One year anniversary of my writing journey.

 One year anniversary of the sea shell sisters, and since my children’s story writing journey! 

With stories written, and three more on the way that I have been working on this year and last year, I am so thrilled to be going on this journey with you! 

Happy Birthday Seashell Sisters!  *Alexa, please play stevie wonder happy birthday!*   

With every story made, I feel a colourful sense of accomplishment that I have done something creative and that maybe it will find its way into a little one’s story time! 

This thought always makes me smile. 

Since the first story I wrote last spring, when the pandemic had started to shut down the world and while I was home by the sea, I have been thinking, planning, dreaming of, writing, experimenting, doodling, with different ideas for stories ever since!

And the story that started my whole journey was the seashell sisters.

It’s funny, because I can’t remember having a moment where I thought of writing a story, but I remember feeling inspired one day at the seaside, and I was admiring the sea shells and the sea itself down in the village in cornwall where my parents have moved to from the peak district (a few years ago now) and thinking how funny it would be if they were sisters? 

I must sound weird but that’s fine.

It’s a slightly wacky and bizzare thought to have indeed, but perhaps the lack of social interaction had something to do with these weird ideas I have had? Perhaps…

I wish I could articulate just how it all came about, but I think seaside days and soaking up the beach knowing how lucky i was to have quiet and nature around me during the uncertain time had a big part in it. 

Also these things:

Feeling I need a creative outlet.

Being passionate about childhood and wanting to find a way to make something creative for them.

Wanting a break from the last bit of my degree.

A slight spot in my mind that was interested in children’s stories and writing but hadn’t at that point invested in it yet.

A random moment.

I came back from the seaside one day in march and wrote a story about the seashells, on a big A4 pad from my dissertation project. The sea, the sea creatures, the sand and the ocean channelling the idea of explaining social distancing to children through the idea of the seashells becoming disconnected from the sea, washed upon land, seperated from one another as the seashells were once a part of something deep in the sea. Just like how us humans are used to being out there in the world in ordinary and extraordinary environments, brushing shoulders with strangers without a worry and meeting up with friends without hurry! 

I wasn’t, and still am not really sure how many children the stories are reaching, but I am enjoying so much developing my writing and simply just trying to get them out there. Learning and enjoying the process and trusting in myself to become better and more informed of the world of children's literature as I enjoy the new beginnings of being a novice writer!

It is cathartic for me to have as a hobby to say the least. 

I have a couple of kind people I know who are primary school teachers, who have been gracious enough to share my stories with their classes and they connected with the characters and the stories and even did their own activity drawing illustrations of what they imagine the characters to look like.

As you can imagine, it made me smile and smile and smile and filled my heart with joy that even one child enjoyed my stories. 

My stories are not illustrated and as much as one day i would love to have some of them illustrated, as it is ofcourse a part of the magic for children to see those gorgeous sketches that make little worlds in their minds, that stay with them forever, and are a fundamental ingredient of nostalgic childhood memories.

I have enjoyed wondering how children will form their own ideas, their own characters and worlds within their mind. 

Simply listening or reading the words, and taking agency of their own imagination, finding their own illustrations in their colourful imaginations is a lovely way of encouraging their own private worlds completely exclusive to them, and perhaps a wonderful way to help their development flourish! 

The seashell sisters were made as a means of connection through separation, how even though we can’t always see each other at this time, we can still try to hear one another. 

In a way, I think I was also writing the story for myself and for other people really of any age who feel they have been disconnected. 

In the end of course, the seashells make their way back to mother ocean, just as I hope you will return to something you feel that you have lost. 

And away you will swim and flourish and do beautiful things in this world.

Until we meet again,

Bobsy Xxxx