Roses and Tea

I'm taking some time out, time to cut some heritage roses from my garden, pop them in a milk jug and pour myself a cup of tea. It's been a tough year.

After a summer season of disasters it was a slow start for me creatively. But recently I attained the goals I set for myself. A new manuscript is sitting with my publisher and a new picture book has just been mailed off to my mentor at Create a Kids' Book.

Not only that, but the book I illustrated and co-wrote with my writers' group, Prana Writers, has been shortlisted for the Write a Book in a Day Awards. We're in with a good chance.

The original manuscript, The Coral Sea Monster, was written within the twelve hour deadline, but now prior to publishing it, we're giving it a serious edit this weekend.

The tea has brewed. Won't you join me?

Mid Year's Resolutions

Last week during the one hour ‘Monday Writing Sprint’ on Facebook, I wrote a blog post entitled ‘What Warms My Heart’ for award winning children’s author, Sally Murphy’s blog. You can check out what warms my heart here.

This week during ‘The Sprint’ I thought I’d catch up with a few blog posts of my own. Life has been very busy lately as I try to attain my goals. Now with the year well and truly half gone, I thought I’d go over what resolutions I’d made at the start of the year and see how I was doing so far. Here they are:

1. Work/write every day from 9am.
2. Exercise 3x a week.
3. Lose 3-4 kilo. (ha ha)
4. Practise my art.
5. Complete and submit my short novel wip.
6. Complete my novel wip.
7. Complete illustrations for pb.
8. Blog 2-3 times per month.
9. Promote my book Pond Magic.
10. Initiate work as a workshop presenter/speaker.

I know, this is a ridiculously long list of expectations. But, I’ll be happy if I can check even three off the list. So how have I been going?

1. Yes, I have worked every day. The support of the one hour Monday Writing Sprint has really helped here. It’s a Monday morning kick start that sets me up for the week and my family know ‘I’m working’ and leave me alone.

2. Hmm…I think this one has averaged out to once per week as I was really sick in March (excuses).

3. Ditto. Lost 2 kilos being sick, then visitors arrived and well…

4. I’ve been working on my picture book and doing other illustrations for fun.

5. My short novel first draft is complete and I’m editing it.

6. My novel is sitting patiently waiting for me.

7. My picture book illustrations are up to the final draft stage before colouring.

8. I’m enjoying my blog and may even have found my ‘blog identity’.

9. I’ve been able to promote Pond Magic through my author talks and workshops and I was interviewed on radio when Pond Magic was book of the month on ABC 91.7.

10. My ‘authorpreneurial’ work has started to increase rapidly. In the next few months I will be speaking and conducting workshops at writers’ groups, libraries and schools. So far ‘word of mouth’ has been getting my name out there.

Having evaluated how far I’ve come this year, I feel a little more confident now that my writing and illustrating is heading in the right direction. Here’s a little sample:

And the year is only half way through, right?

Did you make any goals at the start of the year? And how’s it going so far?

Are you brave enough to climb to the top of the tree?

Writers are like apples on trees. The best are at the top of the tree, but the climb is difficult and the branches are rough. Some writers don't want to climb because they are afraid of falling and being rejected, so they stay on the ground. These apples are good, but they risk withering in the leaf litter. Have you ever seen the view from the top of an apple tree? Are you brave enough to risk a fall? Here, take my hand. I am climbing up. Together we can reach the top and bask in the sun.