How The World Needs The Insides of Writers

It often amazes me how similar we writers are to one another. Whether we’re confident and smiling on the outside or visibly nervous, on the inside most of us are the same – we’re full of self-doubt, sensitive and highly analytical. We have to be these things in order to write well. So why then does it still surprise writers when they find out I’m the same, and why does it still surprise me when authors of internationally bestselling books admit they’re the same too?!

Listening to Di Yerbury.

Yesterday, I attended the monthly literary luncheon of the Society of Women Writers NSW and shared in the joy of other writers receiving awards in the society’s biennial book awards. I was particularly chuffed that one of *my* writers, NBWG member Sue Steggall, won best non-fiction book, with her biography of Joan Kerr: A Most Generous Scholar. Yay Sue! One of *my* lovely social media clients Clio Calodoukas came third too, with her memoir All Roads Led To Shanghai. Well done, Clio!

Here’s a photo of me (see that empty chair – I’m just to the right of that) and Sue sitting on the ‘top table’  alongside creative writing lecturer Dr Wendy Michaels, famous author Pamela Freeman, acclaimed poet Judith Beveridge, SSW President Dr Maria Hill (out of shot presenting awards), and upcoming author / fellow NBWG member Kristin Prescott (taking the photo). We’re listening to Professor Di Yerbury announce the awards.

Felicity Pulman – whose writing space you can peek at here – won the junior fiction prize with her YA novel A Ring Through Time. The gorgeous Susanne Gervay was hanging out at the winner’s table too because she won second place in the junior fiction section with her book Ships in the Field. Congratulations Felicity and Susanne!

After the awards, Pamela Freeman – whose writing space you can peek at here – then gave a fabulous talk about The Evolution of a Story and how she recently reinvented one of her old favourites into a fresh new story for children. Kristin has blogged about Pamela’s talk in detail here (thanks for calling me a writing guru, Kris!).

Pamela Freeman talking to a captive audience.

It was a wonderful afternoon, but what struck me most was the humility with which all these fabulous women were sharing their experience and knowledge – humble because most of them, at one time or another, have felt like a fake. They have felt lucky to be published / in print / read by readers / winning awards. They shouldn’t – we shouldn’t – feel this way because hard work deserves recognition.

Yet as writers, we’re often grateful to be writing at all. Silly, aren’t we? The world will always need stories. People need stories about life, disappointment, love, adventure, hardship, and everything in between just to make sense of living. And that’s what I, as a writer, feel I give to the world – I am a narrative-maker and I work hard at being the best I can be because, as Pamela said, readers deserve our absolute best. All these writers work hard at what they do too, so they deserve every success that comes.

Writers play a vital role in our society and I, for one, have learnt over the years to be proud of my self-doubt, sensitive and highly-analytical nature, because the world needs that in me – because the world needs writers. Yay for writers!