What Do I Write?

Whenever I tell anyone that I am a writer, the first thing they ask is 'what kind of things do you write?' I struggle to answer this question every. single. time. Why is this?

I usually start by telling them about the pieces of writing that I am currently working on. At the minute, they are my feminist and queer fairytale collection and my poetry collection. Even though these are what I currently call my most important pieces, they aren't the only things that I am currently working on. That pile is quite big. 

I know some writers like to stick to a single genre and that is absolutely chill! I have my go-to genre: supernatural! I didn't realise this for a while, it wasn't until recently when I was thinking about everything I have ever written and found that supernatural themes ran through most of my work. I do enjoy dipping my nib into other genres, I think it's important to step outside of my writing comfort zone to improve my skills.

My poetry is quite reflective of my thoughts, feelings and experiences. I pour my heart into my poetry. Not to say, I don't pour my heart into my stories but I see poems as more of a little journal or diary entries. I use stories to tell a much bigger story or meaning. 

I am currently re-editing some of my old work. As a teenager, I had written stories on Wattpad and adult me is a little embarrassed and wish I had proofread back then. I am now going through all my old live pieces and tidying them up as well as fixing any plot holes. I am enjoying diving into my old work. If you're a writer I recommend revisiting your older work and I promise you that you'll see improvement in your craft, you may even get a slight feeling of nostalgia too!

I try to write in my journal most days, sometimes as a writer, I have lots of ideas and things swimming around inside of my head. Journalling helps me to empty my thoughts clearing my head to help me prepare to write other bits. Sometimes a character will be stuck in my head, so I often journal little scenes that I can later come back to. Journalling is one of my favourite hobbies, it's particularly useful for emptying my thoughts at the end of the day so I can sleep better.

Of course, I write content for this blog! If you're new here I have been writing on here since 2015, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. This blog has had a shift in tone, I used to write about anything and everything and now I focus on more bookish content as well as my own personal writing. I know I haven't been posting as much recently I am working on this, life got a little hectic but I love writing for you guys.

I don't think many writers have just one piece they are working on, there will always be something in the 'work in progress' pile! As well as all of the above, I am a copywriter. My day job contains lots of writing and I wouldn't have it any other way! Sometimes I don't always feel like writing after a day at work but I always make sure to write something each day- this is where journalling comes in handy.

So, what do I write? A bit of everything really.

What Do I Write?

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Writing From Home

 Hello!

If you don't follow me on my Instagram or Twitter, you may not know that I started a new job!  I am a trainee copywriter who currently works from home, I started last Monday. I have been having an absolute blast.  

My only worry going into the job was how I would adapt to working from home and getting the right work vibe going. One week in and I think I have it all figured out, I thought I would share my techniques with you:

1) Declutter - the week building up to starting the new job I decided to have a good clean & sort. I’m a bit of a hoarder so lots of things round-up around my room. I decided to be tough, I also managed to rearrange all to Funko pops & furniture to make the space feel new almost.

2) Writing Space - not everyone can fit a desk into their bedroom. I couldn’t so I transformed the top of my drawers into a workspace. A place to work on my laptop, take notes and sit to write. I wanted to make it a space that helped me feel inspired. To achieve this I added a few favourite things like my Wicked singing SnowGlobe, my gemstone tree & various Funko pops. 

3) Move Around - I found that staying in one space can get a little tedious so around mid-day, every day, I have been moving around my room. I do a little shuffle around, changing my sitting positions. Sometimes sitting down on the floor to write at my little table or making a cushion fort on my bed and writing there. Using a laptop for work has certainly got its perks!

4)  Snacks - I don’t know about you but I love working & eating. Having something small next to me that I can munch on whilst I’m working. It really helps! Chewing gum is always good to have at hand, something about it helps me concentrate. It is important to remember to always have a drink beside you, truth be told in the past week I’ve drunk more tea than I ever have in my lifetime. As well as endless cups of tea I always have a water bottle beside me. Stay hydrated!

5) Comfortable Clothes - I was constantly being told by everyone around me that I should wear proper clothes each day working at home. Dress fully to put me in the right frame of mind. I see where they were coming from but I am not wearing smart clothing on a day no one can see me. Don't get me wrong I dress the part when I have meetings and briefs but other than that I am wearing comfortable clothing. When I don't have meetings I am in a t-shirt, that's it. I write best when I am not feeling restricted by clothing. A bonus is on hot days you can wear the bare minimum, no coworkers to accidentally flash when the heat makes you want to rip your skin off. Just the comfort of yourself at home.

6) Leave your house - this is easier said than done if you’re not working from a laptop. Despite my previous point you will have to be fully clothed I am afraid.  Plan an afternoon to work in a cafe or find a little office space or library you can work in. Alternatively, if you’re more of a computer person or looking for ways to spend your time off try and make sure when you’re not working that you spend as little time in your workspace as possible- this will prevent you from getting tired of your surroundings easily. 

I am sure this list will increase within time, if you are also working from home are there any recommendations you have? I hope this has been insightful and helpful. Keep an eye out for our next blog post!

Writing From Home

Monday, 19 July 2021