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WRITINGS AND MUSINGS OF MARGARET MCCAFFREY

WRITINGS AND MUSINGS OF MARGARET MCCAFFREY

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Category: Writing Memoir

The Procrastination of Writers

November 27, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 4 Comments

I'm doing it now. Procrastinating, that is. I have my notebooks out, my laptop at the ready. I know what I have to do to dive into the next section of my short story. Instead, I'm doing a post - which I love - and reading about the latest election results here or overseas, and … Continue reading The Procrastination of Writers

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer*

October 15, 2022November 17, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 6 Comments

Loneliness may be in vogue these days. In a rare interview given recently, actor Brad Pitt admitted to feeling lonely - ever since childhood it seems. If this is so, I wondered, what hope is there for the rest of us? The loneliness of the writer, though, has its own unique qualities; its benefits and … Continue reading The Loneliness of the Long Distance Writer*

The Zen of Writing

August 1, 2022August 2, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 2 Comments

Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.  Homer Simpson From what I learn about Zen Buddhism (it’s been a long lockdown) it is incumbent on us as individuals to let our feelings in – be they negative or positive. We should welcome them, especially those unpleasant thoughts that … Continue reading The Zen of Writing

What is a Favourite Story – of Yours?

June 22, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 2 Comments

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

May 13, 2022May 14, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 2 Comments

Author Lee Kofman says: ‘Memoirists write directly about what matters to them, whereas fiction writers may sublimate their experiences and passions.’ The first half of her dictum 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 … Continue reading The Intimacy of Memoir

Writing or Penning?

May 2, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 3 Comments

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, ‘ C. (his partner) tells me she's been writing during … Continue reading Writing or Penning?

Journaling

February 3, 2022February 10, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 4 Comments

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 appealing. Of late, I have returned to the practice of free-hand writing in my notebook. It’s been a hopscotch couple of years as the pandemic endures. Maybe because it’s … Continue reading Journaling

Putting the Family in Memoir

January 7, 2022 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 13 Comments

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 – unavoidable in memoir - how do you do that without hurt? One of my brothers, upon hearing that I was writing about … Continue reading Putting the Family in Memoir

Why Writings and Musings?

November 13, 2021November 14, 2021 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 2 Comments

I wrote this post for the Elwood Writers blog in October 2021 - view here. The post is in answer to Helen McDonald's questions to us 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 … Continue reading Why Writings and Musings?

Slow Writing

October 1, 2021 ~ Margaret McCaffrey ~ 5 Comments

Wiradjuri writer, Tara June Winch, gave this advice to entrants for Australia's SBS Emerging Writers' Competition in which she is a judge:"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 … Continue reading Slow Writing

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