In 1984, a six-year-old girl who fancied herself a writer attended a school she didn’t like with a crotchety teacher she liked even less. The adults in her life convinced her that she should learn to fit into this school-shaped hole and find something other than writing stories to earn real money, because money was …
She watched her mum preen and pick out a dress, putting her hair up, looking her best. “Why can’t I come with you? I don’t want my bed. I want to be an adult right now!” she said. Her mum replied softly, “My dear heart, don’t fret. You have plenty of life ahead of you …
I don't get writer's block: I get sharer's block. I missed last week's blog post because of it, the first one I have missed all year. Sometimes I write a piece and I think, 'That's pretty good!' But, by the time I have given it a day or a week to ferment, it morphs into …
I am regularly asked, "Where do you get your ideas from?"* and I get eye-rolls when I provide my dull-but-true answer [usually: "I don't know", "life", or "my head"]. Because I want to be able to regurgitate a wholly modern yet fabricated response next time I am so accosted and my response is disbelieved, I …
I wrote a daily diary during my FAWWA residency, which is sadly at an end. To follow, are snippets of my days. Thanks so much to FAWWA for allowing me into this special space, and to the critters who put up with my too-hard typing. All photos are from Mattie Furphy House and surrounds. Day …
I set this writing challenge -- writing for 20 minutes without using the letter 'e' -- as a prompt for Tuesday's Write Night at FAWWA, inspired by my friend Sue's suggestion and the idea of a book I've been wanting to read. It was a tricky task that resulted in some entertaining offerings around the …
[another incomplete list] 1. Instagram. I'm new to it. I've posted once. I don't get it. Can someone tell me what all the buttons do? 2. The creases that appeared above my top lip this morning. Where did they come from? I've tried to re-enact the facial expression that must have caused them and, if …
Paisley floral on duck egg blue and silver stripes, flocked accents in chocolate. This is the wallpaper I bought instead of the willows and blossoms I wanted, the one I liked for its muted tones, the creams and blues and occasional gold, though I’m almost certain the original didn't feature that same metal because, depending …
Continue reading "Why I didn’t choose the van Gogh wallpaper for my dining room wall."
At the end of last week's post, I shared the exciting news that I will be the Writer in Residence at Mattie Furphy House for FAWWA (Fellowship of Australian Writers WA) from 30 October to 10 November. I will be working on one of my novels and getting involved in FAWWA events that you can …
(an incomplete list) To breathe. How to move. How to talk. How to interact. What/how to eat. What to wear and how to wear it. Whom/what to read/watch/listen to/research. What to take on. What to value. What values to hold. What opinions to own. How to update your social media status. Should you be on …
Continue reading "Every decision you make is a political statement."
