25 Comments

You are definitely a writer, Gina. You can do the research, there's no stopping you - start putting your novel together, even just scribbling notes! I think we are so alike, that constant blooming imposter syndrome. Your evening sounds wonderful, good for you for going out and finding out about new things. I'm off to a writers club this evening - a first for me but I am enjoying writing and poetry so much I want to learn a bit more about it too. Then I keep reminding myself I want to paint as well - like you I could do with a few more days in the week. You can put me down for a copy of your first novel!

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Thank you Lindsey. I hope you’ve had a good evening at the writers club. You are a talented poet. I’m so looking forward to meeting up and swapping notes because we are so similar. Not enough hours to do all the things I want to do!

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I really enjoyed it, Gina - I’ll tell you all about it next week!

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Thank you I enjoyed reading your post. I’ve recently read There Are Rivers In the Sky and it’s an amazing book. Now I need a trip to the British Museum. I learnt an awful lot from Elif’s book especially about the plight of the Yazidi people.

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Thank you Angela. I have started reading it and can’t put it down. Like you I now want to visit the British Museum. I’m also learning a lot about the Yazidi

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Just start writing and see what turns up! I love Elif’s writing, and have two in my ‘must read soon’ pile but at the moment I’m galloping my way through the Thursday Murder Club books, with just 1/2 a book left. Not quite in the same league, perhaps a different league altogether - the comforting, easy-reading one! Your next post could be about how to work your way through the stack…new books keep adding themselves to the ‘read me’ stack faster than I can read them.

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This seems to be a common problem… books accumulating faster than we can read. I picked up five last week so there’s no hope!

I think my problem is wanting to do ALL the things… embroidery, painting, reading, writing etc. I’m sure you get the picture. x

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Just do it....write a novel that is!

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I think I need to stop waiting for that ‘great’ idea and just start writing!

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Gina, you're already a writer and should definitely continue to follow your dream. Every week I look forward to reading your thoughts and several of the books you have recommended have made their way onto my wish list. There Are Rivers in the Sky sounds wonderful and is another one to add to the pile. Thank you.

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Thank you Chris, that’s so kind of you. I started reading’Rivers in the Sky’ this morning and already didn’t want to put it down!

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You are a writer! No doubt about that. More of the same, please

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Thank you Mary, that’s kind and much appreciated

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I have just bought "The Island of Missing Trees", after discovering her writing here, so I was fascinated to hear of her talk with Robert MacFarlane and wish I had known about it!

Well done for revealing your yearning to be a writer and to say it aloud is a big step and a step closer! I love your posts and I am so glad to have made the connection here.

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Sometimes saying it out loud is what it takes. I hope you enjoy The Island of Missing Trees

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It is! I feel certain love her writing.

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Gosh Gina- yet again I am inspired by your writing - thank you however now I am going to have an even bigger pile of books I must read (although spending more time reading is attractive).

Just reinforced my ongoing thoughts about how little I know (at least I know I don’t know much ) and that just finding out a nano atom of some of the stuff I know that I don’t know much about may not be possible - sometimes it becomes actually paralysing but your writing has given me a jolt! Thank you x

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Thank you Debbie. We just have to constantly be open to learning x

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This newsletter, Gina, is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing your dreams and your writing. You, too, tell stories within a story. 💜

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Thank you so much Vicki

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You write beautifully, I always enjoy your posts, then forget to tell you. Maybe it won’t take 60 years to become a writer if you start now?

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Thank you Claire, that’s so kind

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Gina, just start writing! See what happens…

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It’s the only way really… ✍️

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I can’t believe how alike we are in our thoughts. This is another such piece. Your writing always makes me think more and like you realise how little I know about things!!! That is why I like the world service

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