I’ve figured out I’m more productive when I’m alone; now I’m figuring out if I write better during the day or at night. Why? I here you ask. Well, it’s 1.36am and I can’t sleep. So I did what many of us do in such a situation – I checked Twitter. Lo and behold, what do I find – a writing competition!

Jericho Writers has challenged authors to pitch their novel in one tweet by 5pm today (Thursday 26th March). I know I said I wouldn’t do any more competitions, but this is too much fun to ignore.

It’s micro-writing. Twitter allows 280 characters, including spaces, per tweet. So far in this blog post I have used double that allowance. You see the challenge in this? Delicious!

What am I going to promote? As it happens, I’ve been working on two novels for the past year.

The first novel is based on letters my great-grandmother received during world war one. The story is a fictionalized exploration of the friendship that develops between an English Red Cross volunteer in an army hospital in Oxford, and an Australian officer admitted to the hospital with a mysterious illness. In the story, their friendship helps her deal with suppressed emotions from her brother’s death earlier in the war; while it helps the soldier deal face the prospect of his death, and the stigma of being surrounded by soldiers injured in battle, whilst having no war injury himself. Their friendship is platonic, which adds another element to the story.

Hmmm, difficult to encapsulate in 280 characters – including spaces!

My other novel is bit more risqué. Ok, a lot more risqué. It’s a collection of inter-related short stories about my experiences as a gay man, from a teenager to my fifties. The stories examine the relationships I’ve had in my life, from infatuations to one-night stands to boyfriends. The working title of this novel is My heart is broken but the condom’s ok: An erotic and neurotic journey through a gay man’s life. That one should be easier to tweet about, as that’s a tweet right there!

Let’s hope writing this in the middle of the night sparks some extra creativity in me.

As I previously stated, I find being alone to be more conducive to productivity. As I am currently in two weeks solitary confinement for the crime of traveling to Bali, I wondered if this would make me more productive? Or if I would slip into a stupor of procrastination, fueled by Netflix, books and chocolate?

Well, I’m halfway through my confinement and I have to say, so far so good. I had a couple of days where nothing could tear me away from binge watching an Icelandic crime drama on Netflix. But other than that, I have managed to balance Netflix, reading, and writing.

As of today, I have entered seven short story or flash fiction competitions in March. I have one more to complete to round it out to eight. These writing competitions run throughout the year, so here are their details if you are interested. These organisations/companies also offer editing and other services for writers. They are really good resources to keep for the when you need them, or join their mailing lists.

• Limnisa Short Story Competition – www.limnisa.com
• Australian Writers’ Centre Furious Fiction – www.writerscentre.com.au
• Globe Soup Travel Writing Competition – www.globesoup.net
• World Writers Collective Short Story Competition – www.worldwriterscollective.com
• Flash Fiction 500 – www.flash500.com
• The Arcanist Western Flash Competition – www.thearcanist.io
• Retreat West Themed Flash Fiction Competition – www.retreatwest.co.uk
• Darling Axe Flash Fiction Competition – www.darlingaxe.com

So, I’d have to say isolation suits me, creatively at least. I’m fairly happy with my output in both quality and quantity. I think for the second week of my confinement I’ll focus on my book(s) and give the short stories and competitions a rest. Let’s see if I can keep the momentum going without a deadline to meet!

Please check out Amanda’s book on smoking with funny anecdotes, which has been published, from my collaborative website https://www.worldwriterscollective.com/amanda-burchell

I Like Everything Smoked by Amanda Burchell. Available by request, (please enquire via email). Languages: English. Published 26 – May – 2010.

Research on taxes from tobacco and comparisons with other pollutants were used amidst funny anecdotes and short stories and accompanied by photo/graphic- creations by Mike Cook.

http://www.worldwriterscollective.com

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

Alone, alas, alone is the call from above –
Travel from afar? Then for all the one’s you love
Stay indoors, you moron! Keep of the beach
And out of cafes and beyond an arm’s reach.
 
Is that your grandma, behind the safety-glass?
Celebrating her birthday all alone, alas!
Alone, like a country full of spinsters and
Bachelors, introverts and school bands.
 
My only relationship of any worth right now
Is with my Dove and water, as I faithfully plow
Through the CHM advice for best sanitation,
After every face touch and lonely masturbation.
 
Alone, alas, alone with no relief from Scruff
Or Grindr! Where can I find love, or enough
sex dates? Why seek a companion?
For years I’ve been alone, no ‘other’ to hang on,
 
No lover, no partner, no spouse, no ‘mate’,
Just sex with what’s-his-name (man, he was great!)
In a long line of what’s-his-names found online
Who cum to fill this empty, lonely soul of mine.
 
So alone, yes, alone is not that big a deal
When you’ve got solo experience to wield.
I can do this easily, I’m not worried - fuck it!
I have unlimited data and lube by the bucket!

After my previous post, where I concluded I was more productive when alone and the environment did not necessarily have any relevance, I find myself in another situation where I can put this theory to the test.

I returned yesterday from a week in Bali, to enter the two week self-isolation phase introduced by the Australian government for EVERYONE entering Australia from overseas. I now have an enforced further two weeks off work. To protect my housemate, I have come to our beach house in Inverloch for the two weeks. Beautiful environment indeed – as you can see by the photos I posted in February.

So, I am alone. Will I be as productive as I was in Bali? More productive? After all, in Bali I could go out to restaurants, shops, and bars. In my current situation I am forbidden from leaving the house. I’m allowed a night-time walk with no-one around. And, as Inverloch is pretty much deserted at the moment, I’m sure I could get to the beach for a walk (or swim – weather permitting!) without running into anyone, but basically I am house-bound.

We’ll see how this pans out, and I’ll keep you posted on my productivity levels over the next two weeks.

Over the last few weeks I’ve posted about the beautiful environments I’ve been in, and the hope that being ensconced in those surroundings would inspire me to write more and be more creative.

So, as I come to my last couple of days in Bali, has it panned out that way? Basically, yes. And no.

When I was in Inverloch, I was with my friend. Whilst he would never impinge on my request for writing time, I found it more difficult to focus on my writing with him around. We would talk, go to the beach together, walk the dog together, go to town together. It was more a social type of holiday.

Also, Inverloch was the first two weeks of my four weeks away from work. This meant there was some innate relaxing, decompressing, de-stressing, and unwinding that was desperately needed that did not lend itself to sitting still and writing. These needs were met through gardening, walking, going to the beach and doing odd jobs around the beach house.

The yes part comes is about my time in Bali. Here, I am alone. I still talk to people back home over the internet, and I have met great people here to hang out with, but there are no social expectations. I can go out alone for the day, sit in a beach-side cafe, and write to my hearts content. Which is exactly what I have been doing.

In the time in Bali I have completed some editing on my submission for the Limnisa Short Story Competition; completed a first draft on a travel article for Global Soup Travel Writing Competition; completed half of the first draft of my submission for The Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize ; and sketched the outlines to three more short stories for future development. All in the last 5 days. I’d say that was productive.

Thus my reflections on my productivity seem to show I work more and I am more creative when I am on my own. I guess I just can’t handle distractions!

Please check out Angelique’s stories on my collaborative website “https://www.worldwriterscollective.com/angelique-fawns

Planet Nine by Angelique Fawns A Journal of Magical Realism Anthology by The Gateway Review: gatewayreview.wordpress.com The story is Planet Nine, actually written under her own name. It will be in the Fall/Winter LGBT issue. It is set in the same futuristic society as “Live Free or Die” and follows the adventures of an adulterous wife and her decision to move to another planet.

http://www.worldwriterscollective.com

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

Beautiful Bali. From relaxing in the pool with my book, to writing on the patio as a thunderstorm rages. Awesome!

• 

I arrived yesterday (11/3), a brave solo traveller in these uncertain times of a world pandemic. So far there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Bali – fingers crossed this continues! It’s very quiet here due to the downturn in traveling across the world. The balinese people are very aware of the virus and advise me about all the precautions I should be taking (e.g. washing hands frequently), but there’s not a sense of panic. My flight from Australia was full, so obviously a lot of Australians agree.

I’ve managed to write for several hours so far, even though I’ve only been here for one day! Well done me! I’ve also managed to meet some locals, have a massage, and move villas (there was a stuff-up with my booking so I had to stay in a different villa for one night).

The environment here is amazingly conducive to work. And afternoon naps! We’ll see just how much I get done by the end of the trip.

Please check out Jacqueline’s two books on transforming your life, which have been published, from my collaborative website, where there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read. //www.worldwriterscollective.com/jacqueline-cripps

Jacqueline Cripps | free-stories – Read Great Stories
Jacqueline holds degrees in Social Sciences and Psychology and has a genuine love of humanity. With a straight-talking style, Jacqueline teaches others how to empower themselves; by shifting the lens on life, owning issues and moving forward.

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

Please check out Louise’s children’s stories, of which several have been published, from my collaborative website https://www.louisecrossley.com, there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read: https://www.worldwriterscollective.com

Great news!  Ella’s Handbag, Lollipop Whistle’s Woes and A Birthday Boy Named Jesus, already published in Oz, are contracted to an off shore publisher and will be translated, reprinted and published in Malta. 

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

It takes practice to balance being relaxed and being inspired. It’s easy to look at my surroundings and think ‘This is the perfect writing location – away from the hustle of the city and distractions of my every-day life’. It takes a little more effort to actually do the writing.

So now I look at these beautiful pictures, and remember the day that gifted me these experiences, and turn that emotion inwards to fuel the creativity needed to produce a story. That, and having a ‘to do’ list to keep me on track 🙂

Please check out Peter’s short stories, of which some have been published, from my collaborative website “https://peterstales.home.blog“, there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read:  https://www.worldwriterscollective.com

‘I established this blog in order to publish the many short, pithy stories I have written,’ Peter says. ‘These vary greatly in length and subject matter. Some have been published elsewhere, in magazines and anthologies. Some have been short listed for prizes. Most have not previously been available. Scroll down and you will find thirty stories posted so far. I have also posted a non-fiction account of my time working as a psychiatrist in Iraq in 2009

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

Virginia Woolf – she had an incredibly unique insight into the human condition, and way of exploring the conflict between identity and the world. She was also one of the few people who could string a single sentence across three pages, using only a few commas and semi-colons, and still keep me engaged! My favourite works are Orlando and The Waves.

Charles Dickens – humorous, entertaining, emotional, epic story telling that has something for everyone. My favourite work of his is Great Expectations.

Katherine Mansfield – you can smell the air and feel the dirt as she describes a scene. The stories and characters are so real, and evoke such emotions. My favourite work are Bliss and The Garden Party.

Anais Nin – very evocative and sensual. And her own history provides for an interesting journey into her writing. My favourite work is Henry and June.

Cormac McCarthy – extremely talented in using structure to portray the story as much as the words. So dark and bleak, but not overly pessimistic. My favourite work is The Road.

Stephen King – one of the ultimate yarn spinners around. Yes, his stories may seem familiar and formulaic, but they work! I’m a huge fan of a bit of horror and he delivers each time. His dramatic fiction is also riveting, and his fantasy writing is absorbing. Such a talent. My favourite works are It and the Mr Mercedes series.

Cassandra Clare – Queen of the YA fantasy novels! Love, adventure, family, emotion, hormones, all wrapped up in fantastical plot. Too hard to put down! My favourite works are the Lady Midnight series.

Matthew Reilly – a wild ride, with non-stop action, no matter what you read. Excellent holiday books for on the plane and by the pool. My favourite works are Ice Station and The Four Legendary Kingdoms.

There are many, many other authors I enjoy, and books I just pick up and read on a whim. This list is about the writer I come back to again and again, re-reading their works and discovering something each time (even if it’s just a reminder of what I like about their writing).

I thought I would share a list of writers who interest me, and who’s blogs I follow. I am interested in these writers as they discuss the art of writing, how writing impacts on their lives, and provide useful insights from their personal experiences of being a writer. They also provide some of their writing free to read – which is very entertaining!

So check them out! And tell me which writers you follow. Any suggestions for blogs to follow are always welcome.

Brian Bilston’s Poetry Laboetry – https://brianbilston.com/

Dean MacAllister, Melbourne Fiction Author – https://deanmacallister.com/

Story Empire, Exploring the World of Fiction – https://storyempirecom.wordpress.com/

Harlequin Ink, Magic Is Everywhere – https://noelanderson2014.com/

Pete Schmigel: Essays, Stories, Blogs, Haiku – https://peteshmigel.com/

Mat Clarke: Short stories and writing tips – http://matclarke.blogspot.com/

Often we hear ‘write what you know’ when talking about writing stories. But what if ‘what you know’ is so raw that writing about it will cause a significant amount of pain?

Writing about experiences, trauma, and thoughts can be a useful way of processing those events that have caused us pain. The process of writing allows us to separate from the event by externalising it on paper or screen, where we can then look at it more objectively. Writing is also a process that takes time, thus writing about specific events can slow down your thoughts to a manageable pace. This also allows space for you mind to process the events and the pain associated with those events.

I guess the question is not ‘do I write from my own experiences or not’, but rather ‘who am I writing for’? If your writing is to explore and process your own pain, you may find you are writing for yourself in the first instance. Later this might turn into something for others, but for now it is personal. If you decide you’re writing for others, then your experiences and pain might be used as inspiration or fodder for your writing, and may still be somewhat cathartic, but is more focused on writing for the enjoyment tor education of an external audience.

What am I doing? Mostly using thoughts and experiences to create something fictionalised for others. But like a lot of people, I still often write for my own peace of mind. Writing is, after all, one of the most powerful tools available to all of us!

Please check out Tessie’s illustrations from my collaborative website “https://www.instagram.com/tessiesdoodles“, there are also many great authors to chat to and stories to read: https://www.worldwriterscollective.com

Tessie is one of the members of our collaborative World Writers Collective where we writers share resources, ideas and inspiration. Check out Tessie’s work!

I will be promoting a different writer from the World Writers Collective each week, as a plug to my fellow collective members, to promote our work, and provide entertainment and inspiration for everyone. Enjoy!

I thought I had done it. I thought I had written a decent story to enter in this competition. Over the remaining two months before entries close I could hone the story, rewriting over and over to ensure it was the best version possible. First step, give it to a friend to read.

He hated it. He said he found the characters were nobodies, that he was unable to feel any connection with either of them. I pointed out this was the point, that the two characters were ‘everybody’s’ which is why I did not use names and the dialogue was highly stylized. He said this did not make much difference to him. He said the story did not inspire him; there was nothing surprising in the plot; and while well written, the whole concept left him feeling cold.

I did ask for feedback.

So out with the old, and in with the new. To give my friend the credit he is due, he was very nice in the way he delivered his criticisms. And in the end he gave me an idea for a new story that I have used. So worth the pain. Hopefully.

As for the original story, I think it could part of a bigger story. I’m thinking some context on either side may provide a setting for highly stylized way this is written, and enable surprise and plot development.

This is what writing is about. This is what writing is. And this is what I do, for I am a writer.

Who put this plank in my eye?
I could see quite fine
IMHO before this thing, this
catastrophe?, happened to me;
I could see the faults in
the world, in others -
(too many immigrants, I heard);
I could see where to correct the
direction of my life -
(get a better paid job, I heard);
My eyes were open to injustice,
the downtrodden, the oppressors -
(the unions are rabid, I heard);
I saw ways I could help make
it all better, IMHO -
(get private health insurance, I heard);
I have 20:20 political and social 
vision, so I ask you,
how did this plank get in my eye?
(I didn't see that coming!)

© David McKenzie 2020

I finished the first draft of my short story for the Limnisa Short Story Competition 2020. Great work (if I do say so myself), good story, interesting plot twist. Only problem was when I rechecked the entry requirements on the Limnisa site I discovered my story was 1600 words. over the allowed word limit. I tried editing it down but it just lost too much of the feel and the context of the story to make it work. I’ll save it for another competition or publication.

So, I’ve started on a new story for this competition. A very different style and plot, focused on characters and their motivations, no matter how warped. I’m keeping an eagle eye on the word count this time!

Jan Brady! Yes folks, the middle child of my creative mind, my current novel, won the round in my mind gymnastics. It was purely out of guilt that I gave in, but who cares the motivation, the writing is what counts.

So in the end I did one chapter, thirteen pages, and an outline for the next chapter. Not a bad output if you ask me.

Where to start? What to write? Do I work on the next chapter of my novel, sadly neglected over the last few weeks as I focus on setting up this site and finishing some short stories? Do I work on Turn, Ugly Truth – part 2? Do I begin the new story that has begun to float around my head and distract me? Or do I take a break from all this pondering and watch Netflix?

These might look like easy decisions. They really have no importance to anyone but me and would seem trivial and insignificant to anyone reading this. But this is the constant struggle of the writer. Writing is a solitary art most of the time. It is me and the computer or notebook. Writing is also introspective as an activity. Whilst I could sit and writer a description of the world as it revolves around me, I am really writing an interpretation of that world filtered through my own mind.

And the mind is the engine for all writers, no matter the type of writing they do. Even factual writing takes mind energy to express those facts in a way that is interesting to the reader and enhances the narrative.

As a fiction writer, my mind is a self-fueling engine of my stories, and as such I spend a lot of time in there, hunting around amongst the ideas for something I could use, something that could enhance my story, or something to seed a new one. As I watch the world revolve around me it’s as though I am viewing it through a veil, or on a screen, separate from me and being analysed, picked apart and scavenged for story fodder.

So when I am feeling overwhelmed by the ideas frothing inside my head, I can find it hard to focus on just one thing. Making lists helps, saving some ideas for another time. But it’s also about the energy behind an idea. An idea brewing in my mind today might be full of energy and captivate me immediately. But if I wrote this idea down and came back to it later, it might seem flat and dead and provide no impetus for me to follow it. Thus the things that should be done (the next chapter of my novel) often get relegated to the list while the things that are new and exciting (the idea for a story distracting me) get all the attention.

I know, it’s not fair to the poor novel sitting patiently in the background as the Jan Brady of the literary tasks, given some attention but never the star of the episode. I just keep promising it that one day, when it’s finished, it will be it’s own star and will no longer be ignored.

So what’s new on Netflix….?

This is one of the submissions I am currently working on (yes, the one inspired during a massage!). If you’re interested in the competition, or their writers’ retreats and services, check out their website – limnisa.com

FYI – full disclosure, it is a condition of entry of this competition that I promote Limnisa on my social media, but they’re not paying me for it 🙂

Fantastic 90 minute massage at Body Freedom in South Melbourne (cashing in a birthday gift). Spent the time thinking about a short story I wanted to write for a competition, using a photo and the words ‘Stay rude’ for inspiration. After the massage, a slow walk to Docklands, and a pale ale at The Wharf Hotel on the Yarra River, I had the words spewing out of my pen. By page five i thought ‘Wow! i wonder what’s going to happen now?’ and shocked myself when a major arc of the story turned out not to be the case. Shows how much the body, mind and spirit are inc control when in harmony. Hooray for massages and beer!