As an aspiring writer and creative writing student, I am very well-acquainted with a little something called writer’s block, and I can confidently say…it’s a right pain. You've got an idea, you’re writing, getting down all the words, and then bam! Suddenly your train of thought stops, and all things that resemble words have vanished from your brain. You’re stuck and can’t for the life of you think of something to write – not even just a short sentence – and it’s hard because you so desperately want to write but can’t. Because writer’s block is so common, I thought I’d share some tips to help people get over it and continue the flow of their writing, whether it be stories, articles, or even journaling. So here are my tips: 1. Go for a walk – Walking is great for clearing your head and when you return you’ll feel refreshed (maybe a little sweaty!) and you’re mind will be open and ready to tackle anything. 2. Take some days off – Having a break from the project you’re writing is key because when you return, you’ll have a fresh mind and be able to look at your writing with fresh eyes. 3. Get help from a friend – Talk through your writing with someone you trust and tell them what the problem is. They may be able to offer advice, or you may realise where to go next by talking it through. 4. Find your touch – I’m sure all writers have a favourite author or favourite book, so if you find yourself stuck for words then read your favourite and it may spark something in your mind. 5. Free-write – It can be totally unrelated to the project you’re stuck on, but free-writing can take you anywhere and it may just help you overcome the writer’s block. 6. Write imperfectly – Many writers are perfectionists and put too much pressure on themselves when writing the first draft, and this can often cause writer’s block. So, give yourself permission to write imperfectly without judgement. 7. Address the root of the block – There may be a particular reason as to why you’ve got writer’s block, and finding this reason can help overcome it. Ask yourself some questions such as: Have I lost sight of what my story is about? Am I not connecting with a particular character? Do I feel pressure for it to be perfect? Once you’ve identified the problem, it’ll be easier to fix. 8. Take a visual turn – If you can’t think of anything to write and words fail you, perhaps you could try a more visual process. Draw your characters, the world you’ve created, create mind-maps. Make something visual and that may end up helping your flow. 9. Stop writing for the readers – Writing for your audience is key, especially when looking to publish, but to overcome writer’s block, don’t. Just write for you, and for your love of the story. It will help you get back in touch with the idea and reclaim the joy of being a writer. 10. Change your point of view – When suffering from writer’s block, try to write your story from a new POV; it can be a minor character witnessing a scene, or a fly on the wall or even an inanimate object. Writing from a new perspective can help give fresh eyes on the story and help move past the block. If you’re a writer, of any kind, and suffer from the occasional writer’s block, follow some of these tips and hopefully your brain will be full of words that come flooding out onto the page. Until next time…

Yesterday saw Super Bowl LV take place at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs played for the Lombardi Trophy. And history was made in many ways. The Bucs are the only team to have hosted the Super Bowl they’re playing in, and they beat the Chiefs making it a 7th Super Bowl win for QB Tom Brady at a score of 31-9. The game started with the Chiefs winning the coin toss, but they chose to defer until the second half. In the first quarter, both Mahomes and Brady got sacked, both teams were given a penalty - Chiefs for holding and Bucs for a false start - but the quarter ended with a score of 7-3 after Gronkowski scored a touchdown with less than a minute to go, making it his 13th touchdown pass in the Super Bowl from Brady. With the Bucs leading in the second quarter, the Chiefs had 6 penalties but the Bucs declined the offside penalty making way for Gronkowski to score another touchdown, closely followed by Antonio Brown also scoring a touchdown, leaving the Bucs in the lead at half-time with 21 points to 6, after another field goal by the Chiefs. The Weeknd took control of the half-time show, singing to the crowds some of his most famous hit songs like Earned It and Can’t Feel My Face, which reintroduced us to the character he has been creating with bandages over dancers faces. With the attention going back to the game, the third quarter began with a field goal from Butker for the Chiefs, followed by Fournette scoring a 27 yard touchdown 7 minutes in for the Bucs, bringing the score to 28-9. A couple of flags were thrown down for both teams and Mahomes was again sacked but the quarter ended with a score of 31-9 as a 52 yard field goal was successful for the Bucs. Going into the fourth quarter, the Bucs were leading. The final quarter didn’t see any more points scored, and so the end of Super Bowl LV saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers victorious winning their second Super Bowl and making history as being the only team to win the biggest game of the year at their own stadium. Congratulations to all players of the Bucs, and especially to Tom Brady for playing his 10th Super Bowl, winning his 7th and being named the MVP! Until next time...

Last night my family and I had our usual weekly movie night, and we watched a film called Twist. This modern-day thriller version of Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist has Hollywood stars, action, a little bit of romance, and a happy ending where the bad guys get their comeuppance. Oliver, or Twist, is played by Rafferty Law, and I’m not kidding when I say that it could’ve been Jude Law but with CGI. He looks so much like his dad. The film still has the notorious characters of Nancy played by Sophie Simnett, Dodger (or Dodge) played by Rita Ora, Sikes who Lena Headey plays incredibly well, and Fagin who is played by the infamous Sir Michael Caine. These aren’t the only famous faces in the film though. Starring alongside the aforementioned actors, is David Walliams. I was intrigued to see Walliams star in Twist as I haven’t seen him act before, and whilst it was a bit odd seeing him play Mr. Losberne, he did an excellent job. Obviously there aren’t any songs in Twist, as it’s not a musical, but there is one number (Flame), which is unfortunately unreleased, sung by Rita Ora, during the credits that is amazing. The actors tell the story of the classic with a twist that makes it a contemporary film that showcases the importance of family. As someone who has seen both the classic Oliver Twist and this modern-day retelling, I would say that whilst both have the same characters and concept, they are both different films that are excellent in their own ways. So if you’re a lover of classics, or you fancy watching a thrilling action film, give Twist a go! Until next time...

As a writer I believe inspiration can stem from anything and everything whether it be an object, a conversation or simply another person. And last night, I was so overcome with inspiration, so inspired that my mind would not stop working - #exhausted! Now, this blog is titled ‘Bridgerton Inspiration from Barlow and Bear’ and my last post was about the book series Bridgerton, but this blog is about a new idea. A new concept that two super talented women have created. It is about the… …Bridgerton Musical! On TikTok, a singer/songwriter called Abigail Barlow came up with the idea of Bridgerton being a musical and has since written and composed several songs with Emily Bear. They’ve written lyrics and composed music for songs that fit each character (and they’re amazing) from Daphne and Simon to Penelope and even Siena. They are planning to produce a concept album, and I am in full support of these women because they’ve created a musical that I didn’t know we needed. I may seem a bit obsessed with Bridgerton at the moment and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t – I’ve managed to work my way through four of the books and watch so many fan edits on Youtube, it’s amazing I’ve had time for anything else, haha! But after having watched Abigail's and Emily’s videos on repeat, and playing them to my family even though they know nothing about Bridgerton, I felt so inspired to write that I decided to sit down with my notebook and brainstorm. And the end result was rather amazing (and surprising!). It was a song for the musical, and I must say I’m quite pleased with what I actually managed to produce. It’s nowhere near as good as Abigail’s and Emily’s (obviously) and I can't compose music but I can write so, you know, I'm really happy :D So, if you haven’t seen their videos or checked out their website @ barlow & bear (barlowandbear.com) I suggest you do because these two women have created something, in just over a fortnight, that has taken Bridgerton fans into a world of musical regency, and so many people are creating TikTok videos about it and are incredibly invested in the musical that it’s just too good not to see. With songs such as ‘Ocean’s Away’ and ‘I Burn For You’, these women have certainly taken the world by storm and I’m sure they would be the sole focus in one of Lady Whistledown’s gossip columns! Until next time… Cover photo by @peachydesignss_

Since Christmas Day, many have been thrust into the world of the 1800s and the period drama that is Bridgerton. Bridgerton is on Netflix, and it’s an 8 part series that centres on the Bridgerton family, and specifically the eldest Bridgerton daughter, Daphne, portrayed by Phoebe Dynevor, and her character’s love interest, Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, played by Regé-Jean Page. The series is based on the first novel in a series written by the amazingly talented Julia Quinn. The show has been on my watch list but I wanted to read the books before I watched the show. Now, the series itself is based on the first novel, ‘The Duke and I’, and I’m sure many of us are hoping that many more series will be produced based on the subsequent novels. So far, I have read the first book (in two days) and have just finished its first sequel, ‘The Viscount Who Loved Me’. Whilst I love history, regency-set books aren’t my normal go to but I have to say that Julia Quinn might have changed my mind. Her books are easy to read, full of characters you’re immediately drawn to and intrigued by. The quick-witted, strong females and the charmingly handsome “rakes” pull you into the world of the ton with their character arcs and likable personalities. You’re immediately thrown into a world of wealth, courting and balls all the while seeing characters overcome past trauma, family issues and societal pressure. One thing that adds to the books humour and appeal is the character of Lady Whistledown - the gossip columnist, voiced by Julie Andrews on the show, whose identity I have yet to discover (my inner Sherlock is hard at work!). The columns written at the beginning of each chapter allow for Quinn to provide us essential information, and keep us up to date with the order of events, without having to have an information dump - which could sometimes bore the reader! The romance in the novels is fascinating because we get to see it develop and whilst there is a controversial scene in ‘The Duke and I’, by the end of each book you’re left rooting for the couple, eager to see what happens to them next. And thanks to her epilogues, Quinn gives us that chance. I am in love with the first of the Bridgerton novels, and desperately want to read on, but now I know the story of Daphne and Simon, my Netflix might just be playing the period drama a lot! I’m interested to see the diverse cast of Bridgerton bring the story from page to screen, and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t read the books, I highly recommend them - the first two novels in the series are only 99p on the Amazon Kindle. As Regé-Jean Page has said it is like "Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl", so... ...Enjoy the scandal, the gossip, the wealth and the romance. Until next time…

We are officially into the New Year, just 7 days in and we’ve already seen another lockdown. Wow! Last year, in 2020, I wrote a blog post where I shared my firsts of the decades, and so I thought I would do a similar post but for my firsts of 2021. So, here we go: First person I spoke to (face to face) – Amy, my sister. First person I saw (in person) – My family, as we sung Auld Lang Syne. First person I messaged – A family group chat to wish them all Happy New Year. First meal – Bran flakes and milk (exciting, I know). First drink – Water (healthy start to the New Year). First film – Disney's Soul. First TV show I watched – Get Organised with The Home Edit (absolutely love it - one of my fave shows). First game I played – 221B Baker Street. First song I played – Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy. First song I listened to (played by someone else) – It Must Have Been Love by Mika and Danna Paola. First male artist – Dermot Kennedy. First female artist – Ava Max. First book – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (technically I haven’t finished it yet, but this is my first book of 2021). First app I used – Mail (got to keep up to date with the emails). First outfit – Black leggings and a striped cropped jumper (I literally haven’t worn jeans for months). First non-family member I spoke to – My team at Debut Magazine (via zoom). These are some of firsts of the year. What are yours? Until next time...

2020, what a year it’s been, Many highs and lows we have seen. A pandemic took the world by storm, Our lives drastically changed from the norm. Exams were cancelled, schools were closed, Lockdown was enforced, lives took a doze. We clapped for our health service, Whilst for our futures, we were nervous. Many have sadly passed this year, Lots of us have shed more than one tear. Not just family members, but celebrities too, This year has certainly been blue. Black Mamba, Black Panther, Connery and Flack. George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Death has certainly attacked. California was soaked in red, Beirut has definitely bled. Not all was lost, somethings were good, Black Lives Matter is getting to be understood. Biden won the presidential election, Yet the world is still far from perfection. Kamala Harris made history, Captain Sir Tom raised £38.9m in victory. Africa was declared Polio free, Rid of the horrid disease. I’m A Celeb traded the jungle, Instead they went to a Welsh castle. Virtual audiences became a big thing, We talked to someone when our phones gave a ring. New music, new movies, new tv shows, What 2021 will be like, nobody knows. Hopefully it’ll be better, now there’s a vaccine, Wish to be rid of the horrors we have seen. A new year is here, 2021, Let’s pray that it will be more fun. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Raise your glass and cheer. Hope you enjoyed this read, And I’ll see you next year!

Today is Christmas Eve. Wow, what a year it’s been. 2020 has been a struggle and for some Christmas will not be the same. Tier 4 has taken affect and as a result some Christmas plans have had to change - Christmas isn’t cancelled, just different. A major part of Christmas is family - of course it is - and whilst we’re not all allowed to meet up with our relatives, that doesn’t mean you can’t see them. We live in a day and age where our phones unlock by scanning our faces, where Alexa and Google answer any question, and where you can let the world know what you’re up to with a single post. There are lots of different ways you can see your family: FaceTime, WhatsApp video call, Zoom, and Skype. You can even send a Snapchat. Whilst we may feel alone, we aren’t. We’re surrounded by others, and so if you can’t see your family on Christmas Day, video chat them. I know that’s what my family are doing for sure! It will be strange and it will be odd, but if you make the effort to make it fun and joyous...it will be! Play virtual quizzes, or board games, or have a bit of festive karaoke. Who knows, Christmas dinner may make us all too tired to even talk to anyone. Christmas is a special time, and this year it will be hard for people who have lost those they loved, and it will be hard for those alone but make sure you check in on your family - even if it’s just for a quick chat to wish them a merry Christmas. And just think, this Christmas is just one Christmas. Don’t risk it and break the rules to guarantee a great Christmas in 2020 because that might not guarantee a great Christmas next year - it could be worse. But remember to enjoy yourself. Indulge in mulled wine and chocolates (I certainly will), turkey and pigs in blankets (got plenty of them) and most of all, remember to celebrate. Celebrate the end of a horrible year, and hopefully the beginning of a better one. I hope you all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas! Until next time...

Christmas is just 10 days away (wow, that’s come fast!) and by now many of us will have presents sorted, some possibly wrapped and already under the tree. But there might be some who, when darkness sets in, might need a little pick me up, and so I’ve listed some festive films that I would definitely recommend to get you in the holiday spirit. My family and I have movie night every Saturday (a highlight of my week) and every Christmas Eve we always watch a Christmas film, with a takeaway surrounded by our decorations and Christmas lights (heaven!). I have watched many Christmas films in my lifetime, and I certainly have some favourites. So, here are some festive films to brighten your dark nights and bring you holiday cheer! Christmas Chronicles: Teddy and Kate Pierce hatch a plan to catch Santa, played by Kurt Russel, in the act on Christmas Eve, but when plans go awry they have to join forces in the hope of saving Christmas. The sequel has just come out as well, and although I haven’t seen it yet (waiting for Christmas Eve) I’m sure it will be just as good as the prequel. Polar Express: A little boy boards the Polar Express to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus, and along the way he encounters special people who make the trip even more memorable. This is a classic Christmas film for me. I have always loved it and it never fails to get me in the Christmas spirit! Arthur Christmas: This animation has recently become a favourite for me, with clumsy but sweet Arthur setting out on a mission to deliver a present to a little girl, whose gift was misplaced due to a technical glitch. The family spirit and festive cheer in this film always brings a smile to my face. Miracle on 34th Street: It’s a tale of a young girl, Susan, who is skeptical about the myth surrounding Santa Claus (a trait her mother passed on) but when her mother hires a man named Kris Kringle to be Macy’s Santa Claus, they both come to his defense along with a young lawyer, realising the magic of Christmas. I’ve never watched the original but this remake is the perfect feel-good movie for any December night. The Holiday: When two women swap homes for the Christmas holidays to get away from their relationship issues, they both find surprises that change their lives as they fall in love with two local guys. This film is again another classic, for me, and I love the actors who star in it. The love and warmth really make it feel like Christmas time. Klaus: This animation is about the origin of Santa Claus and how it started with a postman, who learns to be selfless and care about others during the festive season. I watched this film this weekend, and I have to say it was actually really good. I love animation but this film really struck a chord and made me even more excited for Christmas than I was already! These films are just some of my favourite festive films, and for some of you they may not be what you usually watch but I would still recommend giving them a go. If you watch them, enjoy! Until next time…

Do you feel the spirit of approaching Christmas? December has arrived and we’re already a week into it, meaning there’s only 18 sleeps until Christmas morning – woohoo! Now, this year has been particularly hard for most but Christmas could be the little bit of joy we could all use to brighten our spirits; so, even if you’re spending Christmas at home, working, or not seeing your family like you normally do, be sure to decorate a little to bring some festive cheer this holiday season. My family and I are spending Christmas just the four of us, and this weekend we spent however many hours putting up our decorations: the tree, stockings, tinsel, lights. Now, I love Christmas so we’re all trying to make this Christmas a great one, but putting up decorations was a little bit stressful. Our tree has been our tree for more than 20 years, and it’s still going – surprising considering how many needles fall off it every year – and we usually decorate it with lights, then beads and obviously baubles. But, trying to put the lights on the tree, and making sure that there aren’t any gaps is a rather difficult job; well, I say that but I’m not the one who usually does them! My dad put the lights on the tree, and he does not like it one bit because it’s so hard to get them all in the right place – unfortunately for him, he always does a fantastic job and the tree always looks lovely so we let him do the lights every year, hehe. The beads come in two colours (this year, they’re red and silver), and I’ve actually been getting quite good at helping to put them on the tree. They’re probably the easiest the part because the next step is the baubles. Now, we have lots of decorations for the tree, including personalised ornaments for my sister and I, but trying to put them on the tree proves to be quite the challenge. We sometimes disagree with where to put certain ones, and I would say we’re all perfectionists, so we can’t have any gaps in between baubles, or red baubles on silver beads and vice versa. Thankfully, we managed to get it all done, and our home looks festive and cosy! So, have you put your decorations up yet? Even if you are perhaps a Bah Humbug, decorations and perhaps some Christmas music (I have a lot of that!) may be all you need to add some festive cheer to the horrible year that has been 2020. Until next time…

Throughout lockdown 2.0, the weather has gotten colder and the nights have turned darker. The winter weather brings with it a sombre mood, and so I’ve been trying to do something each day that would not only brighten my spirits, but destress me and improve my mindset. I’ve been going for a walk everyday – even in the freezing cold and occasionally in the rain. My mum and I get up, have breakfast and go for a walk. We’re always wrapped up with snoods, hats and gloves; the other day we even took our umbrellas in case it rained. We’ve found that getting in a walk in the morning helps our mindsets, and gets us ready to start the day. So, I wanted to share some of the benefits of walking with you all. Here they are: 1. It helps lighten your mood – walking releases natural painkilling endorphins. 2. It can help you lose weight – a brisk walk can burn lots of calories. 3. It can help improve sleep – it relieves insomnia. 4. It’s easy on your joints – it’s not to strenuous and is an easy exercise to do. 5. It can help strengthen your heart – it can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease. 6. It can tone your legs – walking on inclines helps strengthen muscles in your legs. 7. It can boost your energy – it increases oxygen flow in your body and increases the level of hormones that help elevate energy levels. 8. It can help with creative thinking – walking helps clear your mind, allowing you to think creatively. 9. It can extend your life – studies have shown that it can reduce risk of overall death by 20%. 10. It can improve your mood – it helps reduce anxiety and depression and boost self-esteem and a positive mindset. Maybe you’ve been inspired to get out and go walking, or maybe you haven’t but I guarantee it does help. Give it a go. Until next time…

Currently we are still in lockdown 2.0, after however many days, with two and a half weeks left to go until December 2nd. Non-essential shops have been shut, pubs and restaurants have closed and gyms and leisure centres are no longer open. Everyone is hanging on to some thread of hope that things will eventually return to normal, or that there will be some normality at the end of this year. But so far, during this lockdown, many things have happened – some good, some bad. So, here’s 8 notable events of lockdown 2.0: 1. Joe Biden was elected as the next President of the United States. 2. Beloved actor Sean Connery passed away, leaving behind a legacy loved by many. 3. The BioNTech/Pfizer Covid vaccine has a 90% success rate. 4. Dominic Cummings will leave his Downing Street role by the end of this year. 5. University students will be able to go home for Christmas during a week-long travel window. 6. Ant and Dec finally completed a Bush Tucker Trial, thanks to Joel Dommett. 7. Strictly’s Nicola Adams and Katya Jones have had to leave the dance competition after Katya tested positive for Covid-19. 8. John Lewis has given everyone a little bit of Christmas after releasing their 2020 Christmas advert. We’ve still got some time to go, so let’s see what else happens before December 2nd. Until next time…