How I noticed what I would write if money was no object
on finding my way back to fairytales and weeds
Something surprising happened last week. I was told about new PhD funding - this is significant: almost £20k per year for three years tax free plus all course fees paid. I have applied for similar funding twice before and been turned down, so I know how competitive it is. However, the thought of it is so tempting - imagine having money taken care of for three years so I can pursue my own research and writing - that I considered it for a couple of days, but decided that now is not the right time. The last two times I found the process so stressful because I put so much weight on the outcome that I am not ready to go through that again just yet.
The surprising thing was not that I got distracted by this decision, but that the morning after I held the thought in my mind - imagine having money take care of for three years so I can pursue my own research and writing - I woke up with a happy thought in my head:
Yay - now I can get back to writing my nettles essay!
My nettles essay is part of a series inspired by weeds intertwining myth and memoir with a healthy dose of moon magic. I do not know why I didn’t think I could work on it before! Maybe it was something to do with it not being a book or me not having a clear audience or way to make money from it.
Either way, I shunted it lower down the queue while I made space for a zero draft of a book about not being able to write a book. The thing is that both these things are in themselves intertwined. I was getting slightly disheartened and yet curious that my daily 400 words of a zero draft was starting to feel like a journal. But I also noticed that it is a present day record of what I am interested in, which lends itself to the present day story line or narrative of a memoir.
This week, I kept going with the 400 words (not every day) while listening to that happy voice telling me to go back to the nettles essay and so gave that some space as well. I found nudges towards The Wild Swans fairytale, which is all about a girl weaving with nettles to help free her brothers. She cannot speak while she works with the treacherous fibres and her sacrifice and diligence stands out. We are drawn to stories when we most need to hear them and this one keeps coming back to me. So I’m giving it some attention and working with it to see what I can learn.
Because writing for me (essays included) is as much more about the personal therapeutic process than it is about making money, reaching a wider audience or changing the world. I would continue to do this no matter what.
Journalling prompts
What would you continue to do no matter what?
What would you do if you had unlimited time, energy and money?
And given your very real current limitations, how can you gently make a tiny slither of space for one or two of the things that light you up?
Other small things that have given me joy this week:
I really did not know that all the times I’ve thrown broccoli out for being too yellow, it was getting ready to become little flowers.
And Herb made a little reel of my morning yesterday:
Writing Workshops
The UNEARTH Zoom session continues on Tuesdays at 2pm (clocks change in UK this weekend, so double check the time if you are not in the UK) until 9 December with a break on 25 November.
But if you are local, I have these lovely events coming up this winter:
Wistful Winter: 2-Part Creative Writing Course
Chequer Mead Theatre - Saturday mornings (15 & 22 November)
Whether you love the cosiness of winter or you struggle with the darkness or a mix of both, join this workshop to feel more connected to the season.
In this 2-part creative writing course, we take a reflective look at winter memories and explore how to turn them into a piece of writing.
Workshop 1 (Saturday 15 November 2025): Fun activities to come up with lots of memories and ideas. Then, you’ll get a chance to work on your writing at home.
Workshop 2 (Saturday 22 November 2025): Learn writing techniques to bring your memories alive on the page, whether you want to write fiction, memoir or a journal. Then, there’ll be a chance to get supportive, encouraging feedback on work you’ve brought in from home.
Find out more and book a place here.
Storying Ourselves in Nature: Winter
Friday 12 December - all day, Emerson College
A creative writing day retreat and workshop based at Emerson College, Forest Row in East Sussex. We will begin the day in the light-filled ground floor garden room. Then we will take a walk around the peaceful grounds to notice and absorb the surroundings with all of our senses.
This day-long workshop will include gentle creative writing exercises, some sharing (if you would like to) and is inspired by nature writing and memoir such as Wintering by Katherine May and The Enchanted Life by Sharon Blackie. The afternoon will be more freeform with an opportunity to go deeper with your own writing, sit (inside or out) and think or wander a little more.
Find out more and book a place here.
Until next time…
I want to read about nettles!! Hope it comes to fruition. Reminds me that nettles can be used like flax to make beautiful yarn. And all those butterflies that need nettles to protect their eggs. I’m sure there must be so many stories to tell.