Families Magazine
My
friend in Australia sent me a few paragraphs to look at. I have a
friend in the States who has written a book and is trying to get it
published at the moment. I know several people who are in the process
and to me, this constitutes “everyone”. Except me. Okay, that's
not strictly true. I am sort of writing a novel. Mostly in my head.
In the shower. As I fall asleep at night. I make notes on my
blackberry while I'm watching “Pregnant in Heels” on the Bio
Channel (- it's research, okay?). While cooking, I listen to
podcasts of Mariella Frostrup's Radio 4 literary programmes. I even
attended the London Book Fair a few years ago and gave myself the
title of “Author”. But I haven't done a great deal of actual
writing. This wouldn't be such a terrible thing if I hadn't been
going on about this writing lark to anyone who would listen for the
past two decades. I thought that by sharing this intention, I would
shame myself into doing it - but I only discovered I have no shame.
Anyway,
about 6 months ago, in a bid to blackmail myself into action, I
confessed my plans to Mini-Me and made an actual commitment – nay a
PROMISE to my impressionable 9 year old for whom I am number one role
model that I would complete my opus this year. Now our conversation
is peppered with related, anxiety-producing queries.
When
I'm cooking: “What's your book about, Mummy?”
“It's
about a woman who's trying to write a book.”
When
I'm doing Sing and Sign work on the laptop: “Can I read your book,
Mummy?”
“When
you are 21.”
When
we are putting our coats on to go out: “Will you dedicate your book
to me?”
“Yes.”
When
I'm kissing her goodnight: “Have you written your book, Mummy?”
“Not
yet.”
When
I'm checking my email: “Is that your book?”
“No!”
It's
like living with a very short literary agent.
Now
that Mini-Me has assumed this role, I can drag her along to
inspirational literary events. It's not that torturous. For example,
the Bloomsbury Festival last October featured an abundance of
literary-themed activities for all. My friend and her kids came along
and our favourite was the “Poet's Path” where we picked our
poem's words, supplied on linkable cards, built phrases, then hung
them in strips under the branches of the trees, so eventually people
were walking through a tunnel of poems. Really beautiful and
romantic. We fashioned charms out of various bits of old tat, like
buttons, ribbons, labels and other miscellany which were then hung on
a tree to twinkle in the fading, golden sunlight; messages like “You
are the best mum in the world” twirling and intermingling with “She
broke my heart”.
Our
kids donned various props and sat in a vintage photo-booth, laughing
in amazement as the black and white pictures popped through the
little window. Of course there was also the not so small
disappointment of the “Candle Magic” workshop at Treadwells
Esoteric Bookshop which, if my friend and I had read the description
properly, we would have known had nothing to do with child friendly
illusions and everything to do with a white witch offering advice on
incense burning, casting spells and other freaky-deakiness. Every
time our children turned around and whispered, “When is the magic
show going to start?” we couldn't suppress our laughter.
Mini-Me
is a voracious eater of books, so this year, I really want to take
her to “Hay Fever” which is the kids version of the Hay Festival
and runs alongside it from 31st May to 10th
June. It came as no big surprise last week when she came into the
living room and announced, “I'm writing a book, Mummy! I know what
the story is, and the characters. I'm so excited! Please can you tell
me how to make the pages? Should it start with the title? What about
the cover?”
“Darling,” I sagely advised, “if you want to write a book, all you need to do is not faff, but actually start writing anything. Just get something out and it will all flow.”
“Okay!”
and she ran upstairs and that very minute, started writing.
Like
I said, everyone is writing a book....
For more Life on the
Edge and event links, visit mynotesfromtheedge.blogspot.com. Angelina
runs award winning Sing and Sign baby signing classes. More info at
www.singandsign.com.
Hay Fever Festival link:
Bloomsbury Festival link:
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