Fi Phillips

The first day of autumn (Sunday) in the northern hemisphere greeted me with glorious sunshine. I spent the day in the garden dressed in a t-shirt (obviously there were trousers involved too - don't want to scare the neighbours' dogs). Two days on and the continuing blue skies are a wonderful companion for the crisp air and turning leaves. Troubleshoot your novel is an incredibly useful article from Nail Your Novel and one I'll be applying to my own work in progress. It's well worth a read.

I am a child of change. I always have been. Life can be as harmonious and bountiful as you like but if there is no room for change, then I just can't be happy. It's not that I'm ungrateful for the joys I've been given. It's just that I don't like to sit still for long - on to the next project or improvement. That's why I like autumn - it's a sign of change. Like spring, autumn heralds a turn in the year, a handing over from the summer's long days to winter evenings that wrap us in their shades of darkness. The autumn equinox marks the second day in the year (the first being the spring equinox) when there is a balance between light and dark, a brief harmony before the world carries on towards winter. Today is the autumn equinox, the first day of autumn, called Mabon by pagans. For me, it's a day of being thankful for what the year has brought me (my harvest), looking to see where I'm out of balance, and finding ways to bring harmony into m...