Green Ink Sponsored Write 2023: Alison Littlewood

Sponsor a writer and help us help Macmillan Cancer Support.

Every year, I invite a group of professional authors and developing writers within my coaching community to write on a theme inspired by Macmillan Cancer Support’s mission of quality of life: Macmillan Cancer Support’s mission for all affected by cancer.

Most sponsored events have costs and a carbon footprint. We do’t. It all goes straight to the charity through our sponsorship page: sponsor a writer for Macmillan Cancer Support at https://www.justgiving.com/page/greeninksponsoredwrite2023

Meet first-time sponsored writer Alison Littlewood…

1) Hello! Tell us about yourself, your writing and how you discovered the SponsoredWrite? 

Hi Rachel!  

I’m the author of various novels, several of which I think of as ‘historical weird’, if that counts as a genre! The latest is The Other Lives of Miss Emily White, published under the pen name A. J. Elwood. It’s about schoolgirl obsessions, buried secrets and weird doppelganger manifestations. I also write contemporary novels, such as A Cold Season, which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. And short stories of course, ranging from horror to dark fantasy to historical crime and various shades between. 

I’ve been aware of the Sponsored Write for a couple of years through friends taking part and being invited along, though sadly I couldn’t manage the dates before now. So it’s lovely to be able to join in this time.  

2) Are you a "deadlines person" outside the Sponsored Write? Is the time-limit part of the challenge or the attraction? 

Yes and yes! Deadlines help focus the mind enormously when you work on your own. And my first experience of creative writing was joining a local class where prompts were thrown at us out of the blue and we just had to dive in. It’s interesting how the brain responds to that sometimes, so it’ll be good to try something along those lines again. 

3) Many involved have personal connections with Macmillan Cancer Support. Do you want to share any experience of the charity's work? 

I haven’t had much direct contact but Macmillan were there when my partner’s brother-in-law sadly had a terminal brain tumour at the age of twenty-seven. I’ll always be in awe of the people who provide support and care at such a brutal time. Joining in the Sponsored Write is a small thing to do in comparison to their work so it’s an honour to try to help.  

4) What do you make of Paul Tremblay’s theme for this year, A Well of Strength, The Strength of Will? 

Very on point! I’m trying not to think about it too much in advance though, because of the whole out-of-the-blue thing. Of course, that could either be the most interesting part or a terrible mistake…!  

5) Absolutely anything else you'd like to share! :) 

Just a big thank you to you for organising the event and good luck to my fellow writers! May the muses be smiling on the day… 

Sponsor the writers to help Macmilan Cancer Support at https://www.justgiving.com/page/greeninksponsoredwrite2023