Hi, I’m Polly

… and welcome to Water to Bloom!

I’m an avid reader, enthusiastic journaler and aspiring author: thank you for visiting me at my internet home.

Water to Bloom is more to me than a blog or a website; it’s a concept that emerged in 2023, when I realised that I had been focusing on pleasing others, often neglecting my own happiness.

I spent a large part of 2023 reassessing the things that bring me joy, and this space was initially created as a way for me to share them— in many ways, it still is.

A large part of my healing was through words: reading, journalling, writing poetry, and a bit later, returning to storytelling in the form of writing my debut novel, which I’m currently revising with a plan to self-publish in 2026.

My aim for Water to Bloom is to create a landing space for all things written, whether it be blog posts, journal or writing prompts or editing dilemmas, I aim to share it all and hope that you come along for the ride.

Here’s a few random facts about me:

Leo Sun, Capricorn Rising, Virgo Moon. Paris is my favourite city. Pastries are my favourite food (please don’t make me choose just one). I fall over a lot; it’s really hard to embarrass me. The Bluebells revisiting my garden every Spring make me ridiculously happy - probably because I can’t seem to keep a house plant alive. I buy most of my clothes second hand - or make them. Romantic at heart. Always honest. I truly believe there’s nothing wrong with being ‘cringe’ and clichés are clichés for a reason.

I have a full-time ‘proper’ job, but writing is my passion. I’m currently working on my first novel, but I’ve also been known to dabble (I’m a true novice) in poetry - a poem I wrote to myself last year is below - you might be able to tell it inspired the blog name…

Find me on Instagram @polly.in.bloom

Spend the first week of January writing with me! My local writing group is doing a 50k writing challenge in January and despite being in the middle of a house renovation (we currently have no kitchen), I thought why not! So, yes I may have bitten
✨ On the final day of the year, here’s my 2025 reading wrapped ✨ I love reading these posts so thought I’d share my own stats. This was the year that I discovered Ali Hazelwood (binged every. single. one.), read more than I watched TV an
Can I tell you a secret? Journaling (genuinely) changed my life. So now as well as using it as a day-to-day tool to sort my chaotic brain out, I also love it as a tool to aid my creativity. A second secret? I thought I’d be editing my first no
I said I’d start editing my first draft today but instead I procrastinated and made this post 😅 Inspired by @yournonbinarybookbestie , here’s my 3-3-3 challenge: 3 books I’ve read recently: Direbound by Sable Sorenson Hemlock &a
I finished the first draft of my first novel a month ago, had a (happy) cry, and then went and lived my life. I knew I’d need to take some time away from it to create distance to come back to it with fresh eyes, and I think I’m finally g
✨November Reading Round Up✨ My focus for November was to read more indie authors, and after how good my selections were this is definitely something I’ll be continuing! I thought I’d have more time to read but due to house renovations,
Cause of death: Writer’s edition. I see any and all of these in my future tbh 😅🔮 Inspired by @theshitshereads What would be your writing-themed demise? #writerofig #writingcommunity #writingmemes
Went on a cute writing date yesterday with @alywritessometimes so thought I’d share what we got up to! As it was Samhain we started our session with a tarot pull, journalling and intention setting which was so lovely overlooking the Welsh count
On time (for once!!), here is my October Reading Round Up… October was lighter on the page reads but heavy on great characters, book boyfriends and sentient plants (not a sentence I’d thought I’d be saying.) In October I was foc