Alison Wells Author

Head Above Water – Writing, Headspace, Creativity, Verve

Head Above Water Blog – Writing, Headspace, Creativity, Verve

  • Head Above Water Blog: My Debut short story collection Random Acts of Optimism released September 2023!

    Fantastic news: September publication of my debut short story collection! Readers of the Head above Water blog will have followed my story since 2009 of writing endeavours, resilience and persistence, shortlists and near misses. I have written alongside raising a family, challenging circumstances, a new job in public libraries and a Masters by night in…

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  • Metro Mums – Submission Opportunity

    Metro Moms Network is an online magazine which provides content aimed at urban parents topics including those related to both parenting and work-life. Metro Moms Network supports all parents, but particularly those who are starting up small businesses or doing freelancing work. One element of the Metro Mums Network is the Metro Fiction slot. It’s…

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  • Emotional energy and the writer

    The last few weeks have been full on writing my novel The Book of Remembered Possibilities and dealing with family life, getting back into the routine of school. One of my children has been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. These children don’t like change, struggle with social situations and outside stimuli, noise, light, smells for example…

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  • New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin Launches!

    Last April I interviewed the lovely Rebecca Emin as part of my mother writer series. I first connected with and got to know Rebecca over Twitter and since then she has become a fantastic friend and my writing ‘twin’ as we share similar experiences of writing, submitting etc while looking after our young families. Many…

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  • Write a Great Synopsis: Nicola Morgan knows how!

    The Background When I got the chance to review Nicola Morgan’s Write a Great Synopsis I was delighted. Nicola is the author of more than 90 books – covering both fiction and non-fiction. Her novel Wasted (which I absolutely loved) was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and her guide for writers Write to be Published…

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  • The Stinging Fly: Chat and Submissions

    The Stinging Fly is a well respected literary magazine published from Ireland. It’s currently accepting submissions of poetry and short stories (postal) for it’s summer issue until Jan 31st and for all issues until Mar 31.For more details see here. What’s it like to run a literary magazine these days? What are the challenges and…

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  • The energy of intention & where the river of stones went

    Hands up! Here’s a message from a mum of four who’s blog is about headspace and finding time to write and paying attention and who said she was going to participate in the River of Stones Project this January (posting a few lines of a mindful meditation or observance every day) but hasn’t had the…

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  • Jan1: A river of stones: Blaze

    January. That still, stark, apologetic light The patience of trees That watery eyed sky The wafer of the sun aloft over the hill That blaze, golden, white.

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  • The long and the short of it: Story endeavours

    It’s been designated Short Story Year. At this moment in time I don’t know where exactly this marvellous idea originated but I know it’s based in the UK and that doesn’t stop me from appropriating the concept and running with it, particularly since writing and reading short stories is my favourite thing. I’m also going…

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  • Nothing special about this writer, but…

    There are billions of novels out there. There are millions of fabulous writers and tales. There are well known writers who’s talent may be so so but who have captured something that connects with people. There are wonderful wordsmiths who remain obscure. There are authors who managed to get a book deal but then suffered…

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  • Christmas Table

    Christmas Table with Decorated Cookies, Yule Log, Apple Pies, Choc Mud Christmas Cake and Gingerbread House in the distance.

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Welcome to my Head above Water blog! I’m Alison, writer, mother and public librarian with a background in Communication Studies and Psychology. I have a particular interest in creative resilience, motivation and how nature and wonder can restore us. In my day job I run book clubs and creative events for children and adults.

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