Hi , I’m Eleanor , mother of 4 adult children aged 30 ,26,23 and 21 . I can now give myself time and space to explore what I know and write about it . I’ve been a full time nhs midwife for 30 years and in private practice for 20 supporting women pre and post birth . I’ve experienced a lot of bullying and punishment in the job and needed therapy to survive it . I also wrote a column in Juno magazine for 11 years on a birth related topic . I want to give myself a chance to channel my issues / How to validate all my years of work commitment and knowledge ?
Midwives are unable to speak up or write publicly about issues and the media has made life complicated and misrepresents our reality, well mine anyway.
Sounds like it's simply about working out what you want to say. There is definitely an appetite for strong voices on this topic, there must be a book to be written that tells women how birth can be, in the right circumstances, weaving in all your experience and stories? Anyway, can't wait to have you xx
Hi Eleanor, I think we have met in Bristol? I now live in SW France, but my daughter still lives in Bristol and I come over regularly. I would love for you to write about your experiences and knowledge and speak the truth about issues and your reality...
Yes Suzanne , thank you and great to hear you. You came once to the birth forum I set up in Taunton 12 years ago . Thank you so much for your affirmation and motivation for me . Look forward to seeing you at group !
I’m in! Thrilled and humbly joining a writers group. I’m an activist, retired lobbyist, someone who writes but never really considers myself a writer! Yet I wrote grants successfully for years. Go figure. I have lots to say about all the things and I think it’s time to write it!
Hi. I’m an activist (for rights of lesbians and other women) who writes endless political submissions and is web mistress of coal.org.au and struggles to focus on my unfinished memoir and my love of writing short fiction.
I live in Canada and I’m a mom to three girls. My eldest daughter identifies as a man, with all the classic signs of rapid onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). She’s 20 now. My other two are 17 and 15.
I spent almost 20 years as a journalist and I work in corporate communications now. I do some writing with parent groups to politicians and the media about the problem with trans ideology, child safe guarding and women’s rights, but it’s all been anonymous because I’m trying to keep my relationship with my kid.
These days, I often feel like I can’t find the words to express my frustration, and describe what is going on in the world. Or the way that words seem to have different meanings now. I’ve never felt like this before.
Hi lovelies, I’m the writer of two books on birth: Natural Birth - A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding published in 2010, which describes the spiritual initiation inherent in birth, and Revolution i BB-fabriken (rough translation from Swedish: Revolution in the Maternity Factory) a review of the systemic faults in the maternity system that damage women psychologically and physically. I’m a Sacred Birthkeeper trained in Glastonbury UK, was born in Sweden and am a passionate advocate for women’s right to undisturbed births. I’ve followed Milli for years and was lucky enough to meet her at the Filia conference a couple of years ago. I’m really looking forward to sharing my writing ideas and experience here.
I'm a US citizen who will turn 59 in February. I've primarily published fiction under two different pen names and poetry under my real name. I'm interested in honing my journalistic skills. I'm pretty much a lifelong feminist. I secretly made the declaration at 8 years old, back in 1973. I'm a former nurse who is appalled at the current situation with medicine denying basic biological reality and pushing "gender-affirming care" on vulnerable youth.
Hello, I’m Laura and I’m really looking forward to this group! Ive followed Milli for a while and have read all of her books on pregnancy and birth and I recommend them to anyone I know who falls pregnant. I’ve never written before but I love reading and have particular interests in pregnancy, labour and birth, breastfeeding, and all things holistic e.g. aromatherapy, homeopathy, reflexology. I’m currently retraining as a doula and have started writing a book to hopefully raise awareness about how birthing within the system can cause both physical and mental long term negative effects for the women who do (on the back of my own awful experience). I’ve only started this month but am trying to navigate the legal side of writing this kind of thing without being accused of defamation etc.! Really looking forward to sharing ideas and also learning along the way! X
Unfortunately didn’t make it on tonight as we moved house today and I couldn’t get the wifi set up on time but I hope it went well and will be at the next! X
Hi I'm Linni. Mother to two amazing daughters, both of whom I home educate with a radical unschooling philosophy, and both of whom are autistic. I used to write a blog about radical unschooling and attachment parenting, and occasionally wrote articles for a natural parenting magazine, back when I only had the one child and she was younger and less demanding of my attention. That was when I used to read your blog Milli, The Mule, and it was one of many that kept me sane during those early years where I didn't have a clue what I was doing and everyone was telling me I was making a rod for my own back.
Anyway, I'm here because my partner says I need to get back to writing, and she's probably right, but I lack motivation and time. I'm hoping this might provide me with at least the first one.
Sadly I can't make the first meeting as I'm taking my girls to see one of their favourite musicians play live, but I'll try to catch up afterwards and join you for the next one.
Hello. I'm Hannah. I write short things. Like reports. Emails. I'm good at those. Maybe the odd blog post. Right now I'm writing a long thing (for me) which is an infant feeding strategy for Kent. I'm a director of a small organisation called Better Breastfeeding and we were commissioned to coproduce an infant feeding strategy by Kent County Council. It's been pretty intense and I can’t wait to get at least this version for consultation done (deadline tomorrow). Looking forward to exploring different ways of thinking about writing for change with all you amazing women.
Hi, I'm also a writer on birth, like Kristina!... one of mine has a similar title "Pregnancy and childbirth: A holistic guide to massage and bodywork"!.. It is published by Elsevier, an academic/medical publisher and at some point I would like to rewrite it!....I also have "Shiatsu for Midwives" pub with Elsevier and "Beautiful Birth" published by Pinter and Martin.. Despite favourable reviews for this last book aimed a parents, and to which Milli gave a lovely validation quote, it has not sold much. I am not so great on social media and am slowly building a YouTube channel and substack. I have written a fourth book called "Turning Points: Harness the power of your changing body to transform your life" and want to get an agent for this.. So am fine tuning the book and the proposal as well as building my platform..
I love Milli's work and especially her recent stand on the word is woman!!... My new book is about life from birth to death for men and women.. and initially I had included more trans references but am now simply talking about men and women! where there are differences..
I will try to come next Thursday but am skiing with my daughter and her partner so will have to see.. I don't know if you will be recording it Milli?.....and thanks so much for setting this up..
Hi Suzanne we met many years ago when I was Lynn ‘Walcott’ I think you were speaking at an ARM meeting or midwife conference? I remember your shiatsu book but gave my copy to a friend who trained in shiatsu. Good to see a name I know.
Will be great to have you in the group Suzanne. I'm not planning on recording because I think it's nice to have it off the record BUT I will do some notes and a thread for each one, and am happy to review the not recording thing if everyone wants me to xx
Hi, I'm Nell, I'm currently working in communications in Australia. I want to write more of my own stuff.
I'm hoping to negotiate work from home so I can make the (Melbourne time) early morning meeting (normally I am travelling to work then) but haven't yet, so may not make it to the first one.
I think that's the first challenge for me: the need to inconvenience others so I can have writing time.
When my kids were small I suddenly noticed that I never sat fully facing my desk. I always had my body twisted back towards the room as if I was half writing, half waiting for the next demand on me. Then one day I started thinking about the 'right' that I was leaning away from. I told myself, 'you have the right to write'. And made myself fully face the desk. I hope that makes some kind of sense!
Hi Nel. I’m in Sydney, retired from paid work and politically active. Good luck negotiating WFH. I’ve read that corporate resistance is discriminating against women if they work from home while men snap up the bonuses offered to leave the home office and allow themselves to go back under surveillance in the workplace,leaving their partner to look after the kids.
Hi, I'm Emilie. I've jumped in super last minute! I'm been very slowly starting to write more and would love to cultivate this approach rather than vomiting out quick instagram posts. Arriving with curiosity and a hot water bottle. Look forward to meeting soon.
Hi wondrous women... I am English but stay in Scotland - I have 3 adult offspring and 7 grandchildren (6 born at home) I’m a retired midwife who worked as an independent midwife. I’ve always been a writer of articles and now write long form - I have an unpublished autobiography (Someone’s Mum - which may be published one day) I published a non-fiction title in 2021 ‘Women’s Choices, Midwife Voices:what does it mean to be radical?’ a living archive of the ARM (Association of Radical Midwives) - im now writing fiction and plan to publish the first of a fantasy trilogy at the end of the year (Tales of B-Earth) - I still regularly contribute to Midwifery Matters (ARM Magazine). I’m here as I’m looking for my writing tribe... Milli and co seem a good fit! Good to be here.
Hi everyone! My name is Tanya and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I’m a Lamaze childbirth educator and a doula. I’m also a single mum of two teenagers (13 year old daughter and a 14 year old son). I used to be a fairly prolific blogger, writing mostly about how effed up our maternity care system is, but I lost my writing mojo a while back and would love to get it back again!
I also have countless creative writing projects in various states of incompletion that I’d love to pick up again.
Hoping accountability and regular writing group time will give me the kick up the arse I need.
Hi Tanya. I’m in Sydney. I hope no one here will kick you or use any other violent expression. We all deserve loving kindness for motivation and inspiration, including you.
I am a four decades long writer across many areas from theater, comedy, television, magazines, essay, blogs, with most recent and extensive work in health and travel. I currently am the community manager, and one of many writers, for a feminist online platform (I am not able to share which). I would like to write more in depth and coherent essays on interests in this area but feel quite overwhelmed as i get into more of these complex op-ed style essays. I have quite a few on pause that I want to develop and publish (that's why I am here). Thank you for this opportunity to join you and an amazing community of writers.
My name is Hannah; I'm from Amsterdam, but I now live in a rural area in the north of the Netherlands. I am living there with my female partner. We have no kids (unlike most of you, I suspect), but we have many animals.
I am a photographer and write short non-fiction stories, but not often enough.
My central theme is learning how to cope with the countryside. Even though I grew up in a small village, I moved to the city at 17. I love city life. Thirty-five years later, I moved to Friesland because I fell in love with a cow doctor. I love having horizons and sunsets and being surrounded by pets, but living in a rural area can be challenging.
As someone who lives rurally I totally hear you! I get completely fed up with it sometimes. I find the solution is to use it as a beautiful springboard and make sure you get some city time at least once every couple of months?! If you can! Once I've been in London for 24 hours I'm usually glad to get back to the fresh air and green spaces here in Somerset! See you tonight xxx
Hi , I’m Eleanor , mother of 4 adult children aged 30 ,26,23 and 21 . I can now give myself time and space to explore what I know and write about it . I’ve been a full time nhs midwife for 30 years and in private practice for 20 supporting women pre and post birth . I’ve experienced a lot of bullying and punishment in the job and needed therapy to survive it . I also wrote a column in Juno magazine for 11 years on a birth related topic . I want to give myself a chance to channel my issues / How to validate all my years of work commitment and knowledge ?
Midwives are unable to speak up or write publicly about issues and the media has made life complicated and misrepresents our reality, well mine anyway.
Sounds like it's simply about working out what you want to say. There is definitely an appetite for strong voices on this topic, there must be a book to be written that tells women how birth can be, in the right circumstances, weaving in all your experience and stories? Anyway, can't wait to have you xx
Thank you 🧡
Hi Eleanor, I think we have met in Bristol? I now live in SW France, but my daughter still lives in Bristol and I come over regularly. I would love for you to write about your experiences and knowledge and speak the truth about issues and your reality...
Yes Suzanne , thank you and great to hear you. You came once to the birth forum I set up in Taunton 12 years ago . Thank you so much for your affirmation and motivation for me . Look forward to seeing you at group !
I’m in! Thrilled and humbly joining a writers group. I’m an activist, retired lobbyist, someone who writes but never really considers myself a writer! Yet I wrote grants successfully for years. Go figure. I have lots to say about all the things and I think it’s time to write it!
Already a common theme is being somehow held back from writing. I have this too. We can address this together! x
Hi. I’m an activist (for rights of lesbians and other women) who writes endless political submissions and is web mistress of coal.org.au and struggles to focus on my unfinished memoir and my love of writing short fiction.
Look forward to having you and hope it helps you to focus. xx
I live in Canada and I’m a mom to three girls. My eldest daughter identifies as a man, with all the classic signs of rapid onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). She’s 20 now. My other two are 17 and 15.
I spent almost 20 years as a journalist and I work in corporate communications now. I do some writing with parent groups to politicians and the media about the problem with trans ideology, child safe guarding and women’s rights, but it’s all been anonymous because I’m trying to keep my relationship with my kid.
These days, I often feel like I can’t find the words to express my frustration, and describe what is going on in the world. Or the way that words seem to have different meanings now. I’ve never felt like this before.
I hope we can find a way to help you turn all of this into clarity and passion. I am sure we can. xx
Hi lovelies, I’m the writer of two books on birth: Natural Birth - A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding published in 2010, which describes the spiritual initiation inherent in birth, and Revolution i BB-fabriken (rough translation from Swedish: Revolution in the Maternity Factory) a review of the systemic faults in the maternity system that damage women psychologically and physically. I’m a Sacred Birthkeeper trained in Glastonbury UK, was born in Sweden and am a passionate advocate for women’s right to undisturbed births. I’ve followed Milli for years and was lucky enough to meet her at the Filia conference a couple of years ago. I’m really looking forward to sharing my writing ideas and experience here.
Can't wait to have you in the group you wonder woman!! xxx
Hej! I’m also Swedish 😊
Nämen hej!! That’s wonderful! Looking forward to getting to know all the amazing women in here. Xxx
I'm a US citizen who will turn 59 in February. I've primarily published fiction under two different pen names and poetry under my real name. I'm interested in honing my journalistic skills. I'm pretty much a lifelong feminist. I secretly made the declaration at 8 years old, back in 1973. I'm a former nurse who is appalled at the current situation with medicine denying basic biological reality and pushing "gender-affirming care" on vulnerable youth.
Love your nom-de-plume , hinting at incendiary radical ideas.
That sounds great. Wow this group has such a wide variety of talent and skill! xx
Hello, I’m Laura and I’m really looking forward to this group! Ive followed Milli for a while and have read all of her books on pregnancy and birth and I recommend them to anyone I know who falls pregnant. I’ve never written before but I love reading and have particular interests in pregnancy, labour and birth, breastfeeding, and all things holistic e.g. aromatherapy, homeopathy, reflexology. I’m currently retraining as a doula and have started writing a book to hopefully raise awareness about how birthing within the system can cause both physical and mental long term negative effects for the women who do (on the back of my own awful experience). I’ve only started this month but am trying to navigate the legal side of writing this kind of thing without being accused of defamation etc.! Really looking forward to sharing ideas and also learning along the way! X
Sounds great Laura! Looking forward to hearing more about it all and getting to know you.
Legally, unless you are naming names or telling stories without consent etc, there should be no issue? xx
Unfortunately didn’t make it on tonight as we moved house today and I couldn’t get the wifi set up on time but I hope it went well and will be at the next! X
Hi I'm Linni. Mother to two amazing daughters, both of whom I home educate with a radical unschooling philosophy, and both of whom are autistic. I used to write a blog about radical unschooling and attachment parenting, and occasionally wrote articles for a natural parenting magazine, back when I only had the one child and she was younger and less demanding of my attention. That was when I used to read your blog Milli, The Mule, and it was one of many that kept me sane during those early years where I didn't have a clue what I was doing and everyone was telling me I was making a rod for my own back.
Anyway, I'm here because my partner says I need to get back to writing, and she's probably right, but I lack motivation and time. I'm hoping this might provide me with at least the first one.
Sadly I can't make the first meeting as I'm taking my girls to see one of their favourite musicians play live, but I'll try to catch up afterwards and join you for the next one.
Look forward to seeing you in Feb then Linni! Lovely to meet someone from the Mule days! xx
Hello. I'm Hannah. I write short things. Like reports. Emails. I'm good at those. Maybe the odd blog post. Right now I'm writing a long thing (for me) which is an infant feeding strategy for Kent. I'm a director of a small organisation called Better Breastfeeding and we were commissioned to coproduce an infant feeding strategy by Kent County Council. It's been pretty intense and I can’t wait to get at least this version for consultation done (deadline tomorrow). Looking forward to exploring different ways of thinking about writing for change with all you amazing women.
Just realised I can't make the first one. Hope to join you next month though.
Sorry to hear that but Feb will come round quick. And we will perhaps find a way to help you expand into longer forms of writing! xx
Hi, I'm also a writer on birth, like Kristina!... one of mine has a similar title "Pregnancy and childbirth: A holistic guide to massage and bodywork"!.. It is published by Elsevier, an academic/medical publisher and at some point I would like to rewrite it!....I also have "Shiatsu for Midwives" pub with Elsevier and "Beautiful Birth" published by Pinter and Martin.. Despite favourable reviews for this last book aimed a parents, and to which Milli gave a lovely validation quote, it has not sold much. I am not so great on social media and am slowly building a YouTube channel and substack. I have written a fourth book called "Turning Points: Harness the power of your changing body to transform your life" and want to get an agent for this.. So am fine tuning the book and the proposal as well as building my platform..
I love Milli's work and especially her recent stand on the word is woman!!... My new book is about life from birth to death for men and women.. and initially I had included more trans references but am now simply talking about men and women! where there are differences..
I will try to come next Thursday but am skiing with my daughter and her partner so will have to see.. I don't know if you will be recording it Milli?.....and thanks so much for setting this up..
Hi Suzanne we met many years ago when I was Lynn ‘Walcott’ I think you were speaking at an ARM meeting or midwife conference? I remember your shiatsu book but gave my copy to a friend who trained in shiatsu. Good to see a name I know.
Lovely to hear from you Lynn, and love your writing ideas... look forward to being in your writing tribe!...
Will be great to have you in the group Suzanne. I'm not planning on recording because I think it's nice to have it off the record BUT I will do some notes and a thread for each one, and am happy to review the not recording thing if everyone wants me to xx
Hi, I'm Nell, I'm currently working in communications in Australia. I want to write more of my own stuff.
I'm hoping to negotiate work from home so I can make the (Melbourne time) early morning meeting (normally I am travelling to work then) but haven't yet, so may not make it to the first one.
I think that's the first challenge for me: the need to inconvenience others so I can have writing time.
When my kids were small I suddenly noticed that I never sat fully facing my desk. I always had my body twisted back towards the room as if I was half writing, half waiting for the next demand on me. Then one day I started thinking about the 'right' that I was leaning away from. I told myself, 'you have the right to write'. And made myself fully face the desk. I hope that makes some kind of sense!
Hi Nel. I’m in Sydney, retired from paid work and politically active. Good luck negotiating WFH. I’ve read that corporate resistance is discriminating against women if they work from home while men snap up the bonuses offered to leave the home office and allow themselves to go back under surveillance in the workplace,leaving their partner to look after the kids.
Hi, I'm Emilie. I've jumped in super last minute! I'm been very slowly starting to write more and would love to cultivate this approach rather than vomiting out quick instagram posts. Arriving with curiosity and a hot water bottle. Look forward to meeting soon.
Hot water bottle sounds like an excellent plan! xxx
Hi wondrous women... I am English but stay in Scotland - I have 3 adult offspring and 7 grandchildren (6 born at home) I’m a retired midwife who worked as an independent midwife. I’ve always been a writer of articles and now write long form - I have an unpublished autobiography (Someone’s Mum - which may be published one day) I published a non-fiction title in 2021 ‘Women’s Choices, Midwife Voices:what does it mean to be radical?’ a living archive of the ARM (Association of Radical Midwives) - im now writing fiction and plan to publish the first of a fantasy trilogy at the end of the year (Tales of B-Earth) - I still regularly contribute to Midwifery Matters (ARM Magazine). I’m here as I’m looking for my writing tribe... Milli and co seem a good fit! Good to be here.
Can't wait to have you Lynn! x
Hi everyone! My name is Tanya and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I’m a Lamaze childbirth educator and a doula. I’m also a single mum of two teenagers (13 year old daughter and a 14 year old son). I used to be a fairly prolific blogger, writing mostly about how effed up our maternity care system is, but I lost my writing mojo a while back and would love to get it back again!
I also have countless creative writing projects in various states of incompletion that I’d love to pick up again.
Hoping accountability and regular writing group time will give me the kick up the arse I need.
Hi Tanya. I’m in Sydney. I hope no one here will kick you or use any other violent expression. We all deserve loving kindness for motivation and inspiration, including you.
Sounds good - we will provide that metaphorical kick! xx
I am a four decades long writer across many areas from theater, comedy, television, magazines, essay, blogs, with most recent and extensive work in health and travel. I currently am the community manager, and one of many writers, for a feminist online platform (I am not able to share which). I would like to write more in depth and coherent essays on interests in this area but feel quite overwhelmed as i get into more of these complex op-ed style essays. I have quite a few on pause that I want to develop and publish (that's why I am here). Thank you for this opportunity to join you and an amazing community of writers.
Sounds fascinating Bibi, you have such wide ranging experience to share! Look forward to seeing you next week xxx
I have followed you for some time and read about the writers group, what a great idea, I'm looking forward to joining you Milli and writing xx
Looking forward to it too! x
Hi,
My name is Hannah; I'm from Amsterdam, but I now live in a rural area in the north of the Netherlands. I am living there with my female partner. We have no kids (unlike most of you, I suspect), but we have many animals.
I am a photographer and write short non-fiction stories, but not often enough.
My central theme is learning how to cope with the countryside. Even though I grew up in a small village, I moved to the city at 17. I love city life. Thirty-five years later, I moved to Friesland because I fell in love with a cow doctor. I love having horizons and sunsets and being surrounded by pets, but living in a rural area can be challenging.
As someone who lives rurally I totally hear you! I get completely fed up with it sometimes. I find the solution is to use it as a beautiful springboard and make sure you get some city time at least once every couple of months?! If you can! Once I've been in London for 24 hours I'm usually glad to get back to the fresh air and green spaces here in Somerset! See you tonight xxx