Seasonal Reflections - Newsletter 3
Hello everyone
I hope this newsletter finds you well.
It’s been six months since my last Seasonal Reflection. Even though I have been slowly, quietly and steadily working on my creative projects, I found it difficult to make time to reflect and write about the time that has already passed. As I now stand at the beginning of winter (June) and the cold wet months ahead in the Western Cape, I feel the need to pause and reflect.
The last two seasons (Summer and Autumn) I’ve been quite busy with my freelance work. Designing two booklets, promoting writing events and managing two blogs. Which left little time for my own creative projects. Why is it that we tend to priorities work we do for others above our own projects?
Due to this, it feels like I don’t have much to show and maybe this is also one of the reasons I procrastinated in writing the newsletter. However, now I think that it is such a silly reason. Why do I feel that it’s only worth while to share something if I have a lot to show? And what qualifies as a lot? Who gets to determine whether or not I’ve done too little or just enough?
So, this week I’ve decided to stop worrying and just write the damn newsletter. :)
Creative Writing
Sine my last newsletter, I’ve finished doing research on mythical creatures and fleshing out the character sheets for my novel. It was very tempting to just go on-and-on reading about different countries’ folklore and the different mythical creatures found in books and films. However, I knew if I wasn’t careful I’d never stop.
I returned to my novel, Fynbos Feë, from the 17th of March 2025 and started with Draft 3. This time, working backwards from the last scene to the first. During this draft I’m not really focusing on making things too pretty, since there are still scenes that require fleshing out. There are also a lot of characters I neglected to describe in the previous drafts, since I wasn’t yet sure what type of creatures they would be.
In Draft 3 I’m trying to finalise the events (scenes) that will take place, the dialogue and the characters. Some scenes are quick and easy to edit, while others take multiple days. However, despite the fact that I’m taking longer than I’ve anticipated, every time I return to my novel I get excited by the progress I’ve made and the shape the story is starting to take.
Illustration
I’ve very slowly chipped away at my illustration project. See the images below to see where I am up to:
These images will from part of Chapter two of my Dr. P Mantis story. I’ve written Chapter 1 and have started planning the sketches for the scenes. I have yet to write Chapter 3 (the last part of the story), but I have started planning the sketches I would like to use. I am planning on adding the text soon and posting it on my website as soon as I’ve finished it.
Art and Artists
Lately I’ve been enjoying a lot of anime films, series and movie soundtracks. To only name a few:
Frieren: Beyond Joureny’s End
Hyouka
Blue Box
Your Name
Suzeme
Josee, the tiger and the fish
I’ve also recently relistened to an audio drama musical called 36 Questions on Spotify. I absolutely LOVE it! Then in regards to novels, recently finished Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. All three these books have characters struggling with big changes in their lives and having to figure out what is most important in their lives.
“A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day. ”
And just like that we’re at the end of this Seasonal Reflection … somehow I feel better about the last few months. Sometimes, when we feel like we haven’t done much - all we need to do is stop and glance back to really see how far we’ve come.
If you’ve made it to the end of this newsletter, thank you so much for reading. If there is any art or artist you think I should check out, please email me at irene@schoonwinkel.co.za, I’d love to learn more about other artists.
I hope the next season will treat you well and that it will be filled with creativity and joy.
Until next time, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Totsiens,
Irene
