Three years on

I've just passed my three year milestone on the blog. What a privilege! There is a full set, apart from Feb '19 when I was going through a mega stressful time trying to access residential care for my 97-year-old Mum.

When Wendy took the risk of offering me a slot it felt like a BIG challenge. In awe of the quality contributions and writing credentials of others, I knew I'd have to hit the ground galloping. What if ideas failed me ..... if I couldn't hit deadlines ..... if nobody wanted to read ..... if technology defeated me ..... ?

Then there was the generous dose of imposter syndrome that I finally owned up to in my April blog this year. People were bound to see through me!

But Wendy encouraged me to have a go, taking me by the hand, guiding me through the technicalities and outlining the brief: 'write about writing, reading and/or Christianity in 500 words.' Now Wendy has handed over to Rosemary and guidelines for contributions have recently come under fierce scrutiny via the ACW Facebook page. Our inspired and diligent committee are reconsidering them next meeting.

I'm so conscious of the quality of writing tips which others constantly provide to my benefit. Any writing ability I have is more instinctive than learned. I have never undertaken a writing course (and it's a bit late in the day now), but I take heart from those hugely successful and prolific writers who are also a bit short on the nuts and bolts of the trade.

On my desk is a neat pile of books on such topics as:  Show not Tell; Plot and Structure; Writer's Toolkit; Deep Point of View etc. I have dipped in and out but they still sit looking at me, shouting Must Do Better!

Initially I told myself I could get away with writing mostly about 'Reading', and 'Christianity'. Plenty of scope there. But then there were comments about the need to step up the writing bit. Hopefully they weren't directed at me in particular, but I took them to heart and tried. Still, I have to confess I've received much more on that front than I have ever been able to give.

Ideas for topics have popped up with surprising regularity from the most unlikely triggers – until this one, which has given me the space to stop and reflect on the journey. What an eclectic mix of interests and subjects: from Goldfish and Ignatius of Loyola; WhatsApping great Grandma; Rejection; Beyond Brexit; You can always take up Knitting; Wisdom in Humour; St Benedict and the Corona Virus; Paradise Deferred (through the eyes of a tortoise); Writing across the Generation Gap; My First Nano – and many more, through to Fiction with Fangs last month.

Next time I might write about the New Normal (if I can decide what to think about it) and the likely implications for writers.  Something else to ponder.

Thanks for being such supportive readers.

Eileen Padmore retired some time ago from a life spent in health care and academia with a vow to indulge in writing more creatively and less academically. Her background in Africa, Eire, Northern Ireland (in the troubles) as well as inner city Birmingham and Leeds, provides plenty of copy. She has had articles published by Woman Alive, Christian Writer and contributed to the popular ACW Lent Book.

Eileen operates a dynamic prayer shawl ministry under the name of Tabitha. You can read about it here.