Juggling all the Hats by Sheena Wilkinson

I often use the metaphor of hats when I’m talking about writing – how I have to take off my writing hat and put on my editing hat. It’s not a startlingly original metaphor – I’m a novelist, not a poet. 

Today, as I was planning what to write for the blog, it struck me that those are only two of very many hats I have to wear as a writer, and I thought it might be fun to count up how many different ones I’ve donned in the last two weeks alone. Because it’s been one of those seasons when, in order both to promote my most recent book and to earn a living, I have, like so many writers, been doing a lot of very different things, all writing-adjacent, but few of them involving actually writing the next book. 

signing books -- one of my favourite things!

And it’s safe to say that when I started ‘writing fulltime’ I wouldn’t have had a notion how much juggling I would have to do, or how many different kinds of writing I would be helping other people with. 

some hats

Monday

Afternoon – running a writing for self-expression workshop for people with lived experience of mental illness.

Evening – launching First Term at Fernside – organising the event, baking the biscuits, wearing my best frock, schmoozing, signing books, and talking intelligently (I hope) on stage with fellow writer Shirley-Anne McMillan.

onstage with Shirley-Anne McMillan

Tuesday

Actual writing of my actual book!

Wednesday

Morning – teaching writing for children to Masters students on the Children’s Literature MPhil at Trinity College Dublin (online).

Evening – flying to London for tomorrow’s workshop.

Thursday – London

All day – teaching academic writing skills to PhD students at King's College, London, including one-to-one tutorials in the afternoon. 

the chapel at King's College London, where I popped in for much-needed respite 

Friday – London

Writing at my friend’s house; flying home. 

Saturday and Sunday – home!

Actual writing of my actual book!

But also – Sunday evening, driving to County Donegal, ready for two days of library visits.

the beach at Buncrana, in between visits 

Monday – Donegal 

Two library visits in two different towns, trying to convince children between eight and twelve that historical fiction is great fun. One child assumes my knowledge of World War One is first-hand, so this is a challenge. 

all ready to talk in Donegal 

Tuesday 

Same as Monday but also – driving home and packing for Wednesday.

Wednesday – home and Dublin

Morning – Train to Dublin (have to drive 50 miles first) to teach MPhil students in person.

Trinity College Dublin

Afternoon – bookshop visits around Dublin, signing books, having my photo taken, chatting to lovely booksellers and being look after by my publisher’s sales manager (which involves driving me around and buying me cups of tea). 

Ready for action at Dubray Books

Thursday – Dublin 

Morning – Two visits to two branches of the wonderful Dubray Books in different parts of Dublin, talking – for the first time apart from the launch – about First Term at Fernside. Signing books for young readers, talking to lovely booksellers. 

Evening – home again

Friday – home and Belfast

Morning – actual writing of my actual book

Afternoon – going to Belfast to talk about my book on The Ticket on BBC Radio Ulster

Kathy Clugston, who interviewed me about First Term at Fernside

Saturday – home 

Booking flights for Royal Literary Fund training in London next month

Writing this blog before actual writing of my actual book.

Of course, these are only the writing or writing-adjacent activities. There has also been reading, walking, running, eating, sleeping – a lot of sleeping; I tend to go to bed about nine when I’m on the road – and I was going to say housework but looking round my study right now, I would have to admit that would be a lie. And of course all the admin associated with self-employment. (Accountant, if you are reading this: my accounts really are on their way. Slowly.)

Life isn’t always so busy; I couldn’t cope if it were, and I’m happy to say that although my diary for next week says ‘BLOG TOUR’ I am not actually going on a blog tour, and I don’t have to write any blog posts. Instead, the lovely people at O’Brien Press have organised a tour for First Term at Fernside, and all I have to do is read the reviews and hope the bloggers liked the book. 

I shall be reading them from my sunbed – because I’m heading off on holiday, and not before time!

where I hope to be next week