Clocks

 

Who thought changing the clocks on Mothering Sunday would be a good idea? Clearly not someone who was a mother… I must admit, I prefer the extra time in the autumn, as waking up early isn’t my thing.

We do what we have to do, and funny enough, it can be the same with writing. I have been struggling to write lately. Not because of the clocks telling me time has disappeared, but because of a lack of headspace. Now various therapies have been decided on, educational options are getting sorted and the evenings are lighter for longer, writing feels a joy again.

I feel guilty as I’m a part of so many wonderful groups and ventures, and none of them have had the attention they deserve. I have been thinking about a lot of my writing projects, and for the first time I have a variety of books in progress, rather than one story. There’s historical crime, time travel, a PI who accidentally solves a murder and there’s book 2 of Burrowed, which was meant to be a short story, and now a sequel is brewing.

It's hard when life is difficult, and we’re being carried by prayers and coffee, and everything feels too much to think about. I’m thrilled about a book fair I’m at this coming Saturday, but haven’t packed my boxes yet, hoping I actually have copies of my books… I’m longing for ‘normal’, but I’m wondering if I should simply learn to write in the storm, as it could be a while before life will feel smooth again, and the stories are itching to get out!

One of the things I learned a few years ago was to write against the clock, just for a few minutes or a quarter of an hour. It made such a difference, even though I still prefer a nice long stretch to do two thousand words between two coffees. Maybe the changing clock is an opportunity to take a deep breath, clutch my vanishing sanity with one hand and type with the other, and ignore the buffeting waves and roaring wind around me.

Maybe, in the quiet moment, we will all hear that still, small voice, whispering peace and restoring our souls. When we pray for Christ’s kingdom to come, maybe our room can be a little corner where He guides us and shows His power. If you’re in the storm too, let’s batten down the hatches together and shelter in the shadow of the Almighty. And celebrate that extra hour in the evening, when it still feels early as it’s so light, helping us to pretend we still have plenty of time to finish that chapter!

Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, England with her husband and four (adopted) children. Maressa is a homeschool mum as well as a pastor’s wife, so her writing has to be done in the evening when peace and quiet descend on the house once more. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. Maressa is part of a special Dystopian book group online, which you can find here: https://reamstories.com/faith-based-ya-dystopian/.

Her debut novel, Sapphire Beach, was published in December 2019, and her first self published novel, Walled City, came out in December 2020, followed by Viking Ferry, a novella. Beyond the Hills is the second book in the Elabi Chronicles, and was released in 2021, followed by stand-alone novel Burrowed, released in 2022. The third book in the Elabi Chronicles, Downstream, has just been released. All of Maressa’s books are available from her website, www.vicarioushome.com, Amazon or local bookshops.