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Choosing Which Writing Project To Do

carolyncordon

The difficulty I currently have is to choose which of the few different writing projects to work on is a fine thing, as far as problems go. I have a variety of ideas for new books, some of which emerged but were forgotten, others are in the earliest stages, which not much happening as yet. And there is another one, that I would love to have happen, but not sure on my abilities to actually get it done …

And so, with this ’embarrassment of riches’, I need to find a useful way to decide on the hows and whens of getting the relevant writing done. There is one project with the book already written, and accepted by a publisher. I just have to wait for them to do the necessary work on that one, nothing more for me to do until the book is available, around the middle of 2022.

Then there is a non fiction book I’ve blogged about a couple of years ago, but I’d totally forgotten about it, and don’t know at all what it was about, except for what I’d written in the blog post. So it was non fiction, and other writers had in some way or ways been the prompt for it, whatever ‘it’ was. I suspect I’d be wise to just step away from thinking about that one, until, or unless I can remember more about it.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There’s a children’s picture book idea, that I’ve written a little bit about elsewhere, and I truly hope I can do more about this idea, when the time feel right for it. At the moment, I have a title (having a title is usually important for me, to get my ‘back-brain’ working). So there are ideas for illustrations, which are actually going to be photographs, I hope. I’ve written notes, as I said, and if I can set aside time to work more on the words the book will need, that will help hugely.

But now doesn’t feel like the time for that … When will be the time, I wonder? Once things are cooler outside? It’s Summer, it’s hot, and I don’t feel like wondering around the place outside, taking photographs with my phone camera. Things seem too ‘glarey’. This book is going to be written in rhyme, and in those notes, from memory, I indicated the rhyming format, so that’s on the way to being organised. I just have to write it, then get the pics to go with it. Simple. But not yet …

But the thing I’ve put the most work into, is going to be my biggest personal writing thing for this year. And it’s a thing I won’t be doing all by myself. This one is going to be an anthology, based on the words that make up the title. I’ve published an anthology previously, last year in fact, and the title of that anthology, “Plague Invasion” hit me in the head, and I had an overwhelming feeling that this was a thing I must do. So that is what I spent a large part of 2020 and half of 2021 doing. Putting out the call for submissions, gathering the other needed bits and pieces, and then going about the business of having the book printed.

I didn’t get that hit in the head for the anthology title this time, and don’t have the same sense of compulsion, but once I’d made the decision on subject matter, and then title for this book, I felt a settled feeling of ‘Yes, that’s what I’m going to do.’ So I decided what I’d do late last year, and mentioned it to a few other writing colleagues, to make my mind firmer on the project, and a few days ago, on this blog, I put out the submission details.

If you wish to know more, this is where you can read more about it. I know what I want, but not specifically and exactly what. I’m hoping that, as with the previous call for submissions, where I trusted I would receive just the perfect things, I’d receive works that I could put together and achieve that marvellous thing, where the some of the parts come together to create a bigger and better whole!

The anthology will have three things “Climate, Change, and Climate Change”, and that is in fact the title of the anthology. Those wishing to submit work will write about some or all of those things, either as prose, or poetry.

So this anthology is going to be my biggest writing project for the beginning of 2022, and after it is launched, the work of marketing happens. Never my best point, but so be it. I will learn how to do that better, as I do this more and more. I hope so anyway! You learn by doing, that’s what they say, isn’t it?

And once the anthology is well under way, with Summer over, and my favourite month of Autumn, with cooler weather, photographs for that picture book can happen, and i can work on the text for that book, and for the needed setting out of the ideas onto an order that works best. That is the kind of work that can fit in between doing other things, and so that one will slowly come together, and who knows, perhaps that one can be the book I hve published in 2023!

And of course there is the book I’ve been working on for what feels like forever, still hanging around, with tiny extra bits added to the novel, when a given writing prompt from my writing group gives me an idea that could fit in to the plot. I had planned to try to become a noted writer of cosy murder mystery books, and make a fortune, but at the rate I’m going I may never even get this first one finished, let alone published.

I am having fun with it though, and that’s important isn’t it? I think so. Having a good time with your writing is the thing that will keep you coming back to it, the thing that keeps your bum on the seat as you write or type your way to better writing! The more you write, the better your writing can get.

So there you are, my year of writing set out, with rest breaks and ideas, and you never know, another idea could come along and bump all the rest off the table, and go on to be the best seller I’ve dreamed of one day writing!

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A New Year, A New Writing Project

carolyncordon

Last year I worked on, and published and launched an anthology about an important thing, the Corona Covid-19 Virus. That book is now ‘out there’ in a couple of libraries, and in peoples’s own personal libraries, and I am proud of what I achieved. So many thanks to all of the poets/writers who submitted their words to that project. The Book, “Plague Invasion” was important, and the sharing of thoughts and ideas about this subject deemed to be an important from an historical view.

This year, I have a new idea, and so a new project, again on important subjects, from both global, and personal points of view, and everything in between. I don’t know what this new book will ultimately look like, because yesterday was the first day of officially putting out a call for submissions to this new anthology, and I have nothing for it, apart from my own writings, which may or may not still be there, by the time the book is launched.

I plan on a launch date of late July this year, (2022), so I have calculated a closing date for submissions of first of May, should allow sufficient time for the book to be put together, edited, looked at my others, and then printed before the Gawler and Adelaide Plains Festival of Words is on. I wish to again launch a book, this book in fact, during this important Festival.

Last year and the year before, the Festival was quite severely impacted by Covid restrictions, but I have hopes we might be on the way to being over such things. If people do the right thing – mask up, wash their hands, and adhere to social distancing rules. This year though, it may be I’m in my normal Pollyanna mode of looking on the positive side of things, who really knows, but I really do thing we’ve almost turned a corner, and things are on the way to being better.

Not normal, I suspect anything called ‘normal’ could be a thing of the past, if there ever was such a thing for all. Normal is another name for yeah, I’m ok, but don’t look too closely at things … What may be termed normal for one person may look like poverty to another person, and what looks like poverty to could seem to be riches to another. Normal is not a real thing, it’s a name we call things, so we can manage our lives in ways that work for us …

Growing our own – normal, or Covid constraints reaction? (writer’s photograph)

Anyway, back to this new project

For this project, I require creative writing, both Poetry and Prose, concerning any or all of these three things : Climate, Change, and Climate Change. The individual pieces may allude to more than one of the three, but I ask the submitter indicate which of the three they consider most important one for the particular work.

Contributors can submit up to three poems, and three works of prose. The poems can be up to and including thirty lines for each poem (if sending Haiku or Senryu, up to five of each on the same or similar theme will be considered as one work). Prose can be up to and including 2,000 words for each work.

Works are to be submitted either as ‘word’ documents attached to the email, or in the body of the email, if via email to kittycordo@gmail.com with the appropriate theme in the ‘subject’. It is preferred Prose submissions be word files, but it not too lengthy and preferred is not available submission via body of email is acceptable.

Summer clouds … (writer’s photograph)

Submission of Poetry in body of email is also acceptable, but as individual word files is also preferred.

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The Deed Not Yet Done, But At Least Begun!

carolyncordon

Yes, finally, on this, the final day of the year 2021, I have finally begun the process of putting together my next Anthology. I hope this book may be ready in time to be launched at the 2022 Gawler And Adelaide Plains Festival of Words. But given the fact I haven’t even put the call out yet, who knows whether that will be possible …

But today, I am putting out such a call, asking for submissions of poetry and/or prose, that refers to this anthology, to be titled “Climate, Change, Climate Change”. I require learned pieces on the subject of both Climate and Climate Change, and about the trials and tribulations of going through various changes in life.

I am not an expert in the first two mentioned subjects, but I have certainly had a broad exposure to various aspects of ‘change’. But that first one, ‘Climate’ may be not scientific, but rather a less particular aspect, and referring instead to ‘the climate of a room, when somebody drops a clanger’ for instance …

And really, anyone with any exposure to the news, will surely have some ideas about climate change, what it is, and whether they are or might be affected by it. I remember hearing something recently on the news, about islands being flooded out, causing people to leave their homes, and heading for the mountainous regions, up higher than the invading waters.

Whether a believer or denialist, strongly held ideas, presented interestingly are required to make this anthology everything I hope it can be. So scientist, or lay person, your thoughts and ideas, presented as poetry or prose are needed and any of all of these three subjects.

And if you happen to be an expert in Climate Change, I wold love to hear from you, with the idea of possibly writing the introduction of this new book. And if you aren’t an expert, but know own, an introduction to them about this idea, so they may write said piece would be extremely welcome!

rising waters, or a needed holiday?

What I need

So, I am calling for up to three pieces of poetry and/or prose, with poems to be up to thirty lines, and prose to be up to up to 2,000 words. Because there will be three parts of this anthology – Climate, Change, Climate Change, all with two further sections – Poetry, Prose, I ask the submissions have in the subject of the email the writer’s own belief about what is the most important subject of their piece, it it refers to more than just one of the subjects.

For instance, if you are writing a piece that talks about the way we change governments, based on their attitudes to Climate Change, put whichever is most important, as you see it. When it comes down to it, if I as the editor have a different idea about which is most important, we can have that discussion at a later stage, before the anthology is published.

So I am asking for submissions from now, until early May 2022. Submissions are to be sent to me at kittycordo@gmail.com, and indicate the subject of your piece in your email.

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There Are Many Different Kinds Of Writing …

carolyncordon

Some of them I’ve had a go at, others don’t interest me, or not at the moment anyway, and others, well there are definitely others I’d love to try, sometime …

I’m nothing special to look at, but my head has many things happening inside of it, interesting things! (writer’s photo)

I wrote a bit about this issue recently, this is the link to it, on Medium.com. I’ve been writing on that online platform since April this year, and while I quite enjoy putting my word out there, at this new (to me) writing place, it isn’t up close and personal presenting my words to a keen audience.

And that idea, of doing ‘a show’ where people are interested enough to buy a ticket, just to see me do something interesting, amusing, exciting, or inspiring, well that idea really appeals to me …

My involvement with using my writing as a connection to others, and expressing myself to them through my writing, as so far been limited to Poetry Readings, and talking to groups about my books, or my life as shown in my books, two in particular. I certainly enjoy doing that, and would enjoy doing a lot more if it, if only I could get my head around the hows of getting such gigs.

But as I haven’t actually done all that much about promoting myself as a writer, that isn’t particularly surprising, is it? If only I had an agent to do the work of spreading my name as a good one to have for an event! It’s a bit of a catch 22 – to get an agent, I’d need to be better known, but if I was better known, I’d have people calling me, to do a show with them!

Anyway, as I set out in the article on Medium.com, I’ve been thinking about the idea of going up on the stage, but realised I probably have enough going on, writing wise at the moment, and there are other possible reasons why living my life as it is now, is probably more than enough.

I have a poetry collection coming out early 2020 “Leonard Cohen Is Dead” to be published by Ginninderra Press. Having been had my poetry published by Ginninderra previously, I am very much looking forward to being able to have this new book launched, and showing the world how my poetic abilities have been getting better and better. I definitely this is my very best poetry collection so far!

So yes, Poetry is my best and most favoured style of writing, but who knows what I may end up doing. There’s still the novel I’m writing, and the idea of being a stand up comic is still hovering around in my head! A sit down/stand up comedian with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), how funny, right?! But that spot was stolen for me by Tim Ferguson, who is much practiced at the comedian thing, having worked with the Doug Anthony All Stars and done great work, and then telling the world about his diagnosis with MS.

And Tim Ferguson has MS much worse than I do, so he gets the sympathy card as well, whereas my MS is cruising along well, and I don’t even look like I’m sick at all, unless you see me at my worst, which hasn’t actually happened for ages. Damn my medication! Haha, just joking. I’m thrilled to have an effective medication, that allows me to live a near ‘normal’ life …

Now, where was I? Um I forget … I think I’ve said enough, and if I remember, I may do an update. The main point is that I’m still doing writing stuff, and enjoying it. And I just remembered what was maybe going to me next, but that will need to be a post on its own, I think, so you’ll have to wait.

Don’t complain, waiting is good for you, and it’s better if you have to wait for it! Or is that your dinner? Something like that. Cheers friends, thank you for reading!

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Turning Japanese? No, Just Appreciating Some Japanese Things …

carolyncordon

I’ve been enjoying writing for the Medium.com online platform, especially exploring different subjects to write articles about. This one that I posted today is relevant in part to this blog, and another two of my blogs as well, I suppose. But this ‘Writer’ site is the most relevant one to the Medium piece.

If you’re interested, this is the link to it: https://kittycordo.medium.com/senryu-haiku-or-just-short-three-lined-records-of-moments-f5b238e78364

I included two Japanese-style short poems in the article, and cover a little about Bonsai and Japanese food too. I like my Bonsai trees, may they continue growing for a great many years into the future! And while I don’t eat Sushi, I do enjoy Tempura and Yakitori!

Obviously there are things about the Japanese culture of which I am ignorant, but that could also be true of other countries, and probably unless you live it, and perhaps were born into it, you can never truly understand what really goes on …

I enjoyed sharing those two pieces I wrote about our dog, Missy, one about last night and her fearful reaction to the electrical storm, with lightning and the scariest part, the thunder. This is I think the third time Missy has had such an extreme reaction to thunder, and I was so sad, seeing her trembling the way she was.

That’s why I was so happy to see her curled up on her lounge chair, peacefully snoring, with ‘not a care in the world’ as the saying goes. I really hope we don’t have too many more such storms, poor Missy wouldn’t like it, not at all. And at the age of fourteen, Missy has had enough time to learn about what she does and doesn’t like, that’s for sure!

Fourteen, times by seven to find her age in human years? That makes for a very old dog indeed! But when you do the calculation, you can see the folly of paying too much heed to that one. Missy is sound still in mind and body, eating well, and while she loves her naps, she’s still an interested hunter, when the opportunity arises …

Missy is certainly not a Japanese dog, her breed, the Pharaoh Hound is thought to be from Malta. But of the Japanese breeds of dog to choose from, I’m not all that taken with the larger breed, the Akita – the small breed, the Shiba Inu is a cute little dog though. I don’t know anything about their temperament, but I never saw any signs of nastiness from one, back in my dog show days.

If we get any more stormy weather, may Missy snooze through it all, so we don’t have to worry about her, like we did last night. Oh, being a dog owner can be troublesome sometimes … The good times, though, are excellent, and I’d hate to be without a dog. Dogs, gardens and books, lovely!