Since my last post, a lot has changed. I graduated with a first-class undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Reading and won an award for my dissertation. My dissertation is my proudest work to date, exploring the differing portrayals of birds in Romantic poetry and the possible impact of early nature writing. I’m more than happy to share it with anyone interested, just shoot me an email! After graduation I bought a flat and moved to Folkestone with my boyfriend, where we’ve been living for a year. I got my first ‘proper’ job as a junior copywriter writing for a cruise company, and have begun an all-consuming collection of house plants.

Most recently, I became a Master’s student of Nature and Travel Writing at Bath Spa University. I have just returned from my first residential week at Hawkwood College in Gloucestershire and I can tell that this course is going to change everything. I met my incredible tutors — Jonathan Lorie, Gail Simmons, Amanda Tuke and Stephen Moss — and spent the week with my cohort for the next two years. Already I have made some incredible friends and I am so excited to see them succeed.

If you read some of my earlier blog posts, you’ll see that this course has been my biggest ambition for years. This year the time felt right, and I’m setting myself firmly on becoming a published author. I have begun writing what I hope will be my first book, which shares my experience recovering from severe anorexia in the Somerset countryside. I am thoroughly enjoying writing and am so excited to share my journey with you one day.

In other news, I’ve become far too used to my indoor routine. As part of my course, I am going to be breaking out of my cosy 9-5 work-from-home setting and actually go outside more. This means that I’ll be posting regularly, sharing the outcomes of my writing assignments and experiences in the field. I’m in the process of creating a mailing list so you can keep up to date on my posts — watch this space!

As always, please leave your thoughts and constructive criticisms in the comment section below, or email me directly at hannahrose.lilly@gmail.com. I’m looking forward to sharing this next chapter of my life with you and becoming a better writer in the process.

Han x