Flood-Proof Mum has been Archived!

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Today I have decided to do something I don't do enough of....I am going to toot my own horn :)

When I first started Flood-Proof Mum in September last year, one of my primary goals was to connect with others who live in flood prone properties and to share the experiences and knowledge I have gained over the past six years of annual floods...in an effort to assist and offer support for other flood victims, and create awareness of the effects of flooding on a family. Since then, Flood-Proof Mum has become a very important part of my life. It is my personal journal and a special place to record my journey as I learn to tread more lightly on this earth, and appreciate the place in which I live, even with its flaws.

So, you can image how blown away I was when the Queensland State Library approached me, requesting to archive Flood-Proof Mum on the National Library of Australia's online database, Pandora. Mind you, I did have to figure out what it was first, but once I realised the significance of the request I could not believe that my little blog had been recognised as worthy of preserving on a national database. As described on their fact sheet, Pandora "is a selective archive containing copies of significant Australian online publications and web sites issued on the Internet.  The National Library of Australia and its partners are building the Archive to ensure long-term access to significant Australian documentary heritage that is published online."

Wow. What it means for me is that anyone searching the database in a state or national library will be able to access a regularly archived copy of my blog...and should my blog or myself no longer be around, then that copy will always be there. Scary thought isn't it...makes me wonder if there were some posts that were downright silly in there. Here is the link if you want to check it out Flood-Proof Mum on Pandora. 

So, why did they want Flood-Proof Mum on their database? According to the State Library of Queensland Guidelines, personal sites (“home pages”) will usually only be selected:

¨   if they provide information of significant research value about Queensland which is not available elsewhere

¨       if they are of exceptional quality or particular interest

¨       if they reflect Queensland regional, cultural and/or social diversity.

So my little Blog about the personal experiences of living in a flood prone property is considered 'an authoritative publication with long term research value', and in a category containing less than 1% of Australian online publications...and I could not be more proud, hence the trumpet blowing. In some small way, I have increased the avenues through which flood affected people (and those that just wish to know about it) can read about my experiences, and that puts me a step closer to one of my goals. It has also given me renewed vigour to persist with my Flood-Proof Friday posts.

So, there you have it, trumpet-blowing is over now...but I will add the Pandora link to my side bar, just to remind me I have achieved something :)

Any one else want to join in and blow their trumpet? Has anything great happened in your world lately?

Writing on Wednesdays - A Serendipitous Writer's Journey

I mentioned last week that I was going to spend some time on my holidays reviewing my blog and structuring the posts a little to fit in with my routine. Well, this post is the result of that brainstorming and the first of my structured days. Actually, come to think of it, it is the second one, as Menu Planning Monday seems to be a set feature now. Think of my blog as a magazine or newspaper with different columns and topics on different days. I will advise the rest of them as I think of them and include a tab on my home page to summarise this new structure. The beauty of this system is that it stops me rambling (well, I can hope) and keeps me organised, and if you only want my recipes then you know what days to visit.

So, without further ado....drumroll please....Welcome to Writing on Wednesdays.

As the name suggests the focus on Wednesdays will be on writing. It is a broad topic and will encompass many different and varied posts, which I trust you will enjoy.

For example, one week I may share a short story or piece of writing I have completed, other weeks I may discuss the merits (or my opinion) of particular words or give a short tutorial on punctuation or grammar. I will also include information as to my own submissions, successes and failures, and summaries of any workshops, presentations or classes I have attended. So...basically anything that is writing related. I would like this space to be interactive and for you to share your own writing journey with me, or if you don't write, to offer your opinion as a reader or critic.

My writing journey, so far, is made up of a series of weekend getaways. Just when I think I am getting somewhere, I make excuses, or life gets in the way (more excuses), or I lack motivation or confidence to complete or submit a project. For example, a few years ago I spent six months writing a young adult fantasy novel. The project consumed me in a way I never thought possible. The main protagonist became my constant companion and I began to think like her and wonder how she would handle certain situations. It was an incredible experience, if a little daunting (and a tad obsessive), and one that I have heard other authors describe. Once I got to the last two chapters I suddenly stopped writing. Not because I didn't know how to finish it, although that is a possibility as there were several possible endings. No, I stopped because when I read it back I thought it sounded great, but did not know for sure if I could actually write. For example, you may think you sound okay singing and then when you hear it recorded, you think how could I have thought that sounded okay? What if this was the case with my writing?

What if I couldn't write? What if the 100,000 words I had written were just dribble? I couldn't possibly submit something to a publisher that I was not sure of. I was completing a novel writing course at the time by correspondence and my faceless and nameless tutor was encouraging, but a little brief in his feedback. I needed more reassurance. So, I put the novel on the shelf where it has sat for the past three years and enrolled in University for a degree in Creative Writing. Studying has taken up all of my spare time and I am currently taking a semester off to get my writing back on track. Everything I have read or written over the past few years has been study related. I have learnt  so much about writing and discovered a really important thing....I can actually write, and really well apparently.

So, here I am, starting a blog for the first time, charting my simple living and flooding journeys, and combining it with my writing one. It is a serendipitous (second time I have used this word this week) path that has led me here, to this blog. Serendipity is one of my favourite words and is basically about making a fortunate discovery by accident. I think its favourite drinking buddy is fate. In other words, I like to believe that I was meant to accidentally discover and clear the overgrown path that I am on.

Let me explain.

A few years ago I tried to get a writers group off the ground in Gympie. The local library assisted but basically it never got off the ground. Since I have started this blog, the library rang me and invited me to a writers group which is hosted by Karen Foxlee, an award winning (Premier's Literary Award) local author of young adult novels....a perfect mentor who writes in my genre. Last month I submitted my first competition entry and received a Highly Commended Award at the Bendigo Literary Awards...instant confidence boost. Next month I am attending a workshop on creating e-books, and will join National Novel Writing Month in an effort to write 50,000 words in a month...a new novel in the making perhaps?

I also met a complete stranger for coffee today, a beautiful lady who I met via a simple living blog. When she arrived she handed me a jar of honey she collected this week...we both knew straight away that we will be long-term friends...what a lovely accidental discovery!.

My point, which I come to in my usual round-about way, is that I have pushed the boulder aside that has been blocking my way. I have come out into the open, embraced my fears, and admitted my failings (floodings) to the world via my blog. I have announced myself to the universe and been acknowledged.
I am slowly regaining my inner happiness, and am being rewarded for rediscovering who I am and want to be. It's a nice way to look at things isn't it?

How do you sit in your world? Are you where you want to be or still on the road asking for directions?

Do you write? If so, please share your experience.

OMG Highly Commended!

This morning  marks the first of my ten days of annual leave. Yay! Woohoo! Major happy dance and waving of arms. I have taken the time off work to attend to some of the larger projects at home. I usually take holidays during the school break but was unable to as my boss was overseas. I haven't had time yet to make a list of what I want to get achieved but will sit down to do it later this afternoon. Work has been so busy that it will be nice to enjoy the break from it and focus on my personal goals and family.

 

I decided I would take the boys to school this morning and then hit the gym, which was a great start to the day. Last night I had planned to go to the presentation of the Bendigo Literary Awards as I had submitted a short story. However, I managed to score a copy of the first episode of Walking Dead (season 4), and as it is mine and my boys favourite television show (yes, I know, a zombie show is weird for a mum to watch), I decided to head home straight after work and make a special night of it.

It was a great night. The whole family joined in (ie. Lauren and Paul as well) and it was nice to enjoy a favourite show together. We tend to like post-apocalyptic shows for some reason...morbid hey?

Anyway, back to my day off. As I missed the awards last night I thought I would pop into the library for a writing workshop by the judge of the Bendigo Literary Awards, an author by the name of Josh Donellan. I got there early and picked up a few brochures at the counter, then wandered over to the Literary Awards Display to check out the entries and the results. This is what I saw (Hint. Read the fourth blurry line).

I know the photo is out of focus but my hands were shaking by then (and yes, I just had to capture an image). It reminded me of the American teen movies where the kids are craning their necks around the notice board to see who is nominated for prom queen ....then I thought, that's my name up there... "Chasing Tasmanian Devils by Tanya Bielby." Wooowee! My short story received a Highly Commended Certificate (4th place I guess) out of hundreds of entries.

I then proceeded to the workshop to meet Josh (the judge, and published author) and he commented on how much he liked my story and what a difficult decision it was to only pick three winners - he had to award a highly commended....hmmm....that's me. Can you believe it? Anyway, you get the feeling that I was blown away :) This is the first time I have submitted an entry in a writing competition, so to get a mention was a pretty big deal for me. More happy dances...and a big smile that won't wipe off.

My biggest dream ever is to be a writer. I have an unfinished young adult novel that I am editing, and two weeks ago I joined a writers group in Gympie that is hosted by Karen Foxlee who writes (and has had published)....you guessed it... young adult novels. She even won a Premier's Literary Award for her first novel. So, I guess I am feeling a little serendipitous (I so love this word!) at the moment. Everything seems to be falling into place and steering me in the right (write haha) direction.

I will post a little more about my writing in coming weeks. I am looking at structuring my blog a little as there are several categories I like to write about. Some of my favourite blogs have structured days dedicated to various topics which I think is a great idea...it's on my holiday list to look at this.

Anyway, thanks for listening to me jump for joy. Now I will get back to writing my original post for today which is about Financial Balance.