Storytime

I just spent a glorious few days away with a writerly bunch of folks. My writing group and I headed off to Sorrento for a writing retreat. It was a very typical wintry few days. We had wild winds (branches down and lights flickering), rain, lots of rain, very cold, hail, and more rain. But there were moments when the rain settled to a drizzle or an almost stop and we ventured out. The writing retreat is never a straight forward - go to your corners and write. NOW! There is the settling in period, the which room is yours, what's for dinner, how have you been etc but then there are the discussions. About life in general, but more specifically the writerly life. We discuss our goals and aims for the year, we chat about works in progress. We read and reread our work. We edit, we discuss. Sometimes we do find a corner of the kitchen table or set up on a chair in another room and write. It's amazing the stillness that comes over the house then. It's an ...

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 ...

Last night I went for a picnic in the park with some writers. It was the end of a hot day....trees gave welcome shade...birds flitted and twittered... and then the cool change hit. Bark and leaves fell like hail, wind whipped tableclothes, and the sudden cold made people grab for jackets and blankets (anyone's jackets and blankets) for warmth. Like most picnics there was food and talk, laughter and 'so what's been happening?' We talked of writing, a few read their work out, and as we packed up I realised in those few hours how much inspiration was all around us. I must admit to not using my picnic basket a lot these days- but as I packed it I remembered all those Boxing Days when we would pack up the kids, their few favourite 'new' toys from Santa, a picnic lunch made from all those 'leftovers' and head out for the day. Someplace where they could play and run, where we could recharge after the hectic days of Christmas. Remembered my own chi...

Creativity is never set in concrete. It is ever changing, fluid and organic. I find it interesting to know so many writers that are creative in other fields. So many writers are not limited to putting words on the page...to writing a story or poem, a play or novel. I know writers that are also artists, illustrators, photographers. There are those that write lyrics, make music, dj....those that face paint, body paint, sculpt and print. Writers that quilt, patchwork, stitch and sew, knit and crochet. Writers that design their garden, cook and bake, involve themselves in interior design. Perhaps some even create vegetable sculptures out of their dinners? Who knows? The important thing is that writers, those of us that battle with image and phrase, finding that exact word...those of us that struggle with plot and structure, character growth and cliche...we also like to dabble in the arts and crafts. Personally I like the almost instant gratification (compared to writing it is ins...

I do have the best intentions (sure there is a proverb about this and the way to Hell) but I do. I get my copy of The Victorian Writer .I browse through the articles and then I begin to read the opportunities and competitions page. I ponder, circle a few that I feel are relevant, put a star against ones that I know I have a suitable piece just waiting. If needed, I go to the necessary website, check out submission details or entry forms, find out more requirements. In an ideal world this is then placed on my list. Yes I'm a list girl...it seems the only way to make any sense of what I hope to get done in a day/week/month. And I do love that feeling when something is crossed off my list. A sense of achievement, accomplishment. Knowledge that I have not wasted my day. Yet this year in particular I have missed so many deadlines. Firstly - because my list cleverly avoided many of these deadlines. Freudian perhaps? Secondly - I became very good this year at heading off on tangent...