Something which I have learned is that we NEVER stop learning and that we need to feed that as we never have enough time to do everything we want to accomplish…
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
Mahatma Gandhi
What doesnt kill me makes me want to fight harder to have what I want and need…
“Bone by bone, hair by hair, Wild Woman comes back. Through night dreams, through events half understood and half remembered…”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype.
Just discovered that an old acquaintance helped set this up which is a new organisation revolving around poetry and spoken word in Melbourne:
http://melbournespokenword.com/about/
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.
A few days ago I got to meet Paloma Faith after her concert. I thanked her for her music as its helped me in various ways…she thanked me in turn and told me to keep dancing.
This is a song which has resonated with me and has inspired me with the contemporary novel I am currently writing:
Beauty Remains
by Paloma Faith
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
Digging deep to use certain feelings and emotions I felt in past situations. Those which I have suppressed or ignored for years to put into my work. I am reminded to never forget who I am…
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
I find that I need to have background noise when I write as it helps with setting my mood.
The fictional book I am writing at the moment is a contemporary romance therefore this is the playlist I have created to help get me in the head-space of my characters:
Paloma Faith – A Perfect Contradiction & Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?
One Republic – Waking Up, Dreaming Out Loud & Native
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black & Frank
Adele – 19 & 21
Sia – 1000 Forms of Fear & Some People Have Real Problems
Ed Sheeran – X
Gabrielle Aplin – English Rain
George – The Esessential Hits
Calvin Harris – Motion
The Cure – Pornography & Disintegration
To be no cause of grief to anyone.
To be kind to all people and to love them with a pure spirit.
Should opposition or injury happen to us, to bear it, to be as kind as ever can be, and through all, to love the people. Should calamity exist in the greatest degree, to rejoice, for these things are the gifts and favors of God.
To be silent concerning the faults of others, to pray for them, and to help them, through kindness, to correct their faults.
To look always at the good and not at the bad. If a man has ten good qualities and one bad one, look at the ten and forget the one. And if a man has ten bad qualities and one good one, to look at the one and forget the ten.
Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind word about another, even though that other be our enemy.
To do all of our deeds in kindness.
To cut our hearts from ourselves and from the world.
To be humble.
To be servants of each other, and to know that we are less than anyone else.
To be as one soul in many bodies, for the more we love each other, the nearer we shall be to God; but to know that our love, our unity, our obedience must not be by confession, but of reality.
To act with cautiousness and wisdom.
To be truthful.
To be hospitable.
To be reverent.
To be the cause of healing for every sick one,
a comforter for every sorrowful one,
a pleasant water for every thirsty one.
a heavenly table for every hungry one,
a star to every horizon,
a light for every lamp,
a herald to everyone who yearns for the kingdom of God
tinaaltman.com 