Word crush

I have a confession, I have a word crush. You see last year at the Bendigo Writers Festival I attended the session 'Talk Right, Write Better' and listened to the persuasive tones of David Astle (and others I should note, they were all fantastic). 

The session was entertaining, and above all a game change. See I was all high and mighty - firmly in the camp that everyone should always use correct spelling and grammer. Anything less was just wrong.

Jonathon Ridnell took the aforementioned Astle as well as Nicole Hayes, Matt Blackwood and Fiona Scott-Norman through an almost debate style presentation, each putting forth their ideas for why correct grammar was important, or not.

There were two moments that were the game changer. Astle saying "English has booby-traps, have empathy" was the first. Have empathy. I'd been wrong all this time. This was particularly disturbing seeing as I have been caught by these booby-traps from time to time. The second moment was Scott-Norman retelling how her mother wouldn't write to her when she was a child, which understandably upset her, but it was all because her mother could not read or write well. Game, set, match. Because it's better to write poorly than not at it, isn't it?

Why discuss this now? Firstly I'm not sure why I didn't blog about it last year, perhaps I could not find the words. Secondly because, well, Astle attended the festival this year and once again I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of his sessions.

Photo: Helen Konstan

He, quite understandably, has a way with words. I suppose he's easy on the eye too, or so I heard from listening to other attendees ;) It's the words that get me though.

I had many opportunities to have a chat with David, but my old friends nervousness and fear got in the way. You see I was afraid I'd have nothing intelligent to say. Horrifying!

Our WiA in-house photographer had better ideas though, and upon me mentioning that I wished I'd plucked up the courage at the writers drinks night promptly introduced us, and took this lovely snap.

Maybe next year I'll have a full wordly conversation. Maybe I'll come prepared to ensure that I don't sound silly.

I accidentally sat next to Bruce Whatley

How does someone 'accidently' sit next to Bruce Whatley? Well, simple, I was too busy chatting with last years Writer in Action and Bendigo Writers Festival offical photographer Helen Konstan. I should probably also say that I was one chair removed from being next to Mr Whatley, but close enough.

It wasn't until Gena McLean, also a WiAer from last year and the person who actually did accidently sit next to Bruce, pointed out to me who he was that I realised. Whoops.

Last night was the Welcome dinner for the Text Marks the Spot guests, and what an amazing night. Being on Bruce's table for a good chunk of the night was so much fun. He is a very funny fellow, and generously shared stories, but importantly seemed genuinly interested in us ordinary folk on the table. Special. We spoke illustration, life and even spirituality and sceptic! (But that folks is a post for another day).

I also got to sit at a table with childrens author Adam Wallace, who is a very funny man. I hadn't come across his books before, but I get the feeling after meeting him that it is a must do - plus my 10 year old will love him too. On this table we discussed winking at Irish waiters to get preferred treatment, talking like a pirate, pop up playgrounds and puppetry.

Not your average dinner out. It is a real privelege to be invited to events such as this and despite my natural shyness I had an amazing time again. I even pushed myself this year to have a chat with the authors, which was my big regret last year. Tick that one off the bucket list!

The words to come

I'm writing an essay. Well, I have been researching and writing a little, and I'm going to get back to it soon.

But while I was formulating what wanted to be written I got to thinking about my writing process. 

I tend to worry a bit over the words, teasing them apart, willing them into existence. While sometimes the words come easy at other times I fret over them far too much. Quite silly really, and I say this because once they are written the words sit there proudly on the page. They flow well, they make sense and they mean something.

Hopefully the time will come when I can just give myself over to the words, and take the advice that I give to others when they think they don't know what to write.

Relax, the words will come. They are there, they just haven't been written yet.

Of course everything is easy. When you know how.

With two new batches of Writers in Action about to start wrting the festival there has been a lot of discussion on 'how to' blog.

It all seems rather easy now - just write.

Of course it if I stretch my mind back to just over a year ago I was feeling just the same as these students, and I know my class mates were too.

It can be difficult to know where to start. After all, there are many things we could write about. That's what is most paralysing when it comes to writing - how do you begin when you don't know where to start?

These days a post comes from one of two areas - because I have been given a task, or inspiration has struck and I can just write. 

Like any piece of writing it takes planning to write. A blog post is no different than writing an article or an assignment. It has a beginning, a middle and an end.

I put some thoughts down, word after word. Sometimes the words just flow, and sometimes they take some cobbling together. It also helps to let the words sleep. Let them rest, and come back to them with fresh eyes.

Writing takes practice, and the more practice you get the easier it becomes. A bit like riding a bike really.

So, for WiA of 2015, start off with small posts, even if they are only 100 words. Get a feel for it. Try different styles, keep practicing until you find your voice. Read each others blogs and see what makes each other tick. The words will come, your voice will get louder, and before you know it you will have a blog.

What is hard becomes easy. When you know how. All it takes is practice.