Sophie King told me to write this book

Journalist and Novelist Sophie King led a writing workshop at Cybermummy.  I arrived late, so this post is not about some of the more fiery debates Sophie's workshop fuelled, which went over my head completely.  I was the one tweeting:

Aresidence Alexander Residence 

@ 

@helloitsgemma Cheers, I found my voice and I wrote a poem at the writing workshop. #cybermummy11

I consider myself a writer, although I am not yet published.  After giving up teaching to be a full time mum I decided to complete a Diploma in Creative writing with the Open University which I finished last month.  I have amassed a pile of short stories, plays, life writing and half of two novels.  Now I have promised myself I will work on getting published.

When Sophie asked for examples of funny things our children said, I shared the title of my favourite post
Mummy I want to go to the Moon and you're not letting me.  Sophie responded by saying why not make it into a children's book.  So I have written the first draft.  This post is very special to me, it's about struggling to be a mum when you're losing your mum, and it captures all of the space and universe in between.  As a children's book of course, it won't convey all of that, but I would like to dedicate it to my mum.

So Sophie's suggestions to other bloggers may have gone down like a lead balloon, but I am hoping her suggestions may take me, or at least my daughter's literary equivalent, to the moon.  I have been looking at what is out there already.  Of course lots of writers have documented children's desire to get to the moon, but I still think this story is unique.

I also wrote a poem with the lovely Holly who runs Mabel and Milo, handpicked clothes and toys with a retro and vintage twist.  Sophie gave us the prompt 'I wish I hadn't'.

I wish I hadn't

had children

sometimes

But then

if I hadn't

I wouldn't

laugh so everyday.

That was written in one minute, with no time to edit.  I like the fact we censored ourselves initially, guilty at how easily that statement flows off the tongue. But then, as every parent does, we did the juggling, and pushed on to a bigger, more beautiful picture.

Collaborations can be exciting.  Jay Mountford, who ran the photography workshop at Cybermummy 11, lent me her Moon photograph for my original Mummy I want to go to the moon blog post.  If there are any children's book illustrators who want to work on a story about getting to the moon, or anyone who knows the faintest thing about children's book publishing, please get in touch.