A writer's journey

2010-01-11T22:49:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, you and yours have had a lovely holiday
and may I wish you all the best for 2010 too.

Well, although it was very hot (36 deg while we ate a hot turkey dinner on Christmas Day) I've had a lovely break over the festive season from having to earn our rent but also, (most unusually for me) writing. I was just too exhausted to think creatively or even edit!

My Writing plan for the new year is to firstly finish the draft I'm half-way through of my feature 'No Strings' and send it out to my list of six possible producers or directors which I carefully identified last year.

I then plan to focus on another draft of my novel variously titled 'Toy Soldier', 'Competing' or 'Kathy's Clown'. I want an updated draft to send to a manuscript editor and published writer who I hope, will agree to mss edit my book before also(hopefully) sending it out to publishers.

Poetry always sneaks in and keeps the ideas flowing... I'm inspired everyday by people and things around inviting me to word-map them. Often the idea is cohelested in a poem, then expanded into a short story eventually finding its final identity as a script. Not always though - sometimes, the spark works at its best as a poem.

So, a book of poems and short stories may be nice to work on too... I certainly have plenty of book ideas and lots of poems and stories written since "Hidden Capacity ~ a poet's journey" was published in Ireland in 2003.

As mentioned in my previous blog entry, my very talented daughter Jessica McCallum held her first exhibition at His Majesty's last month and sold all but two of her paintings.

I was asked to 'write' to a few of the pieces and also for permission to use those poems which inspired some works. Now, quite a few who attended have asked about a book of the images with the words, so we are seriously considering doing one. Watch this space.

I'd like to make myself but also invest in short films made by my peers, this year. Just as I did last year, I can only afford small amounts but know when you're making on a zero budget, even $50 is a hugely helpful gift. And there are sooooooooo many talented film-makers out there, trying to get their visions on screen, so if you too, can afford to help even in the smallest way - don't hesitate. Every little bit helps.

Naturally, I'd like to see as many of my scripts being used as possible... and hope, like last year, I continue to get offered contracts to write or adapt books, stories and poems for others.

Visual Poems are also on the cards: I'm currently experimenting with reading and recording my poems which my daughter Jess, will add visuals to... so the collaboration continues. I've uploaded a couple of readings only to You Tube ready to have visuals added. We inspire each other and enjoy creating together - it reminds us of our time at Northern Youth Theatre which resulted in a new production every three months.

Talking of new productions: I now have a beautiful little grandaughter I intend to cuddle lots, who inspires me to write stories and poems for as well - so there's another book project!

And that's my plan so far for the New Year - I'd better get to it!
What's yours? Hope it includes lots of writing - we need writers!
May your Muse amuse you mightily in 2010.
:o))

JM Exhibition

2009-11-29T17:58:00.001-08:00

My very talented daughter Jessica McCallum will hold her first exhibition at His Majesty's Theatre next Saturday.

Her fresh and original art is expressed with great sensitivity and I shall stand very tearfully saluting her long-awaited professional exposure to a larger audience.

She has written a blog about the artistic process - and her angst with only a week to go!

http://jessicamccallum.blogspot.com/

"Break a Leg" my darling - no-one will be clapping louder than your very proud Mum.

Creative Connections

2009-10-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Maureen Sexton has done an amazing job of connecting disabled artists with poets and exhibited the results. I, along with many WA poets, was invited to write poems to artworks and each time, my approach was from the artists p.o.v., as if to give them voice which they often don't have. The results of three exhibitions can be enjoyed on the Creative Connection pages.

This is a favourite from the 2008 series:

No. 59Artist: Vivienne Sharp

Coral Bay

Snorkelling with rainbows
just past the breaking surf,
I see the red rocky shores
of the North West Cape.

Shimmering white sands where
Coastal Daisies, Starflowers
and Sturt Peas grope to grip
harsh hot terrain in fighting wind.

At Easter, a hundred yards off
the bay, coral triggers upside down
snowstorms to invite gentle giants
from the depths of Tantabiddi to feed

whilst in my imagination, I squeeze
the fish colours through my fingers
to paint pictures and feel myself
swimming with whale sharks.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2008

Loads more here:
http://www.creativeconnectionsaape.net.au/pages/2008artworksandpoems.html

And here's a favourite from the 2007 series:

No. 21 Artist: Clayton Winmar

Country

take my hand

walk with me

through family

follow straight

railway lines

in the sunshine

leave hand prints

in caves sprayed

white sand hills

mountains of

red clay heart

brown beauty

take my hand

walk with me

through country

And again, loads more on here:

http://www.creativeconnectionsaape.net.au/pages/2007artworksandpoems.html

Photographs

2009-10-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

How flattering is this?

Boet took my short poem and

image-ized it and it LOVE the result!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoboet/332949276/

2009-10-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

For your interest, this is a catalogue of short films 2008 made published by the Australian Film Commission in which my film "Love You Mum" appears on page 46.

http://www.afc.gov.au/downloads/pubs/shorts08_web.pdf

AFRICAN REFUGEES: The Neophyte

2009-10-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

AFRICAN REFUGEES: The Neophyte

Fremantle Press: Book launch: Shades of the Sublime & Beautiful

2009-10-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

Fremantle Press: Book launch: Shades of the Sublime & Beautiful

Lucy dies...

2009-09-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

The Beatles inspiration for their song "Lucy in the Sky with Daimonds" has died young at 46.
I share a lot of my poems and stories on the ABC TALES website and found a beautiful tribute poem to 'Lucy' here: http://www.abctales.com/story/threeleafshamrock/lucy

WritingWA Broadcast:

2009-09-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to their e-news:

Don't forget to get your copy of the West Weekend...

This Saturday's edition of the West Australian will include a special literary edition of the West Weekend Magazine, showcasing the diversity of West Australia's writing talent, exploring the rise of book clubs, poetry, and indigenous literature in WA, and introducing a new column by acclaimed author Robert Drewe.

The West's commitment to celebrating West Australian literary achievement through this special edition of the magazine is to be applauded.
____________________________________

West Australians Honoured in CBCA Awards

The winners of this year's Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) awards have been announced. Shaun Tan'sTales from Outer Suburbia won the Older Readers category, with Anthony Eaton's Into White Silence an Honour Book. Also awarded Honour Book status were Matt Ottley's Home and Away (text by John Marsden), in the Picture Book category, and Simpson and His Donkey, by Mark Greenwood (text) and Frané Lessac (illust) in the category of Information Books (Eve Pownall Award).
____________________________________

CONGRATULATIONS LILY CHAN!

Lily Chan and Warwick Thornton Win Australian Centre Literary Awards

The awards continue for Warwick Thornton, with Samson and Delilah winning the Australian Centre's Kate Challis RAKA Award for the best script by an Indigenous writer. Emerging Perth writer Lily Chan was also recognised, with her unpublished memoir of her grandmother awarded The Peter Blazey Fellowship for biography or life writing.
____________________________________

Book Launch: Beautiful Waste and Vagabond Holes

Fremantle Press and Fremantle Arts Centre invite you to the launch of Beautiful Waste: Poetry by David McComb and Vagabond Holes: David McComb & The Triffids. The launch will feature John Kinsella reading poetry by David McComb as well as music by Triffids members Jill Birt, Martyn P. Casey & Alsy MacDonald. Doors open from 6pm, Thursday 10 September 2009; Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle; RSVP: admin@fremantlepress.com.au or 08 9430 6331

THANKS TO WritingWA

Vera Newsom Poetry Prize 2009 - closes 30th Sept.

2009-09-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

Just received this:

Submissions invited before 30 September for

VERA NEWSOM POETRY PRIZE 2009

- administered and awarded by Youngstreet Poets.

1st & 2nd Prizes, $300 & $100 respectively

Entries to Receiving Officer, Sue Watson, PO Box 71, Avalon 2107,

By closing date of 30th September 2009.

For Australian residents only.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

1. Entries must be unpublished, not currently submitted for publication, in English, the original work of the entrant, and must not have received a monetary award in, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 32 lines per poem, typed on A4 paper, one side only. Two copies of each poem required. Author’s name must not appear on manuscript.

3. There is no official entry form, but a separate cover page must be provided, listing title of poem, number of lines, entrant’s full name, address, telephone number and/or email address.

4. The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. No entries will be returned.

5. Entry fee of $5 per poem.

6. Entries to Receiving Officer, Sue Watson, PO Box 71, Avalon 2107, by closing date of 30th September 2009. Late entries will not be considered.

7. Winners will be announced as soon as possible, but prizes will be awarded at the Youngstreet Poets’ Christmas luncheon on Friday 27th November 2009.

8. SSAEs required for notification of results and/or acknowledgement of receipt of submission.

2009-08-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of the amazing
West Australian poet

ANDREW TAYLOR

His latest book 'The Unhaunting'

(Salt Publishing) will be officially

launched by Dennis Haskell

at Planet Books in Mt Lawley

on the 10th September @ 6.30pm.

Please RSVP to Planet:

books@planetvideo.com.au

by the 8th September.

Introduction to Hidden Capacity ~ a writer's journey...

2009-08-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

My first book of poems was called 'Hidden Capacity ~ a poet's journey...'

I've started a seperate blog (here) to explain in more detail how I wrote the pieces contained in the book.

Out of a 300 print run, which I published in Ireland in 2003, I've only got 5 copies left.

No, I didn't sell them all, I gave most away as a sort of calling card.
As a poet, it's important to get the first book over and done with, so in my impatience I chose to self-publish. I've discovered from others, your first is never your best and mine was no exception, even though it's exciting to be finally publishing your words, often our heart is too close to the content and we choose the wrong pieces to share.
There are a few in that book which I will probably never live down, but there are also some gems which I'm (and others have told me) very proud of.
So that's no longer available although I have chapbooks of various collections which I'm happy to print on demand for a nominal fee.
My poetry appears on the web in the most unlikely places, so just google and see, then if you like, contact me.

But I write for the page, stage and screen, so will elucidate further... later.
May your muse always amuse.