Non-dominant hand exercise. This is all about exercising the side of your brain you use least. Most of us are right handed – the side controlled by the left brain. Using your left-hand to write a nonsense sentence or two before you sit down to write ‘properly’ allows you to flex your right brain, the side associated with creativity.

If you’re left-handed, use your right hand. It’s freeing. Go on, try it before you knock it…

Happy US Independence Day xo

Doing some ‘book’ keeping… Since January, I’ve sent out 15 ships.

Four came back with one win (the Molly Keane) a ‘commendation’ (The New Writer) a short list (Meridian) and a long list (The Jane Austen Award).

Four ‘academic ships’ half-returned – I applied for a funded PhD study at four universities (UEA, Queens, Bangor and Exeter). All offered me places but Queens and Exeter turned me down for funding. Bangor doesn’t have funding and I’m still waiting to hear from UEA… (though at this stage…)

Four other ships (competitions entered) sunk without trace…

That’s not a bad tally, actually – two years ago I sent out ten ships and every single one sunk. I’m doing something right. Improving perhaps…

And there are STILL a three ships on the horizon:

Firstly that UEA funding that I haven’t had denied yet : )

And a lectureship interview with the Open University on July 14th – again, two years ago I applied for the same position and didn’t get to interview stage. Something on my CV is looking up!

And Amelia is going to design me a website, ain’t ya buddie?

Did it! Twelfth ship launched. Sent my short story ‘The Last of the Shower’ to the HISSAC short story competition. So that’s 12 on the waves, bon voyages mes ambassadores!

Now back to that novel. Hey wait, I’ve got to make a cup of tea…

I’ve landed back on earth post winning the National Molly Keane Award for Creative Writing. And I realised that I need to get more ships out there. Spent this week launching said vessels. Oh please come back to Mama laden with kudos and baying agents and publishers…

Ships launched:

1) Applied for a funded PhD at Newcastle University.

2) Submitted ‘Snailsock’ to an up and coming literary magazine.

3) Applied for a Creative Writing Teaching gig in Liverpool

4) Invited the author of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas’ to talk to the inmates in my prison class.

5) Asked Stephen Fry to write them a letter of encouragement (he’s a former inmate of the prison, who knew?)

6) Sent ‘The Pretender’ to the Writers’ Bureau competition.

7) Sent ‘Ha Ha’ to the Meridian competition.

8 ) Sent ‘Snailwoman’ to the Light Ship First Chapter Competition.

9) Submitted ‘Name in a Cave’ to People’s Friend

10) Submitted ‘Twin Trees’ to Doris Gooderson Competition.

11) Submitted an application for funding to the Irish Arts Council.

I like the number 12. Twelve months of the year, twelve steps, twelve apostles, twelve labours of Hercules, the twelve dancing princesses etc… So I shall send another ship out today to round off the grand total of ships. Then it is back to the book….

So, I’ve won a competition. A national one. For so long I’ve been staring at this hill and now here I am, scroll in hand, wondering where the headlights are going to shine now. What’s the next crossroad? Turnoff? Crash? Yikes…

I thought a good idea – and I can let myself think I’m working…