It’s the school holidays here in Sydney and, as a work-from-home mum, that means limited opportunities for me to seek out the quiet pockets of writing time I usually live to find. Luckily there have been plenty of other writing joys to inspire me between keeping kids and clients happy.
It kicked off with a wonderful writing day with friends. When you can’t write during the week, at lunchtimes or while travelling, weekends become a haven for a writer’s creativity. So Hubbie looked after our little ones (who aren’t so little anymore – my son is already a shoe size bigger than me and my daughter’s not far behind!), and I braved the spring rains to sit on a writing buddy’s sofa, gaze across a fabulous sea view, and write the opening chapter for a new story. Its opening lines are:
“On dragons and the wind I take flight. On dragons and the wind I take flight. At least that’s what I tell myself, over and over as I gaze at the crowd far down on the grassy field beneath me, waiting…”
I can’t wait to add more words to that story! But I may have to wait a while because, as most writers will tell you, story creation is as much about literary passion as it is about balancing writing time against family commitments, work that pays money (more reliably than writing fiction), health and fitness.
For me, it’s also about helping others where I can. So last week I organised a free writing workshop for young writers at Manly Library, as part of the Manly Arts Festival 2015. It involved getting some professional authors from my amazing writers’ group, the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, to tutor twenty-two young writers into writing a complete story, as well as illustrating it.
Those twenty-two kids certainly knew how to make the most of our workshop – they kept going for the entire five hours!
Manly Arts Festival 2015, NBWG Writing Workshop
We’ll now give their stories life by publishing them in a magazine to be stocked at Manly Library where it can inspire other young writers, along with the magazines we’ve produced from previous workshops.
Big thanks go to our sponsors: Officeworks for printing the magazine, Pizza Hut Balgowlah for delivering some yummy hot pizza for lunch, Coles Balgowlah for providing our young writers with snacks and drinks, and Manly Library for the location. It was an incredible day bursting full of unique and crazy plot ideas, the careful nurturing of young artistic minds, and countless moments where I’d think:
“Wow, there are twenty-two kids in this room right now, quietly writing, and they have been for hours! They could be down the beach or playing computer games – but no, they’re here!”
Thanks to my amazing NBWG author buddies for their help with the workshop: Chris Lake, Kristin Prescott, Sue Steggall, Theresa Holliday and Leah Boonthanom.
A ‘thank you’ card keeping me smiling as I work.
‘Thanks’ is such a simple word, but it’s so important to hear. I got a card myself last week from a client, expressing appreciation for everything I’d done to help her book. She didn’t need to say it, but I’m so glad she did – it made my day!
I also got ‘thank you’ emails from some workshop kids, Manly library, and another card from my daughter – it wasn’t even Mothers’ Day! Thanks like these help because, no matter what struggles life throws at you, it’s good to know you’re doing some things right. Is there anyone you could say a special ‘thank you’ to today? If so, say it!!
Encouragement is also important, which is why the highlight of my day yesterday was meeting a fan…
The fabulous Susanne Gervay!
Again braving Sydney’s spring rains, I attended the inaugural ‘Writers in the Park’ Festival, organised by the incredible Susanne Gervay – an inspirational woman and author whom I greatly admire and respect (read about her awesomeness here). She was kind enough to launch two books for my writers’ group last year, to raise money for The Kids’ Cancer Project: Scribbles in the Dark and A Dolphin for Naia.
This weekend, she managed to convince fifty amazing authors and illustrators to talk and entertain readers for free in Sydney’s Centennial Park. I was there representing the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group and selling books for The Kids’ Cancer Project. Meanwhile there were two streams of programming – one for children and one for adults – where authors and illustrators spoke about their craft and the publishing industry. The dreary rain gradually stopped and, despite continual clouds, whole families made the most of the event by enjoying: book signings, a drawing table, wildlife stalls, book stalls, a BBQ, cuddly yaks and more. Congratulations, Susanne, it was a terrific success! Here are some photos from the festival:
The Residences, Centennial Park, the festival’s beautiful backdrop.
Setting up books to sell for the Kids’ Cancer Project, with author buddy Kristin Prescott.
Books complete with a ‘poster’ made by my daughter Ophelia: “Come and get your BOOKS!”
This one’s about a boy who is swept away in an outback flash flood and thrown into a different world…
Having fun listening to Libby Hathorn, with Kristin Prescott
The kids had fun too!
Thanks James Foley for the art lessons!
Lots of wildlife in the park…
Then back to talking more about books and stories!
Finally, there was my fan – an avid reader who had read some of my stories and wanted to let me know she’d enjoyed them. Yippee!
Last week I was saddened to hear that one of my awesome author buddies had decided to give up writing stories – his heart just wasn’t in it anymore. I can’t help but think that if he’d received more encouragements from time to time, he would have kept going. So if you know a writer, even if it’s from afar, make sure you tell them they’re doing a good job. It really matters!
As for me, I’m going to continue making the most of things these school holidays. I may not get many new words down, but there are clearly plenty of other writing pleasures to be found!
What writing and/or reading pleasures are you enjoying this month?
