What Do You Love?

I’ve been reading a book called Story written by Robert McKee. Subtitled: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, while the focus of the advice might be on the film script, the gems contained within its covers are applicable to all writers of fiction. On the cover its claim “Winner, International Moving Image Book Award” is supported by the high quality of the information and writing between the covers.

This morning, on page 99, I read the passage with the sub-heading “The Gift of Endurance” in which he talks about screenwriting as being for long-distance runners rather than sprinters. The same is true for the novel, or any work of length. McKee wrote this:

“Whatever your source of inspiration, beware of this: Long before you finish, the love of self will rot and die, the love of ideas sicken and perish. You’ll become so tired and bored with writing about yourself or your ideas, that you may not finish the race.

So, in addition, ask: What’s my favourite genre? Then write in the genre you love. For although the passion for and idea or experience may wither, the love of the movies is forever.”

He ends the chapter with this: “Be honest in your choice of genre, for all the reasons for wanting to write, the only one that nurtures us through time is love of the work itself.”

Hear, hear!

 

Freefall writing

Do you long to connect with your deepest intention in writing, and to write with authority and grace? Book now for the Freefall Writing Retreat with Barbara Turner-Vesselago at Bicton in Perth from 11-16 Nov through Rosemary Stevens (rosegarv@iinet.net.au ). Barbara has over twenty-five years of experience in guiding writers to find their authentic voice and attain their highest potential. Many of her past students have been successfully published. I cannot recommend Barbara or the Freefall Writing process highly enough. Also, check out her website: www.freefallwriting.com

And congratulations Marlish!

One of our Book Length Project Group network members, Marlish Glorie has just published her new book, Sea Dog hotel. It is available as an e-book. Congratulations Marlish! I took the opportunity to ask the author all about her new baby:

Could you tell me a little bit about your background as a writer?        

I came late to writing in that I came late to reading. For me, reading and writing are inexorably linked, but there’s a hierarchy.  Reading comes first.  But before I go any further, I’d like to mention that from early childhood I did have a love of pretending and of storytelling.  It’s just that once I had the necessary skills as a writer, I took the pretending to a whole new level.

 My introduction to the world of books came at around the age of twelve.  When Mum got a car and was able to drive us kids to Bentley library.  Suddenly a whole new world opened up, and I was held enthralled by all the different worlds I could escape into.  I read anything and everything from James Bond by Ian Fleming  to Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.   I wanted to be like all these great writers…but that would take several other careers and many decades of reading and writing plays, before I even had the skills and confidence to try and write a novel.

My first novel ended up in the proverbial bottom drawer. With my second novel The Bookshop on JacarandaStreet I was fortune in that Fremantle Press published it in 2009.

Your new book is called the Sea Dog Hotel. What can you tell us about it?

It’s a book I’m proud of.  Whether or not it’s any good, I don’t know. And it’s not for me to judge, I’ll let others do that.  I’m proud of it because it deals with issues close to my heart, like mental illness, the West Australian wheat-belt and happiness.

I tend to brew on different issues, then marry them into what I hope is a seamless narrative. Fictionalising mental illness is extremely difficult, if you’re being honest, i.e.  writing about it, as it is, not playing it for laughs or gimmickry.   There are already enough misconceptions about mental illness without it being portrayed badly in Art. 

How did you come to write this particular book?

  I started writing it in 2006 after visiting, in the middle of winter, a speck of a town in the wheat belt.  It was bleak and freezing cold. And I remember thinking there’s a story here. Simple as that.  Something sparked within me, the austere landscape, the people, seemingly not much happening. Perfect ! — a blank canvas for me to fill.

The all-important question - where can we get hold of the book?

You can download a copy of Sea Dog Hotel from Amazon eBooks for $7.99
 
And what next for Marlish Glorie?

 

Trying to market and sell Sea Dog Hotel  which is no easy thing when you’ve gone down the road of self-publishing!  And working on my next book.

 

 

Congratulations Louise!

Wonderful news. Book Length Project Group member Louise Allan has been awarded a Varuna residency for 2014. This is no small thing. The residencies are highly competitive and there is an involved application process required to even be considered. Read all about it on Louise's blog.

Congratulations Louise! I've had the great privilege to read some of your work, and it is certainly well-deserved. We will expect a blow by blow account of events upon your return. The way this year is speeding by, it won't feel too long.

Next year...

Both teams fought hard but the more experienced Hawks prevailed in the end. Congratulations to both teams - only a couple of goals in it when the final siren sounded. "The Dockers have a future" said Dennis Cometti. They sure do. A young team with a great work ethic and a whole year to get ready for the next Grand Final. Garn the Dockers!

Garn the mighty Dockers...!

Freo, way to go, hit 'em with the old heave ho - we are the Freo Dockers.

All this to be sung with a hint of inebriation and just the one note - pick any.

Joking aside, nineteen years without a grand final makes the competition this year all the sweeter.

Go Freo!

Progressing the manuscript - confessions of a suburban writer

I have taken to handwriting, however clumsily, every morning when I get up, to simply progress the

plot of my new novel manuscript. In my pyjamas, in my dressing gown and old socks. With a cup of coffee at my side, usually growing cold as the stream of consciousness takes hold.

This stops me -

• overthinking things
• getting stuck in editing mode on my computer
• losing the plot
• overcomplicating the plot
• feeling those self-defeating emotions that accompany the process of writing a novel when inspiration is not forthcoming

It's still slow. I type it up and edit over the course of the day, between more cups of coffee and suddenly pressing tasks.

Yes it's working and the plot twists and turns still take me by surprise. I guess the trick now is knowing which paths to follow, and where I need to backtrack.

I wish you all the best, fellow writers, with your own endeavours. Keep writing.