Building Creative Minds

Imagination! Isn't it a wonderful thing.  If only us adults could harvest our memories and keep our playful imaginations alive as though we were reliving each moment in time all over again, how marvelous would that be.  

Instead we are left questioning 'Did it happen that way, I just can't remember?'

And lets be honest, our imaginations can't compete with that of a child whose innocence and learning of the world around them is always developing.  For us adults, unfortunately the realities of life take place of our imaginations and drive the way we think, speak and act; but for a child their imaginations are bold, thrilling and undiscovered.

If only we knew what we know now, maybe we would have allowed our playful colourful imaginations to make a lasting mark on this world of ours. Well, while we're on the subject of imaginations, let me tell you about my latest discovery - 100 Story Building.  In Melbourne's inner west keen young kids are being given an opportunity of a life time.  Through 100 Story Building project some of the most disadvantaged children who would normally be at risk of lower literacy development are being taught life literacy skills helping towards building self-confidence while also allowing them to gain a sense of belonging.  

In collaboration with some of Australia's best known authors and artists these kids are being shown how to  become our next generation of authors and journalists.  And for us adults, we can also benefit from this wonderful enterprise by participating as volunteers or booking into one of the many workshops offered to help our own writing endeavors.  If it sounds interesting visit www.100storybuilding.org.au, there just might be something there for you.

Writing like a Pro

My title is a little tongue in cheek as one might say.  I have been vigilantly working on one of my many topics for a memior over the past four months, writing, re-writing, editing, cutting, pasting and then re-writing...and so I am so close to finally finishing this piece that I now have 24 hours before the closing date.
What did I do?  Did I make the deadline? Did I submit on time? Did I make the word count, which by the way was an amazing 4000 words max. 
I'm happy to tell you I in fact did make the deadline; after having stayed up unitl 2.00am to ensure it was completed, redrafted and posted on-line the morning of closing.
What then? did I hear you ask?  Well, yes like all professional writers I have edited and re-edited, I read through my work over and over, but at 2.00am I guess my eyes were getting a little fuzzy.
I submitted my work with confidence, a sense of great accomplishment, this was my first deadline for the 2013 and I wrote 3,886 words, I 've made it. Yeah!
And then like all good professional writers, we can't help ourselves can we, we must re-read our work one more time; but this time it's after submission.  And what do I find? Oh, yes you guessed it; a blunder, oh no, not one blunder but two.
I can't believe it of course, I had read this over and over.
So now as a professional writer, I give to you the most precious gift; always read your work before submitting, but don't do it at 2.00am.
My plan now is to re-submit the same re-edited piece elsewhere; better luck next time hey. 
Happy writing everyone!

For all Rural Women Writers

For anyone interested in entering their non-fiction memior for the 'Elyne Mitchell Writing Competition,' get your pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. 
Your submission needs only 2500 words or less with entries closing at the end of June 2013. 
Needs a rural theme; visit www.elynemitchell.com for further details
 Good Luck!

Almost, is enough!

Well, would it really surprise you if I were to admit I didn't quite make the mark with my word count for NaNoWritMo 2012?  'No!' Did I hear you say?  Umff!  Perhaps I didn't make the 50,000 words as a collective story, however I did - without making excuses - achieve 12,000 words across several peices of work which now have become my stepping stones for submissions to a number of anthologies and competitions for 2013...so not all was entirely lost, was it now? in fact I believe NaNoWritMo has been a very inspirational mechanism in getting the keystokes hammering, the grey matter thinking and the ability to pull together some writing that has been an ambition for some time now.
Time now to polish and submit without too much procrastination. 

NaNoWriMo - still on the go!

Ahh! You all thought I had given up didn't you?  Well, surprise contrary to popular belief my writing is coming along nicely.  It makes a huge difference when you can write from the heart.  I have always found it easy to write passionately, especially about those things that make my heart skip a beat, or fills my soul with enthusiasm or anger, sadness or just an emotional reaction of any sort really.  This time I have come up with a unique method to my writing I haven't tried before.  Although it is non-fictional, it is writing as though I am speaking to whom I'm writing to; yes the narrator, but not just narrating as a voice or third person; I think it is creative non-fiction, it's a little like a memoir but told through questions to my subject.  I am really enjoying this and finding it rather therapeutic.  

NaNoWritMo - Day 5

Here we are at day five already, I can see day thirty fast approaching and my word count slipping, but don't worry or get the wrong idea, I am still creating my piece; just with careful deliberation, and waiting for those pesty children to hit the sack so I can actually concentrate. Until tomorrow.

NaNoWritMo - Day 4

With a few slight digressions, I have now made a consecutive decision to change my story to something more close to my heart and which will no doubt allow me to more easily achieve the 50,000 word count within the 30 days.  Don't dispare, as Tilly is not forgotten, not have aI killed her off - quite the contrary, she will become my inspiration for a my next submission of a short story someone in the near future.  I will keep you all posted with my progress on this new storyline venture.