently found a revived writing mojo. There is after all, a new book out on the 3rd of March. I wanted this to continue, to be more consistent. Writing this blog is another aspect of that. I’m hoping to make regular, more consistent contributions here to get things moving.

There has been opportunity to assess and evaluate the stack of stories that I would like to write. There are easily half a dozen notebooks that i feel I could tackle. Not all in one go, but work through. There is nothing quite like being sat down, writing and being inspired. I don’t think I experience writer’s block. I can make plan, have a vivid and impassioned response to decant the ideas. It is then carving out time to write and sew those ideas together. All being well, this will happen.

creativity

Colourful creativity: Knitting

You may recall that at the start of lockdown, I decided to start knitting. More specifically, I started to knit socks. Well, it’s been six months since we went into lockdown, and since then my knitting has somewhat escalated. I have knitted five pairs so far. With four pairs currently cast on. These are the ones that you see in the image above.

I like knitting; it’s really relaxing and therapeutic.

It is also somewhat addictive. I mean, how much yarn does one woman really need? I have found myself being seduced, quite regularly, by the Sock Yarn Faerie. For now, I have enough sock yarn. I have enough yarn, to keep me going for at least another six months. Seriously, not more sock yarn.

For now.

Knitting has been really important lately. As teaching and counselling get busy, I am reminded to take care of myself. To not push myself, so far, as to burn out. This has meant stopping all work at 6pm, to sit down and knit. To take the time to practice self-care and ground myself. As such, the projects you see above, are all now at the point where I have to start knitting the feet. I’ve also finished a book, so I have more brain space for these, and I think I need it. I need to socks to help get over that book, before I start writing another.

All being well, there will eventually be complete pairs.

I’m not that worried about odd striping to be honest. I quite like having odd socks. Not all of them are blue, either! I do have some bright red yarn, that reminds a bit of football socks to be played with.

I tend to knit very ‘plain’ socks. That is to say, stockinette stitch. More recently, I have been trying to find patterns for circular needles that are varied. I’m still teaching myself to read patterns, to visualise them so as to be able to execute them. Also, I have discovered leg warmers and wrist warmers as possible extensions to the knitting creativity.

I think leg warmers are next on my list to try for definite. I’ve got wool, some needles and the patterns to steer me in the right direction. The wrist warmers need some reflection. Not sure if I can use some of the sock-wool for those.

The needles that I use, are circular needles, rather than flat. These have been a revelation. I have tried knitting socks flat-right at the start of lockdown. This process does seem to be more effective, productive and more enjoyable. Most of what I have knitted, has been me-sized; socks for me. I did knit one pair of gentlemen’s sized 9’s as a gift for a family member. Mine don’t tend to take so long to knit! Those took about a month, in between bits of real life.

Was a useful learning experience. I now know how to make fella-sized socks; if ever I chose to repeat that experience.