Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Rough Synopsis for our new ebook. Opinions and comments are really appreciated, thank you :-)

Backpacking With Mummy
By Jaz and Jen Devers

In 2012 I sold it all and went backpacking across Europe with my 7 year old daughter.

I wanted to show her the world, experience all that life has to offer and witness different cultures. I wanted to broaden and open her mind, for her to explore who she is, to feel alive and to spiritually embrace the true meaning of gratitude. I wanted her to have all that which I didn't: opportunities, understanding and great mentors.

However, things never go to plan and sometimes the best lessons are learned from the hardest of times and from the most unexpected people, places and predicaments.

Backpacking With Mummy is our story of adventure, discovery, love and at times literal survival.

I hope Backpacking With Mummy inspires and dares more people to live more.

'One Life, No Fear'

Love

Jaz and Jen

xxx 

Bulgaria 2012


Tuesday, March 5, 2019

So it's been two weeks since....

I liberated myself from the four walls of a council job. A lot has happened.

Took me too long to get over the flu-it's aged me!

J got a college offer for a place on an art and design course (a year earlier than she should) but she's in two minds about accepting it; her reasoning being that her intuition tells her art and design is a subject that shouldn't be taught via an institutional programme of study but rather mastered through the trail and error of life experience. WOW! Wish I'd been that switched on at 15!

We've been invited to a Buddhist retreat at Samye Ling; meditation, peace, time to read, write, draw and walk with beautiful company and great vegan food provided three times a day! Like we're gonna say no!

J's decided to set up her own business of art and costume making-which has already had sales! Not even set up any online account stuff for it yet- the power of social media!

I launched my Etsy shop, this blog and accounts on probably ever single social media platform.

I've been creating art for my Etsy shop:
Toadstool of Self-Love, Mini I Am...Book and Love Letter
Affirmation, Mindful and Meditation Gift Set

Write Without Fear Notebooks


Leaf Me Be Mini Mindful, Meditation Canvas Gift Set
All available in my Etsy shop ;-)

I attended my weekly adult drama lessons after three weeks off sick to find we've got a new teacher. The new teacher is an experienced actor in theatre and screen. She told me I was no good at doing high status roles where I have to act as though I'm better than everyone else; I'd say she was a bit shocked at my proud response:

"No I'm not, I think it's all bollocks, I don't want to act as though I'm better than the next person"

Teacher: "You don't have much confidence do you?"

I'm thinking 'What? Well I defo don't now and anyway surely it all depends on who you, as an individual, believe to be high status and what the phrase 'high status' means to you?! I'm quite a fan of Eminem and he's pretty high status in my mind so I'm gonna act like the world hates me lol. Or Mr Blobby (Influenced by the new Tesco billboard ad in town)'

The rest of the group apparently just imitated Mr Trump, which to be fair, if I'd picked to do Mr Blobby I wouldn't have been far off-sorry that's offensive to Mr Blobby cos he's lovely I'm sure. So as the discussion went on, basically to play the high status roles you have to stereotype! 

I FUCKING HATE STEREOTYPING!

I need a bit of depth, a bit more meaning and a bit more ...well just more character would be a start.

OK rant over...for now ;-)

The biggest thing to happen over these couple of weeks is my realisation that I know absolutely fuck all about social media and just the internet in general. Like what the fuck is SEO and all this other important shite you need to succeed?

It's OK, I've got a plan! I've been to the library:
And there are endless tutorial videos on YouTube, so obviously I'll soon be a pro and I'll do a post in an expert tone of everything I've learned.

Really enjoying myself though, can feel the personal growth already just obviously not in the rotating of photos department ;-)

Until next time...

Love
Jen
xxx





Monday, March 4, 2019

What am I up to?...

So the plans or the WIPS (Work In Progresses, apparently that's the new in word at the moment) are:


  • A YouTube channel-cos sometimes you have to create your own opportunities! This channel will include: vlogs, short films and plays written and produced by me, spoken word pieces and just random, hopefully inspirational, madness.



  • Ebooks- I've got at least 3 ebooks planned for release this year. The first is a collaboration with J called Backpacking With Mummy - self explanatory title but basically it's about feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

  • Tutoring/Mentoring- Which I used to do a couple of years ago via Tutor Hunt and First Tutors, facilitating sessions of English and study skills.
  • Upcycling furniture into art pieces: Ebay Store 
  • SOLD
    One of our passions is the zero waste movement of which we're looking to be volunteering at the new (prospective) zero waste social enterprise shop in Perth UK, created by the same family of Perth Community Farm where we'll be volunteering too.

  • My Etsy Shop went live today with my first creations and more to come:
  • Cos we all should Write Without Fear
  • Freelancing on writing, proofreading and editing contracts.

  • And a big project I can't disclose just yet :-)
However, I am open for commissions on artwork, upcycling projects, writing collaborations and freelance writer and editor contracts and just about anything else that's creative...so get in touch and let's get creating! xx


Sunday, March 3, 2019

And So It Begins...

6 weeks ago I handed in my 4 weeks notice at my dead end but permanent job; a week later my daughter (J) and I were floored with the flu which had me rushed to hospital with breathing complications and signed off work for the remaining 3 weeks of my notice. The plan was to spend my notice setting up my business along side working...so I'm playing catch up now with no definite income.

What made me take the self-employment plunge?
I went from being on a temporary contract to permanent staff status at my job; for a start the word 'permanent' scared me. My line manager, the only other person I actually worked with, informed me she'd been there 18 years and only just got promoted 17 years later because the last line manager left to full time care for a family member.

18 fucking years that you'll never get back doing the same thing everyday with no opportunities for professional development, no room for creativity or growth of any kind; no recognition, no pay rise and no job satisfaction for 18 fucking years?!

I've got dreams, ambitions, goals and challenges to fulfil and then it hit me: I don't remember what any of them are, I've become comfortable with in the box thinking, I've been plodding along and not realised-I had a full on internal mental meltdown while still smiling and wishing the public a good day.

I don't want this for my daughter, struggling along blindly in a job that only covers the bills bar £10 each month. I want her to fulfil her ambitions, realise her dreams and I want her to live not survive, I want her to thrive. I need to show her this, I need to be a better role model, I need to be a better mentor...I need to be a better mum.

I've overcome a traumatic childhood, I attended 17 different schools two of which were special needs, learned how to read and write at 20, raised a child alone, got myself through a BA Hons degree in English Language, Literature and Writing, home-educated my child who achieved her 'high school' qualifications (GCSEs) at the age of 11 and I've recently graduated with a Masters degree in Writing. It's about time I realised how amazing I am and whatever I put my mind to I always achieve.

BA Hons 2012 Graduation
MA 2018 Graduation

I'm capable of anything and everything...we all are!

And so it begins...

Just About Surviving: Learning To Read Labels

Let's get rid of stigma, stereotyping and slag slating and start empowering ourselves and each other....This is a short play I wrote f...