Melissa Lawrence

Hi everyone. There comes a time in the life of a writer, unless you are JK Rowling of course, when you have to accept that the book you’ve been working on for a really long time and which you were counting on for both personal and financial gain, might not actually get published. It’s a really unpleasant moment and it happened to me a few weeks ago while I was still basking in the euphoria of having finally finished writing My Dear Elsie , the non-fiction book I’ve been writing on and off since 2012. The book is based on a collection of old letters and postcards I found in the back of my late mother’s wardrobe and they are not just any old letters and postcards. They were written to my maternal grandmother by a friend of hers called Ethel North who was employed as lady’s maid to Lady Winifred Burghclere, the sister of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, from 1919 to 1933. George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon (Public Domain) Ethel travelled all over the world with Lady Burghclere, including...

Hi everyone. So I think it's fair to say that 2020 wasn't exactly the year that we'd all been expecting and as I type this, 2021 isn't showing too many signs of being all that great so far either. But we must have hope! "Things can only get better" as the song says and with the Covid Vaccination Programme well underway and a much-needed changing of the guard in the USA, there is a chink of light at the end of the tunnel which is hopefully not yet another train coming. Although it surprises most people when I say this, January is my favourite month and not just because it's my birth month. One of the reasons I like it so much is the "clean slate" feeling you get at the start of every new year. However challenging the previous year was and let's face it, last year was extraordinarily challenging, there is always the opportunity to press the "refresh" button and start again. That's why we call the goals we often set at this time of...

Hi everyone . I'm sorry it has been so long since my last post. Back in April, I think we expected things to have improved by now in terms of the Coronavirus but sadly, things seem to have become very challenging again.  My heart goes out to any of you that have lost loved ones, been separated from family and friends, been ill yourselves, lost your job or had your life turned upside down and inside out in any other awful way.  And if you are a "key worker" or you have done anything at all to help make life a bit better for someone during the last few months, then thank you! Of course, this is the time of year when we try to remember those who have served others in the most significant and poignant way. I know that Remembrance Day can't be acknowledged in quite the same way this year because of the virus but hopefully we can still find ways of remembering.  Here are 5 things that might help with that.  Poppies Poppies are one of my favourite flowers and even if we can...

Hi everyone. We need rainbows more than ever at the moment, don't we? There is something about their bright colours, their simple shape and their symbolism of hope which is perfect for these scary times. So it's no surprise really that the rainbow seems to have become the agreed artistic symbol of the fightback against the coronavirus pandemic and I've certainly enjoyed looking at the various rainbow artwork that has appeared in windows, doors and on driveways when I've been talking my regular walks around the area where I live. Coronavirus Rainbow, March 31 2020. Photo Credit: CC (themostinept ) Here are three things you might not know about rainbows: 1. The word 'rainbow' comes from two Old English words 'regn' and 'boga' meaning 'rain' and 'bow'. 2. Although rainbows feature a lot in ancient literature and religious mythology, no one knew what they were until the 17th century. 3. Because rainbows don't actu...

Hi everyone. It's hard to believe that less than three months after I last wrote a post for this blog, we would be in the middle of a global pandemic. But unfortunately we are, so I do sincerely hope that wherever you are and whatever you are doing you are managing to keep safe and well. Like many "creatives" I have been wondering whether I should put my work on hold during the pandemic and of course, if I get sick, I shall have to. I think that many of us have probably contemplated giving up what may seem to us (and other people!) like "non-essential" jobs and doing something that seems more important. However, apart from the fact that I'd be about as useful as a wasp in a honey jar for most of these jobs, we probably need the pleasure, light relief and inspiration that creativity can bring, more than ever right now. It's still OK to be creative So a week or two ago I made a list of things I felt I could do through my creative work to help ot...

Hi everyone. It's a new year, a new decade and a new blog! Well, strictly speaking it's an old blog but it has had a bit of a makeover and instead of just posting about my writing career on here, now I'm combining it with designing and crafting posts too. Yes, it might have been easier to start afresh with a brand new blog but these days, recycling is the thing, isn't it?! I've been feeling for quite a while now that I just have too much "stuff", both online and offline, so January has seen me having a bit of a declutter and making an attempt to streamline things more. I'm hoping that by having one blog instead of three, and only five social media accounts instead of eight (Yes, I know!), I might be able to post more and panic less. We shall see. So please bear with me as I get used to the new format. Obviously if you look at all the posts before this one, they will all be related to writing but fear not. Designing and crafting posts will soon a...

Hi everyone. It's National Poetry Day in the UK today and the theme this year is Truth. There are lots of poetry-related activities going on around the country and if you want to find out more, have a look at this link: https://poetrysociety.org.uk/projects/national-poetry-day/ I must admit that I haven't been writing (or reading) much poetry lately but I recently got back in touch with a friend who is a very talented poet and after encouraging her to write a poem for National Poetry Day, I thought I should practise what I preach, especially as I always prefer writing when there is a theme and a deadline to work to. I was rather shocked to discover from my notebook that it is almost two years since I last wrote a poem and I must admit, I'd forgotten how hard it is. After writing down lots of ideas (the easy bit!), then deciding that none of them were any good and tearing up the piece of paper, I was watching a TV programme about the rock star Suzi Quatro when a co...