Orcadian Strip the Willow on Scotia Extremis

I'm over on Scotia Extremis today with Harry Giles - dance on over, perhaps?

World Menstrual Day

There's a really fascinating post on The History Girls by Janie Hampton here. I'd love to see this taught in history at school - you'd definitely get the pupils' attention. Meantime, here's my favourite image from Janie's post - a rock etching from Australia of two menstruating women dancing -

Okay, I don't remember ever feeling quite like that, but I love their panache!  So, today, let us raise a glass (or a hot water bottle) to the menstrual cycle - we'd be nowhere without it.

3000 Empty Chairs

Shadow Chair

This week I was over on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, posting about the 3000 empty chairs project.  I've sent in the photo above (contributions don't appear instantly, though).

If you want to take part in this growing symbol of support for refugee children, it's really easy - pop over to ABBA for more details, or click on the link above.

From Frankendraft to First Draft

Ah, the delectable Elsa Lanchester!  Any excuse to put up a photo of her would do, but today it's because my novella (working title The Picture of Frances Gray) has lurched this week from being a Frankendraft* to being a still drafty** First Draft.  I may not be at the stage of saying with absolute confidence It's alive! but I'm certainly a tottery step closer.  Which feels like a good thing.

Next week - onwards.


* I can't remember where I first came across the term Frankendraft for that conglomeration of random parts that novels begin as for many writers, me among them.  Whoever coined it, though, thank you!

** because of all the holes.  See what I did there ...

Over the Finish Line, After the Crowds Have Left

I finished Napowrimo on Thursday 5 May.  Okay, for a challenge that was supposed to be completed in April (30 poems in 30 days) I stretched things a little.

Now my plan is to let the dust settle for a bit and then revisit them.  See what, if any, cream has risen to to the top.  Because scum never rises, as we know.

Meantime, anyone for a game of mixed metaphors?