Flood-Proof Mum has been Archived!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?

One Little Word 2014 - Mindfulness

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Last month I began an accidentally inspiring journey. It all started when I read a post on Maxabella Loves about choosing a word for 2014. The concept was new to me but I could see its potential and straight away I knew the word I would choose, because I had written about it's influence on me last year (What is Mindfulness). Yes, this is my word for 2014, and some of you will have already read my post about why I chose it (Why Mindfulness?) Basically, I need to slow down, stop racing ahead and embrace the present moment.

The above image depicts exactly how I see Mindfulness and the role it will play in my life this year.

I find in life that one path generally leads to another one, and by chance, I heard someone mention Ali Edward's One Little Word program. I found her site Ali Edwards and registered straight away - a mere $31 for twelve months of prompts and support. I did not know what to expect from this program but I am discovering just how powerful one little word can be in the context of your life. This program also offers me the accountability I was seeking in order to make this concept work for me.

"In 2006 I began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January – a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. My words have included play, peace, vitality, nurture, story, light, up and open. These words have each become a part of my life in one way or another. They’ve been imbedded into who I am, and into who I’m becoming. They’ve been what I’ve needed (and didn’t know I needed). They’ve helped me to breathe deeper, to see clearer, and to grow." Ali Edwards 

It all started with planning somewhere special to record my 2014 One Little Word journey. I chose the We R Memory Keepers album suggested by Ali. It is a quality faux leather album with stitched edging and will last many, many years. Ali also suggests having your word with you personally, like on a necklace or bracelet. I bought a mug with a picture of a lotus flower and my word printed on it, to have my coffee in at work

I had some scrapbooking supplies that I bought over the years but have never used...it was always something I planned to do eventually - like so many other things.

On the first day of the month Ali provides you with printable pages for your album pockets and the prompts for completion of the material. This page includes a definition and symbol for my word, plus a photograph that epitomises a time in my life when I was mindful and thrived in the present moment.

Without giving the exact details away, you are encouraged to search for quotes and examine why you chose your word and to define your successes and fears.

Each month you summarise what happened the month before in relation to your life and your word.

And you record what your intentions are for the year. I chose some physical, emotional, financial and relationship intentions for 2014. These intentions have been translated into action items, which include things that make me happy such as pursuing my cheesemaking, taking on some volunteer work, spending quality time with my boys, utilising my old fish farm for my simple living goals, raising chickens etc. My actions also include goals to pay off my credit card, attain my goal weight and to drink more water. All of these actions are mindful....to me, and for me, to embrace and appreciate my moments in time.

So, if you feel like you want to try something different and experiment with an interesting concept that thousands of people around the world are embracing, I am sure it's not too late. There is a large Facebook Group of supportive and fascinating people from all works of life that you can share your journey with...and you get to play with glue and coloured paper - bonus! :)

Funny how some things find you for a reason. Are you doing or embracing something that found you this year? Have you ever done One Little Word (OLW)?

I can see I will have many leatherbound albums for my grandkids to flick through.

Creating your own e-book

Hump day seems to be one my busiest at the moment so I have decided not to have a regular writing segment on Wednesdays. I will still continue on with Ruby Rose but only when the whim arises, and perhaps not every week. The main thing is I don't want to feel pressured (by myself, which is normal) to produce something mid week if life is just too darn busy. We are having a property boom in Gympie and I have so many houses to settle before Christmas...then I get two weeks off. Yippee!!

This week I do want to tell you about the E Publishing course I attended on Sunday. It was organised by a lady in our writer's group who arranged for Mike Clancy, as TAFE lecturer from the Gold Coast, to teach us how to produce our own E-Books. I must say that the course really opened my eyes. I thought it would be a long and involved process but Mike stepped us through what is actually a pretty straightforward procedure utilising free software that anyone can access.

The hardest part of the whole process is understanding all of the different e-book formats available, so I would suggest that if you want know all about it visit Mike Clancy's site The Creative Genie. You can purchase the "Introduction to Electronic Publishing" book which is what Mike went through in the course.

PDF Version $4.95

For less than $5 you will learn all you need to know to convert your word document into an e-book. We focussed mostly on e-pub and pdf formats during the course but the program Mike supplied the link to called Calibre will convert your e-book into many formats ie. for Kindle, I-Pad or Generic readers.

Basically, all you have to do is format your word document to remove all page breaks, extra lines and unnecessary spaces, and correctly format your headings and sub headings. You then choose what format you want (ie. mobi if you have a kindle) and then convert it. You will then be able to look at it in e-reader view to see how it looks. I was very impressed with my result although I must confess....I don't even own a kindle or e-reader! But it is on my Xmas wish list.

If you live on the Gold Coast Mike does his one-day courses at the TAFE campus and you can contact him for a quote if you wish to arrange a course elsewhere in Queensland. The following is an outline from Mike's site of what his E-Publishing course (and the booklet) covers:

Morning Session

Topic 1: Using electronic media

·         The evolution of electronic media

·         The difference between electronic and desktop publishing

·         Popular formats for publication

·         Static and dynamic publication formats

·         Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Topic 2: eBook readers

·         Choosing an eBook reader

·         Commonly used eBook readers you can download from the Internet

·         How different publication formats are handled by eBook readers

·         Sources of free eBooks you can download

Topic 3: Constructing an eBook manuscript

·         Choosing an output format that meets your needs

·         Understanding the different formats available

·         Creating a template in Word or in Pages

·         Developing your eBook manuscript

Afternoon Session

Topic 4: Final preparation of your eBook manuscript

·         Preparing your front and back end matter

·         Placing objects––inline and floating objects

·         Setting document properties and meta data

·         Cataloguing your publication

·         Requirements for legal deposit

Topic 5: Creating your eBook

·         Understanding your publication options

·         Setting security options for your eBook

·         HTML and XML options

·         Using iBooks Author to create professional eBooks for tablets and smartphones

·         Creating an eBook using Flip PDF

·         Creating an eBook using Calibre software

Topic 6: Distribution and marketing

·         Options for distribution

·         Advantages and pitfalls of the self-publishing route

·         Options for using online bookstores

·         Some tips for marketing your eBook

So, if you are like me and want to learn how to do most things for yourself, and have thought about wanting to create an e-book, then Mike Clancy is a great place to start...and he is a really nice bloke, otherwise I would not be posting this. I imagine you can also find out this information via Google, especially tutorials on how to use Calibre.

Do you have an E-Reader? If so, should I get a Kindle or something else?

Writing on Wednesday - Book Review and Weekly Serial

Oops, running late with this post due to technical difficulties...but I finally got here!

This week for Writing on Wednesday I thought I would do something a little different and include a book review, then I will continue with the story I started writing last week. If it goes well, I thought I would continue it as a weekly serial. It's a great way of keeping my writing accountable and motivating myself to write something creative every week.

The Midnight Dress

I have just finished reading a beautiful book written by my Writer's Group leader, Karen Foxlee, so I thought I would share it with you.

Classified as contemporary fiction, The Midnight Dress is the story of quiet, nomadic teenager Rose Lovell who settles into a small North Queensland town with her alcoholic father.  Rose is drawn to the beauty of the town, nestled between the ocean and the mountains, and reluctantly befriends a local vivacious girl, Pearl. With the upcoming harvest parade, Pearl convinces Rose to have a dress made by local seamstress Edie Baker, rumoured to be a witch due to her solitary lifestyle and her derelict home. Edie and Rose form a bond during the hand-sewing of her beautiful midnight blue dress, a dress that becomes the central focus in a murder mystery that shatters the town.

I was drawn to the beautiful imagery in this novel. The way in which Karen Foxlee depicts the town of Leonora and brings to life its inhabitants captures you from the very first page. She weaves a lovely, mysterious and suspenseful tale that had me torn between racing to the end, and wanting to savour every chapter. Here is the link to more reviews on Goodreads. Although the protagonists are teenagers I would recommend this novel for women of all ages....a great Australian Xmas idea.

I bought the novel purely out of curiosity because Karen runs our writers group. She also wrote the award-winning The Anatomy of Wings which sits on my bookshelf waiting to be read next. It's lovely to discover such a talented local author and to be a part of her writing group. I have my copy of The Midnight Dress ready to take in tomorrow so I can ask Karen to sign it for me.

Have you read any breathtaking books lately?

Ruby Rose

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I have decided to call the weekly serial Ruby Rose but I am open to suggestions if you think of something else. I have tidied up the rushed writing from last week and will include a tab of the story at the top of my blog so we don't have to go back to previous posts all the time. The writing will not be perfect as I would normally edit alot more, but it will be fun for me to write week to week!! For those who have no idea what I am talking about (happens to me all the time) here is the link for last week's post. And here is the revamped first episode:

The rude man across the room is staring again and I quickly lower my eyes to the empty page in front of me. Damn it, I think he saw me looking. I wriggle on the hard chair, tucking my long legs beneath it as I straighten my back and proceed to study my hands...again. Long skinny fingers Ruby Rose, great for playing piano Nanna Cotton used to say. Too bad we never had one. I wish she was here now. There's no way she would stand for such bad manners. I can picture her marching over there, hands on hips, to give him a serve, no matter how handsome he is.

Smiling, I think how she would disapprove of my dirty fingernails, so I distract myself by picking at them. One nail under the other, starting with the left thumb, as I always do. Garden top-soil peppers the white paper on the desk and I brush it aside, watching it disappear onto the empty seat beside me. I put my hand up to admire my handiwork, wishing I had painted them, and my eyes are drawn in his direction. He is smiling now, leaning against the side wall like he belongs there, which is absurd considering he would be ten years old than us first year uni students...and he is wearing a suit despite the heat. His smile is cold though, not reaching his eyes, arrogant and yet somehow familiar. Who is he?

I curse my fair skin as my face turns red. Looking away, I fight the urge to climb over the rows of attentive students and run out of the auditorium. I have not heard a word the English lecturer is saying and I cannot concentrate on writing anything down. What is he staring at anyway? Certainly not my op-shop yellow sundress, nor my untidy mass of black hair straining underneath the weight of bobby pins and rubber bands. I touch my bun, just to be sure it's held in place. 

Oh no, he will think I'm vain. What do I care anyway? If he doesn't stop staring I swear I will scream. It wouldn't be the first time. They all think I'm crazy anyway so why not add fuel to the fire. That would certainly scare the stranger off.

"Ruby Cotton," says a deep male voice so very close behind me. I jump, and feel the heat rising again, but resist the urge to turn. He says my name like a soft caress. Dammit, I know it's him. I didn't see him move. How does he know my name? I can smell his ocean-fresh cologne and feel the warmth of his breath on my neck. "You need to come with me."

                                                88888888

Now today's instalment:

"What the..." I turn to face him and meet his cold, glass-green eyes, all words forgotten. The seat beside me is no longer empty and I feel something sharp poking into the thin material of my dress. I reach down to push it away as he shakes his head, and touch something metal. My eyes widen and he nods. Shit, a gun, really? “Who the hell are you?”

“Shhh,” he whispers, reaching over the chair to grab my arm, “Come quickly, don’t make a scene.” He smiles charmingly at the few students now gaping at us, expecting said scene, “A family emergency. Please excuse us.”

I pull my arm back but his grip tightens and he lifts me from my chair. I vaguely notice it’s a woman in the seat beside me, shorter than me with a red bob. She rises at the same time and puts her arm around my shoulders, pressing the hidden gun harder into my side. He lets go of my arm and it hurts where his fingers were. What the hell is going on? Who the hell are these people?

“Come now dear, it will all be okay,” the short woman says, feigning compassion. Dammit, I have no choice. If they want me to come surely they won't shoot me, but what about the other students? I can't take the risk. He knows that. What the hell do they want with me? No family emergency that I know of warrants the threat of a gun. I have no money and I certainly haven't done anything wrong that I can think of. I curse sitting in the aisle seat now. There is no-one to stop me, and why would they halt crazy Ruby Rose anyway? I panic now, thinking that if they don't want to kill me, what other horrible things could they be up to.

The bobbed woman escorts me out of the auditorium. I glance around the front but there is no-one in sight. I feel him close behind us as a black limousine pulls up in front of the steps. You've got to be joking, right? I suddenly stop and turn to face him.

"No!! I did you as asked, now tell me what the hell this is about," I shout. He looks amused, "I will scream if you try and put me in that car."

"Such fire in those deep blue eyes of yours Ruby Rose," Only Nanna Cotton calls me that. I raise my hand to...what...slap him? But his hand quickly clamps around my mouth and he pins my arm to my side, pushing the gun and the woman away. "All in good time my dear, but this is certainly not the place." 

I struggle but my skinny frame is no match for him as he pulls me into the open door of the limo. 

Hmmm, I wonder what will happen to Ruby Rose next week. Suggestions? 

Writing on Wednesday - Projects Update

Well it is Wednesday again and for once I don't have a deep and meaningful 'wellness' type of topic to discuss with you. Instead I want to share with you this week the other writing exercises that I have been working on:

Nano-Wrimo - National Novel Writing Month

Every year in November millions of writers around the world set a goal to pen 50,000 words in a month. At the very least it is a novella-sized complete work or a good foundation for a future novel. Every year I think it will be great to join in but something always happens in my life to preclude me from doing so. If you have been following my blog then you would know by now that nothing is getting in my way of anything this year. I am positive, fired up and can do anything I set my mind to.

So, on the weekend I did make a start towards my 50,000 words but, true to form, I am already running behind. I worked out that I need to write 1600 words/day to complete this task but I don't care if I only get to 30,000 words. The fact is that I have jumped in and made a start towards a project that has been sitting in the recesses of my mind for years. I have overcome my fear of becoming obsessively attached and involved with my characters and have a reasonable start to my first chapter. If you are interested I will share a little of it next week.

My story is about Carmen, a desperate young woman who decides to escape from her abusive and impoverished family by entering into a surrogacy contract with an unknown couple, whom she meets through an ad in the paper. Complications arise when Carmen's pregnancy tests reveal that the child has a disability and the couple insist on termination. Carmen wants to keep the child but legally it is not hers...or is it? The idea came from a true story I read about last year.

Anyway, so many avenues to explore with this plot line and I am not really sure where it will end up yet but it's fun to be writing creatively again.

Gympie Writers Group - Character Writing Activity

This is the task Karen Foxlee has set for us for next week's writing group - our homework. I found it to be a fun exercise so thought I would share it with you.

Choose a first name
Lillian, Luther, Axel, Abraham, Aaron, Kyle, Maxwell, Violet, Peter, Omar, Simon, Noah, Harry, Harriet, Lucy, Maria, Ruby, Joan, Debbie, Catherine, Donald, Freda, Gemma, Ignatius, Jack, Quentin, Raphael, Tess, Arnold, Josephine.

Choose a Surname
Fox, Ford, Arthurs, Bambridge, Fears, Feeny, Quick, Quigley, Van Otten, Valentine, Little, Loveless, Lumpkin, Rodriguez, Smith, Kelly, Hunter, Sharp, Samsom, Cotton, Dray, Earhart, Goldsworth, Nightingale, Talon, Tate, Weaver, Hart, Yarnold, Petrova.

Make up a character with this name. Describe him or her in about three paragraphs or 500 words.

I chose the name Ruby Cotton and have started a small piece in the first person which is the point of view I prefer to write in. I think it offers the biggest challenge in describing the character because people don't always describe themselves. Stories rely on others to do so. Here is the beginning of a very rough draft I wrote this morning before work

That rude man across the room is staring again and I quickly lower my eyes to my lap. Damn it, I think he saw me looking. I wriggle on the hard chair, tucking my long legs beneath it as I straighten my back and proceed to study my hands...again. Long skinny fingers, great for playing piano my Nan used to say. Too bad we never had one. I distract myself by cleaning the traces of dirt under my nails. One fingernail under the other, always starting with my thumb on the left. I wish I had painted them to cover the gardening stains.

I glance up again, quickly looking at the front of the packed auditorium, not concentrating on a word the English lecturer is saying. From the corner of my eye I can see the man is still standing there, his face turned my way. But I don't turn to look at him. I curse my fair skin as my face turns red and I fight the urge to climb over the rows of attentive students to run out of here. What is he staring at anyway? Certainly not my op-shop yellow sundress, nor my untidy mass of black hair straining underneath the weight of bobby pins and rubber bands. I touch my bun, just to be sure it's held in place. 

Oh no, he will think I'm vain. What do I care anyway? If he doesn't stop staring I swear I will scream. It wouldn't be the first time. They all think I'm crazy anyway so why not add fuel to the fire. That would certainly scare the stranger off.

"Ruby Cotton," says a deep male voice so very close behind me. I jump but do not turn. Dammit, it must be him. I didn't see him move. How does he know my name? He is so close that I inhale the scent of a musky cologne and feel the warmth of his breath on my neck. "You need to come with me."

"What the..." I turn to face him and meet eyes as green as mine are blue. Deep sea green, initially surprised but narrowing as he grabs my arm, which I try to pull away "Who the hell are you?"

Knowing me I will muck around with this for a while before I get it right but it says a fair bit about our character in just over 300 words.

E-Book Workshop

My third writing project this week is to prepare for the E-Book publishing workshop next weekend. We need to have something prepared to turn into an e-book. My novel isn't ready so I thought I would collate a few short stories I have written, just so that I have something to publish.

Anyway, enough rambling from me this morning. Do you have any writing projects on the go? Do you like to write stories and make up characters?

Motivation vs Procrastination

Welcome to... Writing on Wednesdays. Sounds weird reading that aloud, a little like a cheesy radio announcer introducing the next talkback segment.

Over the past few weeks I have written a few wellbeing posts on Balance, Mindfulness, and Personal Accountability. The discussions following the post on personal accountability basically came to the conclusion that willpower or motivation is essential if you want to talk yourself out of doing things that are detrimental. No amount of personal accountability alone will stop you being led astray by that naughty Sylvester sitting on your shoulder (if you have never watched the tweety bird cartoons then you will have absolutely no idea what I am talking about here.)

I have been meaning to get back to and expand upon this concept for a while because motivation is a fascinating thing. Some people have loads of it, and others struggle to find it buried beneath the excuses. Me, well I just seem to give the impression that I am motivated all the time because of my positive attitude...and the huge rose-coloured glasses perched on my nose...most of the time, anyway.

I have a big confession to make though....I am the world's biggest procrastinator! Seriously I am. There are some things that I put off doing out of fear of getting too involved or obsessive...like, um, that novel for example. There are other things that I just don't want to do because they are yucky or boring, or I don't know how. It may take me longer to get around to those things like cleaning the bathroom or doing a written assignment, but I never, ever quit or give up or leave something unfinished that has to be completed. I guess I put pressure on myself to find the motivation to complete things, and the common sense to discard my crazy ideas that will just never work.

So, where and how do you find motivation? It's not something you pick up by chance on the side of the road. It's something that only you can find for yourself. No-one else can decide what motivates you and what doesn't. Your loved ones will know what most of those things are, but sometimes they will get it wrong. You know why? Because it changes from day to day and from task to task. What motivates you to go to work on pay day will obviously be completely different than the motivation to clean the toilet.

This year marks the longest time I have stayed motivated for many years. Looking after my health, setting personal goals, changing my way of life in living more simply, and I guess, actually thinking about what I am doing with my life every day, has kept me motivated. I can see results from the efforts I have put in, and for me this is the key. I can see a positive future if I keep on this procrastination-reducing path. I still leave the ugly tasks till last but it is my mission to tackle these head on eventually...more procrastination? Hey, I am a work in progress.

I read somewhere that motivation vs procrastination is like a double edged sword - waiting for motivation can lead to procrastination, and feeling unmotivated can cause you to struggle with procrastination. It's when procrastination leaves you feeling burdened or discouraged that you obviously need to take action. Very true. So, if you feel this way at times like I do, why not break the cycle and stop sitting around waiting for motivation to fall into your lap. Look for and identify the things that motivate you. For example the pleasure of a clean bathroom or a beautiful meal on the table. Being a mother can motivate you in so many ways, and even those who have been through stressful situations like bushfires, family deaths and floods can find that motivation...but only if they choose to (and ready to) look for it. I guess that's the point where willpower steps in.

I chose to find what motivates me and makes me happy, and am rewarded every day for that choice. If you are in a rut never give up. Squash that ratbag procrastination beneath your feet, shrug off that naughty little Sylvester on your shoulder, and move forward, one step at a time.

Are you feeling motivated now? I would love to hear how you maintain your motivation when times get tough.

Next week I will keep you updated on my progress with Nano Wrimo. Haven't yet decided what I am going to write about. Other people have plans drawn up and everything....think I will just wing it. Any suggestions for a novel greatly appreciated!

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.