FOCUS....

Another year, another writing retreat. It was all it was meant to be. I'm not saying I began a novel, wrote twenty seven poems or even two short stories...

But...I did edit seven poems, read one poem out for workshopping and edited my junior novel. Work was done.

As usual we walked...


When we walk, we talk. Sometimes about our families and our home life, but mostly it's about our writing, our process, our dreams, aspirations and goals.

It is often interesting how a different location, getting out of our comfort zones, can make us realise many truths. Do we really want what we say we want? Cryptic but so apt....does that person REALLY want to write short stories or are they now more poetry focused.

We do tend to end up down Philip Island way---usually very close to the beach. This time we landed a bit more rurally bucolic.


More rolling green hills than surf--but lots of nice cows to look out and admire. Even when we were locked in while a farmer went to get his amorous bull from his lady love- there was something intriguing to watch and comment on.

It is always interesting to learn something new- either about ourselves or our work. This retreat it was really brought home that several of us - myself included- need to focus so much more. To prioritise. Not simply do a bit of this a bit of that, oops forgot that opportunity, oops missed that deadline, oops did intend to do that.


We also discussed all those bits of writing that never go anywhere...and rightly shouldn't.

Those rants we write, those words that either we put them down or they curl up tight inside and fester.

All those times we try to put down what hurts us, binds us, frustrates us to the nth degree...what makes us so angry, so bitter...all those peeves and annoyances, jealousies and betrayals. We put them down as a form of therapy. Get it out.

Without any notion of publishing or sharing...or wondering what an editor would make of it.


It was a relaxing yet inspiring few days. Too few really. Just when you talk things through, muddle a few ideas and concepts, you return home and the 'normality' of life...family and work.

And those glittering ideas begin to pall, their shimmer fades. That desire to put it down NOW is thwarted by work. Normal, everyday voices return instead of the voice of your muse urging you on.


Maybe I can wrangle a few days away again before the end of the year...just to focus you understand.

Vicki

http://vickithornton.weebly.com/

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