A New Year's Day with a very early start, binoculars and puddle ice. Six miles in the Lee Valley Country Park. My first piece for @walklistencreate.org as story writer-in-residence for 2026.
https://walklistencreate.org/2026/01/05/new-years-day-2026-6-miles-lee-valley-park-uk/
1. Intro: Hi!! Late to the party & a tea drinker, hope it’s ok. 🥰🍵
I’m writing my first book, which is about dismantling the mythos and glorification of tortured artists, and offering healthier options for creative people.
I have an outline, and am drafting the chapters while performing research interviews. I’m disabled and low spoons, so it’s a slow process but I am determined!
Got caught up in trying to research things, so 623 words. Taking a lunch break and then I might try to write a bit without internet on, so I can test wormhole avoidance.
Editing will be an entire process of confirming I have the right quotes, cmon self, let’s focus on getting the sloppy copy on paper !
So the challenge I've given myself for this beta read is to get excited about every little "sleepy face" (which means a reader got bored) or "frowny face" (which means they disagree or didn't like something) someone reacts with in the manuscript -- because every one is a ✨neutral✨ bit of information that I can choose whether or not to use to help me make the book better.
If you read that and you're like "duh" then you and I are wired differently
Penny Walker
William C. Tracy
Deer Witch
Sara Lobkovich, J.D., NBC-HWC