Inspiring writing workshop

One of the main reasons I wanted to do this master's course was so that I could particpate in writing workshops with established childrens/YA writers.

Yesterday we had a full day workshop with Sydney -based writer, Libby Hathorn. It was one of the most inspiring writing workshop I've ever attended.

Libby's style is simple and direct and it's this that allows her passion for writing, both as an author and a reader, to shine through. Her emphasis on the importance of poetry and imbuing our writing with poetic shape, rhythm and flow really struck a chord with me (& I've never been much of a fan of poetry).

I also found out that I can't write in the third person, or that when I do, I find it very strange and uncomfortable. I don't think I used to find it difficult, maybe it's just as my voice has developed over the years it's moved into the 'first person' groove & doesn't want to jump back out.

Maybe one day I'll attempt to write something in the third person, just to challenge myself. But not this year. I've got more than enough writing challenges on my plate.

But thanks to Libby's inspiration yesterday, I feel that I can at least take this year's challenges on. So it's off to my manuscript! And thanks to Libby Hathorn for a fantastic day of indulging in the world of imagination and writing - even if I got nothing else out of this course, yesterday would make it all worthwhile.

Vale Elizabeth Jolley

I was really sad to hear about Elizabeth Jolley's passing. She has always been one of my writing heroes, especially because, like me, she didn't begin writing until her late 30s.

As a writer, Elizabeth Jolley had the most wicked humour. You'd read a sentence or paragraph of perfectly reasonable looking words and realised she'd strung them together in wild, memorable ways.

Like the true lady she was, Jolley's prose was never vulgar but could be hysterically "rude". Her clean, neat writing style, brilliant turn of phrase and vivid imagination have inspired and delighted me (and thousands of others) since I first began reading her work some 20 or so years ago.

The first of her writing I ever read was the short story collection, Five Acre Virgin. The title story, about a woman who uses her wits (and knowledge of planting cycles) to hang onto a piece of land that she'd been forced to sell, had me hooked.

I think I've read all her books (reread some favourites a couple of times) and own most of them. Whenever I go to a writing seminar or class and have to bring along a piece of writing from my favourite writer, I invariably take something from my collection of Elizabeth Jolley's works.

Elizabeth Jolley was one of Australia's greatest writers and her humour, intelligence and creative gifts will live on in her many published works.

Deepest condolences to her family and close friends. I am sure you will miss her.