Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) says that ‘life only makes sense in retrospect’. My story ‘For Jane’ began some years ago when I wanted to write about the endurance - or otherwise - of friendships. Author JG Ballard maintains that friends only become so when they have a secondary experience in common. We six friends shared our … Continue reading Writing Friendship
Category: Writing Memoir
Anzac Day for Writers
Poet and novelist, Ocean Vuong, whose mother was a child of the Vietnam War, has said that all literature is the history of war*. He need not be taken literally, although I tend to do so. More broadly though, we may agree that literature relies on conflict or inner tension for its existence. Sometimes with … Continue reading Anzac Day for Writers
A Tribute to Jennifer Bryce
On 27 April, our friend and colleague Jennifer Bryce from my writing group died peacefully in Melbourne, farewelled by family and friends. Jenny and Barry Lee Thompson co-founded Elwood Writers in 2007. Helen McDonald and I both joined two years later. I have written previously, both on my blog and for the online US newsletter … Continue reading A Tribute to Jennifer Bryce
The Procrastination of Writers
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 the 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*
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
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?
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
WRITINGS AND MUSINGS OF MARGARET MCCAFFREY 