Shiny New Things by Gillian Poucher

 

All Things Shiny New by Gillian Poucher

Summer term had barely ended when my daughter e-mailed a list of items needed for the new school year. I’ve grown accustomed to e-mailed shopping lists, but sometimes question the practicality or need for all items.  ‘A handbag?’ I said to myself, channelling Lady Bracknell. ‘A handbag?’ I made face-to-face enquiries. ‘Wouldn’t a rucksack be better, just like you’ve always had? How will a handbag fit folders and books, lunch box and water bottle?’

My daughter explained patiently that in Year 10, handbags are the norm. Many of her friends already had one in Year 9, and she had held back asking. There would be enough room. I duly ordered the bag and other items. Two weeks into term, and the handbag seems to have capacity – though I still eye it dubiously, and find myself gazing nostalgically at some of the younger children carrying their rucksacks…

My more substantial summer purchase was a new laptop.  I’d postponed this for as long as possible, until warnings on my ageing laptop that support would soon cease for Windows 10 visually shrieked out. Nor could I go on ignoring my device’s increasing slowness. So we ventured to a nearby store. After half an hour of wandering around pressing buttons on different screens, still little the wiser, my daughter mercifully patient, I sought help. I was very grateful when the friendly assistant honestly explained that I didn’t need one of the more expensive devices in view of my limited requirements. ‘I love buying shiny new tech., don’t you?’ he enthused. I smiled faintly, dreading the thought of adapting to said shiny new tech. at home.

Sure enough, I was soon frustrated by a touchpad resistant to my clicks and keyboard differences which make it difficult to navigate documents. I spent a few days using my dear old laptop, not caring about its slowness, before reminding myself sternly that I’d never master the new one if I didn’t use it.

It will be months if not years before I reconcile to the new device. I doubt I will ever believe my daughter’s handbag is as practical as her rucksack. But both shiny new items are good enough. They will wear in and do the job, even if I’m nostalgic for their predecessors.  

I relate this to my writing as I carry out yet another edit on a novel I thought was finished months ago.  I’m conscious of the danger of over-editing, but it’s scary to think of starting something new, of staring at a blank screen.  And after three novels in their company, I’m letting go of characters who feel like old friends.  But opening my mind to fresh characters and storylines is the only way to move on and grow as a writer. It’s time to embrace the shiny new world by turning the page on the old.

As for this, my first venture on the More Than Writers blog, I drafted it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper at the library before committing it to my shiny new laptop.

                                                                                                      

Then I discovered that Bluetooth won’t connect to my new device, meaning I can't transfer the two photos from my phone. So this post was finalised on my old familiar laptop.

Gillian Poucher lives in the Lincolnshire Wolds and is the author of three novels, ‘After The Funeral’, ‘A Question of Loyalty’ and ‘Vision of Light,’ all available from her website: https://gillianpoucherauthor.co.uk ‘Vision of Light’ is also available from Instant Apostle, Amazon and bookshops.