Hi!
I’ve been back and forth to the draft of this newsletter, wondering if it is good enough, but then remembered that I called it The Scribbled Newsletter for a reason. I try hard but I am a messy kind of person. SO if you are here, thank you! If you find some inspiration or interest here- that’s amazing, and if you make it to the end and enjoy it, please like and share (oh god I’m letting the kids watch too much youtube again!)
Things I plan to chat about in this newsletter:
Moon/ Being a teacher and September and habits
Where to find creativity- in the sea/on the sofa?
Nature Scribbles with Sam Osbiston
1000 followers!
Upcoming themes and UNCANNY
Retreat with me?
Super Blue Moon
The moon can change our mood- I’m 100% certain of this. But at some point along the way, I’ve picked up the feeling that part of that should be linked to creativity. So I’m really starting this newsletter with a disclaimer that despite a break from work, a stunning holiday and a super blue moon, I haven’t actually written anything much over the last month (if you were unlucky enough to see my ‘heard through a hotel wall’ poem- I can only apologise!). My lovely friend and writing partner reminded me that September is a chance to start again, and to form new habits.
As a teacher, September is fast and tiring and so busy but it is also the time when I generally feel at my most motivated and driven to create. Of course most of this feeds into my lessons, but the older I get, the more I’m determined to hold back some of that energy for myself. Wish me luck.
PROMPT
What new writing habit could you introduce this September? A page of scribbles with your morning tea or coffee? Thirty minutes before bed with your notebook or device open on your WIP? Let me know if you have a go.
Where the heart is…
I mentioned earlier that I’ve been away- we went to the Outer Hebrides and I was SURE that I would be spewing poetry left right and centre and that my novel or WIP 2 would gain 1000s of words.
It was not the case. My eyes soaked it all in and my brain was buzzing with words that I wanted to try and put in some sort of order, but by the time I was sat with space to write, I was tired and found something else to do- mainly reading the four memoirs by Helen Forrester. Have you read them?
I think I was actually a bit overwhelmed by all the inspiration, and I needed time to let it sink in- now that I’m sat in my scruffs on my own sofa, I feel a lot more of the fizz! (Fizz is the best way I can describe the feeling I get when words are about to flow.)
PROMPT
Sit somewhere peaceful and comfortable and scroll through your most recent holiday photos. If you have a vivid memory, quickly try to grab it on paper- use as many senses as you can to take yourself and any potential readers right there.
Standing stones, seaweed, snow poles and beach- Lewis and Harris
Sam Osbiston- ‘Nature Scribbles’
I am VERY excited to share the news that Sam will be hosting her own section of ‘Scribbles’ issue 13 that will focus on UNCANNY in nature.
I write infrequently, I feel everything; soak me in nature while I drink whispers from my wild garden | Nature Writing, Poetry & Photography 🫖 ✒️ 🌱⭐
hello there. i’m sam.
I have forged a path that intertwines my love for nature, writing, and supporting those who dare to create.
My journey has been one of exploration, where I have delved into the adventures creativity invites to hone my inky craft, whilst developing a business and facing challenges as an independent writer. I thoroughly enjoy experimenting in the realms of memoir, poetry and weaving tales of historical fiction.As soon as we spoke, it was clear that Sam and I had similar outlooks and aims and I knew she would be a perfect fit for ‘Scribbles’. Rosanna, Sid and I love working with new people to bring exciting pages to our beloved magazine. Sam already works with writers and has a particular passion for writing about and photographing nature, which I know is something that a lot of us are drawn to.
Welcome, Sam, and thank you- we can’t wait to see what Nature Scribbles holds.
1000 followers on Instagram
I’ve always been keen to grow the Scribbles community in a slow and meaningful way. As a result, it has taken three years to reach this milestone- unless it is just a very dull page and no one is interested - I don’t think so.
Anyway, this marks a little celebration and a reminder that it means the world that something has come from my little doodle at the start of Lockdown. (HOW QUICKLY WE ALL SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT COVID!)
My dad asked me why I had called the magazine ‘Scribbles’ recently. I told him the truth- which is that when I decided to start a creative writing age, I didn’t dare to call it rachael_writes or rachael_author, actually I suppose they were probably taken. When I started the newsletter that became the e-zine and then a magazine, I grew to really love the idea of a scribble becoming more. Of course it is often used as a pejorative but I think it has ameliorated over recent years to take back some of its etymological roots with the verb- ‘to scribe’. Certainly, ‘scribbling’ as a living doesn’t imply carelessness or hurriedly written (there are exceptions of course. Ultimately, I believe that the scribble is to share your thoughts and, as I’ve said many times before, that is magic.
Upcoming themes
Just for you, if you have read this far!
Winter 2024- issue 14: GLIMMER (yes I know you might have seen too much of the idea but I promise to guide you via my rambles on here and Instagram!
Sring 2024- issue 15: PLEASURE (what can I say- RLT has a lot to answer for)
UNCANNY
How is your submission coming along? I absolutely love the words and images we have so far and can’t wait to sit on that full moon on September 27th and ingest all that is uncanny in your eyes!
Prompt
The images I’ve shared below are all Canva’s idea of UNCANNY, but the ones that I was drawn to! Use them to create your own uncanny submission, and don’t forget to visit Sid at
I think that is me nearly done! I’ll end with a plea for your support to keep Scribbles going.
Becoming a paid subscriber means a LOT. Click here to subscribe or upgrade to paid.
Bye!
Rachael xx
My head is all over the place currently and am having a torrid battle of trying to re-establish myself here in France after my long holiday. As a result I’ve not been following your Instagram prompts for the current writing season.
Hopefully when I travel down to the south next Monday on a train, I can set aside some time and see what I can proffer.
Thanks as always Rachael,
Xxx
1000 followers - wow, Rachael, you've done brilliantly!