STORIES FROM MY DESK: A Monthly Update on Writing, Reading & Watching
What I've been up to in the last month
I love writing these updates yet I rarely do them. I feel they fill the creative hole that Instagram has left. A way for me to share the work I’ve been creating, the books I’ve been reading and just generally everything that has inspired me over the past month.
WRITING UPDATE
Non-Fiction Book Proposal
I’ve finally finished writing and editing my book proposal and I’m now starting the querying process with literary agents. This is a Really Big Deal for me as a self-confessed unconfident creative.
Novel
In addition I’ve dusted off my novel manuscript, got it printed and bound and started the process of reading it in order to begin the big editing project.
Substack & YouTube
Now I appear to have got my anxiety under control I’m looking forward to writing more on my Substack. I’ve even *gasp* created a content calendar in Excel so I can be more organised, get pieces written and scheduled ahead of time, and ensure I have at least two pieces for paid subscribers every month (so far in June I’ve written three). I had an idea for a regular piece yesterday interviewing various online creatives that I admire so I hope to get that organised very soon.
We also have another planning workshop later on today (Sunday 5pm UK time). These sessions are going down well and helping those who have too many ideas, too few ideas and don’t know where to start. If you’d like to join in then click on the following story.
I’m still not back on YouTube. I keep thinking I’d love to create some YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels or TikToks. But so far I’m just thinking about it. It seems I’m not quite ready yet.
Some of the pieces I’ve linked are behind a paywall. If you’d like to read them you can sign up for 20% off here:
[Must be redeemed by 6th July.]
READING UPDATE
Fiction
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It looks like I’m becoming a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid. It started with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (my favourite of hers so far) and I also enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six (I didn’t enjoy this as much, despite its similarities with Fleetwood Mac’s real life story). In Carrie Soto is Back we are transported to the world of elite professional tennis. Carrie Soto has won everything and is retired. But now another younger female tennis player is about to defeat her record - so she decides to come out of retirement and take back what is hers.
I really enjoy the women Taylor writes about. They’re feisty, go-getting and inspirational and Carrie Soto is perhaps the ultimate go-getter, not particularly caring what others think of her. Time might be playing tricks on me but I don’t think Taylor’s recent novels are as richly layered as The Seven Husbands…but Carrie Soto is enjoyable and perfect for summer.
A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson
If you like country house murders you might enjoy Katy Watson’s Three Dahlia’s mysteries. A Very Lively Murder is the second in the series (the first being The Three Dahlias). The Dahlias consist of three actresses who have each played Dahlia Lively, a fictional detective, on screen. In A Very Lively Murder they are shooting The Lady Detective movie at a country house in Wales which stars two of the actresses. When one of them is almost killed by a prop weapon they call in the third and start to investigate. And then there’s a murder…
It must be hard to come up with a fresh and modern country house murder and Katy gives it a good go and I enjoyed it…but, it was probably a 3.2 out of 5 for me. Oh, and you have to read The Three Dahlias first.
Non-Fiction
Now the two non-fiction books I’ve not actually read yet but wanted to mention them for two reasons.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is July’s Non-Fiction Book Club pick of the month. We’ll be doing a read-along of it with a post coming out every Monday with the chance for you to share your thoughts or pose questions for the rest of the group. You can read more and get involved here (it’s free to sign up and receive the emails but commenting will be for paid subscribers only to enable the community to have some privacy).
Bird by Bird is a writing memoir. Or, part writing guide, part memoir with chapter titles such as ‘Shitty First Drafts’, ‘How Do You Know When You’re Done?’ and ‘Writer’s Block’.
I would love your company as we read it through.
Writing Through Fear by Caroline Donahue has recently been released by fellow Substacker
. Caroline has a business teaching writing students and she was intrigued by “those students who achieved their goals, finishing drafts, finding agents, and moving into the publication process, versus those who froze at some point, never to reach THE END”.The answer as to why they froze is due to all the fears that Caroline mentions in Writing Through Fear with the use of tarot cards.
Join The Non-Fiction Book Club!
Click on the following post to find out more.
WATCHING UPDATE
James Blunt: One Brit Wonder.
I’m not a James Blunt fan. I’m also not a James Blunt hater. But I do love a documentary about musicians. Or any type of creative, really. This was fascinating. I knew that James Blunt had shot to fame with You’re Beautiful. I was also aware that there was some sort of backlash against him. Just as with Taylor Swift I think the media, various celebrities and the public forget that these people they mock or abuse are real people, with real feelings. It’s like there’s this assumption that if you’re rich, or successful you can take or deserve the unkindness.
I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes of what it’s like to tour as a musician. It certainly doesn’t look glamorous!
You can watch James Blunt: One Brit Wonder on Netflix.
MY RECENT ARTIST DATE
As a continuation of The Artist’s Way I’m going to refer to certain outings as artist’s dates. Basically where you go and do something (it could be something as simple as reading or working on a jigsaw puzzle) in order to refill your creative well.
This month I drove to the Nevill Holt Festival which is on the beautiful Nevill Holt Estate in Leicestershire (see top photograph). The festival hosts classical music, theatre, art, jazz and contemporary music, alongside conversations with leading novelists, historians, broadcasters and artists.
There were so many things that I could’ve gone to see. Elizabeth Day, Kristen Scott Thomas, opera (maybe!). I hadn’t realised when my friend booked the tickets that there was so much there. We went to see Austentatious: an improvised Jane Austen novel. And I had a wonderful evening, drinking wine with my friend and admiring the view of the countryside. They were a talented bunch of actors but I think I can safely say that improv is not for me.
Some of the pieces I’ve linked are behind a paywall. If you’d like to read them you can sign up for 20% off here:
[Must be redeemed by 6th July.]
OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Free to read until 25th July
Free to read until 21st July
Free to read for two more weeks.
Thank you so so much for sharing my book, love! And how funny… I’m seeing Austentacious in a few weeks with my cousin when I’m in London. We’ll have to compare notes afterward. 🩷
So many congratulations on sending out the book proposal — I’m cheering you on from here!
Sorry I missed the planning session this month...I had a brain cramp and did the maths wrong for the time difference lol...ah well. Hopefully, I can catch up with you all next time! xo