Over.

Last Friday I attended my last ever tutorial at uni.  It was to discuss my Personal Development Plan - or what I intend to do now.

It's a bit sad to think I'll never need to haul myself out of bed extremely early every Friday morning to drive to Edinburgh and not get home until about half six at night - knackered and starving.

Aye right.  After the exertions of the last couple of months I feel like I've got my life back.  I've got a long list of all the stuff I want to do.  I'm even looking forward to doing some housework - and that's saying something.

It was a nice meeting with Sam and David, although Sam started off by saying she was going to talk at me and not with me.  Fair enough.  So I just sat, for the most part, and listened.  What she said made a lot of sense.  I need to get pro-active and get out there and generate writing work for myself.  No one is going to come to my door begging me to write for them.  Oh - and she said I should stop writing fiction.  Again. fair enough.  In her opinion I should concentrate on non-fiction, historical stuff and journalism.

I can totally live with that but I've still got a great idea rattling around my head for a novel - which won't go away until I have it down on paper.  Well - I think it's a great idea.  One of these days I will write it.


I've been powering down for the last couple of weeks.  The contents of the wine cellar have been guzzled - the hangover's have been endured and it's been boarded back up again.  It's now time to get off my arse and get back to a life which includes writing but isn't dominated by it.

I started off gently by getting the knitting needles out.  Knitting is very relaxing.  I do it when I'm watching the telly at night or if I need to think about something.  Everyone thinks knittings for old people but knitting is the new clubbing.  Well, maybe not.

I'm thinking of starting a scarf knitting business called Scarf Ace (get it?)  I've now knitted another one to add to my collection.  So, if anyone wants a lovely, cosy scarf for the winter just let me know.  I'll also knit for kids if anyone wants me to.  I should really try and get a stall somewhere.

I'm also going to start going back to my art class - and I can't wait.  I've always loved painting but other things always get in the way.  By going to a class I feel I can devote a couple of hours to it - and it's a chance to meet new people.  At the end of the Major Project I was beginning to feel quite isolated.  It's now time out of the house for a while.


But I have a couple of things writerly things I need to do immediately.

One is the article I'm writing for Glasgow West End Magazine.  It's for the October/November issue but my deadline is Friday.  I'm hoping I can squeeze another couple of days form my editor.  This is the issue which looks at the different panto's on in Glasgow (oh yes it is.)  I know - it's panto time again already.

This time I'm doing a quick round up but I'm also looking at putting on a panto from behind the scenes - so I'm going to be interviewing my daughter Kirsten.  She's designing the Cottier's panto set and costumes this year.  This is going to be a very weird experience.  I'm also going to have a word with the writer and director and maybe some of the performers to get a full picture of what it takes to put the finished product on the stage.  I'm really looking forward to it.

The other thing I need to do is email BBC radio producer, David Stenhouse.  He came to speak to us in Napier in January.  He told us how to pitch an idea for a radio programme and gave us a few months to write a pitch for our Major Project.  I was extremely nervous about doing it because I'm not good at speaking in public.  But, I must have done all right because he liked the idea and said he would commission it.  I need to remind him.  I've also got another idea which I think I might share with him.  And like Sam says - he's not going to come to me.

What was that?

Is it someone knocking the door with a fantastic writing opportunity?

Yes?

No.  it isn't.

Damn it.  I suppose I'd better go and get pro-active.