Well, it has been a little while

Guess what?! I have Covid and Influenza A. At the same time. Can you believe it? My whole family has both and we're grounded, at home. We're riding this thing out, as best we can. Luckily, whilst we are sick and miserable, we aren't needing any further intervention at this stage, other than panadol, nurofen and a lot of love, from afar, from our extended family. My three-year-old has started calling my sister every morning, for what we are calling the 'morning report'. She chats for about 20 minutes on Facetime, giving her an update on the household, and showing her the latest game she has come up with. And they talk about the next time they will see the Brisbane Broncos together - it's very cute. There has been A LOT of iPad time - but what can you do? I'm trying to mix it up when I have the energy, but there isn't a lot of energy to go around.

Anyway, since I'm grounded, I have time to write a blog post! It's been a while, and I've been busy in the writing world. At the end of May, I went to the KidLitVic Conference in Melbourne, and then in July I attended the CYA Conference in Brisbane. I had some manuscript assessments at both, and found the feedback I received very encouraging, helpful and hopeful. I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I'm trying my hand at writing middle grade, which is a significant shift from picture books, and I'm loving it. I'm really loving writing the character development arc within the story. Given I'm a psychologist, it's not really surprising that I'm enjoying going deep into a character and their growth. Unsurprisingly, I'm finding it very satisfying to write a neat growth journey for a character, when in real life the journey isn't always so neat, or understood, or completed in the course of my interactions with a person (of course). It's really allowing my saviour complex to have a little time in the sun!

Another thing I'm really enjoying at the moment, is listening to writing podcasts while I potter about the house, or hold a sick baby. I'm enjoying these ones in particular:

• Michelle Barraclough's, Writer's Book Club

• Julie Grasso and Pamela Uekerman's, Middle Grade Mavens

• Chenee Marrapodi's, Writers off the Page

• Tina Strachan and Madeleine Cleary's, The Book Deal, and

• Valerie Khoo's, So You Want to be a Writer.

I'm struck by how generous writers are in sharing their tips and tricks, and different pathways to publication. You really can get so much great information from these podcasts. I'm even thinking that I might even delve into the podcast world at some point - maybe - one day. I do love talking to people...

Anyway, I hope you are all keeping well, and avoiding ALL the viruses that are circling, and particularly not getting two at the same time. Keep sanitising those hands and elbow bumping. Or don't, you choose.