Writing Life: Feb 2017 Update – Rewriting, Writers Groups & Creative Inspiration

Image credit: Alejandro Escamilla

I thought it was time to give an update on what’s going on in my writing life, and hopefully give some inspiration and reassurance to those who are also in the emerging writer phase.

I’m currently in the midst of a rewrite of my children’s novel (this is the second draft). I’m taking the feedback I received from my Writers Victoria manuscript assessment and applying it chapter by chapter – this has involved rewriting much of the beginning and ending of the story, and expanding on the middle.

This is my first experience of working on a second draft of a larger work (only 10,000 words or so at this stage, but I’ve only written short stories before this). I have to admit I have at times struggled to find the motivation to go back to the project and start the serious work it needs to become the best manuscript it can be; I was particularly lazy during the Christmas/New Year period (I had plenty of time to write but it was holiday time! How could I possibly do anything productive?!). 

I find the best method of finding creative inspiration for a project you’re working on is to look outside that project for it. In the new year I decided to attend a writers’ group meeting for the first time with a writing friend. It was the first meeting of the year for the Melbourne Writers Social Group, and was a relaxed gathering at a pub in the city. I decided not to read any work out this time, instead listening to other reading out their pieces and talking to the other members next to me about the different types of writing they were interested in.

Just being surrounded by other people who are dedicated, at different levels and in different ways, to the same craft that you are practicing is a great feeling, and can give you the drive you need to stay focused and determined. It’s also a great way of keeping yourself accountable – if you meet fortnightly or monthly with a writers group, you know you have that amount of time to make decent progress on your work so you have more to share with the group each time.

Artworks from the David Hockney exhibition.

On another day when I found myself stuck, I decided to go on a ‘creative date’ with myself. I headed in to the city to see the David Hockney exhibition at NGV. I was amazed at the art that was created with simply an iPhone or iPad, and the colours Hockney used were refreshing and striking. I took a flower from the garden in atrium and gave it to a stranger on the way back into the CBD (she said orange was her favourite colour). Then I stopped at The Journal Café on Flinders Lane, next to the city library, and spent some time jotting down plot ideas over a soy chai latte. The café is a haven for readers and writers alike, with most people coming in to read or write on one of the large communal tables while enjoying a coffee or snack. I returned home refreshed and ready to get to work the next day.

Another form of motivation for me arrived unexpectedly in my email inbox several weeks ago. It was from Writers Victoria, informing me that I had been nominated for their ‘Adopt A Writer’ program, and would be on the shortlist for the remainder for the year. During the year Writers Victoria would try and match writers with patrons, who would then make a donation that would fund either time in a writing studio or a mentorship with an author. I was told that there was no guarantee I would be matched, but in any case to take this as an endorsement of my work. I did.

I’m happy to say I’m well over halfway through my rewrite, and am looking forward to going back and refining it once I have finished. I’m lucky to have a writing friend who is generous with her time, and has already given me constructive feedback to get me going when I’m ready to go into the editing phase (tip: try and find such a writing friend if you can! Critiquing others’ work and receiving feedback on your own will make you look at your work critically, as well as keep you accountable and motivated).

The Untrod Path: Writing Travel session.

Since it’s been a while since I’d attended any talks on writing, yesterday I decided to attend a session at the Jaipur Literary Festival in the city. I went to the session The Untrod Path: Writing Travel, featuring the travel writers Catherine Anderson, Namita Gokhale and Mishi Saran. They discussed how travel writing has evolved in an age where, through the internet, one has already admired a landscape before even seeing it in person. Catherine Anderson put it well when she explained travel writing is not describing what the Taj Mahal looked like, but how you felt when you looked at the Taj Mahal. During the session they each read an extract from one of their works, and each time I was transported to another place. This is writing, I thought. This is beautiful, descriptive writing.

I love to travel, and this talk made me seriously consider trying out travel writing. At the moment I’ve pushed any other writing aside – short stories, competitions etc. – to focus on writing for my blog and my children’s book. I know myself, and if I try to do too much I end up not giving 100% on everything.

I’ve also deliberately kept writing separate from my day job, using my graphic design skills to earn an income, whilst I write simply because I want to. In today’s digital world, however, writing is looking increasingly enticing as a freelance source of income, whether through travel writing or copywriting. These possibilities have been floating about in my head recently, settling in and making themselves comfortable. Will anything come from them? Only time will tell I guess! For now I want to leave you with a quote from Catherine Anderson, which can apply to travel or to your writing journey:

We’re all on some sort of a pilgrimage, whether you’re religious or not.