Cloud formation. Cloud cover. Cloud computing. I know what these mean. However, if you had asked me to explain cloud sneezing, I would not have been able to give you a definition. That is until a few days ago when I had the pleasure of interviewing the authors of Cloud Sneezing: Portraits of Women by Women.
An engaging title
Intrigued by the title, I was curious to know where it came from. It transpires that the title comes from one of the writer’s grandmothers, who was trying to cheer her up after a bad day at school. Having seen that her granddaughter felt down, she told her that to make her feel better she would lift her up so high that ‘you would be able to sneeze in the clouds.’ It is this theme of uplifting other women and being each other’s champion which is fundamental to these writers and what they want to achieve.
So, who are the authors of Cloud Sneezing? Cloud Sneezing was written by seven female authors. They met during an online feedback group at The Open University and, after having bonded over their shared love of creative writing, decided to write something together as a group. The initial aim was to share ideas and lift each other up, and from that the idea to write a collection of stories, memoirs and poems was also born.
Light and shade
In terms of content, Cloud Sneezing reflects the light and shade that is evident in every woman. Pieces vary in genre and length, from dystopian fiction to lighter, more uplifting pieces, hence allowing the reader to dip in and select. The collection reveals what is already present in ourselves in that we all have darker, hidden aspects to our characters, not just the lighter aspects which society often encourages women to portray. Through Cloud Sneezing we see the good, the bad and the ugly side of womanhood – we are not all saints and should not be depicted (or depicting ourselves) as such. Instead, we are multifaceted beings. Cloud Sneezing teaches us that women’s voices will be heard, but some of those voices will reflect a side of us that is often discouraged, suppressed or avoided.
A message to all female writers
It is also commendable that the authors have decided to donate ten percent of all royalties to Scottish Women’s Aid, an organisation whose aim is to prevent domestic abuse and empower women in Scotland. Thinking about International Women’s Day, and the women writers among us whose voices are currently silenced, I asked the writers of Cloud Sneezing what their message would be for these women. The answer was clear: keep going. Words, like water, will always find their way out. The Brontë sisters wrote under pseudonyms so that they would not be judged because of their gender. Whilst I would like to think that we have moved beyond this, I would also like to think that we can help democratise writing for those women who may not have the opportunity to write as freely or as publicly. Yet. After all, every cloud does indeed have a silver lining.
