It has been quite some time since I’ve updated my blog. At the start of the year, I’d promised myself that I would try to write a weekly or at least a monthly post, but as the month’s progressed, Covid-19 happened and everything changed. Schools were closed first followed by a complete lockdown here in Ireland. To say this had an effect on my writing is an understatement. I don’t know what it was exactly, but the muse seemed to vanish for a little while and perhaps it was the fact that my mind was now occupied with home school, watching daily news updates, checking on family, and all the other things that I guess many of us found ourselves doing.

We were in a phase that no one had experienced before, and it was scary. I avoided leaving the house unless it was for essential food items and even then, the furthest I went was to my local SuperValu (which I continue to do, no big supermarket shops for me).

It was towards the end of March that I started a new co-write project with another writer friend. Something fun to try and take my mind off everything that was going on. This rom-com story was a breath of fresh air and I’ve loved digging into it. It’s not finished yet, but it has really helped.

No Lockdown Novel For Me

I’ve seen other writers post about getting thousands of words and even novels written during lockdown and I admire them for it. For me it was different. I didn’t want to sit and write because my mind wouldn’t shut down. The co-write project reminded me that it was okay to take a break from everything Coronavirus related and relax a little bit.

In April I signed up for a 5 day writing challenge with Writing.ie and that was my turning point. The five days focused on building a character using prompts, pictures, etc, and each day a different element was added. The community spirit and the daily accountability and tasks were exactly what I needed to ignite the writing spark. After the challenge I re-enrolled in the Writers Ink Private Writers Group and I have remained a member ever since.

Community Is Essential

If I’ve learned anything over these past few months, it is that I need to have a community of like minded people to discuss all things writing with. Zoom calls have been a savior too. It’s so hard being in lockdown and not seeing anyone so video calls were amazing as was my writers’ group. Daily support, a place to chat and destress, and of course the motivation to keep writing and sharing our words with one another. I don’t think I could have gotten through everything without it.

It’s Still Not Normal Outside

Now that things have started to reopen and some sort of normality is being returned, I imagined that life would go back to normal. That hasn’t happened. It’s strange out there. I took a trip to the shopping centre last weekend and it was horrible. One-way routes from shop to shop. Queues outside. People wearing masks. People not wearing masks. I actually couldn’t wait to get home. It’s not the same anymore and I don’t know if it ever will be again.

Writing a Virus Themed Story

Owl Hollow Press had their open submission call for their yearly anthology from the 10^th of June to the 10^th of July, so this gave me an excuse to focus on writing something new. The theme was The Year of the Virus and I spent a week writing up a story. It wasn’t until I got towards the end that a new beginning appeared, and I spent a further 2 weeks editing and rewriting to get the story I wanted. Rather than go with a story about a virus threatening our world, like what Coronavirus is doing, I opted for a magical epigenetic virus and a fantasy based story. It has been submitted and I am now waiting to hear back.

Continuing with 2020

I’ve had a few more beta readers for Winterland as well with some amazing feedback. This has given me the courage to keep going and to start looking at agents that I can submit to.

I’ve started a couple of new projects this year, but none have stuck so I’m working on a middle grade novel that I started last year. I’m not sure how much of this has been written as it is in two notebooks, but I am typing it up to see if it’s worth continuing. My main character, Tess, is 12 years old and the story begins with her fleeing into Phantom Forest. So far, I’m enjoying the story and the feedback from the writers’ group has been very encouraging.

I don’t have any huge plans for the rest of the year as yet and I think this year is going to end up being one of learning and developing my craft. I might not get a publishing deal until I’m 45, or 50, or maybe even 60, but I’ve decided that’s okay. The most important thing, and the thing I wanted to focus on this year, is remembering the pure enjoyment I get from writing. I’m getting back to that and it feels great.

I can’t promise I’ll update my blog every week as some weeks time slips away, but I am going to promise myself that for the rest of the year, I will at least try to post once a month.

I hope wherever in the world you are, that you are coping with this whole pandemic and that you are getting through it.

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda