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Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

In which Anne disappears down the rabbit hole

11/5/2020

13 Comments

 
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Image by Prawny from Pixabay
At 15.55 one Sunday in mid-April, Anne decided to go stark raving bonkers. Of course she was conscious of the contradiction: madness that’s chosen, isn’t madness at all. Nevertheless, she was earnest in her objective, if unclear how it would be achieved. She even made a note to that effect on the information sheet for the novel she’d just been reading. The novel about depression with rabbits in the title that had just made her laugh out loud.
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Anne resolved to stop trying to. Trying to what exactly she couldn’t quite say. An offence against both grammar and vocabulary, therefore; pretty poor for a writer as I’m sure you’ll agree.

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Stop trying to be helpful, perhaps? Although, unwilling to don fancy dress – a.k.a. inadequate PPE – and start work in a care home, her helpfulness fell well short of the mark. Stop trying to be serious, professional, grateful, informed? Stop trying to promote her books to save her publisher from drowning? Despite the obvious selfishness of the latter, did this mean she aspired to give up being good?


If you asked her, she’d deny it: how could a woman with so many faults and limitations profess to be good? Yet it must be significant that the thought came to her while reading a comic novel about depression – and rabbits, sort of – and it’s been shown that some women hang on to depression as a way of hanging onto being good.

She’d had an idea that, given her professional background, she she’d write a post about lockdown mental health. She’d take a different angle from the plethora of articles about drawing happy faces and keeping one’s mind occupied by learning Chinese. She might have had something useful to say about how the strength of our reactions might surprise us if our emotional experience of lockdown conditions mirrored some unresolved and/or unresolvable issues from our pasts.

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If she hadn’t decided to go stark raving bonkers she might have disclosed that her justified rage at her government echoes anger at her parents she’d always reined in; or maybe she wouldn’t have, given the nausea-inducing image of the PM as a father figure, albeit an extremely neglectful one. Perhaps she’d have concluded that pontificating from her study in her large-ish house overlooking her large front garden, when other women would be trying to settle a gang of hyperactive kids and appease a violent husband, placed her no better than the second-in-line-to-the-throne and his princess, the young man who recently declared that Britain is at its best in a crisis.

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Like Alice down the rabbit hole – or was it through the looking glass? – Anne decided to stay curious about her reactions to a world becoming curiouser and curiouser (perhaps begun when grammar went out of fashion). Where would her bonkosity take her (virtually, obviously, as she wasn’t allowed to walk her beloved moors)? And how would she express it? Would she express it at all?

Of course in deciding to go stark raving bonkers, Anne must have chosen not to. There’s no reason to believe Anne isn’t perfectly fine. But it’s rare to come across a blog post written in the third person, especially not here.


With Anne gone AWOL, who will rise to this week’s flash fiction challenge? Fortunately, Matty’s no shirker, but why is her 99-word story on the theme of nourishment, composed in the third person too?

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Matty in Wonderland
 
Matty was wary when the March Hare invited her to join them. “I’m not thirsty.” The last thing she drank had shrunk her to the size of a thimble.
 
“Forget tea,” said a fellow in a top hat. “We’ll give you a nourishing story. Dormouse, begin!”
 
“Not the one about the treacle well.” Matty had a sense of déjà vu.
 
“A well of kindness,” said the Hatter. “Without food banks.”
 
“You think it kind to starve the poor?”
 
“Where this story is set everything is shared fairly. No-one need beg for food.”
 
Matty sat. “Tell me! I will emigrate.”

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Image by azzy_roth from Pixabay

Matty would like you to know that the first of three competitions to win a copy of her life story will be unveiled on her ghostwriter’s newsletter this weekend, and urges you to register (click on the image) if you haven’t already.


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Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
13 Comments
D. Avery link
12/5/2020 12:28:35 am

"and it’s been shown that some women hang on to depression as a way of hanging onto being good."

Isn't it the hanging on to being 'good' that makes/keeps women depressed?
Adressed? To whom is this comment directed, Anne or Matty?
No matter. Had matter? mad Hatter? I choose Matty.
Matty, the third person post might be an extenuation of isolation, a further distancing. Perhaps Anne's rage is too intense and she needs to step back from the flames. I find it amusing that you both are alternately awol, and sharing "control". Maybe it's healthy. Yes, it is healthy.
Matty, I will have to work harder at getting a book or two from Inspired Quill; I wish yours were available now. Just think- you could really emerge then, maybe tell Herself to go plant bulbs. (That's not a saying, I just said it; maybe it will become a saying)
I guess, Matty, I will just caution you as you begin writing in the stead of your writer. What if you create a character that grows and takes off and takes over? Then where are you? Where are any of us? Please keep Anne near to hand. It's a slippery slope down that rabbit hole and we're in a warren of trouble if we become too distant. Keep your writer close, even as you allow her this break. (just a reprieve, not a break in the clinical sense)
I enjoyed your flash, Matty, reminded me of the election in 2016 here and the jokes north of the border about the Trump-dump with US citizens house hunting and exploring emigration. I wonder how their wall is coming along.
Reminds me of how we applaud and throw accolades to volunteers and good samaritans doing the work that one used to expect from a benevolent government. Once upon a time volunteers and good samaritans weren't at odds with government. We of course support these organizations but why do so many communities have the NEED for relief services, for soup kitchens and makeshift shelters? Root cause?
Matty, it's just plain crazy.
Matty, don't feel like you need to respond to this comment. I'm just riffing, a woman watching snow gather (again) on a leaf matted lawn, in isolation with her cat. Maybe I should get a dog. Do you think Anne should get a dog?

Reply
Alice Liddell
12/5/2020 09:52:30 am

Another crazy character? What is this place? But with a world gone mad what choice do we have?

I'm sure Anne appreciates your warm-hearted splurge of a comment. Assuming yours is a Cheshire cat with a broad smile. We shall overcome!

Reply
The nice woman Anne met on her walk last week
12/5/2020 09:58:44 am

As I said to Anne – at two metres distance – don't get a dog if you like walking, especially if you like walking fast. They slow you down. Spoil your rhythm.

I have to say, I'm concerned that this article suggests Anne went mad in APRIL as she seemed quite normal when we chatted last week. Does that mean I'm mad too? That seems to have been the message from the Cheshire cat: if you're here you must be mad. But what do I know? I'm a dog person.

Reply
Geoff Le Pard
12/5/2020 08:40:40 am

I'm rather glad Anne's gone bonkers. Its a sure sign creativity will explode from her. We are all waiting on Matty' coming out. This publishing social distancing can be frustrating. However Anne should know that channelled insanity makes for enjoyable blog posts - at least for the reader. Tell Anne to keep taking care and manage her rage constructively. It looks like the government has listened to her and she can go back to her beloved Moors if only for the day.

Reply
Rare ring ouzel nesting on Stanage Edge
12/5/2020 10:05:46 am

That's a lovely way of looking at it, Geoff. If she can keep engaged with her rage and bonkosity while maintaining a social distance who knows what will come of it?

Meanwhile, it's been so serene out here with fewer humans, I'm unhappy with Boris inviting them back. Anne should stick to the fields across the road until my babies have fledged.

Reply
Norah Colvin
12/5/2020 11:27:15 am

This conversation is a bit too deep for me. I'm in over my head. I'll wait for Anne to return. Or perhaps I'll emigrate with Matty.

Reply
Mad Hatter
14/5/2020 01:54:28 pm

Too deep or too shallow? You're welcome to take tea while you're here.

Reply
The Dormouse
14/5/2020 01:57:20 pm

Actually, there's a fair amount of contagion going on here. You're wise to keep a two metre distance – perhaps more.

Reply
Matty
14/5/2020 01:59:27 pm

I'm hearing good things about the Antipodes. Perhaps you can advise?

Reply
Charli Mills
13/5/2020 12:38:09 am

I suspect Matty has taken over, impersonating Anne and then writing her flash. Matty's been see walking the Ranch and looking for tea at the Saloon. Likely she found a rabbit hole. We all are searching for rabbit holes -- to escape, find comfort, or just have a cuppa where all are welcome.

Reply
Cheshire Cat
14/5/2020 01:55:46 pm

Stranger things have happened and you do have to be mad to be here.

Reply
Liz Husebye Hartmann link
14/5/2020 04:11:19 pm

That's a party I'd go to! The story very much worth the dearth of distancing! New world...

Reply
Jacinda Ardern
14/5/2020 04:36:12 pm

Hold tight! We'll host a lovely tea party here in the land of sanity when this is over.

Reply

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