Writing what we need to write by Lynne Benton

 First, here are the answers to the Easter quiz in my April blog:

1What animal is most associated with Easter? Rabbit 2What did this animal carry in "Alice in Wonderland"? Pocket watch 3Who wrote "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"?  Beatrix Potter 4Can you name all three of his siblings? Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail 5What was the title of the book about rabbits by Richard Adams? Watership Down  6In which Disney film did the rabbit Thumper appear? Bambi 7What was the name of Warner Brothers cartoon rabbit? Bugs Bunny 8Who originally recorded the song "Run Rabbit Run"? Flanagan and Allen 9What meat is traditionally eaten at Easter? Lamb 10What do most children enjoy eating at Easter? Easter Eggs 11What is Simnel cake topped with? Marzipan 12What dried fruit is in Hot Cross Buns? Raisins  13Complete this saying:  "Don't put all your eggs in one ..."? Basket 14How is the date of Easter decided? It’s the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. 15What name is given to the Sunday before Easter Sunday? Palm Sunday  16In which ocean is Easter Island? Pacific 17Which famous jewellery firm is renowned for its jewel-encrusted eggs? Fabergé 18Which headware item is traditionally associated with Easter Parades? Bonnet 19Complete this line from an Easter hymn: T i a green h f a  There is a green hill far away 20Complete this line from a famous poem:  a h of g d  A host of golden daffodils.

So much for the light-hearted stuff.  I hope some of you found it interesting, or at least distracting from everything that is going on in the world at the moment.

And now for today’s blog, which is not going to be easy. Previous blogs this month, especially Dawn Finch’s on the 7^th and Anne Rooney’s on the 9^th, have expressed their thoughts so well about the current prospects for writers that it’s hard to know how to follow them.

As things are at the moment I can’t help feeling it’s almost self-indulgent to spend my time writing upbeat, optimistic fiction for children. Should I instead be writing something worthy, serious and thought-provoking for adults – something that could come to the attention of certain world leaders, and make them take notice and act to do the right thing for the world/mankind?  If I did, would it do any good?  I suppose if writing such things were my strength, and if I were really famous, it’s just about possible – though I doubt it.

And in any case, writers can only write what they want/need to write, and if it happens to be cheerful fiction for young children, well, that could be important too.  When I see footage on the news of all those children in Ukraine trying to escape from the bombs raining down on them and their homes, seeing things no child should ever have to see, shattering their security, I wonder how they can ever recover.  Maybe in time they will need something happy to read, to remind them of how life should be.  After all, maybe when they grow up they will be the ones responsible for helping to put the world right again.

Maybe all writers can help after all.

Website: lynnebenton.com

Latest book: Billy and the Queen (available from Amazon.co.uk)