My new study, where the writing continues. |
Hornsea Writers has been my peer group for over ten years. Moving from
the area has extended my usual weekly journey from a thirty-six mile round trip
to one of four hundred and thirty miles. Oddly, it’s a drive I won’t be doing
on a regular basis!
I’ve yet to discover a writing group in my new location in the Forest of
Dean, (if anyone reading this knows of such a group, please let me know) but
this is largely because I’ve been too busy setting up a new home to do any
research.
So, why am I still writing on this blog? Well, I didn’t want to leave
this hugely supportive and professional group simply because I could no longer
regularly attend meetings. And, fortunately for me, the group felt the same
way. There’ll no doubt be the occasional opportunity for my physical presence
in Hornsea in the future, since my publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing, is
situated close by. No doubt Dan will have ideas that involve my actual
appearance at his idiosyncratic premises. For the rest of the time, however, my connection will be virtual.
It’s
one of the advantages of our modern connected age that distance is no longer a
barrier to communication. As a group, we’re mutually interested in our writing
and social lives, so I continue to remain a presence and we’re still exchanging
news and ideas. It’s a privilege to be a member of such an intelligent and
experienced group of writers and I hope to remain here for as long as I
continue to write.
At present, that writing largely consists of an autobiographical account
of my ten years with ME/CFS. And I’ve actually started writing the book,
following a fairly long period when I had time only for research and
development, due to the house move. Once the book’s published, half the
proceeds will go to the charity that helped me during my early years with the
condition. I’m also training for the Great North Run, a half marathon that takes
place on 13th September this year. I’m raising money for the same
charity through that run.
If you’d like to follow my progress with the book and the running, you
can do so on my website by clicking here. And if you’d like to sponsor me for
the charity, Action for M.E., you can do that by using this link: https://www.justgiving.com/Stuart-Aken/
Thank you.
Glad you are settling in. Er... doesn't this look very much like your old office??
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