Sometimes the most imaginative futures begin with the simplest acts of care.
For me, writing isn’t just about words on a page—it’s about the structures of support that allow those words to exist at all. My creative life is deeply interwoven with the work of support workers, and their contribution makes the difference between fleeting ideas and finished books. Drafted by ChatGPT.
Why Support Matters in a Creative Life
Writing is often imagined as a solitary pursuit—one person, a desk, a quiet room. But in reality, it’s never just me. The steady presence of support workers helps me sustain energy, manage the rhythms of daily life, and keep my creative focus where it belongs: on the stories.
Their role is practical, but it’s also deeply creative. By helping with tasks that might otherwise drain me, they make space for imagination. They transform writing from a sporadic burst of effort into a sustainable practice I can nurture week after week.
The Practical Becomes Creative
Small things matter: calendars that stay organized, errands that don’t pile up, routines that keep me steady. These aren’t distractions from creativity—they’re the soil it grows in. Support workers bring a sense of grounding that allows me to take creative risks without collapsing under the weight of everything else.
Without their help, writing would be precarious. With it, writing becomes joyful. It’s not just that I have more time—it’s that I have more mental clarity. That clarity is where Gentle Sci-Fi emerges: calm, hopeful stories that require space to take root.
Interdependence as Strength
There’s a quiet myth that creativity has to be done alone—that it’s somehow purer if it comes from isolation. I don’t believe that. My practice is stronger because it’s interdependent. Support workers form part of the unseen network of collaboration that makes my books possible, alongside editors, designers, and readers themselves.
Their role isn’t secondary—it’s central. They embody one of the core truths of Gentle Sci-Fi: that care and imagination are not separate forces but intertwined ones. The courage to create doesn’t have to come from pushing through exhaustion. It can come from accepting help.
Closing Thoughts
Every finished story is more than just my work—it’s a shared achievement. The role of support workers in my creative life reminds me daily that imagination thrives in community, not isolation. Their quiet contributions make space for futures filled with curiosity, kindness, and connection.