NaNoWritMo 2012

Well here we are once again; the inaugural writing event for thirty days solid with 50,000 words our ambition.  Bring it on, I think I really need a challenge like this right now - how about you?  So I am going to also keep a blog update on my progress; so now two commitments oh my!  What am I doing? Thats right, I'm going to produce something worthy of a novel.  Now I just have to decide is it going to be YA, childrens fiction or perhaps non-fiction, adult fiction?  Oh see what it has already done.  Thinking hat HELP!!!

Keeping up Appearances

While working on my latest piece of writing for the 2012 Soapbox article writing competition, I decided to go to the local library to kill some time before heading to my daughter's class room to help out.  With forward thinking, I went armed with the laptop and notebook in search of some much needed quite thinking time.   

What I didn't anticipate was the weekly toddler's sing-a-long and story time coinciding with the little spare time I have.

As I began banging out my sentences with ideas flowing nicely, my thought process was abruptly interrupted with "mother duck went out one day..'" and "if your happy and you know it clap your hands."  

The library, the very institution I thought I could find some solitude and meaningful quite time to think clearly, is apparently no longer that place; well not on Wednesday's anyway.   Trying to overcome the sudden shrieks and toddler outbursts, along with the ongoing songs which began to remind me of a time spent with my own daughter not so long ago, I found myself reading my work out aloud in an effort to continue with my duty as wordsmith.

As you can well imagine not nearly as much work was produced as I had first anticipated; including the fact that I was now producing work consisting of non-productive repetition.

Damn you mother duck and no I'm not happy and I'm not clapping my hands!  
Resolution: I am now resorting to burning the good old midnight oil to finish my work.  

Writers Festivals!

It seems to be that time of year; a writers favorite time of year mind you.  That's right, we have festivals coming out of our book ends.  Well Victoria seems to anyway!  So why are writers festivals so important and what can we expect to get out of going to one? 
Networking comes to mind as being first and foremost the most important reason to head along to a writers festival.  I remember my first writers festival experience at Ballarat when I was first undertaking my studies in Professional Writing and Editing.  I not only attended the festival, I also participated in one of their workshops conducted by Rhonda Whitton, co-arthor of 'A Decent Proposal,' and 'Mission Possible.'
This experience truly shaped how I was to go about putting together my proposal for my manuscript which now has been self-published as an ebook.  Without Rhonda's genuine and invaluable experience as an author / teacher along with her confidence in my concept, I'm not sure I would have pursued my endeavour to get my concept out there as strongly as I have. 
I also remember the buzz of meeting newly published authors, buying their books and having them signed. 
There is nothing more exhilarating than to  rub shoulders with publishers and editors who otherwise don't have a face.  You get to see and talk to them in 'real time' - no pressure and maybe, just maybe this personal contact may change your life as a writer as it did me. 
Take the opportunity and get along to a writers festival - even if it is just one - but be warned they are addictive.  Good Luck!
Some festivals coming up on the calendar:
Words in Winter July 29 - 31 August 2012
Bendigo Writers Festival  10-12 August 2012
Melbourne Writers Festival 23 August - 2 September
Ballarat Writers Festival 1-2 September 2012
Write around the Murray Festival 5-9 September 2012

AMBITIONS!

Yes, it's been a long ambition of mine as it would for many other writers to finally get their work out into the big wide world of the reader. For those who have followed writer's-fix, along perhaps with my other blog adoption down under, you will know how close this subject is to my heart and life journey. 

For many years now I have been working tirelessly to complete my manuscript on local adoption matters, and more so to have a publisher accept it.  With such positive feedback from all the publishers I have presented this manuscript to, I truly believe it will now finally serve its intended purpose and audience.

With the age of Ebooks now on our door step, it seems only sensible to follow my publishing path down this growing corridor to self-publication. 

While my book Adoption Down Under is currently available through PDF, I hope to also make it available for all e-devices in the near future, where it will hit the big screens on Amazon and alike.   

I have to say though; seeing my book finally ready and available through e-format has only made me more ambitious to also self-publish in hard copy.  But patience is the virtue and only time will tell whether Adoption Down Under will in fact reach those I have hoped it would.

Spiritually aware?

Well it has been a long time between blogs it would seem; fortunately I am still alive and well but somewhat confused with the universe.  Having attended a Spiritual and Wellness Expo recently I found a renewed interest into an old past time of mine - palmistry.  Having watched Sara Gilbert explain how much palmistry plays such a significant role in our lives really stirred and awakened something within me so much so I haven't been able to think of much else since.  That very same week I raced out and had to (okay, not had to - wanted to), buy a book on palmistry so that I could learn this ancient art.  I came across the one and only book available at my local book store, Fells Offical Know-It-All Guide to Palm Reading.  If that wasn't enough encouragement from the universe, then I stambled across a copy of Magic, by Ronda Byrne the same author of the Secret, where her new book helps humankind understand how the use and belief in sincere gratitude can reward our own lives beyond any expectations.  So know I am wondering what my true life's purpose is?  Not so long ago I thought I had it all summed up; I was certain I was meant to teach and help those touched by similar life experiences as myself.  I was certain that my manuscript was to become successfully published and help with my teaching.  Unfortunately as much as I have projected positivity into this crusade I keep meeting dead ends and obstacles that now appear to be relentless.  So the question I now put to myself is simply what is my life's purpose?  Following a simple numerolgy reading it suggests I am a humanitarian and should follow this line of interest somewhere within my life - yes, that sounds like me and yes it certainly fits what I thought the direction of my lifes's purpose was heading so why so many uncertainties, second guessing, self-doubt and insecurities?  Why have I suddenly become the exact opposite in having little self confidence, trouble speaking my thoughts, unable to communicate cleary and so unsure of myself in general?  Currently I am reading the Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, the learning of lifes insights, basically why we are here living the lives we are.  That's right, we are right back to our life's puropse.  Having only read the first three insights so far, I realise how spiritually aware I am, although not as well tuned as I would like.  I believe in coincidences - for example thinking of calling someone and then out of blue they call you - yep thats all part of the universes quest in understanding our plight here; Intuition, and believing there is more to life than what we are currently doing is all what the insights are about.  I am excited about my journey through life yet I feel I have wasted too many years already before learning of all this.  What if my life's purpose has already expired?  Possibly not because I think I would probably be dead in that case!  So now confusion has set in, I am so highly in tune with needing to fulfil something in life - but what?  Well I guess all of us will just have to wait to find out what we are searching for until we feel this is it.  So now I am totally obsessed with all this universe stuff, I have just invested in another two books, The complete guide to Numerolgy and Astrology- Past Life regression.  Can't wait to get stuck into these books.

Madeleine McCann Campaign

I have finished reading the heart wrenching story written by Kate McCann, the mother of Madeleine McCann whom we all should know went missing while holidaying with her family in Praia da Luz in 2007.  I so desperately would love to help in some way, and this is the best way I know - to help keep everyones concious open in hope she one day soon will be recognised and reunited with her family.  Please get on board and help find Madeleine.    
 Age progression images of Madeleine today.
                                  

D Publishing by Dymocks



As I previously mentioned Dymocks will be offerring end to end publishing services enabling authors to take control of their own book creation, publishing and distribution.  Originally it was anticipated this would be available from October this year; this date has been extended until the end of 2011.  For anyone interested 'like' the dymocks site on facebook or twitter to be kept updated.  I for one are hanging out for this to come about so I can finally make something of my manuscript which is still awaiting a publisher to be brave enough to give it a chance.