Lorraine Marwood. words into writing

Occasional Book review 3

2012-02-14T13:52:00.000+11:00

No Bears

Written by Meg McKinlay illustrated by Leila Rudge

Walker books 978192152994

What can Meg McKinlay be doing calling a picture book 'No Bears?' Of course picture books have bears! All those fairy tales with bears as the main subject... but wait, the cover shows a bear holding up books and the main character Ruby.

This is an invitation to open the book and find out just what is going on.

Ruby knows all about books how they use words and begin with 'once upon a time' She wants to write her own once upon a time and happily ever after book without ever casting a bear in the lead role.

'I'm in charge of this book so I know everything about it- including the most important thing, which is that there are NO BEARS in it.'

Thankfully Leila Rudge is drawing her own subtext to the book and includes a bear whenever she can- a behind the scenes bear, almost like a postscript on the main story line. But very much an integral part of the story.

Everything is unfolding according to story- book plan until we come to the cast of the monster- oh no! The story and characters begin to have a life of their own- a bit like Meg and Leila as they write and illustrate this story. A great picture book develops a soul of its own.

Oh no cried the princess, 'SOMEBODY SAVE ME' And so SOMEBODY did.

This book is a delight, as a shared read with a 'little' audience, there will be chuckles and comments and suggestions. All the hallmarks of a great picture book. Highly recommended.

Verse novels

2012-02-12T15:09:00.000+11:00

Whenever I do workshops especially in the senior primary and secondary level of schools I ask 'Who knows what a verse novel is?' Hmm blank, puzzled stares.

Yet when I read the first pages of Ratwhiskers and Me and set the scene, the audience realises how easy a verse novel is to devour. Is poetry that off-putting?

The way the lines are arranged, short and to the point require a new way of reading- well perhaps.

Recently I came across a link where Kate Deller-Evans of Flinders University discusses the verse novel- 'Star Jumps' and Karen Hesse's 'Out of the dust'.

Amazing. I love Karen Hesse's work.

Here is the link to that article. I am thrilled for my work to be discussed within the genre of verse novel and also thrilled to have literary projection power from the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary awards.

I love the spareness yet richness a verse novel format gives to the narrative and although it's certainly not a popular genre I believe it has such power waiting to be ignited.

So... will I write another verse novel? Yes, yes.

What do you think about verse novels? Have you read any?

First drafts, journalling, notes,

2012-02-04T14:46:00.000+11:00

Lately I've been working on my new poetry collection and to kick start the base load of 50 poems, I've been snatching my old journals off the book shelf and flicking pages, seeing if lines or ideas jump up at me.

Every time I do this I make a mental note to write more in my current journal- I can't believe the little gems just waiting to be discovered again. Of course not everything I write has a future in permanent ink, but its the cardiac workout to something in the near future which might attain that dizzy height.

I also read collections of poems for children/adults/text books on poetry and try my hand at different styles of writing also. But there is nothing like observation, being outside allowing one's senses to be open to the palette of micro and macro happenings that make up a day.

Lately I've even collected little gifts to record in my journal. And yes there is a poem attached to it- but that one is currently on my editor's desk.

There is no substitute for sitting and writing- it's the delectable surprise that comes, the joy of seeing the world in a tiny shard. How do you garner ideas?

Month of Poetry

2012-01-21T16:24:00.001+11:00

Last year I joined Kathryn Apel's site for a whole month of writing one poem each day for the month of January. And this year I joined again.

I need to write many poems for my next collection- this is just the impetus I need. To date I have written every day- although not every day has resulted in a workable poem but most days have unearthed treasure, and some days two poems have emerged.

I've gone back to some of my writing journals over the years, to see if I can rework that initial spark that set pen to paper; looked over my considerable supply of articles and ideas about writing poetry and the magic of disciplined writing has emerged.

Sometimes it amazes me that over the years, a thread of an idea keeps surfacing in different guises until I conquer it in a poem that satisfies me.

I haven't shared any poems on the blog because my publisher this time wants the poems to be all unpublished- so here's to a new writing spree-I'm approaching the 40 poem mark need to read 60...

I'm hoping my hard work will result in my third collection with Walker. More poems for my grandchildren to read!

And a huge thanks to Kat!!

Old classics

2012-01-15T18:52:00.000+11:00

I have sorted through some never- to-be-thrown- away- classics from my shelves- and lately re-reading the Green Knowe series. My copies were hunted down from op shops, book sales many years ago and I have the whole series- wonderful.

I love the fact that the author L.M Boston only began to be published when she turned 60- hope for the older writers amongst us.

Why is this such a classic? For me it's the timelessness of the themes- granted some language may be dated but the forage between history and present time is fresh, the themes covered are pertinent and the writing seamless.

What classics do you read and re-read?

New Year

2012-01-06T12:57:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year!

I love Christmas but often there is barely enough time to think and reflect, because there is a grand daughter's end of year concert:

Lots of presents to buy, or make and wrap for all those six grand children (and children):

Cards to write and send, a year's worth of news to catch up on:

A big garden to keep going:

And new poems to write...Happy New Year 2012

Christmas makings

2011-12-24T17:01:00.001+11:00

I can't separate the writing me from the craft making me- so here are some pictures of craft made for family.

The baby Jesus in a manger tutorial can be found here.

Felt food is always wonderful for playing shops or tea parties. I love hand sewing especially. But can't wait to sew clothes for the grand daughters on the sewing machine.

Happy Christmas! May joy and peace shine through.

Occasional Book review number 2

2011-12-20T10:18:00.000+11:00

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat by Anna Branford illustrated by Sarah Davis

Walker books ISBN 978 1 921529 191

What I enjoy so much about Anna Branford's style is her seemingly effortless skill in portraying Violet's thoughts and the wholly believable synapses of her child logic. This is the third instalment of life according to Violet. And what a delectable and vibrant world it is.

From a sparrow in a shopping centre, to a delightful exploration of the term 'Natural Habitat' we are engrossed with Violet's family life. When Violet's sister Nicola has to do a project for the Natural Science display, it causes much friction in the household because Nicola doesn't know what to do.

Violet's helpful suggestions are met with “Buzz off, Violet,' she says.(Nicola) “It's not a primary school project where you can just put some ladybirds in a jar. It is for a display and it has to be actual science.”

So Violet sets about making her own Natural Habitat for Small Gloria the ladybird found in 'a patch of fennel with soft feathery leaves.'

Sarah Davis' black and white illustrations are the perfect foil for the text, from a shoulder -hunching, frowning Nicola, to a wistful head- titling Violet, Sarah captures the drama of the small moments in these sisters' lives.

A wonderful read and highly recommended. A Great Christmas gift!

Guest author interview- the fabulous Melina Marchetta

2011-12-13T09:16:00.002+11:00

I was fortunate to work alongside Melina, Elizabeth Honey and Adele Walsh ( Program co-ordinator for the Centre for Youth Literature) as they travelled into schools across the Mallee a few months ago.

Melina and I talked about fantasy and to my shame I had not read 'Finnkin of the Rock'( I now have- thanks Melina) and Melina has a new fan- I haven't yet completed 'Froi of the Exiles'- but I hope to finish it over the Christmas break.

I enjoyed so much Melina's answers to my questions and realise there are so many more to ask!

Photo credit: Marc Burlace 2011

So Welcome Melina- let's chat awhile about fantasy and specifically your new book 'Froi of the Exiles.'

Lumatere Chronicles

Fantasy is a step away from the direction of your other novels(such as 'Looking for Alibrandi')- what is it about fantasy that draws you to its world?

I love how epic a fantasy novel is allowed to be. Everything is so heightened, more romantic, more tragic, more cursed. There is no such thing as blasé. It’s a bit biblical, in that way. Think of all the epic stories of the Old Testament. Brothers betraying brothers, men sacrificing their sons, women giving birth to dynasties, displaced people following a prophet to a promised land. It’s all those big themes of faith and questioning a higher power and redemption.

The character of Froi (in 'Froi of the Exiles') is markedly different from when we first meet him in 'Finnikin of the Rock.' How did Froi come to star in his own novel?

After “Finnikin of the Rock”, the character of Froi stuck in my head but that wasn’t going to be enough for me. He had to come with his own story. I went on to write “The Piper’s Son” and it was during that time that I started thinking of Froi again. He was a very tricky choice and I wrote it in my head for a whole year just to be sure. The plotting was the hardest especially when it came to his personal story. What does he find out first? How does he find out? What does he do when he finds outs? I’m one of those people who work everything out in the first five minutes of a movie, so as a writer I’m more interested in the execution of it all, the emotional impact rather than what’s being revealed.

These novels are very much for older Young adult readers because of their sexual references. Has this been an issue for you as an author?

Out of all my novels, even “The Piper’s Son” Froi is the least YA and not just because of the sex, but because of the depiction of war and displacement. That doesn’t mean there’s a lot of “swiving” as the Charynites say, because there isn’t. Most of it takes place off the page for older readers to pick up on and younger readers to miss. I’ve always been marketed as a YA writer so if I’m going to include sex and darker themes, then I just have to accept that not everyone is going to like my work, and the focus for some is going to be more on the negative rather than what’s good about the novel.

I read a review recently that was critical, especially of the relationship between Finnikin and his Queen. It was also highly critical of the sexual relationship between Froi and Quintana, questioning its morality. There is such fragility to the lives of these broken characters and the way they relate to each other sexually is just as important as other aspects of their day to day lives. Froi finds his humanity and compassion when he’s sharing a bed with Quintana, without even touching her. It’s where they get to know each other. Their road to intimacy is painstakingly slow and it’s all about Froi questioning what is right and wrong and Quintana trusting him. It’s through her that Froi writes his own bond as a man. With Finnikin and his Queen, what I wanted to show was that they were two young people trying to balance leadership with family and their own personal needs.

What I’m saying is that my intention is never to include sex for the sake of it. There was absolutely no way that I was going to let those little horny munchkins from “Saving Francesca” have sex. It didn’t belong in that book. But it belongs in The Lumatere Chronicles. For all the abuse that happened to both women and men in these novels because of war and turmoil, I wanted to also show the beauty of their intimate relationships. I hate gratuitous anything but I also don’t like it when I feel the writer is playing it safe to satisfy an audience or a gatekeeper. This wasn’t the novel where I wanted to play it safe.

Violence is very much a part of the Finnikin and Froi books- how to you actually visualise the fight scenes?

One of the world events that really stuck in my head was the hanging of Sadam

Hussein.

As hideous as he was, there was something so macabre about how it was reported and how much we knew about the moments before and after. I think it said more about us as humans in the end. In any violent scene, I mostly focus on the eyewitness and how what they’re seeing affects them. I try not to visualise or focus on anything more than what the characters are seeing and imagining, so it becomes less about what’s taking place and more about emotion.

On a more humorous note, when I was writing "Finnikin" I went to see a couple who taught combat to actors. They had all these weapons in their home and I’d say something like,’ I’d really like the dagger to come from a hidden scabbard at his wrist’ and the guy would say to his partner, ‘Babe, go get the blah blah blah weapon in the back room.’ And then they’d act it out in front of me. Priceless stuff.

But I tend to keep away from big battle scenes. Firstly they bore me to read and secondly, I am hopeless at writing them. I have to rewrite them ten times over. In the sequel, I’m replacing big battles with a siege of a castle. I love a bunch of people being stuck together with no way out. There’s more violence in what they want to do to each other, than the enemy at the door.

Will there be Book three of the Lumatere chronicles- such a cruel question after you've just completed the second volume.

Yes, Quintana of Charyn will be released in October next year. It was pretty much plotted out with Froi because both books were supposed to be just one novel. I had one of those, ‘Oh dear’ moments when I reached about page 400 and knew I wouldn’t be able to finish the story in one volume.

What role does a publisher/ editor/ support- in terms of writing friends, have in the journey of such a novel?

A very big role. What happens most times is I give first draft to my publisher and we talk about it. Then I go away and write second draft and that goes to Amy, my editor. These days I also give it to my US editor, Deb. Amy gives me a whole lot of notes and Deb also gives me feedback.

An example of a Froi edit was the need for more scenes in Finnikin’s kingdom (Froi spends most his time in the neighbouring kingdom). Lumatere plays such an important role in the second half of Froi’s story and especially in Quintana of Charyn, so I had to remind the reader of that. This trilogy is ultimately about two kingdoms. The lives of Finnikin and his Queen and Lucian and his lot, are as important as Froi and Quintana’s. So I had to find a good balance.

Once I’ve completed two or so drafts, I give the manuscript to my ‘readers’. These could include my agents, a friend who’s read every one of the manuscripts, and my mum. My mum’s not a fantasy reader because, ‘Darling, there are sooo many people to concentrate on”. She doesn’t understand why I can’t write a novel with less than ten characters. She also thought Froi spent too much time in the Citavita.

So yes I do rely on many people. The most frightening and exciting part is unleashing it onto the world so I try to get friends to read it before it comes out just to calm my nerves. I keep on telling myself to switch off the Google Reader because it will break my heart. And it does at times. A great review stays with you for hours. A very bad one stays with you for days. For this novel there wasn’t a lot of time to gage a reaction because the time between the novel going to print and being released was so short, so I had no idea how anyone felt about it except my publisher, editor and those who had read the manuscript. But one of the first people to read it before its release was Kirsty Eagar who is an amazing writer (Raw Blue) and a dear friend. She came to my writing through Finnikin rather than my contemporary novels, so I knew she had an affinity with these characters. Her response to Froi was beautiful. When I get feedback from other writers I’m a bit giddy from it. Peer recognition is always wonderful.

Any thing else you'd like to add?

Yes, probably that after all these discussions about sex and violence, “Froi” is about more than that. There’s so much hope in this story and I enjoyed writing the love stories as well as the new characters. The Charynites were funnier than the Lumaterans. I had so much fun with Arjuro and Froi and even Gargarin’s cynical sense of humour.

And also that one of the best things about being a writer is going on the road and meeting other writers. You and your husband were no different to my fantasy characters travelling around in your mobile home for those couple of days. It’s probably another reason I love fantasy. There’s nothing better than a road trip. You meet amazing people.

And I have met an amazing author this year- one I hope to know more and more through her novels and friendship- thanks for being my special guest Melina. And there is still time to buy a book or two of Melina's for that special person or even yourself- books are great for Christmas!

Speaking about passion

2011-12-09T17:46:00.000+11:00

Passion as in the desire of one's heart- writing of course!

Last Sunday I was privileged to be invited to be the guest speaker at the Furphy Literary awards in Shepparton- at the library. Many young and older writers were present.

Dignitaries, judges( of whom I knew three) and myself as the guest speaker- retelling a precis of a passionate journey to publication was a thrill- it also sorts out for me, perspective both in the past and goals for the future. Well done to all shortlisted writers and of course winners and to the Furphy foundation as sponsor of these awards.

The first of an occasional book review

2011-11-30T10:04:00.000+11:00

The Truth about Verity Sparks

Susan Green. Walker books ISBN 978-1-921720-27-7

2011 paperback

My name is Verity Sparks and I've got itchy fingers. The Professor calls it telegativism. Sounds like a disease, doesn't it? But it's not. It's more like a talent. A gift. I've always had it, but I didn't know I had it until the summer of 1878. It happened the day I finished the yellow hat.

And so begins a rollicking adventure, written with great panache and humour. It's not easy to set your story in an historical setting but Susan Green has written with sensitivity about the plight of the working class in London of 1878- how does an orphan find work and keep employed when an unjust accusation of theft is engineered?

But thanks to Verity's unusual itchy fingers, she is able to find lost items and eventually solve the mystery of her foundling status. Along the way, she is befriended by the Plush family who are Investigators in a Confidential Inquiry Agency- Professor Plush wants to experiment with Verity's unique talent and this again calls on the nineteenth century's fascination with the supernatural and science.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- the pace, skill and intrigue kept me page turning right to the end.

A highly recommended read for years 5 upwards.

Could it be summer?

2011-11-29T14:37:00.001+11:00

Summer and count down to Christmas. I don't need any reminders about Christmas- that's evident in the commercial world- but what about the summer world?
This young blue tail lizard tells me the day is hot.

And to beat the commercialism I've been busy creating - small gifts from my craft room, from my garden. These sachets are an adaptation of my aunt's crafting a few years ago.

I've made about twenty of them for MOPS mums- I'm the mentor mum every Thursday- a challenge and a privilege- next week it's our Christmas break-up.

Any one else making gifts for Christmas?

Tomorrow I'm posting the first of a new feature- a book review( of course children's and Australian)

Capturing that storm intensity

2011-11-21T21:10:00.000+11:00

That dark cloud, that potent swirl of impending storm- I love the capturing of such intensity, with the white thickness of cloud being stirred and jolted into the velocity of thunder.

And my bush garden isn't too bad either- love my garden.
Have I ever written about the luminous light in a storm? Must make a note to do so soon.

Is Babysitting part of picture book ideas?

2011-11-14T13:57:00.000+11:00

I've been busy, Grandma busy.

What with swimming, toys, pictures and special treat food- (that orange blob in the photo is a mango!) and weekend sleepovers I've been busy. But I'm road testing ideas all the time and listening- for example my 8 year old grandson reckons sometimes 'baddies' look better that goodies and my five year old granddaughter loved the book 'Make it I'm the Mother' by Andrew and Janet McLean and she's hooked on fairies, castles, princesses...

Take a picture of me Grandma! I did. I'm thinking, mulling, washing sheets, putting away Lego- 'you have such fantastic toys Grandma' and I look around my study- I do love toys and books- how lucky I am. Now to chase that elusive picture book story.

Children's day

2011-10-26T20:50:00.000+11:00

Celebration! What a delight to be asked by the Kerang library( thanks Nerida, Sue and Julie)
to be the guest speaker at a Ute picnic- readings questions, picnic.

I got to read my Ute picnic poem and also a quick taste of Chantelle's cloak- the audience was Prep to grade 2 and 170 kids came to the lush lawns out the front of the library.

We then took the detour road to Cohuna( main road still closed off after the floods earlier this year) and we read again to a smaller but non less enthusiastic crowd.

Stories and poems are synonymous with children's week celebration- how did you celebrate children's week?

A challenge

2011-10-25T08:31:00.001+11:00

I've done it- just now- signed up for Picture book idea month! I crave a picture book. I've written several but being a poet I make too many word images rather than allowing room for the illustrator- so here's to a concentrated dose of commitment.

If you'd like to join the challenge- here's the link.

And best wishes for those wonderful ideas to spring to life!

More Book launches

2011-10-09T17:45:00.000+11:00

Weekend: Saturday

It's great to support my writing friends- this weekend I went to Claire Saxby's 'Carrum Sailing club' book launch and the illustrator Christina Booth was there also!

What a treat to have author reading and illustrator turning the pages! And a chance to catch up with friends- always much about the writing world to discuss.

Dee White launched the book- and Claire spoke about her inspiration- this is such an interesting part of the launch. Jellyfish lollies were tossed to celebrate and a reading and participation followed.

Sunday:

Today in Maldon, Glenda Millard's 'For all creatures' was launched by Margaret Hamilton- on the lush lawns of Glenda's new abode. Of course there were animals- those donkeys were wonderful. Thanks indeed to such talented children's authors.

Cloak Parade

2011-09-30T22:04:00.001+10:00

The book's written, the cloak's made and the Chantelle book marks


Narelle Stone is reading the book, Meryl has played the harp and Tyson is wearing his magic cloak


Let the cloak parade begin

Twirls and audience clapping


Now to celebrate in style!

Thanks to the wonderful Bendigo library, Tammy Higgs, Narelle Stone, Meryl Wilkinson,
Julie Gittus, and my family for the wonderful launch. Even thunder lightning and torrential rain couldn't stop the festivities but did stop the Melbourne train from arriving in time with this special guest.

Thanks Claire for making such a super cloak and coming to celebrate-thanks for all your patient critiques of the many drafts of Chantelle's cloak.

Spring in the bush and two thanks

2011-09-19T16:05:00.001+10:00


egg and bacon plant

The bush is flowering like it hasn't done for years- here is the egg and bacon plant- well that's its common name and the famous Bendigo wax plant.

glorious wattle

Bendigo Wax plant

I just love the colour, the texture- its my childhood landscape.

I also had to share an op shop find- playmobiles are expensive and hard to find- look what was waiting for me today at a $3.00 price tag.

this is my first thanks

a triple sized strawberry

And my second thanks for this huge strawberry nearly covering the width of the strawberry container.

Note on the Door and a competition

2011-09-08T13:55:00.001+10:00

My big poetry collection- many many hours of work is out- and I can honestly say how proud I am of Walker and Mary (my editor) for producing such a poetry collection.

Thankfully my publisher Sarah loves poetry. I know how engaging it is for kids once I read a poem- for example this morning in a little rural school where poetry is dusty, I read 'Alright' a poem about washing machines and lost socks. The children chuckled and interacted- that's what poetry should encourage- dialogue, language and exploration of the world around.

So here's the chance to write a poem:

Note on the door is all about family poems so the challenge is to choose a topic from those below and write a short poem to be eligible for the prize- I have two signed copies of 'Note on the Door' to give away to:

an adult writing poetry for children
a poem written by a young person( ie) a child.

And an extra prize of one free lesson from my recent e-course with the Australian poetry centre- poets writing for children- a two layer technique.

The topic:- choose from

a family note
a holiday note
a school note
a playtime note

Here's an example from my collection:

Writing on a Beach

A stick dipped into the sea's frothy ink,

the wet peppery sand

is a long table to write on.

Footprints are commas,

pearls of seaweed are exclamation marks.

Here comes the tide

erasing, refreshing , recycling.

It doesn't have to follow my format-try for free verse. Deadline- Friday 23^th September- winners posted on my blog site and website.

Email entry to : info@lorrainemarwood.com With the header 'Note on the Door' poetry comp.

Please note Australian residents only for the book prizes, but the sample e-course lesson can be world wide.

Coming- cloaks, cloaks

2011-08-28T18:23:00.000+10:00

This coming week, I have two books being released a day apart! From two different publishers.

I have a book launch planned for 'Chantelle's cloak' in Bendigo and to that effect I have made a cloak- but the model is reluctant to reveal the finished product.

Bryon Bay Writers' festival

2011-08-07T14:11:00.000+10:00

My little part is done- fighting off a terrible cold and cough- but managed to listen to a few sessions, before my cold overwhelmed me. Enjoyed listening to Alison Lester, James Roy and Tony Wilson- plenty of kids in the ABC3 tent and being introduced by Amberley Lobo and Kayne Tremillis was a buzz. But poetry was read and I had questions and responses- but not the line up for book signing that Alison Lester had- they forgot to announce signings for me- ah well.

But what I have learnt is there are more writers writing form the seat of their pants than planners- so i feel very comfortable with this.

It was lonely - I didn't know anyone so that is so different to the children's writing festivals I've been to- but lots to ponder and that is always the hallmark of a great festival.

The Crafty side

2011-07-27T20:44:00.000+10:00

I've given up solitaire and now when I need a break from writing and writing related projects I trawl craft blogs and ideas for art/learning for my grand kids- so here's an activity for my eldest grand daughter's fifth birthday at the weekend.

The project was found here What fun!

And also some practical sewing- some bibs for Sienna.

Bryon Bay Writers' festival

2011-07-24T16:08:00.000+10:00

On the 7th August I will be appearing at the Byron Bay Writers' festival- exciting.

I will read some of my poems and talk about children's poetry. Candida Baker is the festival director and once many years ago Candida was involved in a writing contest in The Age.

In fact Candida was the judge of a small competition to write like Georgette Heyer- has anyone read Georgette Heyer? I loved her books- occasionally I do back and read one of her novels and revel in the language and Regency world.

It was a time in my life when I had been desperately holding back the urge, the compulsion to write- when my busy family and farm demanded much. But I knew I could do this. So I mentally set myself a rule of my own. If you win this competition, then Lorraine, I give you permission to take writing seriously and set a little bit of time aside to do this...

One Wednesday weeks later I opened The Age and there, yes, there was my name listed as one of the three winners! Yahoo!
And the prize( oh how I would have loved some money) was nine copies of the newly reprinted classics of Georgette Heyer( and these are the volumes I now dip into.)

Would any readers like me to print this winning paragraph next time? Let me know.

I now laugh at such ridiculous high stakes to give myself permission to follow a passion over which I have little control. But now that Candida and I are hopefully going to meet at Byron Bay, I know that threads do begin to weave into a pattern- eventually. And I also know that I'd love to write an historical romance in Georgette Heyer style- how different to poetry...

Writing and Adult literacy

2011-07-20T15:18:00.000+10:00

Today I am zinging between writing a small children's story and a story for an adult literacy competition. I loved and love teaching adult literacy. I used to take distance education for OTEN in Sydney and enjoyed using many of my writing skills and brainstorming ways to encourage struggling adults to try and pick up a pen and write.

One of the most effective means of doing this was the message book- a kind of letter personal and full of details about your own life and then encouraging the student to tell you a bit about their own life. And gobsmacking details were wonderful. One young fella did his lessons on horseback as he went through the outback servicing water troughs. And I can tell you that he had that gift of story telling- if only the mechanics of fashioning the letters and stringing letters together would come more naturally instead of painstakingly hard. Yet I think and believe that this kind of personal letter/diary/journal was wonderful in stretching out writing skills and showing how much the student had to offer in life.

Honing in on interests was another great way- their work, hobbies, family. A garden diary, a craft diary, a farm diary. A conversation diary. A list to slip into a wallet, a purse with the telling details that needed to be written over and over again on forms, on school communication.

Actually I am still writing to one of my students 15 years after I first took her through her first correspondence lesson- which reminds me I owe her a letter.

I suppose what I'm saying is- that writing needs to equate to an everyday function- yet how much of many people's lives are lost, are whittled down because of a fear of writing(and reading).

Write on! Read on! Literacy is another side of my career as an author and poet.

Tidying up or is it de-cluttering?

2011-07-13T13:31:00.000+10:00

I realise that I have been writing and being published for a long time now. I have oodles of small literary journals from here ( Australia) and overseas and this week I have been getting them out of hidden cupboards and shelves and trawling through them. 1995 onwards...

I am amazed at the fortitude I once had to send work out batches of poems, finding every available address/opportunity to send work away that I could. And it brought dividends. I've been published many times over.

But over the last decade my writing interests have changed into writing for children. Still poetry, still stories.

So what do I do with those journals? I have pulled out my poems and recycled the rest- some I have kept- sad, but a refreshing reminder to keep writing, to keep abreast of competitions and opportunities. These were the solid foundations of the step to book publication for me.

And I can't let all that heartbreaking work go to waste. I am writing. In small doses and reading in great over indulgent servings. What a wonderful career.

What do you do with old paper memories?