Fi Phillips

I've had this book for a while but only recently began to delve into it's wisdom. I use the word 'wisdom' because unlike career guides that simply match you up to a fitting career then send you on your way, TCGFCAUP goes on to explain why creative people often find it difficult to fit into conventional jobs. In my past life as a secretary, I was sent on a course that would match my personality to suitable careers. My then employer was closing down and they were doing all they could to help their staff on their way to new jobs. I daresay they were trying to reduce the amount of redundancy money they would have to pay out but at the time it seemed a very decent gesture to make. There were five of us on the course - a manager, two supervisor level staff, another secretary and me. Over two days, we worked through the exercises, took part in discussions, filled out questionnaires and generally enjoyed time away from work. On the third day, we met with the leader of our cours...

My new favourite things are these gloriously orange sandals. I wore them yesterday for the first time. The metal buckle may have chafed the toes on my left foot and I'm unsure whether the wiggle they created resembled the lurch of Frankenstein's Bride rather than the gait of Marilyn Monroe, but they made me smile. It got me thinking about colour - how it can affect our mood and the associations different colours have for us. Orange for me speaks of optimism, enthusiasm and joy. It makes me think of sunrises, of roaring fires and exotic tiger lilies. To other people. it could bring memories of Hallowe'en pumpkins, autumn leaves or the robes of a Buddhist monk. Using those associations as inspiration for a story can lead to interesting scenarios and plotlines. Take my sunrise for instance. Sunrises suggest new beginnings. A roaring fire can be romantic or a vehicle for introspection. Beautiful tiger lilies may be a gift from a lover. Fallen tiger lily petals can signify the d...

It must be spring. I'm wearing a skirt for the first time this year. My legs are in shock. This always feels like the real start of the year for me. Perhaps it's the return of the sun or the buds on the trees, but spring is the season that inspires me with its fresh colours and new beginnings. It always feels like a much better time to set myself resolutions than at the new year. Creative juices and plans a plenty buzz around my brain, asking to be picked forth into existence. Where Ted Hughes found his Thought Fox in the winter, setting 'neat prints into the snow', my muse springs from the earth with the appearance of daffodils and crocuses. I am full of ideas for all areas of my life but plans for my writing for 2010 include more plays for Murdering The Text with an accompanying eBook, more work on my novel and a joint writing project with my husband. Spring is here. Life is good.

You may remember that in November last year, I took part in NaNoWrimo , that is National Novel Writing Month. Organised by The Office of Letters and Light , NaNoWrimo is a writing event that anyone can enter for free with the aim to write 50,000 words in the thirty days of November. Sadly, I didn't quite achieve that target but it certainly made for a creative whirlwind of a month. Script Frenzy is another writing event run by the The Office of Letters and Light. This time, the aim is to write 100 pages of a script (screenplay, stage play, TV show, short film or graphic novel) during the month of April. You can read their press release here . I'm up for that and have my scene plan ready to start writing on 1st April.

After moving house over Christmas and the resulting jungle of boxes that had to be unpacked, I came across a mountain of photographs. Some are from recent years. Others are from my childhood. About half of them, however, are of my parents and generations before. I thought you might appreciate a little vintage inspiration.

I've been following The Prosperous Writer blog by Christina Katz this year in my drive to be a more effective writer. This week she talks about 'perseverance'. She says, "Writers who succeed in the long run do not succeed solely because they are talented. They succeed because they have cultivated the art of hanging in there". J K Rowling faced and overcame many rejection slips before her Harry Potter books found a publisher. Stephen King drove his wife to distraction (and near bankrupcy) while he beavered away at his short stories and novels before finally hitting the big time and becoming the successful, prolific published writer he is today. I have to admire these people for sticking with it and believing in themselves in the face of rejection. On bad days I beat myself up for not persevering over the distractions of the last two decades but on better days I have to admit that those years have allowed me to hone my skills and build my life experience. I can now...

I recently read a blog article by a friend of mine, Retro Chick about how to create your own personal style. One of the tips it mentioned was looking back at old photos of the younger you to see what you used to wear and how your fashion style has evolved. Since moving house a few weeks' ago, I've unpacked an immense number of boxes and in the process of doing so, have come across files and books of my writing dating back over two decades. Not all of it is good. Some of it is delightful. Other pieces bring back memories of their context. What they all do, however, is provide an invaluable insight into how my writing style has evolved over that time. I'm not the best of poets - prose always comes to me more easily - but I found this poem about my late father. Father He is like a quiet corner shelf, his role not to step into the circle but to remain outside, observing in silence. He is the narrator who whispers our storyline, his kindly tone remaining as a cello's hum. H...