Write, and write some more

As an aspiring writer I know that I am not alone in sometimes finding it a struggle.  Hell, I know that established authors sometimes find it a struggle.  I took a complete break from writing and uni work over the winter break to focus on family time and I do not regret it.  I am now however finding it a struggle to get back into it.  I am a little ashamed to admit that I spent an entire week in front of my computer and I only wrote a couple of hundred words, and not even good ones at that.  I had to admit to my lecturer, (the wonderful Sue Gillett) that I felt I had the dreaded W.B.  Writers block.  Sue gave me excellent advice - just write.  Just do it.  It is something I have heard before, I really should have remembered it.  I read an article today that said that the "just write" advice was a cop out but I do not believe that.  I think that it is great advice.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed by what you could/should write, to write by just letting go really does work.  So I did.  Let's face it, what we write is not carved in stone, we can edit, think some more, and before you know it you have some quality work.  Thanks Sue!

I was lucky enough recently to interview local author, journalist, blogger, many hat wearer (writing triple threat?) Lauren Mitchell and she too had wonderful advice and strategies to share.  In fact she opened up with "Writing takes practise, like anything that’s all it is.  The more you do it the better you will get."  Lauren went on to explain that good writing takes fitness, that you will use that part of your brain and you need to grow that muscle.  I know now that I need to look at writing like it's going for a walk, lifting some weights.  If I don't use my writing muscle it will atrophy, so exercise it I will.  

Here is the plan - writing 'workouts'.  Not all of it will be good, some of it will be great, all of it contributing to my writing fitness.  And I want to be well toned, lets start trimming the fat.

Both Sue Gillett and Lauren Mitchell will be hosting panels and talking at this years writing festival.  View the program here, and book tickets to the festival here.


 

Spoilt for choice!

It has finally been released! The program for this years festival that is, and it is a pearler! So many wonderful authors, speakers, illustrators..I could go on. Am I excited? You bet I am. I am making lists aplenty, trying to figure out who to see.

You see there are so many people to see I can barely choose between one speaker and the next. My goodness, how am I going to narrow this down?  Perhaps I can be in more than one place at once?

While I figure it all out you can find the program here.  Maybe I'll see you there?

Inscriptions in books

I know not every one will agree with me, but I LOVE inscriptions in books. I love opening up a book and being reminded of when, why, where and from whom the book came. It is something I continue with my son, indeed whoever I gift a book to.  It's a beautiful reminder of our own good stories, our life, every time I see one.

I love opening books up in second hand stores to see if they have another story inside them, "To my wife I love you", "Congrats on your new job", "Happy cooking". It makes these books even more special. 

I have a copy of Jackie French's "Diary of a Wombat" which was given to my son by a friend of ours, which she left a message in.  She passed away a few years ago and apart from still just enjoying that book I always enjoy seeing her message.  It reminds me of happy times with her.
I am also a sucker for having an author signing their books.  In grade 5 (1990!) we had Ian Edwards come to our school to promote is book "The Money Eaters".  It was one of the few times I was given money to buy something of my choice, and I loved that he signed it for me.  I still look at that and smile (and still love reading that book!).  As an aside I was lucky enough to have Ian as my year 8 English teacher, a teacher whose efforts have remained with me all these years later.
I am going to be such a dag, but I won't be scared to ask authors to sign my books at the Bendigo Writers Festival, because in the years to come I am going to look back in those books and remember, and smile.

Blogging the Festival

Hi there.  I am a student at La Trobe University, and I am thrilled to be part of the subject "Writers in Action".  This subject is based entirely around the Bendigo Writers Festival, a weekend of writerly goodness.  I am going to be lucky enough to spend the whole weekend at the festival rubbing shoulders with amazing wordsmiths, those local and beyond.  This blog is dedicated to my experiences over the weekend of the festival, but I also plan to do some profiling of authors etc. present over the weekend, and with any luck find enough time to read and review some of the works by attendees.
Find out more on the Bendigo Writers Festival here
Discover Bendigo here 
And on La Trobe here