No, that’s not an error message. That’s the state of affairs for August.
No submissions. No new stories started. No new stories finished. No old stories finished. A couple of ideas for new stories happened and very brief notes were made. One pointillism piece finished.
Here’s the answer to the question you didn’t ask.
Two cups of emotional fatigue. Splashes of mental health that resembled a dropped trifle. Combined with work demands surrounding the HSC and Major Works. Stir and bake in a tepid oven for ages.
It was about the middle of the month when I pulled the pin on everything and simply stopped worrying about producing work and let the ground remain fallow. The idea of a fallow time is something I want to think about in the new few months.
That’s a wrap on August.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) For Sale $70AUD inc postage in Australia $85AUD inc postage for overseas
Each month there are expectations, and each month there is reality. Somewhere between those extremes is a box of doughnuts that turned up unexpectedly because your daughter has a friend whose mum works for Krispy Kreme, and you don’t refuse the offer of free doughnuts.
I am aiming at producing more work month by month but sometimes it is akin to aiming for the toilet bowl and missing, despite all precautions and preparations leaving a mess to clean up, yet persistance is key. Keep thinking, keep making notes, keep writing paragraphs.
There might be strange things afoot at the Circle K but they will be “Most excellent.”
I completed a new pointillism piece
Arum – Pointillism Felt pen on A4 paper $40AUD + postage
Made 4 short story submissions. I missed a few deadlines for a number of reasons, particularly time and lack of prepared material. I have sorted a couple of stories for completion some time in August but there’s always that issue of balancing time with school marking and Major Work readings, plus it’s the busy time of year for dance and Physical culture comps for my girls. That’s always the way. Sometimes is it working inbetween the gaps.
Poem Illustration. One of my favourite things I completed this month was an illustration for Dr Willo Drummond’s poem, Sail, from her debut collection Moon Wrasse. I heard her speak at an In Conversation event with WestWords, and she read this poem and commented on hopefully one day finding an animator to produce it. I am no animator but my brain said, “Oh, shiny new thing,” and so I set about composing a series of images based on my reading. I messaged Dr Willo and asked about the inspiration behind the poem which allowed me to refine a couple of the images. The poem is reproduced with the permission of the author.
I read two books (a new addition to the EOM Wrap):
This is not a how-to-write book. This is a how-to-understand-the writing-game-and-make-it-work-for-you book. Peter’s collection of essays from his blog posts is mind expanding as you grapple with the notion that you ARE a writer AND a business. Treat them with all due respect.
A cracker of a debut crime novel. Dive in, enjoy the read, experience the wilderness of Tasmania as four missing school girls are thought to have been abducted by The Hungry Man. Fantastic popcorn for the brain. A great beach read or tucked up by the heater under a blanket.
Do you really want an answer to the question, ”Who are you?”
I am an English teacher and drummer/percussionist with an interest in literary pursuits, creative endeavours, rhythmic permutations, theological amplifications and comedic outbursts.
Here you will find my creative detritus: articles on living a creative life and writing explorations.
And other ideas I have snaffled from the papers stuck on the fridge door.
A Fullness in Brevity - Adam Byatt 