I’ve just completed a writing series called ‘words and pictures’. Before I move onto the next series I thought it would be interesting to share my process. This is for anyone who wants to write.
All in Writing
words and pictures
Hello reader words, seer of pictures, thinker of thoughts. Feel like doing some of that together? An idea for a new writing series has arisen, so I’m going for it. It's called Words and Pictures. Every day for the next who knows how many days, I’m going to draw a little picture of something mundane, and write some possibly tedious, possibly transcendental words to go along with it.
The Little Things Are The Big Things
2017. My grandma died. I got the flu and couldn’t walk properly. I spent three months fearing I had breast cancer. I cried. I swore. I felt insufficient. It would be easy for me to throw last year on the scrap pile of years that sucked if I hadn’t done this one powerful thing…
Answer the Creative Call: Jump off the Cliff
My body was wrapped tight in harnesses with long ropes attached. The vividly beautiful face of a Zambian man was inches from mine. That skin. Those teeth. He had hold of the ropes and told me to lean back. “Are you ready?”
With Your Feet on the Air and Your Head on the Ground – Living a sustainable creative life
“With your feet in the air and your head on the ground,” is the opening line to Where Is My Mind by The Pixies; seminal alt-rock band from the late 80s early 90s. To me it’s the creative’s version of the saying: Head in the clouds, feet on the ground. And this is the ultimate in living a creative life.
The Joy of Swearing
Shit. Fuck. Cunt. Love them or hate them, they make an impact don’t they? They're the punk rock kids of any language - rebellious anarchists who love to cause a stir.
You're Getting Older Girl
My annual ode to getting older. It has a dark beginning but hang in there, it has a happy(ish) ending… I was in the midst of a sweaty throng of other rock fans jumping up and down to my fave live band feeling super fucking happy...
Commute: The Magic Between Departure and Arrival
Today I slid my laptop into a beach bag with coffee money, wandered out the back gate to the beach, stopped to take a close-up of a flower still covered in dew, then walked along the beach to a little café to sip coffee and write... I reflected on how things change and how the word ‘commute’ has taken on a very different meaning for me...
Tomato & Onion Sandwiches
The shearing shed is a flurry of activity. The three sets of mechanical shears powered by the loud petrol engine buzz and clitter-clatter in competition with each other. As do the shearers who hold the shears, bent over their sheep – deep in the meditation of their craft.
We Teach Best What We Most Need To Learn
When I heard those words I dropped the bed sheet I was busy folding into a hospital corner, and stood up with a big stupid grin of enlightenment.
Today I’m Thinking About Death
A poem about life and death and time and things...
11 Writing Tips From A Passionate Love Affair
The relationship between writer and writing is like a passionate love affair. We love, we hate; we cry, we laugh; we’re on, we’re off. We ignore each other, obsess over each other; throw roses, throw plates. All in the silence and stillness of a solitary place.
Close Encounters of the Human Kind
As I boarded and walked up the aisle, trying not to thump anyone in the head with my bag, I scanned the seat numbers until I found mine. There was a man sitting in the middle seat.
I Got Wise: Four Things I learned at 40
Well, it seems that just maybe I did do some growing up in the last year, because this birthday I chilled the F out, and noticed that I knew some stuff that I didn’t know last year. I’ll spare you a list of 40, but here’s four: 1. Stop being so fucking hard on yourself...
What is this thing we call creativity; that angel of light and invisible demon that at times seduces but remains just outside our reach?
The Story Continues...
Here is part II of The Most Wanted Child in the Wimmera...
The Most Wanted Child in the Wimmera
One warm November day in 1926 a baby girl was born. The doctor held her up high and declared with a broad smile, “This is the most wanted child in the Wimmera!”
Wisdom... It's Out There
These school holidays I found wisdom in four surprising locations, when I least expected it...
'Stuff' Editing - Are You Doing It?
Inspired by a TED Talk by Graham Hill titled 'Less Stuff, More Happiness', I got to thinking about all the 'stuff' in our lives... Both material and digital, and how happiness can be found in less...
Two Moons and Warm Tea
A sci-fi short story about travelling to another planet and a revealing conversation...