Professional Writing MA student publishes short story in The Simple Things magazine
19 June 2025
For Harriet Derioz, this is the fifth time one of her short stories has made it into the pages of the popular lifestyle magazine, The Simple Things.
The monthly magazine is one that encourages its readers to slow down, eat well and enjoy making the most of where they live. The short stories it includes are of a similar vein, highlighting relaxing tales that celebrate the outdoors and encourage mental wellbeing, offering a restful respite for its readers. While studying on her master’s, Harriet has been maintaining a working relationship with the magazine, sharing her short stories with its readers.
We caught up with Harriet to learn more about her latest entry, A Tiding of Magpies, and hear how she is grasping the opportunity to study a Professional Writing MA and hone her craft now her children have left home.
Can you tell us more about what A Tiding of Magpies is about?
A Tiding of Magpies is a short story that explores how believing in magic and folklore can comfort us as children. My protagonist, Cecile, has a life that’s divided between her grandparents on either side of the channel, a situation that can give her anxiety. The story is an exploration of the anxiety that children feel, and how they put their faith into seemingly inconsequential things to feel safe. I used the ‘One for Sorrow’ magpie rhyme as the outlet for Cecile's anxiety, and as a way for her to make sense of things.
How has it been seeing your story published in The Simple Things?
It’s thrilling and unbelievable to walk into Sainsbury's and pick up a magazine with my name in. However, I need to start owning the idea that I am a writer who writes enchanting stories and not dismiss my achievements because I'm not a columnist with The Times or have written a novel yet. This is the fifth story of mine that The Simple Things magazine has published, and I have built a good relationship with them over the last couple of years.
What was the process like and what made you decide to enter your story?
I have always loved the magazine for its nature and lack of consumerism, and the fact that it focuses on all things related to the home, gardens and the natural world. It was my admiration of the lifestyle magazine that motivated me to write a story that I would like to publish within it, and from there I sent in a pitch. They responded within days and published my first story, The Naming of Things. Getting published in the magazine gave me the confidence boost I needed, and I haven't stopped writing since then.
How have you found the Professional Writing course? What will you take away with you?
There is so much about the Professional Writing MA I have loved. Escaping to Cornwall has been a huge part of it. I swam all winter from beaches like Sennen and in Porthleven harbour. It's true that the menopause is a huge time of exploration and creativity, and I have found my year studying as a perfect time to forge a new path now that my children have left home, giving me the opportunity to tap into my creativity. I have learnt so much on the course; it has truly shown me how writing on your own in a bubble doesn't give you the critical feedback that’s essential.
My writing has developed so much in just the year I have spent at Falmouth; the course is helping me to write longer form pieces and non-fiction copy, while also building my interview skills. Since starting the course, I am now a regular writer for the Bruton magazine, The Dove, have continued to work with The Simple Things and am working on my novel while writing short stories.
Now when any of my friends tell me they are writing a novel, I want to tell them to go on a course like the one at Falmouth.
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