Writing Courses

I signed up for a writing course in May and have been writing, reading and researching ever since. I love the 'challenge' of finding the right word and finding out when to stop and when to edit.

The Get Smarter non-fiction course has stimulated me into finding my story which although very simple, is keeping me digging and delving.

As I travel to Namibia for ten days, I've had to complete writing projects and upload them to fulfill my writing commitments. We also have to 'crit' other students work. While I am a teacher and used to commenting on work and having my own work commented on, some of the crits leveled at my work made me want to slit my wrist at worst and simply not engage in the 'buddy-buddy' exchanges at best. It seems that others need to thrust hard and sharp at other people's work without any constructive suggestions. Not my idea of fun.

Fortunately there is a very sensible IT boff who assists my limited confidence in uploading work to the site. He suggested that I focus on our mentor Mike Nichol, who is sensitive and objective in his comments and forget the snide unproductive remarks from others less qualified. As that was what I decided after the initial shock I have settled well into the challenge of writing the required assignments.

There is another 2000 word assignment waiting on my return, but with Namibia's open skies and Desert Elephants pending, hopefully creativity will bubble and words will pour onto keys on my return.

Desert Elephants - Demaraland

Of Books and Publishers

Well at last my book is at the printers. People always talk about a book being like giving birth. Well giving birth may well be what I've done over the last few years - more like having a baby elephant really.

The to-ing and fro-ing, from publisher to book designer, to book cover designer [both of those happened to be my children - Elizabeth and John respectively]. Oh and don't forget the editors [yes, more than one]. In fact once you hand your book over to 'the other side' [hear spooky music] it is no longer yours and you as author had better realise that very quickly!

I suppose it's a Good Thing, because the poems are no longer your own once they have been 'sent out there'. They become the readers very own. AND that is one thing that authors should realise very quickly. Once the book is out of your hands it is not longer your own and so I suppose that makes any criticisms that much easier to accept.

The launch of the book will be in the first week of December so please keep your eyes open for 'Sketch Your Year in Poetry' soon after that.

Writing????

It's all very well when people say that travel is a great way to be stimulated enough to write but I find that often it is too busy and noisy. Whether it is the actual travel or simply the busy-ness of being in a new place.

I find the best part is simply being still at home. As I look through notes and papers - THAT'S when the ideas begin to flow, words begin to float around and wait to be captured.

The BLOG is a great way to form ideas [even if they are not written] as writing to the screen is almost like automatic writing. A good way to focus.

The Kindle that David gave me for Christmas has been/is the most fantastic gift. Instead of my usual panic to choose books to take away I simply loaded books onto the Kindle and had 24 ready and waiting for my holiday read. No weight and instant reading matter.

The interesting thing is that I chose some books that I would certainly not purchase, but to my surprise enjoyed. Although it is rather frustrating that we cannot download all the Kindle books available and some authors are not 'e-booked' yet Kindle is a great new toy to carry around with you. Do you think Amazon will pay me advertising???