I’m thoroughly looking forward to finding out more about the significance of National Parks at this event on Thursday evening. I’ll also be reading a little nature poetry at the end of the evening.

A sunflower, grown from a seed planted later on in the season than I’d have liked, from a wee poke of seeds I found forgotten in the back of a drawer.

Late-blooming writers. It’s always worth taking a punt and nurturing your ideas. You never know what’ll grow if you give it a chance.

Truman Capote:

“Since each story presents its own technical problems, obviously one can’t generalize about them on a two-times-two-equals-four basis. Finding the right form for your story is simply to realize the most natural way of telling the story…

There are some great events on up at the Church of the Holy Rude (up by the Cowane’s Hospital) these days!

It’s a stunner of a venue and I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading some poetry about Stirling this Saturday.

Come and join me if you like!

See below for details and to book ☺️

Events like this (and the one last week at Stirling Uni) are EXACTLY the reason I knew Kevin Gilday would be a fantastic Makar. Exciting line-ups and in collaboration with the dream team at Creative Stirling, this could be something special.

Poetry for breakfast.

from Flare, by Mary Oliver

It’s wonderful to be back, ready to write, at Gartmore House. Great food, people and views, in a very special place ❤️

gartmorehouse.com/craft-course...

Offering words to inspire action for nature on World Earth Day we give you Issue 5 of Paperboats Zine: Our Power - Our Planet. Edited by Polly Pullar and Linda Cracknell and launching today: paperboats.org

We open for submissions for Issue 6 in autumn.

For those of you who haven’t read Orbital yet:

Wow. Just…

On every other page, there’s something that knocks me back on my seat.

9.5/10

Highly highly highly recommend

Harlan Coben on the three things every writer needs:

1. inspiration
2. perspiration (just write)
3. desperation (because we’re basically unemployable)

www.facebook.com/share/v/1EpD...

When winter in Scotland goes from dreich to drookit

A day trip. Some time to read, study and write, away from the usual places.

Piano practice and whispers in the background.

A beautiful day, dominated by sky.

Today’s 5k around the Gowan Hill and the top of the town was a real pleasure.

If you’d like to donate to Strathcarron Hospice and support myself and others in this worthwhile cause, here’s the link:

strathcarronhospice.enthuse.com/pf/laura-fyfe

Settling in now.

The house smells of New Year: bleach, fresh laundry and hope.

Fingers crossed this stormy weather is more a reflection of the year that’s passed than the year to come!

Wishing you all a 2025 full of good things.

Paperboats Zine is open for submissions.
Deadline for Issue 5 is 11.59pm GMT, 31 January 2025.

paperboats.org

Our daft Christmas tradition: visiting The Alpacas.

This is Jasper, with his magnificent ears: the biggest, most flamboyant guy in the place.

I was warned by one of the handlers: “He’s a grumpy, stubborn old man!”

I reassured her “Oh, I’m well used to handling those.”

He was nae bother.

This is going high up on the “listen to” list 👌

What a day to join Bluesky.

Here’s a poem for St Andrews Day, performed at Holyrood last year, and a shout-out to the many people who share our patron Saint

💙 🤍 🩵 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🩵 🤍💙