These woodland pictures were originally posted in 2020 during lockdown.
Lost in Writing
I am lost in writing. I am in the Iron Age. Second draft. Rough edges. Rough middle. Super-rough ending. Full of raw emotion. The manuscript is ragged with it, as am I.
2022 edit: the book is out now
Misty Woodland Pictures
I revel in timeless pictures and misty woods. And lockdown has not kept those from me. I know I am lucky in this, and hope you are all finding some beauty too.
There’s been tree felling here, so soon after Aikey. The wider world is strange and changed, and the immediate world mimics it in metaphor.
Whoops.
This post seems to be approaching a pretentious overuse of literary devices, especially alliteration… Things may be odd, but there’s no excuse for that!
Scots Pines. Sturdy and strong. Oops.
I love the gnarly nature of the hazel trees. It could have been worse. I could have added the word ‘nutty’. But just for a moment, I am going to give in to this curious compulsion…
There have been many misty mornings. And with that one terrible sentence, it is gone…
The gean trees (wild Scottish cherry) are blossoming.
Sunsets are wonderful. And the moon is too.
A woodland quote from THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR:
Sisters at the Edge of the World (mentioned above)
Set in 1st century Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!
“Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
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Absolutely gorgeous!
Fabulous misty images 🙂
Pictures are stunning x
Love the misty photo’s and the cherry blossom is stunning. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe. !!
You too 🙂
I’m enjoying your overuse of “pretentious literary devices”. The pictures are just wonderful.
Writing is saving me; both Petronela and I are confined to our small flat for 12 weeks or more but enjoying the fine weather bringing noticeably cleaner air through our open windows. I’m trying to finish the novella begun more than two years ago, interrupted by occasional flash fiction and ‘poetry’ (I hesitate to call it that!).
The small girl living across the street has drawn a a superb ‘bow’ to VE day which has prompted me to write a children’s story, bringing in that I bought some books she was selling from a ‘stall’ set up in her driveway a year ago and sent them to my three small friends in Latvia. Of course one of them sent her best unicorn to collect them. It helps that they, rather like you, live in a ‘forest’ which is of course enchanted and has many unicorns. I’ll likely do a post about this when I’ve finished the story.
Take care, stay safe Ailish.
The unicorns do rather clog up the forest sometimes, but you learn to live with it! I’m glad you’re busy with writing too Grumpytyke 🙂
Beautiful photos!
Lovely pictures. Walking in woods is very restorative for me too. I hope your second draft goes well.
Thank you 🙂
these are so beautiful, they do have a timeless quality to them
Beautiful pictures of woodlands, Ailish, and I love the mists. Like you, I revel in woods and forests, and I don’t know what I’d have done without my wanders around them during these past months. Your writing sounds exciting, and I love the quote from the Mermaid and the Bear – I was right there on the woodland path. Glad the writing is keeping you busy. 🙂
Thank you. Yes, woods are so wonderful.
Beautiful photos and text to accompany them.
So beautiful!!
Wonderful photos. I loved the various trees, but my biggest smile was the comment about sunsets and pictures of the moon. I have tried many time to get a great moon picture, and I just don’t have the right camera.
I think that’s the key there; you do need really good equipment to photograph the moon well.
There was a song by Steeleye Span (Age. Age. Where dost thou go?) called One Misty Moisty Morning.
Let the alliterations rip!
Bootiful piccies.
Oh my. Moisty has to be one of the worst words ever!
But sung by Maddy Prior, well… anything’s good.
Are you finding your knew historical ear harder to research than the last?
Each era is different. The further back you go, the less documented history there is and archaeology becomes important in research.
Your pictures transported there, far away from where I am right now. Beautiful words with the pictures.
Stunning pictures Ailish
Nothing wrong with a pun! Your photography is amazing, too.
What is unseen in the mist and spring-soft twigs must be where your imagination thrives. It is all so beautiful. Thanks for your pictures and your beautiful words. Stay strong and safe.
Thank you. You be safe too.
Where is Loch Doon?
Almost everywhere, I think 😉
Beautiful pics!
Beautiful photos. I love mist and fog and the way the light breaks through. Happy Writing, Ailish. Be well.
Thank you. You too 🙂
Love them all, especially the first one 😀
It’s the best one.
Lovely post. Thank you Sue
A post bursting with bountiful beauty. LOL. I think alliteration is allowed and prized in poetry, and the series of photos as well as your thoughts carried a poetic rhythm I found appealing. I’m glad you followed your muse, and it made me smile to have you so amused by it. Take care, and Happy Writing!
Yes, poetry is a different beast 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful. I finished The Mermaid and the Bear. Absolutely loved it!
Thank you. I’m glad you loved it 🙂
“Timeless” is right. Terrific pix.
Neil S.
Congrats on multiple drafts!
Not sure this one deserves congratulations yet, but thank you 😀
Fantastic photos and beautiful words.
Such beautiful pictures! Reading has been saving me, but then it always has.
This is a great time for reading 🙂
Love the photos, the alliteration and the fact you’re writing. I just finished my third revision. Wishing your rough parts to become beautiful and your good parts amazing!
Thank you. May yours also 🙂
Beautiful pictures, Ailish and I love the shapes of the Hazel trees. <3
Me too 🙂
Beautiful
Lovely landscapes (excuse the alliteration). 😉
😀
Just what I needed this morning. Thanks!
The pictures are outwardly! They are so beautiful! 🙂
I love that you’re writing Ailish and I love the atmospheric trees, mist and sky. It would be easy to feel inspired there I am sure
It is 🙂
Lovely and evocative photos. Thanks for sharing. BTW, alliteration isn’t all bad, IMHO.
No, mainly when overused, or done for just the sake of it really 🙂
Love the ones with the mist – haunting and mystical!
So breathtaking, especially the first one and MORE especially, the third one in my opinion. Thanks for the follow, and you’ve earned my follow, too, with your beautiful photography skills!
Glad you like 🙂
So soothing to the soul 🙂
Ah, I love misty mornings. And also alliterations.
🙂
I love the softness of those misty photos. (Also, I’m guilty of the alliteration crutch. Is that a crutch? Or a fault?) 😉 Cheers, lovely!
All depends how it’s done. Like everything 🙂
I love alliteration and puns and what my Mum always called Scots mist!
I love that: Scots mist 😀
I love the misty images you shared, Ailish, and I found myself chuckling at your prose. I, for one, feel uplifted when reading alliterations. So, thank you, dear wordsmith, from this cackling crone. 😉
I’m glad you liked *cackles back* 😀
Wow. Beautiful photos!
Thank you 🙂
Hello. Would you like to write 5 things to do today for our site? Thank you. David
If I can think of anything remotely useful to write, I’ll be in touch.
Hi Ailish! I am completely immersed in The Mermaid and The Bear, having just finished part I. Such beautiful prose and vivid imagery– it is entirely transporting, and I am savoring every page! Would it be all right with you if I feature it in a post on The Inquisitive Inkpot, giving a review? I promise not to publish anything on it until thoroughly finishing, as I am sure there are some unforeseen twists lying ahead. 🙂
Of course! I’m glad you are enjoying it 🙂
These pictures are stunning so atmospheric
I was blessed with beautiful scenes 🙂
Wow such lovely pictures – Great job! 🙂
Glad you like them 🙂
What stunning photos and words .. lovely to ‘e-meet’ you! Scotland is a beautiful country
Great to meet you too!
Just stumbled across your blog , we must have trodden so often in each other’ s footsteps . Aikey, Lenabo, Alvah , Old Pitsligo , the list goes on . If your books are as good as your photos , I’m in for a treat .
We’re lucky to have so many great places up here. I hope we can visit them again soon 🙂
Lovely! Stay safe.
Thank you. You too 🙂
Such beautiful, evocative photos! Especially those wrapped in mist. Thanks for sharing.
This post brightened my day
Hello! Thanks for following my blog! Now I follow yours as well! Scotland is a beautiful country and the Brittish isles in general are a place I would certainly visit some day. I Will Enjoy your pictures for sure! Peace! ❤️
Love the photos. So mesmerising.
Lovely shots!
Awesome
Those are lovely. Speaking as someone who loves their bed in the morning, this makes me want to get up early and go for a walk to find me some misty woodlands.
These are beautiful images 🙂
Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing
Glad you liked 🙂
Stunning!
Very atmospheric photos 🙂
Glad you like 🙂
Simply stunning
🙂
I love your picture of the woodlands. With such a picture I can relax and dream. Shalom aleichem
🙂
Fabulous pictures, Ailish!
Glad you like 🙂
These are beautiful pictures…
Thank you 🙂
🙂
The photo with the moon, skeletal trees and all those purple and blues in the sky….
So serene and beautiful! Every click has also successfully captured the mood.
Beautiful and solemn pictures. It puts you in a certain mood. Thanks for sharing.