Do Writers Ever Quit?

Henriette Browne A Girl Writing; The Pet Goldfinch 

(ca. 1870-1874)

wiki commons

I was at the optician this week, and the very nice young(ish) man said to me, 'Oh, I guess you're retired - what did you do?' I explained I wasn't retired and I was - am! - a writer, and he said, 'I guess that means you never retire.'

And then up popped this article by Robin Blake Retirement? What's That? on the RLF website on that very subject ...

Autumn

 

Freshwater Habitat - 26 Pledges

 

This is a detail from one of Lydia Thornley's luscious illustrations for the project 26 Habitats/26 Pledges - a collaboration between 26 (the writers' collective) and The Wildlife Trusts, in the run-up to COP26.  The whole website is full of inspiring images and wonderful words.

I love taking part in these projects - to see my contribution, visit Freshwater Habitat here, for 3 facts, a poem, a memoir, a list and a pledge.

Goodbye and Hello

 

I was sad to say goodbye to Dura Den.  It is such a creative place - the sound of the waterfall, the light through the leaves, the feeling of being a thousand miles away from the disruptions of the world are perfect for focus and getting stuck in.

But there is one thing that the Mill Lade does not have, that I am very very happy to say hello to -

Retreating

Autumn at Dura Den, Fife.  A writing retreat with a novelist and a comic book artist.  Bliss.