Not Your Stereotype

Why Do Disabled Writers *Have* To Be Activists?

For the last decade, the new year has started the same way for me. While the singing and the champagne popping continues on, and the relatives of another realm have finally left for good, I’ll find myself a quiet corner. In the eye of the storm of the celebration, this is the time a new notebook and pen is taken out, ready for the new year. Now is the time we shape a universe for the year ahead.

For this year, I was inspired by

Katherine May

of

The Clearing by Katherine May

however, who runs a monthly giveaway of writing essentials she uses. And if you like this, consider subscribing to the paywall - I’ve recently interviewed her at length.

This month at The Clearing

A ‘kit’ of essentials has been compiled, for the year ahead, along with the standardised notebook of the last ten years. This is the last ten weeks of 2024 vs beginning 2025 in one photo.

The pencil (above) was for archival research, in a shocking pale pink; in 2024 I spent a small fortune on pencils while in pursuit of documentation, such as on trips to the British Library or the INQUEST archive. (A brilliant place to visit.) I do not believe in crystals, but use them to redirect my anxiety related thoughts; Carnelian is said to have the value of creativity, which I want to imbibe more this year. The sanitiser is Jasmine Peach from Kew Gardens; delicious, less invasive, a necessity.

Abundance is my word for this year. But the key resolution…?