THEY'RE HERE ....

Stories that is. Everywhere. Some come from snippets of overheard conversation
* 'I don't date anyone over twenty two.' I HAD to turn around to see which guy was talking.- can I mention he was no longer in his 20's- perhaps not even his 30's.

From observations
* A couple are dancing on the footpath- not waltzing but he's holding her close and swinging her round and round - no music plays
I wound down the window on the car to see if I could hear music - nothing- but the image made me smile- and wondering....

From personal anecdotes.
*Celebrating a friend's 70th with coffee and cake and he says he would love to write down his story (he has had the most INTERESTING  life) but doesn't know where to start- how to put it down on paper - he left school at 13 so thinks that he can't.

When he began the story 'Did I tell you we owned a boarding house in Wellington during the war?' you know you're onto something.
I've offered to help him put it all together when he's got the snippets, memories and stories down onto paper - I really hope he takes me up on it- he has such a story to tell- even if only for his children and grandchildren in the future.

The trouble is deciding which story to work on first. At the moment I'm working on a story about fishing- yes fishing. The idea came from our trip to NZ. We went on one of those fishing charters (I LOVE boats- fishing not as much - but put me on a boat and I'm happy  :) ) - and it was this image of one of the crew gutting and filleting the one fish caught (and kept) and the looks of envy on some of the other fishermen. From one image I'm weaving a story. That's the fun - that's where you begin the adventure and see where it takes you.

Talking of adventure - I will be a co-feature with Koraly Dimitriadis, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Geoff Fox at Passionate Tongues, Brunswick Hotel, Monday 22nd 8pm. Would love to see some friendly faces in the audience - it looks like it will be a good night of poetry and passion (You have to see these girls perform their poetry - wonderful stuff!)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE SOLITARY WRITER...

Image
Writers are said to be solitary creatures. There is the age old image of the writer, alone, shivering and gaunt, scribbling away frantically while living in an attic. Frankly I don't know any writers who live in attics, or in fact many who lead the solitary life. Most are surrounded by people- in their daily lives, in their jobs, surrounded by family and friends. And really it is by being part of this social whirl where the majority of ideas come from. People as a species are so interesting, so volatile, so eager to say too much. All fodder for a poem or short story, a play, piece of non-fiction...or the seed for a novel. The novel I wrote for Nanowrimo last year was based on a line my father said. One simple phrase and I wondered 'what if...' and it went from there. The last short story I wrote was based on a mother I noticed at work and how she interacted with her children on one of the last scorching days. Let's just say the temperature wasn't the only thi...
Read more

OBSTACLES....

Image
This year has been a bit of a doozy. A lot of obstacles have popped up, some avoidable (accepting bigger work load and more hours)..some unavoidable (death of family member). So without me noticing it, March has arrived. Summer is gone and we have autumn, and not a lot of writing has been done. But here we are and I'm determined to get myself organised and on focus. I have made a goal sheet for 2018, which is a great start. It only has two things on it but heh, they are two BIG things and hopefully  I intend to get them done.  Last night I attended my YA / Children's writing group. What an inspirational group! Just when I needed a pick up, a kick up the pants (please supply any number of cliches) I was reminded of what can be achieved with lots of hard work. Fellow member Pauline   is about to launch her second book in her Cinnamon Stevens series. There will be a launch at Belgrave Library, Tuesday 10th April 2pm.  Copies can be purchased ...
Read more

FRESH START....

Image
There's something about the beginning of a new year. Fills us with inspiration, hopes and dreams. Lets us believe that anything is possible. That the year to come can be anything we want it to be. And it can. And of course there are resolutions...I'm still debating about what tack to take. Whether to focus on poetry or short story, the novel(s) that I wrote last year....hmmm too hard to think about just yet. I'll let it percolate, ponder on the pros and cons, on what I WANT to do, not what I SHOULD do. Personal resolutions are so much easier- I have plans on health and wellbeing, on the house, on the garden, on myself spiritually as well. The writing ones are so much harder. And of course there is knowing when to stop. There is no point in having a list a mile long ( I so used to do that)... totally unachievable and so daunting. So it's better to have a few solid ones on the list...ones that can be achieved within twelve months. And also goals that I have contr...
Read more