End of the month

The first month of 2012 is almost over and with it goes the January, A River of Stones, challenge. In some ways it's not a challenge, as the theme for the month is set and takes less mental energy than posting daily and thinking about the month ahead.

Applications have been coming in for the Write a Longer Work series of workshops. The original plan had been to offer a Longitudinal Novel Writing  workshop; however, with many people writing in other genres, it seemed fairer to open it up to include all forms and lengths from Novellettes to memoirs or other non-fiction. This workshop is a community service initiative of the Wordsmiths of Melton to encourage and foster literary interest from those living within the Shire of Melton.

Studying three subjects online at the one time is another commitment - and a challenge to meet deadlines. For anyone considering online studying I would suggest two subjects at a time is enough unless you have plenty of time on your hands - I don't. Often it can mean the difference between a high distinction grading and a distinction.

The writing of my own novel continues, although not at the pace set during Nanowrimo. This is a learning experience for me, having begun the project with only a beginning and an ending in mind and letting the story write itself. This proved to be an enjoyable and productive experience until I reached a point wher I needed and outline or I was in danger of losing my way completely. This is where writing groups or writing peers can be invaluable, to throw ideas around and see what you catch on the back toss. I'm pleased to say I've found my way before I got too far off the beaten  lexiconic track - and have now completed an outline for the remainder of the story - as well as retrospectively.

~Merlene

Change of title

This year my focus will be extend beyond the development of poems and I have changed the title of this blog to reflect those changes. My posts are always what fall from my metaphoric pen, therefore will always be in the rough - often the first and only draft. I had thought of posting random paragraphs from the novel I'm currently writing, which has a working title of The Run, but need to think whether there is any purpose to this before I rush off at the keyboard. Poetry, for this month, is covered by short form observations posted on http://aros-merlene.blogspot.com/ and competition updates continue at  http://writingandpoetryopportunities.blogspot.com/

Symbiotic or symbolic?

Today I used the words hieroglyphics and sarcophagus in two unrelated haiku - symbiotic or symbolic? The first related to editing markups and the second to a desk tidy. Could both be symbolic of the mystery of death - death of a manuscript from author's intention to editor's correction, and the other as the holder of dead pens? Obviously I am procrastinating from the real job of writing and need to take a self-discipline pill.