This post starts with a small celebration dance. You can’t see it, but you can imagine it I’m sure since we’re all creative people here, one way or another.
I finished the Fiction part of my Master’s with an 83% mark. This is actually a massive deal because Fiction is my secondary genre and not one I’m good at. I suffered from terrible writing block when it came to delivering a short story for the course. It was so bad I required an extension from my tutor after telling her that I was well and truly stuck and didn’t see a way out of it. She was bloody fantastic about the whole thing (good of her, since I was basically drowning in self-pity) and gave me an additional two weeks past the deadline to sort myself out.
During this stressful writer’s block, all the friends I tried to gather sympathy from were useless: “you’ll manage, you’re amazing”…etc…which only made me eat even more chocolate than usual because I wasn’t managing and they were being completely unhelpful (bless them!)
This is where the people you know—who actually write—come in, because they can understand like your other friends can’t.
Tom, (Idle blogs of an idle fellow) after I told him of the torture I was enduring, sent me regular texts over a couple of weeks to ask how the writing was going and to offer to read anything I had so far. Which was great except I had nothing for him to read. Absolutely fuck all. In the end, spurred on by the thought of yet another text of his asking how the story was going and me embarrassingly replying again that, er…it wasn’t…I tentatively started writing, going back to an idea I’d had a couple of years ago.
Which meant that the next inquiring text from Tom could be answered with: yeah, actually I have something and I’m going to send it to you.
So I did and he said he liked it and his feedback was encouraging enough that it took me out of the rut I was in.
So, this might not have been immediately obvious but this post is actually a post of thanks dedicated to various people, starting with Tom.
I don’t think many of the people who read my blog know of Tom and it’s a crying shame because he’s a great writer. He’s talented and he’s witty and that’s a winning combination. He recently had his first novel (The Life Assistance Agency) published and when I stupidly left it on one of the dreadful southern trains I immediately bought another copy because I was only halfway through and I needed to read the rest.
When I texted Tom to tell him about leaving his book behind (and something not terribly funny about “funding his lavish lifestyle” since I had to buy it again) he replied in typical Tom fashion: “I’m happy for you to keep losing-and replacing-my book. This (not at all) lavish lifestyle needs funding.”
And that’s why I like him, because he is funny as well as a great writer (also he has the best hair in the whole of London—not a verified fact, just my personal opinion)
So, anyway, Tom gave me a bit of a kick-start with my short story and that was nice, but then the always amazing Candice was the driving force behind the rest of it. She basically told me to put my phone away and forget about any possible distraction (Hannibal included, sob) and I know it all sounds pretty obvious but I’m the worst procrastinator ever, so I needed someone to just tell me what to do.
Candice was so encouraging that I sat down and thought: “I need to write this and write it well just so I can be deserving of the faith she has in me…and forget the bloody Master’s.” Thanks to her support, I managed to finish the story and consequently sent her my unedited mess which she read—she also gave me a bunch of great suggestions that were all in line with what I thought needed to be changed-or added or whatever-so that was another confidence booster.
I think pretty much everyone knows Candice but if there’s anyone who still doesn’t, she can be found here: TheFeatheredSleep
and this is a link to her books (they are bloody terrific)
She is a queen as far as I’m concerned, such a talented writer and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to have her in my corner. That 83% as well as the fantastic feedback I got from my tutor on my work is largely thanks to Candice pushing me and having faith in me when I really didn’t think I could come up with decent material. So, thank you my amazing twin, and I’m sorry (#SorryNotSorry) for all the gushing.
I must also say thanks to the lovely Meg and the equally lovely Vic for reading part of my short story—you guys are brilliant, but you already know that.
I wish I could take you all to the pub with me since I clearly owe you drinks but you’ll be there with me in thoughts as I proceed to get quietly and pleasantly buzzed. Cheers to all the creative people out there, we can be mightily difficult but we are fucking amazing too. (Again, not a verified fact, just my personal opinion)
Congratulations!
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Thanks!
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Congrats!
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Thank you, awesome one!
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Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Hooray! I’m glad you finished well. I’m sorry for distracting you all those times I did!! 😬 😘 Go get drunk!!
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Haha I almost put that in the post…like, as an aside after your name “though Vic was so bloody distracting it’s a wonder I finished at all” 😜😂
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Lol!!! I’m so sorry!! I’m the worst procrastinator ever so I know how it is. Next time just tell me to go away. 😛😂
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Like I could actually do that! (I’ll try next time 😜)
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I know, you love me too much. 😄
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Something like that! 😜 (you and your modesty! 😂)
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Sorry I haven’t been Around
It’s great to hear you crossed the finish line
Writing is like that
It can get in your way
Or make a way
Keep on keeping on
As Sheldon Always
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Hi Sheldon! It’s good to see you, I hope you’re well 🙂
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I’m sorry I wasn’t able to offer any helpful advice, but CONGRATULATIONS!💐🍾
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Thank you so much. Maybe I can add you to the list of editors for next time? 😉
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Absolutely!💁🏻
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Congratulations Nat! You did a great job with the story and deserved good marks.
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Fantastic! Great news, I’m so happy for you! Especially because I was a hinderer instead of a helper too! 😉
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Haha Meg, you weren’t as bad as Vic but you’re also very effective when it comes to distracting people! 😜😘
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Whoops!!! 😜
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Your passion for words is evident in everything you write here Nathalie!! Congratulations!! 😃🌺
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Thank you, Lola! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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You too Nathalie!! 🌺
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Félicitations 😃
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Merci beaucoup! 😀
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Congratulations. That quote is spot on in my case. Damn the ambition every single time if it interferes with being idle.
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Ah yes, I’m the same. It’s a real tragedy because we might have written works of genius by now if we weren’t so lazy! (yes, works of genius because if you’re going to fantasise, you might as well go all out 😉)
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True might as well dream big.
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Congratulations, Nathalie! ❤
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Thank you so much, Rob! I hope you’re doing well 😘💜
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Again, great news and worthy of celebrating ☺ Had to smile at your descriptions of your friends but they sound like great people. I will check out their blogs today ☺
Also, “Quietly and pleasantly buzzed” sounds like a great title for your future autobiogtaphy! 😉
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I’m not sure it would be wise for me to ever release an autobiography! 😂
Thanks, Adam! You must be getting bored of hearing about that bloody 83% by now 😝
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I’m sure it’d be a great read, although only for grown-ups 😉
You’re welcome, and don’t be silly! 😄
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Congratulations!
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Thank you, Richard 🙂
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Congratulations, Daughter of Imladris! 🙂 so happy for you!! 💜
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Thank you, lovely Eric! 😘💜
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great quote…aren’t we all?
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I guess most of us are guilty of it 😉
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My heartfelt congratulations. That’s a terrific achievement.
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Thank you so very much! I can hardly believe it myself 😀
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Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.
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Thank you so much, Vinnie!
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It’s quite an achievement and I enjoy seeing people happy.
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Aww, you’re so sweet! 😉
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Well done. Big congrats 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Congrats are in order!
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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Congratulations
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Thank you!
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You rock! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🍷
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Congrats on the short story and high marks. Yay! I’m not surprised at all that you pulled it off. 😀
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Thank you, Diana! 😃
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Two things: 1. I KNEW you could do it. And that means I always had FAITH in you and YOUR ability. 2. You did this – nobody else. YOU. When things get hard next time, remember that, look in the mirror, see the warrior you are and DO WHAT IT TAKES AGAIN because you have proven you can and NOBODY and NOTHING can EVER stop you.
Nuff said.
Oh, and you’re incredible, and I’m dammed proud of you, yeah that too 😉
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Okay. *looks in the mirror* You did this and nobody else. You’re amazing. Believe in yourself!
*mirrors whispers back* You couldn’t have done it without Candice, she’s brilliant.
Haha
Thanks a bunch, twin 💜
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(keep the faith and if you can’t know that I do and yes, I’m the twin in the mirror and she’s always got your back)
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But I’ll be dammed if I could look as good as you did in THE DRESS (yes it’s now got its own Twitter account I’m certain of it)
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Of course you would look as good! What a thing to say. If I was in any way famous, the dress would definitely have its own Twitter account by now haha
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No I honestly think you OWN that dress and look – and I’m so happy for you I want to show everyone. It SHOULD have it’s own Twitter! *giggle*
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It seems to me I may have already commented but I am having so many problems with my Mac (bordel de merde!) it may have disappeared… anyway, i don’t think anyone ever doubted you. 😎 Donc felicitations. Quand peut-on viir ke resultat? Biz
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I haven’t seen any other comments so maybe the previous one disappeared into the ether?
Merci bien, je posterai peut être ça bientôt 😁
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Ça a dû disparaitre dans le trou entre les univers parallèles. On attend la publication. 🙂
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Toutes nos félicitations! 🥂
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Thank you! 🙂
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