Changing In Public

I love it when bloggers I read regularly make a change to their blog ... and make that change in public ... You know the drift ... swearing, cheering and all other associated behaviorus get recorded on their blog.

"Well having just finished my business web page, I am not going to do a heap of work here ... but I do think a change in look will be a good thing to go with my change in style."

So watch this space as I get my act together again (or not!).

And I beg your patience as I rejuvenate the blog and rid myself of blogging burnout ... a change is as good as a holiday and all that stuff people say to you ....

The Blogging Experience

It seems like a long time ago that I started this blog "just to experience the blogging process and how it differed to journalling". I have had such an intriguing time ... setting up multiple blogs, meeting some really interesting bloggers (and others) and as with anything, the experience has helped me learn so much more about blogging than I would have if I just interviewed some bloggers for the book ...

"Bloggers are dedicated, focussed, (sometimes crazy!), sharing people ... across all cultures, genders, ageas and backgrounds ..."

Like any project though there comes a time when some things must come to an end ... and the "Blogging to practice blogging" part of my research is now done ... I am still really happy to get surveys back from bloggers and journal writers about their journal and blog writing experiences though. I can't get enough of those.

This blog will change a little ... it will be about journal writing, blogging, techniques and tips ,,, but also include sillly musings of mine ... all on one blog ... It will gradually evolve into the New Century Notebook of a writer ... ME. Let's see how that goes ... and I am sure my clients will be pleased as it means I will be MUCH better focussed on their projects!!!!

What do you think?

Just Ask! Then Think. Hopefully Act.

There is a new web page 'Your Question', that is trying it's best to make a difference ...

It claims activism ... and sustainability and all good community involvement and community development principles ...

You can ask world shattering (or 'world improving') questions ... and while you aren't necessarily going to get answers or inspire discussion, you might provoke someone in to action.

"Just reading some of the questions did get me thinking ..."

Give it a go .... ask a question. It can't hurt - and it might even make you think, and that will make some small difference.

Writing Communities

I previously haven't spent much time with other writers unless I was writing something with them.

"Not because I didn't think writers would be interesting people to hang around with, but I never had the time until I went on my current seachange."

I spent the afternoon folding newsletters at my local writer's centre ... and thoroughly enjoyed the company and conversation ... I felt connected ... even though we are all on different paths and write, research and prepare in our own ways and genre ...

The comfort of community. A great way to spend a Friday afternoon ...

Blogging Burnout ...

My blogging mate (well he was before he got all famous on us (!)) at Pointless Drivel has recently hit his 500th entry in less than a year. That is an amazing feat for someone with a career and a life ... a life outside cyberspace that is. In his celebratory blog entry he mentioned Blogging Burnout ...

"It got me thinking."

I needed a break from blogging... Have been hinting at four blogs being too many (it is!) ... Am contemplating why I do it now I have been through the experience for the sake of the book ... wonder if I would be better just having a little blog set up from my personal web site (and no more).

Just got me thinking ... and a good blog does that. Makes you smile or think.

Happy International Webloggers Day!

Don't underestimate a blogger ... ever!

Failed!

Ok I failed within 6 weeks. I have totally broken the great pattern of work I started. But it isn't my fault (cough cough). My daughter just got the first stage of her drivers license ... such an exciting time for her! The catch is she can't drive without a supervising adult for the first 25 hours ... so geuss who is spending more time in a car than in front of the computer?

It's only short term and if the truth be known I am as excited as she is ... for her.... of course for me the nerves related to having your "baby" driving on those roads with the idiots we all know are out there is the next phase ...

But I thought I should record my failures as much as my successes ...

Notebook ... hmmmm ... this week's theme is "to remain incurably curious" ... isn't that inspiring?

As to the failure? Add it to the rejection slips, I don't let these things put chinks in my ego. Writers can't afford to wallow in self pity - and these little phases never last long ...

Go On! Be a Joiner!

International Blogging Day is upon us good people ... please take part!

More details here ...

You KNOW you want to!

The Journal or the Pen

Time to share some of the interesting findings from my journal writing research (thanks to those of you who sent in survey responses ... if you haven't ... email me and I will send you one to fill out pamelaw@iinet.net.au or fill in the Journal Survey at Delivering the Vision).

I really had fun reading about the tools of the trade you talked about. I have my own (not so secret) addiction to blank books ... hmmm which reminds me that I found a lovely set in my local gift shop hand made in Indonesia that I just HAVE to go back and buy!)... it is kind of logical that the book you write in is going to be important. I also suspected that the writing tools might be important.

My own experience was the first clue! As a youngster I discovered ink pens early on. My hand writing makes a doctor's look neat ... so I need all the help I can get. Ink helped me to be more careful and I found that some nib styles made even my writing look great. Somewhere in my teens I discovered a beautiful peacock blue colour (I think it was done by Parker Pens and Inks and I suspect they still do it). I wrote everything I could in that peacock blue ... and I love that colour in everything from ink to clothes to this day.

I always found plain blue to be boring. If it had to be ordinary ink then I always chose black. And I always choose a good strong black. Black looks great on a white page after all... Even with my self restricted stationary budget ( I have to be so tough on myself when it comes to stationary of any kind!) I go for the gel black or Artline Fine Tip in black. Of course my daily journals are written with a pen with gel ink refills ... never with an ordinary pen (see the hints coming through???).

"But what really gave it away for me was the fact that people all over the State of Western Australia KNOW me for my purple pens! "

The purple pen obsession started when I was at University and my thesis was being supervised by a couple of fantastic feminst scholars - Dr Dani Stehlik and Dr Lekkie Hopkins. For those of you who don't know, purple is a colour with strong links to feminism (as well as higher thought, royalty and spirituality). It is also a colour that is rare in nature (and thus precious) and that has led to serious discussion amongst colour experts and artists. (Check out the 'net - the debate still rages in quiet corners!).

But I digress. Both these women had lectured and mentored me in my undergraduate years and when it came to supervising me they took me and my project on with both hands and owned my success in a way that only great women do! At our first offical supervisor's meeting in Dani's office we had percolated coffee and pastries ... and because both women knew that I kept a regular journal AND a research journal ... I was given a purple pen as a gift to write with ... and it all began. It was almost like it signified the passing of a torch ... and I was expected to work tirelessly and honestly with it now I had the purple pen as a tool!

For me ... the purple pen represented my real writing, the real me, the journal me. Some entries aren't in purple (which is really strange as I began a purple pen collection to shame any other collection one could have!) .. but most are ... and the purple pen writings became as important to me as the research work I was writing (sometimes more important) ... For those who don't know me ... along with the support of my brave supervisors I ended up including excerpts from my journal IN to my thesis. A brave move for those days ... and one which has paved the way for many other scholars to do the same in the social sciences now ...

So the purple pen was about support and bravery. About being a pioneer yet a graduate from many years of struggle by women scholars before me. And at the same time it was a comfortable place to be. The purple pen became the representation of the real me ... the me in my journal ...

I use purple pens almost as a signature now ... so why the hell was I surprised when other people had so much to say about the tools of writing when it comes to their journal? Silly me huh! My supervisors from my early research days would groan if they thought I STILL had so much doubt ... I swear they did their best to gently beat it out of me ...

Signing off in purple ...

Pamela

New Century Notebook Project

I have had to spend some time reflecting on my writing and it's purpose. I started the New Century Notebook (NCN) blog to experience blogging ... Typical me doesn't like to miss out on any possible writing experience! I am writing about journal writing in the new millenium and of course blogging is a major part of that. So instead of just writing and researching it - I did it. Thus I started this blog. It also serves the purpose of recording the writing journey. I have alwasy used a journal of some sort of record the process of any alrge project I undertook ... so the blog fitted in well with my methodology. This methodology started with my thesis - a ground breaking piece of research which also included excerpts from my journal. So it is a place and method that feels comfortable for me.

It has raised so many issues. The public sphere changes so many aspects of the writing for a professional writer. It has been fun to learn these firts hand. Best of all I have met some great people and really interesting bloggers.

I also have my Blog of Lists as this was to be my "ordinary day blog" ... also just for the experience. Then I added Blog Writing Tips and Journal Writing Tips due to requests from regular readers.

"If I am to finish the NCN project ... I need to scale back. So which blog do I retain?"

Help me out by commenting ... this is a serious decision I don't want to make by myself!

How Many Projects Is Too Many?

It's a rhetorical question. Please don't give me advice! I currently have four books on the go ... 3 non fiction, 1 fiction; 7 articles; 2 contracted freelance pieces; 2 classes to prepare; and timetables looming for July too big to mention. I have three possible consultancy pieces I am in the running for ... I also have a life (like 2 baby budgies just born in our aviary and a daughter going for her license needing extra lessons for example) ... So I ask (rhetorically again!)...

"How many projects is too many?"

Well I haven't hit the barrier yet.
This feels damn good!

Welcome to All Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) Members

We're lucky here in Western Australia to have our own Writer's Fellowship. The Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA) supports West Australian writers through various means ... but one of my little cheery lifelines in the Fellowship news. I love the announcement of competions and workshops (even if I am not in need of one or the other at the time of reading).

"The FAW (WA) newsletter is a monthly reminder that there are others around me living the writers life ... whether it is full or part time ... writing is an obsession - not a hobby."

Thanks to any FAW (WA) who are popping by to do the journal writing survey ... I appreciate your support ... Just click on the link to the right of the blog- I appreciate responses from anyone who has has ever written in a journal ... even if only once or twice! I swear on the Australian Writers Marketplace that I don't use email addresses for anything other than the survey. If you would prefer me to email you a copy of the survey just email me on pamelaw@iinet.net.au.

Visit my blog on Journal Writing Tips or my professional home page if you want more resources or information.

Happy winter writing ...

How Lazy Do I Look?

Well that was a great break! But don't you dare think I was on holidays or anything. There is something about keeping a blog that make syou feel responsible for writing regularly ... responsible to whom I might ask???!!! I have been enjoying my transition to freelance writing as a profession with some exciting events and setting up new daily patterns.

I have been able to spend more time with family and friends - when I have been able to raise my head from the writing, project work and setting up my web page.

"I thought that this new life change was going to be much more lonely socially ... but it seems I was wrong."

Part of me has had to be very disciplined to make sure the work is getting done.

New habits of daily walks, and creative dates (Julia Cameron fans will recognise these) have all well an truly been integrated into daily life. Writing regularly and often has replaced mad writing when I had a snatch of time on weekends and evenings. I actually HAVE weekends and evenings off now! What a change!

All's well in freelance world ... oh and regular readers might want to check out my new web page for work! Go on! It's in my favourite colours and all (still a little graphic work to be added ... but nearly there!).

Calling All Good Men!

OK. There are a million different reasons why people keep a journal or personal blog. We know you guys do it in the secrecy of your own heads (journal writing) and we know there are more men blogging than women (*sigh*). I need to hear from men who keep journals or personal blogs for my research ....

"Come on guys! Email me!"

Seriously - I would love to hear from a few more guys who keep a journal or blog about their experiences. Shoot me off your email (my address is in my profile) and I will send you a survey. You guys need to be represented ... I'm giving you one more chance ... :-)

It's all relative in journal land ...

Today I am going to be spending the day working on an idea given to me by my cousin. She is an amazing support to me as a writer - and I have mentioned her before. Somewhere in my childhood she gave me the courage to even dream being a writer ... and then to be one. She has been a support to my journey, quietly and in the background.

When you write a book it is diificult to keepo focussed. I never have a problem with what to write about ... it comes thick and fast.

"For me the problem is how to put a lasso around it an wheel it in!"

Dayle has given me a concept for New Century Notebook that is unique and driven. It could be a whole book. It could be a good second book. But I want it in NCN as a chapter. I have been trialling the diary technique she gave me and it works for me ... I have a couple of trusted friends trying it too. It works for them. It works for Dayle.

How does it feel to write about an idea thats seeds sat with someone else? How does it feel to be given the gift of an idea as a writer ... like literally a letter saying "Here - you have it".

Overwhelming.

My New Work Space

I couldn't be happier about where I write from ... I mean if you love your homespace, then working from home is a real treat. It takes a lot of discipline not to get caught up in domestic and family distractions, but that is a small price to pay.

Knowing that I would be full time writing from home (apart from a little bit of consulting and lecturing), I must admit we did a major clean up and re-arrange of furniture. But even without having to buy anything new for the office area, we have managed to make the space very workable and oh so stimulating.

"How much more joyous can it be than to sit here with a view to our birds - and then spot a new willy wagtail visitor!"

Although we live just over the road from a lake with a wild life santurary, we still don't often have these creatures visit in our courtyard. For over a week now, a willy wagtail has visited every afternoon - about knock off time for me! I wouldn't swap this environment for the world ... well I would swap it for my lifetime dream of sailing on the QEII for a year writing a novel ... but that is the only higher bid!

Too Busy Writing To Blog

What a terrible state to be in! I have a busyness around me that is so productive right now I am scared to life my head out of it in case it goes away!

"I am busy with both the business of being a writer and of writing."

It is never easy to get a blend of the two ... and I have had it for this work week. So much so, that I have neglected blogging. If I were any more organised or any more productive I suspect that I would be a victim of spontaneous combustion.

Apologies to regular readers, famiy and friends for my absence ...

Writing Your Life

I seem to have this habit of writing my life ... and here it is! For today I want to record how it went ...

"Day one as a full time writer."

I started with my three page scribblings called morning pages (read Julia Cameron's The Artists Way for more on this); I went for a walk, observed the world, bought the paper; I interacted with my loved ones as they went off on their own daily adventures; I meditated on a piece from Anne Wilson Schaef's Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much and it spoke closely to what I need right now which is to take each day as a gift - especially the ordinary days; I sat and read the paper with a healthy breakfast; I did ten minutes of intense sorting/cleaning so that I could work in the new home environment we created on the weekend; I did some of the business of being a writer - the background activities people would never romantisise about!; I recieved a call from a dear friend wishing me "all the best for the first day in the new job"; I did some great research and took some really effetive notes; I watched a stimulating interview on TV; now I am blogging; next I will be taking another stroll; and then my writing day ends and I am just Pamela June again ...

A great first day.
The first day of the rest of my freelance career.
Thanks for joining me!

Smell the Fear and Do It Anyway

I know this is silly. The decision to leave work is made. I finish on Friday. We talked about all the implications of this decision and we are ready to face those.

"But I am feeling frightened."

I know I can write for profit. I know I will get lecturing and other consulting work. I know I will love the life style. I know it will have positive impact on the household and my relationships as well. I think I just need to get on with it. This last week at work is going to be so hard. And being a little scared about my ability to succeed (or otherwise) is a waste of energy.

But it's where I am at.

I am putting everything in to place that I need to in order to be successful.

But smelling the fear is where I am at.

But then I suppose I am like that when it comes to any adventure ...

Talking Is Good

I've found a little cure for my break in transmission! I am sure, of course, that sychronicity has been at hand. But nevertheless the transmission is up and running and roaring to go .... roll on the weekend.

I have had many opportunities to just talk with people. Mainly about my writing, their writing or the writing of people they know, love or admire. It was been a fantastic montage of snippets of motivation, fodder, enthusiasm and love of the craft.

"I forget how lucky I am to be entering a period where I am about to live my dream. "

I might wake up mid nightmare and wonder what the neck I have done ... but I will have done it. Of course I have to write about this period. My god, I will be living the dream of many a writer, blogger ot journaller by writing as a full time profession. No longer is this about the pressure to pay the mortgage ... it is about the pressure to make a go of my dream. Accept the gift and use it well. I remember a little card I was given in Sunday School as a kid ... "Your life is God's gift to you ... What you DO with it is your gift to God".

I'm in for the ride of my life and wrapping up the best pressie I can for God!!!!