Tag: #DystoniaAroundTheWorld

#DystoniaAroundTheWorld Challenge, All about Books, Dystonia Around the World Challenge, flash fiction, Short story, Writing journey

September News and Dystonia Awareness month

kakenzieblog

September is here yet after a few days of autumnal promise, Summer has returned with the blistering heat. The kids must be back at school and the weather is teasing them that they should still be playing at home rather than sweltering in their new school uniforms.

Besides the beginning of Autumn, September is the month dystonians fill their social media feeds with articles and memes about the neurological condition to spread the word that dystonia exists. Raised awareness helps improve diagnosis, funding, support and research and for a condition rarely spoken about this is so important. My Dystonia Around the World challenge continues with walks but also a readathon over on From Under the Duvet. How many books can I read in the month?

You can find out how I’m getting on here

Exciting News -Byline Legacies is here!

Byline Legacies by Cardigan Press

Last year, I wrote my miles for the dystonia challenge and thanks to a prompt from Myszka during the Foxes Retreat Short Story course, I wrote The Ghost Writer. This tale based in an old Yorkshire cottage has been published in the Byline Legacies by Cardigan Press. This anthology is written by writers for writers and I feel privileged and excited to be part of the book. And even better, I can now say:

I’m a published author!

I even have a mug and T-shirt with my name on it to prove it, and soon I’ll have a physical copy to put on my bookcase. Holding a book with my name on it is one item ticked off my bucket list. Yay! It does not feel real. Now all I need to do is finish my current novel, tweak A Blend of Magic for submission and find them a home (if only it was that easy). The writers in the anthology share my pain and thrill of being a writer.

Can you spot my name?

You can find out more here:

https://www.cardigan.press/books

https://www.cardigan.press/shop

Amazon UK

More soon, happy writing and take care

Love

#DystoniaAroundTheWorld Challenge, Dystonia Around the World Challenge, Just life, Writing journey

How did August get here so fast? A catch-up and Dystonia Around the World

kakenzieblog

How is it August already? This year is galloping by and I feel I’m still stuck in March with a never-ending to do list and a WIP which is going slower than a garden snail despite my best efforts. Unlike last year when everyone was in lockdown and zoom calls to boost morale and word counts were the norm, being ‘good’ as a clinically vulnerable person is much harder and soul destroying. The world carries on outside and it’s hard not to feel left behind, trapped and bored. Even my imagination has got fed up with my sense of gloom and decided to scarper  – not ideal when have a deadline to meet. Yes, you heard someone wants to read my WIP about ballet and friendship when finished. Time for a happy dance followed by a frenzied panic. How do authors write under pressure without sobbing in a corner with their inner critic shouting at them? Answers in the comments below, please.

From happy to overwhelming panic

The last couple of months have ground productivity to a halt with the unexpected death of Randall, the inspiration of many stories and dear friend, and umpteen other things life has colluded to throw at me at once. But it’s time to turn things around, take back control, get some writing done, wake up my brain cells, and encourage seeds of ideas and my word count to grow. To start living again. Accountability is key so the arrival of the Dystonia Around the World challenge email was perfect. I’ve signed up and ready to go with a new pen, paper and walking shoes.

Dystonia Around the World Challenge

Dystonia is a neurological condition affecting in the UK and can range from focal dystonias affecting one part of the body and linked to a certain activity, such as writer’s cramp or musical dystonia, to more general ones affecting many areas. All types create challenges throughout the day. After living with dystonia for over twenty years, the charity Dystonia UK is dear to me and supported me often. Last year I wrote several short stories but now it’s time to convert chapters of my WIP, catching up with my overflowing TBR and increase my dwindling mobility into miles. Every 10 minutes of activity equals a mile. The hope is as a collective everyone who signs up will manage to walk around the world.

Let the globe trotting adventure begin.

I’ve signed up for the #DystoniaAroundTheWorld challenge

More information can be found here and on my From Under the Duvet blog. Or follow my progress on Instagram. If you would like to sponsor my efforts and help fundraise for Dystonia UK click here.

How have you all been? Are you out and about enjoying the summer weather or still shell-shocked from the last year and struggling to join back into society?

Take care and stay safe!

More soon.

Love

#DystoniaAroundTheWorld Challenge, Dystonia Around the World Challenge, Writing journey, Writing process

Success: Dystonia Around the World Update

kakenzieblog

This is a belated update on the Dystonia Around the World challenge. With a final push we did it! As a team we managed to walk around the world for dystonia by clocking up 25,994 miles and raising £ 14,257 for Dystonia UK. As a small charity every little counts and I am so pleased to have been involved.

Infographic showing 25994 miles logged and £14,257 raised for Dystonia UK
The sea crashing against cliff at Boscastle, Cornwall
My Destination: Boscastle

I did not manage to write 1000 miles as planned but limped in at 630. This would have got me to my ultimate destination, The Witchcraft Museum at Boscastle, via Bridlington, Haworth, and the atmospheric Mother Shipton’s cave but I would have had to hitchhike back.

A female hand hitchhiking on a deserted road

Things I have learned during this challenge

  • 2020 is consistent in derailing any plans it knows about including this one hence why my personal challenge was not completed in the time frame.
  • I am slow at writing and even slower at editing. Rather than an extensive range of flash fiction posted here, my phone and notebook is dotted with unedited and half finished short stories. They will be edited one day so you can read them despite the strong urge to hide them away.
  • Zoom is my friend and allows me to meet other people. The last couple of months it has allowed me to connect with other writers and those with dystonia including those at Dystonia UK’s first digital conference. I would always shy away from video calls but now I have embraced them.
  • I never remember how much the impact the colder seasons have on my dystonia ; I need to include and adjust goals accordingly.
  • Dopamine plays an important role in achieving goals, and what I could achieve last year is not the same as it is now I am on reduced medication. But then, as my headmistress always used to quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”* 630 exceeded my initial expectations as did my final total raised.
  • I have more people believing in me and writing than I imagined.

Thank you everyone who supported me.

Happy writing and stay safe

Love

  • I am unsure who said that originally. Google has answers from Oscar Wilde, Norman Vincent Peale, author of The Power of Positive Thinking to many others. If you know let me know.
Dystonia Around the World Challenge, Just life, Writing journey

Remember, remember 2020’s November: #DystoniaAroundTheWorld news, writing and RNA DISCO launch

kakenzieblog

How can we be hurtling towards the second week of November? I had grand plans for individual catch up posts about my fundraising for Dystonia UK, stories and book reviews, but time sped by thanks to the anxious wait for news from America. I don’t think I have felt so wretched waiting for election results. At least here in the UK, we know the results of elections and referendums over our first cup of tea.

But much needed hope has entered 2020 and I’m excited to see what 2021 brings with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Maybe climate change and things that matter will be back on the agenda. The last few days, like the rest of 2020, has been a sharp reminder we are living in historical times and future students will study and analyse our lives in great detail. Their exams will be a nightmare as they struggle to keep up with the quick changing events.

The last four years has brought Brexit, our own government turmoil, and COVID so often I have felt like I have been living in act one of a dystopian novel waiting for the trauma of act 2 to start. Today I feel lighter and more hopeful that act 2 may be kinder than expected. We may even slip into a more uplifting genre.

Books leading to happy ever afters?

So over the next few days there will be a flurry of catch up blogs including news about the Dystonia Around the World challenge, the launch of the Romantic Novelist Association’s DISCO chapter, witchy book reviews and hopefully, an edited short story.

Remembrance Sunday

Today is Remembrance Sunday and a day of reflection. Usually in our village, a crowd gathers to watch the parade of scouts and guides walk to the war memorial for the laying of the wreaths. Today we will watch the reduced proceedings on Facebook live from our own homes or paying our respects our own way, saying thanks to our loved ones and others who fought for peace.

I have little memories of my Grandad who fought in Burma except his wonderful hugs but on days like today, I miss him so much it aches. It also intensifies the grief of others I have lost. I am sure it affects many the same. So I offer you all a big hug, a cyber cup of tea and hope that next year normal life with our loved ones can resume and on days like today, we can stand side by side.

Take care, stay safe and those who are typing away for NaNoWriMo, happy writing.

Love

#DystoniaAroundTheWorld Challenge, Book review, Dystonia Around the World Challenge, NanoWriMo, work in progress, Writing journey

October News: Witches, dystonia and world building

kakenzieblog

September flew by and October has arrived with falling leaves, dark mornings where you can drink your first cuppa while stargazing and chilly evenings. It is my favourite time of year for reading, writing and world building. The run up to Halloween conjures up many stories and plots with witches not far away.

Dystonia Around the World News

Thank you for supporting my fundraising and spreading awareness for Dystonia Awareness Month.

Nearly there

I raised £205 and and wrote and stumbled 350 miles. I am pleased Dystonia UK have extended the time to complete the challenge until the end of October. If you would like updates or support this valuable cause follow this link.

NaNoWriMo is calling

NaNoWriMo is also just round the corner making it ideal time to build a world for my current WIP. November and the support offered is my most productive writing time. Let’s hope life allows the headspace to increase my wordcount.

Halloween and Witches takeover

I will be reading and reviewing witch books and ghosts stories this month on my sister blog, From Under the Duvet. I will share my favourites here including Beltane and Storm Witch by Alys West and To Catch A Witch by Sharon Booth.

Recommendations for witch and ghost stories are always welcome. Just comment below.

Happy reading, writing and keep safe!

Love