Hi friend
It’s been a while, I know. I began this Where We Grow newsletter with gusto this past winter. I closed projects and cleared the decks, giving this new Where We Grow thing space to breath and establish itself. And in that space, surprise surprise, a new idea popped up, and I’ve basically been in my flat writing ever since.
Writing a book is a RIDE honestly. After a decade writing and publishing work I kind of imagined that book writing would be a similar process: you have an idea, you dedicated the time, the words come, you edit a bit, and done. Book writing is not like that. It’s a twisting and turning adventure. It’s thinking you’re writing one thing, only to discover your book is something else entirely. And then having to go and rewrite the last 10000 words all over again.
Moreover, book writing is a long-term commitment. I’ve joked with friends that I feel like I’m in a relationship with my book (lord knows my dating life has ground to a halt as a result). But it is very much like that: with a honeymoon phase, and lots of satisfaction, and lots of doubt. And there is also this point — which is happening now, 5 months in — where it’s dawning me just how much more work there is still left to do. That I may never be rid of the thing. And then I was in a book shop yesterday and I almost wept for all the authors whose books were on the shelves, imagining the work they put in, imagining the colossal worlds they built in their minds and then dared to share with us on paper. I think book writers are some of the bravest people in the world.
But enough of that. “What’s the book?” I hear you say. Good question. Well, at the moment, it’s about mythology, and Britain, and women, and me. It’s a search for the lost goddesses of these islands, of which there are too many for me to write about in one novel. It’s about how powerful and gutsy Celtic British women were in those pre-Christian days, and how confused the Romans were by the fact our island’s women ruled and fought and mothered and sang. It’s about how magic was thought to flow through the female line, and how those stories of enchantresses have been mostly lost, or warped, largely because our island’s stories were written by misogynists. Honestly, if you think about it too much, it’s enough to have you wanting to burn the last 2000 years to the ground.
But all that’s by-the-by really. The thing I wanted to share with you today is this: I didn’t think I could write a book. I wanted to write one. I thought it would be cool. I imagined that having a book to my name would be part of a life well lived. But even then, I didn’t think I could do it. I didn’t think I had the staying power.
So I wanted to share something my book writing coach told me to do, when you’re facing a task that’s so obviously too big for you. She told me to write for exactly 10 mins every day. EVERY day. Even if its shit. Even if I’m ill. Even if the words make no sense and are immediately deleted. She told me if I do that, then I’ll be showing my book I mean business, and on some days a least, good words will flow.
I did what she said partly because I’m a bit scared of her. She’s a powerful Australian woman who I’ve always admired, and I’m not sure I’d ever ignore anything she tells me. But she was also right. Because everyday I sit down with my laptop and say the hallowed words “Alexa, set timer for 10 minutes,” and I write a few hundred words, I prove myself wrong.
And now I know I can write a book. I do have the staying power. And that feels good.
Anyway, I’m sharing bits of the book writing journey over on Instagram. Join me there if you’d like to know more.
Wishing you well this sunny weekend,
Kim x
What else is happening
🎶 I’m singing some songs at the Golden Hinde on Friday with the brilliant Sarah Weiler, supporting Tiger Moth. Come, the beers are cheap.
🪢 I’m delighted to be working with amazing New Constellations on their community strategy for building better futures, check them out.
🎪 At the end of June I’ll be working at Glastonbury festival for the sixth year running, leading on media comms for The Kidzfield. If you’re there, come say hi!