me
In September 2005, two weeks before I was due to start my PhD in Linguistics, I watched an interview on Richard & Judy where they referred to someone as a ‘nearly woman.’ I can’t remember who it was. Anyway, it was the moment when everything started to jigsaw into place. I identified with the label, it was me. I was a ‘nearly’ writer. I didn’t want to be someone who ‘nearly’ did things. I wanted to be a ‘real’ woman.
It was my ‘now or never’ moment.
I gave up my funding and my PhD place. I decided to speak my dream. A big risk. I want to spend the rest of my life writing. I don’t want to be someone who talks of ‘nearly’ having done something. I either will or I won’t. There is no in-between.
So, in September 2005, I enrolled on an MA in Creative Writing at MMU. This included weekly workshops, as well as the study of the craft of writing. The course made me stay focused and through excellent peer support, I became less precious about my work. Writing In Search of Adam has taken me on an emotional roller coaster and created a reality that disturbs my dreams. Jude is inside me and her story had to come out.
In brief…
I was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1973.
I am an Associate Lecturer for Open University.
I live on the Wirral.
I appear to make life changing decisions based on passing comments made by Richard & Judy.