Creative Time

February = a month to write! And write I did!  I lugged severely overloaded suitcases into The Burrow, Norwood, South Australia, on the 31st January, a “to do” list firmly clutched in my hand, only to lug them out again on the 27th February, “to do” list ticked. Thanks to a May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust Creative Time Fellowship, I enjoyed one whole month down in Adelaide, with accommodation and airfares paid for, working on 4 exciting writing projects;

• a YA story about a girl who can’t talk,
• my next animal adventure story ‘Mister Cassowary’ (due out Sept 2015),
• a pirate story for younger readers,
• and a story about the Snowy Mountains and pygmy possums.

All this while the temperature soared over 40 degrees, the Adelaide Fringe Festival tugged at my arm, and the support crew at MGCLT tempted me away from the keyboard with dinners, cake, and trips to the zoo. Everyone treated me like royalty.  I’d like to say I wrote 10 blogs in my spare time, but sadly, no. I was too busy hobnobbing with other writers like Rosanne Hawke, Katrina Germein, and Janeen Brian, researching new stories – see the wombats, and catching up with old friends, and making new ones.

All in all it was a month to remember, not only because it validated me as a writer, but it enabled me to network, experience my first school residency (thank you St Mary’s) and dip my toes into the world of being a full time writer. Trouble is, once your toe’s been dipped ….

For more information about the MGCLT Creative Time Residencies, and how to apply, check out http://www.maygibbs.org.au/creative-time-fellowships/creative-time-fellowships/