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?
