Time to retreat

Autumn days embracing rhythm

Hello from our cottage in an old quarry, at the end of a bumpy track, in North Yorkshire. As we head into our fifth winter here, we’re much more savvy than when we moved up from southern England. Fuel is a plenty, candles at the ready (power cuts) and kindling and wood chopped and dried. New thermal socks, tops and jumpers bought, larder stocked and we are ready to nestle down for the winter.

For the last few years a rhythm has emerged and autumn heralds a slowing down, not just outside but in my schedule too. Spring and summer are busy seasons, book/ artwork making or story idea developing with my agent James Catchpole who will pick my strongest offerings. I’ll draw decent roughs first, taking it to a dummy stage, then add the text. We’ll ping drafts and edits to and from each other, ready for October and November and James last submission meetings of the year. By then I’ll probably have made 8, 10 or 20 dummy books for one story and be ready to press pause, shattered from the intensive process and wait…

But! As the nights draw in, it’s not long until I’m pondering and percolating new stories, even if I’m not really trying. They all go into a sketchbook called IDEAS. Sometimes just a line from a song, an overheard conversation or memory can sprout a seedling of an idea. Much easier than actively looking for a story!

I’ve got loads of ideas in these books, some absolutely rubbish, some with potential but not quite right yet, others just waiting for time or inspiration to strike.

But…. I do know when I need a break, years ago I use to just work, work, work and pump out stories and update my portfolio for my then agent. Often wearing myself out and suffering burnout.

James’s routine and rhythm for his submission meetings has given me a sustainable routine too. I know roughly when he needs stories by and how long it will take me to knock them together and him to unmuddle and edit them!

And so, with a new story off to submission meetings, it’s time to catch my breath before I leap into new ‘things’. Except I’ve already thought of a new idea, which I’m ignoring for now but when I’m ready I will start sketching it out. I’ll soon be rushing back to my studio after tackling grown up jobs like eye tests, dry cleaning, putting the garden to bed and all that boring life maintenance stuff!

Watch out for my next substack, all about how I came up with the idea for Just The Two Of Us, my new book about imaginary friends, published this month with Andersen Press. The sketches, rejects and process, warts and all!

See you soon, I’m off to light the fire and have a glass of wine! X