By Robert Louis Stevenson As a memoirist primarily, I didn’t imagine my first review to be about a novel. In delving into the etymology of the term ‘pieces of eight’ for a personal essay I was writing, I became glued to the audio version of Treasure Island, an adventure story presumably intended for children. It … Continue reading Treasure Island
Author: Margaret McCaffrey
Margaret is a Melbourne/Naarm-based writer developing a memoir about the relationship she had with her father, who was wounded in Greece and made a German prisoner of war during World War II.
Excerpts from the manuscript can be found in American Writers Review, Jewels of San Fedele and Clairitage Press. In 2013 she received a scholarship to the Norman Mailer Writers Colony where she began her memoir.
In 2015, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University, PA. She writes non-fiction, personal essay and the occasional short story.
The Zen of Writing
Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try. Homer Simpson From what I've learned about Zen Buddhism (it’s been a long lockdown) it's incumbent on us as individuals to allow our feelings to be – whether they be negative or positive. We should welcome them, even unpleasant thoughts … Continue reading The Zen of Writing
What is a Favourite Story – of Yours?
The first of mine that comes to mind is ‘The Turf Club’. I had heard the story of my father drinking at a local pub since I was a girl But I wasn’t present at the event, so I had to rely on my imagination to structure it. I wrote it at Borgo San Fedele … Continue reading What is a Favourite Story – of Yours?
The Intimacy of Memoir
Author Lee Kofman says: ‘Memoirists write directly about what matters to them, whereas fiction writers may sublimate their experiences and passions.’ The first half is certainly true: memoirists are concerned with what matters to them. Whole books are devoted to the second part of Lee's hypothesis. But let’s look at memoir for a moment. Lately … Continue reading The Intimacy of Memoir
Writing or Penning?
Do people ask you how your writing is going? I’m sure we all get asked that. Who knows what the right answer is. One acquaintance of mine enquired further: ‘But are you penning or writing?’ he said. I didn't know the difference. ‘Well,’ he replied, ‘ Ch.(his partner) tells me she's been writing during the … Continue reading Writing or Penning?
The Power of Journaling
Writing in a journal is not for everyone. But then again, neither is writing. For those of us who do like to write, journaling can be of appeal. Of late, I've returned to the practice of free-hand writing in a notebook. It’s been a hopscotch couple of years as the pandemic endures. Maybe because it’s … Continue reading The Power of Journaling
Putting the Family in Memoir
Flannery O’Connor writes, ‘ … anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.’ If you, like me, write about your family – almost unavoidable in memoir — how do you do so without hurting someone? Upon hearing that I was writing about my veteran … Continue reading Putting the Family in Memoir
The Writing Group
As you might know, my writing group Elwood Writers is an active and committed cohort of four. Member, Barry Lee Thompson, recently wrote about the group on The Writing Life, a blog hosted by Lee Kofman, author of fiction and non-fiction books. She is a superlative teacher - among her other talents - to both … Continue reading The Writing Group
Why Writings and Musings?
I wrote this post for the Elwood Writers blog in October 2021 - view here. The post is in answer to Helen McDonald's questions about why we write our individual blogs, and who our intended audience is. Why I Write my Blog I set up the Writings and Musings blog because I wanted to have an online … Continue reading Why Writings and Musings?
Slow Writing
Wiradjuri writer, Tara June Winch, gave this advice as judge to entrants to Australia's SBS Emerging Writers:"When you read your story aloud, when you edit and read it again and again, your work becomes the fire pit reflected in your eyes.' To read more about the competition View here. The winner of last year's competition … Continue reading Slow Writing
WRITINGS AND MUSINGS OF MARGARET MCCAFFREY 