Just after eight this morning, I went for a dog walk. It was unzipped jacket with a light scarf sort of weather. Beautiful blue sky. I was keenly aware of the pavement beneath my feet, the dogs’ leads in my hands, and a deep sense of gratitude. I’ve been aware of a milestone approaching. DayContinue reading “Day 250”
Author Archives: sunshinescot
Day 218
It’s 218 days since I first walked along the corridor to the Macmillan Day Case Unit at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. 214 days since I was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with neutropenic sepsis. A day since I last walked along the corridor to the Macmillan Day Case Unit. InContinue reading “Day 218”
it is what it is
It’s been a while. A while of not writing. A while of having nothing to say. Except certain phrases: Don’t get cancer. It’ll be fine. It is what it is. I say them often. On a loop. Not to the same people. I seem to reserve Don’t get cancer for friends. People my age, orContinue reading “it is what it is”
Birds of a Feather
On March 24th, a friend and I got together over Zoom. We’d both initiated lockdown the previous week, as we both have multiple sclerosis, and thought we might like to use the time to collaborate on some sort of creative enterprise as a way to pass long lockdown days. We’re also both writers. Georgi aContinue reading “Birds of a Feather”
When Pain Doesn’t Define Your Story
I’m thrilled to be leading an online fiction writing workshop with Glasgow Women’s Library on June 25th. The one-hour workshop is designed for women who experience chronic pain and offers an opportunity for participants to try out fiction writing as a means of distraction to help manage it. I discovered the power fiction writing hasContinue reading “When Pain Doesn’t Define Your Story”
Stories from Home
I’m thrilled to have work in the anthology, Stories from Home. All the proceeds from its sale are being donated to The Ambulance Staff Charity. TASC offer emotional, financial and community support to paramedics, ambulance crew and their families across the UK. They say of their work, ‘We’re passionate about caring for the mental, physicalContinue reading “Stories from Home”
Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts, Parts Three and Four
I’m very grateful to The Polyphony for serialising my essay on being diagnosed and living with multiple sclerosis. I much prefer writing fiction, but over the last three years I’ve had to push the boundaries of my comfort zone and write four non-fiction essays as part of my doctoral project on the relationship between objectContinue reading “Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts, Parts Three and Four”
Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts, Part Two
My four-part hybrid essay is a piece of memoir that explores my experience of being diagnosed with, and living with, multiple sclerosis. In part two: I’m moved from the emergency receiving unit to the skin ward (because there’s a bed in the skin ward); I have to break bad news to loved ones; I spendContinue reading “Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts, Part Two”
Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts
I’m a fiction writer. It’s what makes me happy. But sometimes I write fact. A case in point is an essay I’ve written for my doctoral project entitled Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts. My essay is being serialised this week in the brilliant medical humanities journal, The Polyphony. If you’re interested in following along,Continue reading “Illness: A Narrative in Four Parts”
Filling the Days
A friend sent me a message yesterday to ask if I could offer any tips on “the craft of keeping to a routine and filling your days whilst maintaining good well-being in all its forms” during this difficult time. I presume her reason for asking me is that in March 2007 I found myself inContinue reading “Filling the Days”
Sunshine Scot 