Fatty and the Physicist

Ever since our netball club's AGM and me standing down as registrar I have been dodging the inevitable. Our Club was without a President and there were no takers. There were, however, many sets of eyes in the room looking at me. So I hid for a few weeks, said no, nope and not on your life more often than I am comfortable with, trying very hard to adhere to the advice of Sarah Knight, who's book I have been reading religiously, "The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F##k" until I caved and said, "Sure I'll be delighted!" A great book, but the hard part is putting it into practice Since then I have been writing like there is no tomorrow. Not creative writing mind you, but immersing myself in the riveting and complex world of Constitutions and By-Laws. I figure it's all writing. I am still practicing sentence structure and punctuation..and formatting...God, I hate formatting!!! I should be an expert by the time I am done, or bald from pulling ...

Writing is such a singular pursuit but because I can be quite introverted, I enjoy the opportunity it gives me to be by myself and create. However, nothing gets the creative mind flowing than shooting the breeze with a fellow creative soul and that is where V (my artistic friend) and I come together and feed off each other's ideas. Much of our time of course, is taken talking about how wonderful it would be to have a studio dedicated to our individual passions. A writing/art studio where we can escape from kids/husbands/chores and be free to do what we love the most. Then after the initial day-dreaming, checking the lotto ticket yet again, realising the reality of needing to keep our day jobs, we settle down to throwing ideas around and inspiring one another. One of these sessions resulted in the creation of a new picture book called Flu at the Zoo (yes I know, another rhyming book...just can't help myself!!). Flu at the Zoo was created to give V an opportunity to practice ...

Alas, my manuscript was rejected. But that's OK, it was gentle and encouraging as opposed to an outright, you suck kind of rejection, so I am good with that and on the same day I received an email to say they have received my second manuscript I submitted, so there is renewed hope that maybe this new manuscript might be better. I have a wonderful friend who is taking the same journey but in illustration. For her, at the moment it is practice, practice, practice, but her new cartoon style is amazing and she is producing some fun pieces of art. One day we dream of collaboration but as we both know publishers don't tend to work that way, it may be a self-published venture...which is why we have started buying lotto together. As with anything you have to be in it to win it! I must check that ticket! Such talent! Love the Pug! Shaggy cat would have to be my favourite! Reading wise, I am currently reading To Kill a Mocking Bird. I read this many years ago in scho...

Thank you for the opportunity to consider your manuscript. It will now be reviewed for our program, a process we endeavour to complete within 12 weeks.   Two sentences which conjure up excitement, longing and dread all in one. Excitement because I finally took the plunge and submitted my very first manuscript. Longing because I now have to wait a very long 12 weeks for any information and dread because what if I am as terrible as my self-doubt thinks I am and it will be confirmed with rejection? About 3 years ago I was very fortunate to meet a creative and talented soul who had a passion for art. Just being around her re-sparked my love for writing and encouraged me to harness my creative side. I decided to do something constructive and attended a small writing workshop at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre. The workshop was conducted by the amazing Norman Jorgensen and he shared with us his journey and the harsh realities of the writing world. My excitement of actu...

This is the year, the year I step back from things I feel obliged to do and focus on the things I love and want to do. I've either concentrated on my diet or my fitness, my family or my creative side, but I have never really concentrated on all four at once. It's as if I can only do one to the exclusion of all others. Time to stop reading and start doing! So, I could be a healthy, illiterate bitch, who couldn't run out of sight on a dark night or I could be the ultimate attentive 1950's domestic goddess who drinks like a fish, whilst shovelling doughnuts into her gob, with a backside that could eclipse the sun.  Of course adding a full-time job into the mix does add pressure to prioritisation. This year, however, I am endeavouring to provide some equality to all aspects of my life and to nurture the ones that have been neglected for some time now, such as my writing. But first breakfast, there is always time for breakfast... ...and an inspir...