Writing Outside My Comfort Zone (with varying success)
On trying new things, the upcoming anthology launch, feminist futures, and my terrible sense of rhythm.
Hello all!
It’s been a while, blah blah. Anyway.
First up, I have an event for you. The Bad Western Sydney: Second Case anthology (in which my story Blackwater is featured!) launch is this Saturday, the 14th of September at the State Library. There will be a panel featuring Dinuka McKenzie and Candice Fox! You can get your ticket here. I hope to see you there!
I’ve been writing a lot of short stories lately. And reading more short story collections. Both of these things are pretty new for me. Before 2022, when I jumped into the creative writing community (after a decade or two of embracing the isolated reclusive writer lifestyle), I only wrote and read novels. On some level, I thought short fiction was easier to write - while at the same time being very bad at it. I think one thing that kept me away from short pieces (both writing and reading) was the fact that I couldn’t exist long with the characters and the world. But I’ve reframed it now – I can linger there longer, reading, re-reading, finding something new every time. I find it hard to sustain interest in “flowery language” in novels, but in short pieces, I can appreciate it in all its beauty.
This month I broke my record by writing five brand new short stories, ranging between 500 and 5000 words. I’ve submitted most of them one place or another. I also wrote my first crime short story – something I never thought I’d do. I did it for a prize, and I’m so glad I pushed myself, because I’ve achieved something I didn’t think I could. I went in overwhelmed, wondering how I’d fit a whodunnit story into 5000 words, but I managed. I even like the result. Hopefully you’ll all see it in print soon, if all goes well!
I also finally updated my writers’ website!! Let me know what you think.
I’ve been dabbling in writing poetry, too. This isn’t going as well as the short story writing. I think it all comes back to my lack of rhythm. It reminds me of Year 9 music class when we were given bongos to play. I was whacking at the thing, thinking I was following the beat, until eventually the teacher looked really confused and said, “why can’t you do it?” I also had piano lessons as a kid and the main critique I got was that I would randomly speed up and slow down throughout the song for no discernible reason. I just can’t hear it. It’s a shame, because I love music, but listening to it is enough.
I guess what I’ve learned this month is 1) I should dip out of my writing comfort zone more often; try new things and 2) It’s okay if I’m bad at the new things, because it doesn’t mean I’ll be bad at all the new things. You never know, I eventually might come back to you as a poet laureate (writing that made me snort).
I hope you’re all doing well and writing – or at least daydreaming. It’s a valid part of the process.
What I’m Reading:
What are you reading this month? Let me know, I’m always looking for recs!
I read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I’m late to the party, I know. I’d seen the TV show but had forgotten almost everything about it, but I had to read the first two chapters of the book for a class. I got hooked. Atwood describes Offred’s life under a patriarchal, totalitarian regime in spare and restrained prose peppered with striking metaphors that are more powerful for being nestled among the rest. This book has been a masterclass in economy in language for me. And I definitely see why the story is being used as an allegory for the current state of reproductive rights, especially in the U.S. In an essay Atwood wrote for LitHub (regarding the book’s epilogue from the POV of a historical society discussing the old barbaric ways of Gilead as we see them in the novel), she says something I found inspiring:
“When asked whether The Handmaid’s Tale is about to “come true,” I remind myself that there are two futures in the book, and that if the first one comes true, the second one may do so also.”
Following on from that, in a NYT essay, Atwood also mentions “the literature of witness”, which I think is such a powerful literary form, especially now. Well, always – but now is where we’re living. To bear witness and share what we see is essential to making that “second future” come true.
That’s it from me! Have a great week, and don’t forget to book your BAD tickets :) x