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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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On versatility, awards, a woman’s place … and camping

2/6/2014

18 Comments

 
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Thank you, Norah Colvin, for another blogging award. Versatile isn’t a word I’d readily use to describe myself but, if Norah thinks this blog qualifies, I’ll happily accept.

The Versatile Blogger Award asks recipients to thank their sponsor (done that), nominate another fifteen blogs (that might take some time, but I’ve started the ball rolling below) and tell everyone seven things about yourself. I’m sure I read somewhere it’s supposed to be seven interesting things; fortunately, Norah hasn’t set the barrier as high as that. I thought I’d take it as an invitation to illustrate the extent and limitations of my versatility, and have a bit of fun along the way. Some of these even come in multiples of seven.

As for my nominees, I’m paying the complement forward to Geoff LePard who, since taking up blogging at the end of April, has posted a mammoth 36 times (yes I counted, but don’t blame me if there’s another half-dozen before I get this up on my site) on writing, recipes and his dad’s wartime love letters; to Ali Bacon who’s been at it for years, but still manages to come up with interesting and different things to say about writing; to Linda Daunter, for being able to draw and paint as well as write; to Jenny Lloyd for entertaining campervan travels and Welsh folklore; to Sarah Brentyn for her rants about parenting and contributions to Charli Mill’s flash fiction challenge. Given that several of my other favourites (including Charli) had already been bagged by Norah, and I might want to celebrate a different batch of bloggers from the ten I nominated for the Liebster, I’m giving myself a bit more time to come up with the other ten.
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One of the things I discovered when I was nominated – thanks again, Norah – for the Liebster, was that I wasn’t the only one to be ambivalent about these awards. For another of Norah’s nominees, it’s the conditions of acceptance and passing it on; there’s also the mismatch between the Brownie-badge element of blog awards and my elevated (grandiose?) ambitions for my writing. For me, the fun outweighs the negatives, but it’s good to know there’s now a way of marking your blog as an award-free zone if it’s really not for you.

While I’m truly grateful for my nominations, I certainly agree that it’s the comments and connections that keep me at it. There’s such a supportive community bloggers linking up through things like #WWWBlogs, #MondayBlogs and now #ArchiveDay on Twitter and writing challenges hosted on various blogs. One such is Lisa Reiter’s (another of Norah’s venerable versatile blogger nominees) bite-size memoir challenge. Although I’m not so keen on memoir, I’ve joined in when I can, and I’ve very much enjoyed the ensuing debate. This week’s prompt on camping sparked a lot of memories I could run with, but what clinched it was Norah’s post, in response to Charli’s latest flash fiction challenge (sorry if these interactions seem tangled, but that’s partly my point), on Life: a choose your own adventure – how do you choose? I hope you can see the connection:

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Perhaps it was for want of showers and hot water that there were only two occupied pitches in a field with space for twenty. Nestled between the mountains: me, my dad and brother in the orange ridge tent; a lone woman in the blue igloo. A sole woman camper: we’d never seen the like.

Grown-up to grown-up, my dad managed the initial chitchat at the water tap, such as it was. But in the whitewashed toilet block, I had to confront this strange creature by myself. Bare-breasted, splashing cold water under her arms; she seemed at ease with her odd predicament, as if there were nothing untoward.

Looking back, it’s hard to find my teenage role models, any heroines other than in books. That woman extended my sense of what was possible and, although I’ve only done it once, it’s thanks to her I’ve dared go camping alone.

Struggling with the gap between my abilities and the sentiment I wanted to express, I was on the point of giving up on this week’s challenge, when I read Jenny Lloyd’s latest post. Independent, going her own way, she was just like the lone female camper who inspired me as an only-just teenager, even when I wasn’t ready to be inspired. Awards aside, connecting through blogging can really get those synapses firing. You never know where it’s going to take you next.

Happily, I do know where this blog is going next: I’m posting a review on Thursday of a novel, though not about camping specifically, that explores what happens when a quirky family and a few of their friends go on holiday as a group. If you’re interested, you can subscribe to this blog by email via the sidebar, and never miss a post.

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.
18 Comments
Lisa Reiter link
2/6/2014 08:09:16 am

This backlog of mine is catching me out as I lose a couple of great bloggers to nominate for the versatile blogger award here! I look forward to reading a few new one's though - I love these awards for being introduced to respected blogs by bloggers I respect.
Thank you too for the camping bite. I had forgotten the squirming teenage embarrassment of communal washing with adults!

Reply
Annecdotist
3/6/2014 04:50:37 am

Glad you caught the bite, Lisa. Didn't manage to make it over to your blog yesterday to flag it.
Yeah, I thought I'd better nab a couple of bloggers before others get there – not that I'm competitive in the least

Reply
Charli Mills link
2/6/2014 11:22:12 am

This post shows off your versatility to weave multiple threads. As always, this blog makes me think--whether it's a review, a story or essay--and that is versatility, too. Congratulation on your award; it is good to be in such worthy company!

As for your #bitesizememoir, what a deep reflection. It is often understated who our true heroines in life are when most women we remember didn't go around dressed like Wonder Woman. This makes me think of my own unsung heroines who shifted reality for me.

Reply
Annecdotist
3/6/2014 04:53:17 am

Thank you, Charli, you're so kind.
This particular memory fascinates me because, at the time, it really freaked me out that a woman would go camping alone!! I think that often our deepest influences, for good and bad, are unintentional

Reply
Lisa Reiter link
2/6/2014 03:12:34 pm

Came back for a second take of this interwoven post and realised I had missed the slideshow of interesting things about you. I'm envious of your creativity here - what a lovely visual glimpse into some daily haunts of yours - mine's a peppermint by the way..

Reply
Annecdotist
3/6/2014 04:59:15 am

Glad you liked the slideshow, Lisa. I did wonder whether I'd need to explain you have to click play to start it (not my creativity, just part of the Weebly service).
I think that the box that looks like peppermint might be fennel and nettle, I'm afraid. At this time of the year, mint has to be a few leaves from the garden, fennel too actually, although the greenfly are bit of a problem … You might decide you'd prefer one of the others?

Reply
Norah Colvin link
3/6/2014 04:46:24 am

You made me smile, Anne. Thank you. I really enjoyed this post. I love the way your shared seven things about yourself through a montage of photographs. I'd love to know what all your degrees are. I can see the science one. I'm guessing psychology. One starts with m. Hmm. Will have to think about that one! I'm envious of your tea collection. I was going to say I couldn't quite spot the peppermint but Lisa said that's what she would have, so maybe it's my eyesight rather than its absence? I love your shades of blue and am pleased that you don't wear the exact same clothes every day. I was listening to Stephen King "On Writing" this morning and he was talking about children who wore the same clothes every day year in year out until they literally fell off their backs. I love your camping memoir. I am not a camper but did have some stays in caravan parks while travelling and never liked the communal showers. I like my privacy a bit too much. I wouldn't fancy the cold showers too much either. Maybe had I encountered a characher as you did, I could feel quite differently about it. I enjoyed this tale, and photo, of your younger days.
By the way, I also make my bed! And I'm pleased you have decided to not be an award-free blog - look what we would have missed out on!! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
3/6/2014 05:07:06 am

Glad you liked it, Norah. See my reply to lease for the peppermint! Oh yes, I've travelled in countries where people have only one set of clothes. Like most Westerners, I have several, but am a bit of a lazy dresser unless I'm going somewhere special.
All my degrees are in psychology of one version or another but couple are under the auspices of the faculty of medicine because of clinical applications. However, that's another life, no particular use for them now apart from knowing I can manage the hard grind of writing.
Yes, I'm glad I'm not an award free blog also, although I might have been tempted had I seen that badge earlier in the process. But the playful aspect is really good for me and I am indebted to you for drawing me in.

Reply
Sarah link
3/6/2014 09:30:41 am

Thank you for the award, Anne. I'm in amazing company, I see. Working on my post...

I love your seven things! (And love how you presented them.) I'm envious that you know so many languages. I was never very good at learning languages. And you made your own bed?! Impressive.

So, this camping trip. I am there. I can see this woman and feel this childhood confusion/amazement/respect. A stranger. A moment. It can change you and I love how you've expressed that here. Fantastic.

Reply
Annecdotist
3/6/2014 11:05:15 am

You're welcome, Sarah, and thanks for dropping by. Look forward to your post. Mmm, bit of an exaggeration to claim to know those languages; there are some in which I can only manage a sentence! But when I used to travel a lot I did like to pick up some of the lingo, tho wasn't necessarily particularly talented.
You've just reminded me, I forgot to follow-up with Norah about the bed, I think she said she made hers too. Mine was out of necessity, living in my first house with little more than camping furniture. A double bed was the first thing I made at an evening class in woodwork, wouldn't like to have to do it again.
Thanks also for your feedback on the memory. Glad it worked for you.

Reply
Jenny Lloyd link
3/6/2014 11:47:25 am

I'm honoured to be nominated, Anne, and I'm glad my post brought back memories of your own camping experiences. I love this strong blogging community that is building through the hashtags, though I am not always able to take part as much as I would like, mostly due to lack of WiFi/phone signal in some of the more remote places I stay.

Reply
Annecdotist
4/6/2014 01:57:21 am

Yes, it's great to connect, isn't it, Jenny? But no pressure to use the award. We all have to take part in whatever way suits us and our particular circumstances. The main thing is to keep on blogging!!

Reply
Linda link
5/6/2014 06:23:51 am

Thank you, Anne. I haven't had an award for ages so yes, I'm very pleased to accept it. I won't be able to post about it for a few weeks though as I've got a writing deadline coming up and, more importantly, a holiday!
I enjoyed your 7 facts - especially impressed with the bed!

Reply
Annecdotist
5/6/2014 08:21:37 am

So glad you are able to accept, Linda, and there's no rush for these things. Look forward to reading your facts about yourself and have a wonderful holiday.

Reply
geoff link
5/6/2014 04:09:57 pm

Anne I am touched by this. I had noticed some awards since I took to blogging without really thinking too hard about them and then your post popped up. I've taken time responding to think this through and I also read with interest the negatives and the post about being 'blog free'. I must say the sentiments about passing the award on does ring true to an extent, especially as I am so new to this lark that my blogging group is tiny, most of those I have come to know a little are already awarded so I'm not sure I would know where to go to comply with the conditions. So while I'm really touched and I do like talking about myself, I think, for the time being it would be best if I declined rather than pretend I was complying when in truth I don't see how I can yet. Is that ok? It feels churlish writing this when I'm beyond flattered. Geoff

Reply
Annecdotist
6/6/2014 11:19:38 am

Entirely up to you, Geoff, and thanks for letting me know. You may not have been at it very long but you seem like an old timer in quantity and quality of output. I'll still consider you a versatile blogger even without the award! I suppose I could always keep it here for you if you should change your mind! As you see, I've managed to only identify a third of my nominees as yet, and expect I'll do the others in batches when I want to have a mooch around.

Reply
Lisa Reiter link
9/6/2014 12:03:00 pm

Agh! So sorry Anne - My lack of attention to detail has caught me out - I checked everywhere twice except your list of nominees! I've nominated two you had already got to! Finding 15 and doing all the links made this the most time consuming post - EVER! And frankly rather difficult when I wanted genuinely to nominate good and versatile blogs that I do at least occasionally interact with. I may follow your lead in future and reduce forward nominations where necessary as I love the idea of sharing some of my favourites with my own followers and the excuse to answer a few interesting questions etc but I have other things to keep up with too!

Reply
Annecdotist
10/6/2014 04:09:27 am

Not to worry about the duplications, Lisa, kind of inevitable when we are involved in overlapping networks. And given that you'd already commented twice on this post, it's not surprising you didn't feel the need to check my list, which is still only a third complete – and you've nabbed some of the others I had in mind!
I also had a second nomination from someone else on Norah's list – or was it from the someone else who was nominated by one of Norah's someone elses? Yes, these things get very complicated.
Anyway, the second nomination for Geoff is probably what pushed him into finally accepting the award, so I'm very grateful for that. And again just goes to show that it's such a supportive network.

Reply



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