Chester Beatty Papyrus (written from the point of view of a woman)
The voice of the swallow speaks and says:
“Day is breaking – where will you go?”
O bird, you shall not distract me,
For I have found my loved one in his bed,
And my heard is more than glad
When he said to me:
“I shall not go afar off,
But my hand is in your hand,
And I shall not stroll about,
Being with you in every pleasant place.”
So he makes me the foremost of maidens,
And he injures not my heart.
Was chatting to a friend about poetry and novels and our love for them recently. During our conversation, she gave me one of the best compliments I have received in a long while….
“When I talk with you about writing or read your posts about writing, you remind me of Jo March from Little Women – Genius Burns. Strong fierce beyond talented and stubborn – but always a lady.”
Thanks Apryl…you have no idea how much these words mean to me 😀
Was discussing poetry and other forms of artistic expression with one of my younger friends who “gets it” and during this to and fro, introduced her to one of my favorites which she’d never heard of before and I shared why I loved her and what called to me. During the conversation I brought up how she took her own life like a few of my other favorite writers and realized most of my favorite artists have suffered from the big black dog.
For those of you who are artists of any kind – take hope there is more of us than you realize and even though you feel alone, you’re not. Dont give up! Using art to express what you are going through is beneficial not for your own sanity but for those who drink from the water-bowl of the big black dog.
I came across this list on famous artists who struggled with the black dog’s barking and its a pretty good one. I do however feel they should of included some of my other favorites like Dylan Thomas, Anne Sexton, Tennessee Williams, Virginia Woolf and Emily Dickinson.
I have a slight obsession with some antiques – usually the ones which are from early to mid last century.
Looking and touching these items, I ponder who bought it, why they bought it and what they did with it.
It enables my imagination to run wild and imagine the various time periods and the kinds of lives these items touched.
I am working on a short story retelling of a classic fairy-tale, but from an ancient world mythological point of view and a woman’s perspective.
Therefore, I have been re-familiarizing myself with Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales for inspiration.
After rereading a few volumes of said fairy tales I was reminded why I became a feminist at age 4.
Those tales are full of so much sexism that it hurts my brain.
If I was one of the female fairy tale characters set in the 17th -19th century I would of ended up like this:
Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived…
An outspoken girl with no titles yet was educated and self assured regarding her own opinion.
She didn’t live happily ever after, as she was promptly executed (or excommunicated) for being a feminist.
The End
Suffice to say my re imagined fairy tale is going to come from a feminist point of view…or so I envision it that way…lets see how she fairs 😉
Entered my “The Beginning and The End” short story at the Epic Worlds competition: http://www.inkitt.com/epicworlds
I realised several months ago whilst having a Skype session with my mentor that I didn’t have my own space for writing.
Every writer needs to have their own physical place for working and for far too long I’ve been writing in all sorts of places without my own base.
Dont get me wrong – inspiration can hit me at any time and anywhere but I need somewhere I can come back to which is mine and only mine.
So I put it out there that I wanted an antique writing desk and it came to me.
My friend Queen B lost her mother several months ago and was selling some of her antique furniture. I asked my friend if she had a writers desk and she did so I organised to have a look at it. Its what I needed and wanted and after instinctually finding the key and opening it up, I knew it was meant to be.
The thing which has stayed with me is after I purchased it, Queen B told me that her mother would be so pleased a real writer was using it.
Now I just need to give it my own touch and I wont have any more excuses for not having my own private space for getting on with the task at hand…
Pictures taken by Queen B at her mum’s place.
The cliche which keeps running around my head at the moment is hindsight is always 20 20 (ironically its what has clouded my vision of late). Flashes of specific images of the past which tap into dark emotions have driven me to a standstill. I’ve had to turn that around and use it to propel me forward once again instead of making me feel like I am drowning in a sea of words which need to get out of my head.
What has helped me is that I have found myself drawn to photos which I have taken which stimulate my imagination. The more introspective I become with regards to my writing, the more I love looking at the beautiful places and people who have inspired me on this journey. This is what is helping me get the things I need to say out….this is what has helped me get on with it.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words….well I’m using that to my advantage. I am looking back but also looking forward. Not only am I looking at the photos which have inspired me but I am taking pictures of things which are inciting my creativity to move into the direction which feeds my story.
This post was inspired by my friend Michelle L…thanks for reminding me that I am an artist.
Been working really long days in my day job at the university (I was seconded to the arts faculty publishing team). I spend my days reading journals and books and its opened my eyes up to all the associations out there for creative writers.
I have discovered and decided to join “Writers Victoria”. I hope it will bring new opportunities which include: competitions, submissions to member newsletter, access to various writers services, networking and commercial publishing opportunities.
Here is a list of some Australian associations I have discovered over the last few months which I have been perusing:
http://www.australianstories.com/australian-writers-organisations.html
tinaaltman.com 