FOUR FUN WAYS OF BUILDING WRITING RESILIENCE

Those who follow me on social media will know I’m delighted to be one of ten authors to receive a Scottish Book Trust New Writers’ Award for 2022, which includes mentoring, a fabulous writing retreat, the opportunity to read before agents and publishers, and more. When I received the all-important phone call, I burst into tears– that is how much this award means to me! 

But as my writing friends also know, this kind of writing recognition hasn’t happened overnight. I have been novel writing for years but lacked the confidence to send manuscripts to agents and publishers. That pesky voice in my head kept sneering that my writing was no good. 

Then the pandemic hit and writing courses I was previously unable to attend, suddenly appeared online. Fed up with berating myself about long form fiction, I gave flash fiction writing a go — with the aim of getting used to writerly rejection! And yes, I’ve received rejections aplenty, but I was amazed to enjoy successes too – longlisted, shortlisted, publication, wins. However, none of this would have happened if I’d given in to those whispers of doubt. And, as sure as rain falls in springtime, those whispers will return. So... 

HOW TO BUILD WRITING RESILIENCE?

 

DEVELOP A NETWORK 

Writing, for the most part, is a solitary activity, but writing friends are IMPORTANT, especially when it comes to helping us bounce back. They don’t have to write in the same genre, or even the same form, but, hackneyed as it sounds, writers’ benefit from belonging to a tribe. Only other creatives truly understand this mad compulsion to keep writing, even when the odds against publication are mountainously high. 

Author friends are also brilliant cheerleaders helping celebrate when things go well – finishing a draft, having a manuscript accepted, signing a film option! (We’ve got to keep dreaming!) Being a part of the Novel Points of View community is fun, checking in with writing friends each week, keeping up with travels (Kath) and hedgehogs (John). I also rely heavily on friendships forged via the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Lifelong Learning Dundee, Retreat West, Aberdeen Writers’ Studio and more (please give your writing friend networks a shout out in the comments). If this all sounds hard work, remember to take things slowly, all you need is ONE loyal friend! 

'A day without a friend is like a pot without
a single drop of honey left inside'
Winnie the Pooh

WRITING WORKSHOPS 

Writing workshops teach us how to strengthen our craft – often by reading and analysing other writers. But how do workshops help build resilience? Well, as well as receiving friendly feedback, tightening prose, which should translate into less rejection, I learn from others’ mistakes, reminding me that no writing is perfect, and that we are all just doing our best. Workshops are also a great way of making friends (see tip 1!) 

Writing Workshops, a great way to make friends
 - both in person and online...

BOOK GROUPS 

Choose the right book group and they are not only interesting as a reader, but are useful for writers too. My group often selects authors that are new to me, discussion is lively and although I mostly enjoy the books chosen, even when I come across a challenging read, I still learn from having spent time with the characters. In short, it’s a fantastic reminder that not all readers enjoy the same style of writing, or put another way, we can’t please all the people, all the time. All I can do is to keep writing and hope that, eventually, my work will find the right home. 

SHAKE THINGS UP – 

TRY A NEW GENRE/ FORM/ PROMPT/COMPETITION 

Remember that pesky internal voice I mentioned? Well, it's still here but I’ve found a way to trick it! I take a break from my work-in-progress and try something new – a new genre/ new form/ new prompt/ new competition. I’m just experimenting, right? There is no reason for the voice to get upset, because I already know that what I am producing is rough, fresh off the press. It doesn’t need to harp on! That way, I write, and my pesky little internal voice gets a rest! 

 I am reminded of the words of Maya Angelou — 

 So, thank you to ALL my beautiful butterfly friends. 

 Happy writing!

Rae x

DISCOVER WHY FAIRY TALES ARE BACK

Hello! For the past fortnight, I have been studying fairy tales, both in a Flash Fiction series of workshops via Dundee University's excellent Lifelong Learning programme, as well as the FREE three week FutureLearn series via The University of Newcastle, Australia. And apparently I'm not alone in rekindling my love of the genre.

WHY AN INCREASED INTEREST IN FAIRY TALES?

An article in last week's Times Literary Supplement explained why fairy tales are important for children - they tackle difficult subjects like sibling rivalry, marital breakdown, exclusion etc, within a safe environment. Remember the joy of a pantomime, booing each time the baddie arrived on stage? There is also the comfort of knowing that, eventually, all will turn out well. (Although this wasn't always the case. In the original version of Little Red Riding Hood written by French author Charles Perrault in 1697 - spoiler alert - Little Red Riding is eaten by the wolf, never to return!) Back to The Times article, which went on to point out that given the turmoil of the past year, it's little wonder that both adults and children are returning to stories that are familiar and provide certainty.

Little Red Riding Hood

In Western literature, the stories we think of as fairy tales (other cultures have their myths and legends too) have been around for centuries, shared as oral stories long, long before they were written down. How do scholars know this? Because of the repetition involved - What big eyes you have Grandma... What big ears you have... which made it easier for those listening to remember the tales. And surely stories that have stood the test of time are worth revisiting. 

One fascinating aspect of the FutureLearn course is that it considers the context in which certain versions of a fairy tale were written - time, place, the author's social status, who they deemed to be their audience - which all create subtle changes in the way the story is retold. (Remember Little Red Riding Hood - in the Grimm Brothers version, written in the early 1800s, the one referred to in most modern retellings, she is rescued by a passing woodcutter.) This need to adjust the tale to suit the audience is another reason fairy tales have been thrust back into the spotlight. 

Shining a light on Fairy Tales

WHERE NEXT FOR FAIRY TALES?

As society adapts, so the stories we hand down must change. Last year alone, we saw the publication of the Fairy Tale Revolution Series, which looks at classic stories from a different angle, as well and the Gender Swapped Fairy Tales, where female characters are no longer passive, awaiting rescue by a handsome Prince, but are central to the action and adventure. Fresh retellings for a modern age.

Fairy Tale Revolution Series...

USEFUL FOR WRITERS...

But what has all this got to do with my writing? Well for those that follow my book reviews, you'll know that as well as women's and literary fiction, I also enjoy Gothic reads. And I think my love of the dark side began with fairy tales (all those ogres and wicked crones), and I enjoy attempting to add an edge to my flash fiction pieces. Also, it stretches my imagination to take a fairy tale and re-tell it from a minor character's point of view, or to add a fresh twist. Skills I hope to transfer to my other writing too.

So, which are your favourite fairy tales? Do you love or loathe them? Did you outgrow fairy tales? Are you tempted to take a second look? I'd love to know. 

Happy reading!

Rae x