I sit down to write a reflection on finishing Island Voices (a collection celebrating island communities participating in Orkney 2025 Island games) and become straightaway wary of the word ‘finish’. The physical item went into production last week, written pieces and illustrations that were considered finished have been submitted and released to my good keeping over the past weeks. And yet, in some ways, the finish is a long way off. Because each piece could be re-considered by its producer as not quite perfect, as needing a little alteration, a semi-colon instead of a comma here, a line break rather than a continuation of text there, a change in tone and emphasis, ever so slight, which alters how an item is received. The process of finishing is infinite – because it is a process of recurring insight and reflection. This process builds skills that will be employed in the next task executed.
In many ways these considerations apply to sports competitions too. A race may be finished, a ribbon cut through, a whistle blown or poolside edge touched, but for the competitor there will always be analysis of performance. How did the midfield link up? How was the pace in the last kilometre? How smooth were the tumble turns?
Can anything every be perfect? Why does it need to be so?
For any event, game or creative piece will never reach perfection, yet it will be completed. At this moment Island Voices is complete. There will be – not may be – imperfections that some will point out, believing it is a good and necessary service. But at this moment, at the end of the race, there is a stronger call to simply celebrate completion. It will encourage repetition and nurture enthusiasm. Yes, analyse and reflect as well, but do not let this cast a dark shadow. For in moments of completion I think the shadows of imperfection should pale for a while, something I must work hard to remember.
Not only have a I completed putting together Island Voices, but my new novel is released this summer – Archipelago. Both have been bought to completion. Analysing imperfections will be irresistible. You can guess who will be my harshest critic. But I wish to celebrate these moments, to silence my inner critic. Even more, I wish to celebrate the unseen hours of the many hands and hearts that warmly deserve further encouragement to produce more creative works, to race again. To be vulnerable to loss, and open to success. The shadows banished.
The Island Voices collection is currently in transit. The books are in Aberdeen, a boat ride away, and I feel like standing on the pier with a banner saying ‘Welcome to Orkney – Let’s Celebrate!’
Island Voices – is free of charge for all Orkney 2025 participating athletes, volunteers, delegates and contributors. The pieces of writing that are included in the collection are also available at The Orkney Museums website
Archipelago is available in The Orcadian Bookshop in Kirkwall, Stromness Books and Prints as well as on-line.
