Catch up and time to write

So...

it's been a long time since I took care of my blog, a lifetime has come and gone in a year
and I'm well again and waving from a May Gibbs Literature trust fellowship at Rothbury on Ann
in Brisbane.   What a gift of time in my career and life when I need it most.

I have several writing projects to juggle and with the perspective of a year's illness I am more
discerning/practical/ruthless and begin to realise how much I want to write and create.

I have had a year of no writing and no reading.  I wasn't well enough to do either of these important things, but armed with a suitcase of bits and pieces of manuscripts I am forging ahead and ripping to shreds those bits of stories I have held onto for years and I just don't think they will work anymore.
And writing
and rewriting
and entering competitions, just like I used to do when I first entered the writing arena.

It gives me purpose, a sense of satisfaction.

If you want more information about how you can apply for a career changing writing residency
here is the link.

Thanks May Gibbs Literature trust and Judith Russell.

A Celebration for a hundred years

What a pleasure to talk about my poems published over the years by School Magazine New South Wales.  This venue for having one's work published as well as showcasing modern Australian poetry for children, has been invaluable to my career as a poet.

When I turned from literary poet to children's poet this avenue to send my work was the most obvious.  Jonathan Shaw was the editor then and what an encourager he was!

I wrote poems about simple happenings in nature with a quirky twist, to longer poems about Gold, cows and even a prose poem "A Ute picnic."

Many went on to form the basis of my early poetry collections.

I think 'Magical Moment' sums up my voice in terms of writing for children-  there are sudden glorious moments to savour in everyday life and these make tiny burnished gems of poems.

The great Kim Gamble illustrated many of my poems over the years.

A recent poem illustrated by Anna Bron

I haven't made a count of poems published by 'School Magazine' but close to 50 or more would be the tally.

Illness in the past year has kept me from writing, but this year I am delving into my early note books and rejigging or finishing fragments of poems written many years ago as well as writing new fresh lines.

I also like the absurd and humour in writing for children and what better than cows to highlight their
exquisite and infuriating habits.

Thanks to Kerry Millard for depicting such mischievous cows! 

Long live 'School Magazine' and all the wonderful editors and illustrators and authors who enrich so many children's lives.  Happy special birthday!

Keeping part of the 'finish' mantra

I've had a few moments to unearth some early writing, to either recycle it physically or to recycle it into a new more vibrant poem, picking the best bits out for restoration.

The computer paper on the left is very old and the handwritten poem is born over a couple of days and using the workable lines from the old.

Of course it is a farm and childhood poem and will let it settle before I type up and send away.

On the good news front and I desperately need some of that lately, my poem 'Magical Moment' a direct result of this salvage and re-write program was published in this month's school Magazine.

Magical indeed!

It's Here!!!

After lots of brainstorming, writing, editing, piecing together the blog tour for 'Celebrating Australia'
a year in poetry' is finally here.

Check out the sites for revealing information on poetry!

And an extra treat as each poet shares a poem modelled on one of mine!!!

‘Celebrating Australia, a year in poetry’ Lorraine Marwood Published by Walker books    BLOG TOUR

2nd March  Jackie Hosking: www.jackiehoskingblog.wordpress.com  Topic:  What makes a good poem ( according to LM)

3rd March  Kathryn Apel: https://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/blog Topic: Bringing a poetry collection together

4th March   Rebecca Newman:www.rebeccanewman.net.au   Topic: Researching  for poetry writing

5th March   Claire Saxby:  www.letshavewords.blogspot.com Topic: Inside this collection

6th March  Janeen Brian: http://janeenbrian.com/blog/ Topic: How you create for the creators: how you create ideas to excite children and adults to write poems of their own.

 

9th March  Alphabet Soup ;  www.alphabetsoup.net.au  Topic:  Writing a class poem- the results!

How grateful I am for writing friends!  Thank you Jackie, Kathryn, Rebecca, Claire and Janeen.

A blog tour coming

Next week some dear writing friends will be helping to launch my new book!

I'll post over the weekend with the websites and dates.

So it's kept me very busy writing blog posts about all kinds of processes and even defining what makes a good poem according to me!

I also need to craft and found some amazing old patterns in an op shop recently.

I like to be creative on all levels.

So it's a 'Finish' word for this year...

I've seen a few blog posts at the start of the New Year all about focusing on one word and for me when I reviewed where I am with my writing and other creative passions, I realised that my word is to 'Finish'.  To actually cross that finishing line and say I completed that story, that sewing project, pushed that idea to its final conclusion...

So the tally so far is an historical novel completed and yesterday submitted to my publisher, working on a fantasy novel I started um... three or four years ago, but this is a hard slog.  As a poet my work is mainly short and succinct, so turning to a work that requires 30,000 and 40,000 words is a major test.
Wish me well.

As well my first Aussie Nibble has been translated into Chinese and I am beginning the publicity for my new book.

Here is a link to a post I wrote about the back story to 'Celebrating Australia, a year in poetry.'
Always good to reflect on the journey and know that through many twists, turns, roadworks and detours a finish line is acheivable.

Happy New Year!

Hello to a new creative year.  I have been slow in blogging in 2014, lucky every new year brings opportunity to make resolutions.

My new book is out now 'Celebrating Australia, a year in poetry' has taken a long time and much writing to finally make its appearance.

I was part of a blog post recently where I wrote about a bit of back story to the book.   It can be found here.  Thanks Rebecca for promoting and loving all things poetic.

I promise to blog more about what happens in a writer's life soon.