My Word for 2026 : Visibility

After what happened last summer, it felt like the only word that made sense.

I’d squirrelled myself away for far too long. As a writer, it goes with the territory: hours in my office making up stories and chatting to characters that live in my head. But that doesn’t get me or my writing seen.

I decided that I had to do something. My dream of being a writer depended on it. I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and be seen.

I’ve been writing for ten years, mastering the craft. I wouldn’t say I’ve loved every minute of it; at times, I’ve felt like hurling my laptop out of the window, but I’ve stuck with it as it’s who I am. Books and writing are my life.

 I’ve written two novels and spent the last couple of years editing. But I felt that I needed something else.

Or was I just procrastinating and trying to find anything to do rather than more editing, possibly!

Anyway, before I started endlessly typing: “All work and no play makes Jamie a dull gal” (yes, a Shining reference)

I decided to catapult myself out of my comfort zone and enrol in a beginner’s acting course. I’d always fancied it. Me, with my anxiety disorder—what could possibly go wrong, right?

That wasn’t all. I saw that Hull Truck Theatre was running an introduction to playwriting course, which sounded perfect, so I signed up.

Then, during an online search, full of my new bravado (or madness), I saw a competition for new playwrights. I’d never written a play, hadn’t even started the course, but I had been playing around with an idea for a screenplay. Maybe it would work for a stage play. Time for a new notebook from my stash.

 How hard could it be, right?

That decision to be brave opened up a new world and nudged my writing journey onto a new path. I’m so excited about what is in store for me this year, and I’m dying to share it with you, but for now I’m sworn to secrecy – but all will be revealed very soon.