Storytime

My father recently died and the funeral was on Monday. His death was not unexpected, he fought a long battle with cancer, yet even though we knew it was expected, we are never ready to say goodbye. But we did. It was a lovely service, with all four children, twelve grand children (and one great grand child) attending. One of my brothers did a reading, as did my daughter. And I did the eulogy. This was one of the most difficult things I have ever written. I did one for my brother-in-law, but I was one of several who shared memories, stories and thoughts. Here, I was one voice, trying to capture the shared memories of four children. I must admit it took quite a few days to write. So many memories that I couldn't include....I would have spoken for hours otherwise. But I did my best to attempt to sum him up. His hobbies and interests...the way he was. I wanted my family to be proud of the final piece of writing. To be able to say, yes that was him. Yo...

I've just had a birthday. Not one of those big ones that end in a zero, although this did end in a 5 so half way to a big zero one. And although I know exactly how old I am, and some days I really feel that old or even older, other days and I swear I have the mind of a teenager. Looking at it mathematically...I have lived for over 20 000 days. I have had roughly 28, 908,000 minutes. And frankly a lot have been wasted  misused perhaps. However I have lived in interesting times. The year I was born JFK was assassinated (don't remember a thing about it).  I was 6 when man walked on the moon (ditto about not remembering seeing it). In those days not everyone had a television...and those that did saw everything in black and white. I grew up watching Mr Squiggle, Adventure Island, Bellbird and Homicide. Colour TV wasn't in Australia till 1975...and once again...not everyone could afford a colour TV. We grew up eating Kraft cheese that came in a big blue block...in s...

It just so happens that Library Lovers Day falls on another loving day...Valentines. And while we all know, constantly bombarded by visions of giving our loved ones flowers, chocolates and jewellery, why we are MEANT to celebrate love and all it's fuzzy redness....Library Lovers Day quietly sails by with few folks celebrating. But for some of us, it's a very special day. And of course there are so many reasons to love your library. Firstly it's FREE. Yep, free. Nothing, nada, nil, no cost. Libraries are also inclusive. We don't care what religion or gender or nationality you are, we don't care if you are rich or poor, literate or not. We merely welcome you all. Libraries are also vital community hubs. We help to build communities, people connect and meet there, it's a great place to catch up.  And we have so many activities...FREE. There are book clubs and craft groups, conversation clubs and writing groups. We have speakers ...

I am writing my first story involving a world I really don't know or understand...YET. I write about people, they are what intrigue and interest me, the setting has usually been the here and now. Sometimes I have gone back in time but usually to a time or place I remember. Or I can remember someone talking about. Verbal social history is a great way to understand the past. Creating a dystopian world(which literally means a community or society that is undesirable or frightening) is very new to me. It leads to a lot of questions. I mean I get to build it, create it from scratch...and the first decision is how different or close to NOW is it going to be? I have an idea of my characters...but everything else is mostly in the ether. Everything from what they eat to the transport they use, where they live, what education (if any) do they have...even down to what they wear. Will it be like The Handmaid's Tale, specified outfits denoting who they are...or would it be like...

I've decided (after handing in my novel MS to a cold reader) to keep busy. Well relatively busy. I could spend the time fretting over whether I've wasted a few years and thousands of words on a piece that no one likes or gets or sees any merit in it....or I could do something constructive. So out comes the junior novel of which I have a first chapter. This novel is very different to what I normally write. The idea came during one of those sleepless 3 am journeys. And of course as we all know, everything that makes sense at 3 am is usually pure gibberish in the cold light of day. Yet I like the notion behind the story. I have no idea where the story is going, what will happen. As we all know I'm a pantser not a planner. But I decided to have a go at brainstorming. I settled down with a huge piece of paper and began to write words...phrases. Trying to put down some key ideas, concepts. Really, I was looking for anything. Aided by my faithful companion...well G...

I've done it. I've handed over the manuscript...handed over eagerly to someone I totally trust. Yet, even as I printed out those last pages I was editing. Thinking that I should have added this, made that scene longer, focused on that photograph because there is a link to.... But, I also knew, no matter how unfinished it was...it was time for another's eyes to go over it. First of all, someone has to see whether there is a story there. I think there is, but of course the story is mainly in my brain.  As we all know, the major difficulty in writing, is getting down on paper what we have going on up there. Often so many things are overlooked because to us, it is obvious. Naturally we know that the hero has a slight lopsided smile, we see it in our mind all the time. What do you mean the reader has no knowledge of this? It's mentioned nowhere in the book? Hmmmmm. I know there are some people that insist NO ONE sees their first draft. Or even their second, ...

I wish I had the magic solution. Perhaps a pill to take when procrastination calls. Maybe some medicine when the muse vanishes. Something, anything, so that I do make myself sit down and write. Yes I know it comes down to dedication and determination. Throw in deadlines as well...why not. But in reality there are times, when nothing, makes the writing easier. Yet there are times, when I do get into it, that I really enjoy. Totally relate it to my gardening. I had plans...BIG PLANS. So much was going to be accomplished...yet at the moment I'm in a state of near total exhaustion. We are lucky if I manage home after work and get a meal cooked. By the time Little Miss is safe in bed, it's time for my bed and sleep! Yet, months ago when I put in my rosemary clippings (see above)...they looked like nothing. Little twigs set in the ground. Fast forward a few months and heh presto. My Rosemary Hedge (see what I mean about having big plans...this will be a hedge of ro...