Following on from the triumphant success of The Writers Workshop’s Writers Day - Write More in ‘24 - we’re sharing prompts to keep you writing, and to get you thinking and sharing your process. Our focus for April is all about trying new things and also about where we get inspiration from as writers, so I thought I’d share my own thoughts around this. Firstly, I’m going to make a confession - it’s not other writers!

In some ways it can be a mixed blessing to be at the helm of The Writers Workshop. There’s a risk of being seen as a project manager instead of as a writer, the host of an event rather than the main attraction. Like many in our community, I’m still waiting for my big break as a writer, and sometimes it’s frustrating that I can’t pitch my own work at our events when I’d like to! But, on the other hand, it’s an honour and a privilege to nurture so many other writers, and I get to revel vicariously in their successes. There are also perks such as being backstage with agents and publishers, having access to their direct inboxes and their thoughts. Saturday was one of those days when I felt the pros and cons of both my role and being an aspiring novelist most keenly.

I’m currently planning my Get Writing workshop for tomorrow and my head is full of proverbs and sayings, which is the theme of the workshop. Best foot forward, swallow the frog, the early bird catches the worm - these are the ones that stand out to me as a writer who is often preoccupied with how to create and maintain a writing practice. I’m particularly obsessed with mornings at the moment. We all know that a good morning routine sets us up for a good day, but it’s hard with two kids to get to school, a huge to do list and an iphone full of distractions. Do I swallow the frog and make those annoying phone calls about tax returns and insurance first thing, or do I sit quietly in the pre-dawn hours, drafting my novel? Maybe both if I get up early enough! But do I want to get up at 5am in January with a virus? Maybe not.