My Time in the Wilderness

Wasn’t really in wilderness at all, just poetless and writingless, so, yes… wilderness!

Mid-March I just stopped, completely unplanned and unintentional, muse seemed to have left the building and I was physically & mentally drained, all my energy was used up working the daytime and by the time it came to the evening, I was falling asleep an hour after getting home from work.

I decided to let it happen, rather than push on with my performance agenda. I was feeling sad about not writing, but even typing up previously penned poems seemed too much. At the time I wasn’t worried, knowing this time would pass.

There were 5 submission pieces I had scheduled to work on, three poetry nights (Mouth & Music, Howl & Speakeasy) that I missed and a Stanza meeting, due to an important family occassion (which weeks later led to a new poem being penned). All this went out the window and was swapped for work, sleep, real life mortgage hunting, meetings and TV.

I was activiated after 7 days by Mad Malvern Book Promotion events https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/malvern-book-promoters-mad-march-book-promotion-events/ and working for WWM (Writing West Midlands) – who have sent incredibly exciting news this month. The following week I had another week off, missing Hit The Ode and some submission deadlines. I was performing again by the weekend in a charity event at Martineau Gardens ‘Nomad Variety’. https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/nomad-variety-at-martineau-gardens/

Followed by a celebration of WORLD BOOK DAY with two events/readings in Walsall.

https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2015/03/31/celebrating-world-poetry-day/

The only reason I missed a 3rd week of events in March was to cover my transport costs to LONDON, which due to such a hellish journey (a breakdown on the hard shoulder on the outskirts of London resulted in a 3 hour delay, making a three hour journey take closer to seven hours, we were running late as it was) I am hoping to be reimbursed.

I missed Poetry Bites with Jacqui Rowe, particularly sad not to see Robert Harper’s (Barefiction) full set and missed Jayne Stanton too. The following night I missed Drummonds 42 with Andrew Owens. My Caldmore Community Gardens workshop was cancelled – having already turned work down, I treated myself to a much needed writing day and at least sent a backlog of poetry to David Calcutt for his Natural Histories website.

http://naturalhistoriesblog.com/others-writing/

I also worked on a couple of new poems from notes in my writing journals, from previous workshops with Angela France and Jean Atkin.

On Friday I went to London for Hark Issue #4 Launch and reading – very exciting! Once I had slept all of Saturday in recovery of a 22hour day on 5 hours sleep, I found as if by magic, I had woken up with my poetry muse back! We have been celebrating every since.

LINKS TO FOLLOW

Silf Gives Self – Margaret Silf Seminar

Silf Gives Self

A long time ago now – way back in September I went on a Seminar Day facilitated by Margaret Silf – author of ‘The Other Side of Chaos’. It was one of those events that I was torn between going and not. I knew the Literature Festival was the following week and money spent on this day (although a bargain) equated to 2 shows, or several book purchases. I also knew how much her book had helped me and how the edges of my darkness are still tinged grey. Besides which my mum had invited me and it was one of those ‘meant to happen, meant to be’ moments life throws at you.

 

I was delighted I had said yes (not so much at 8:30 a.m on Saturday when I awoke with a bit of a Friday night head after having friends over, nor an hour later, eating the rest of my breakfast in the car.) But within the first half hour of Margaret’s talk, I knew it was right to be there.

It was a great day and she gave us plenty of time to go off and meditate, think about the questions she had posed, or notes we’d taken.

I also met some new people and this in itself led to new opportunity possibly in the future.

I scribbled pages of notes in my writing notebook (the little one) and was touched by the light fingers of inspiration lots, poetry ideas entered my head one after another. I felt like a vessel muse was pouring into.

Margaret was magical, almost Hawaiian in her laid back attitude and soft speaking. She covered so much in such a short amount of time and felt she could go on and we wished she could also.

I cannot wait to start working through the notebook, I think I will try it as the first part of my NaNoWriMo project. I feel I may rebel again (as I did in the Summer Camp) and write my words across a range of projects.

 

 

 

 

En route home we popped in to my brother and his fiancé in their new house. It was lovely to see them again and hear all about their wedding plans and see the newly decorated rooms. Gave me food for thought for our home. (Not yet started the decorating!) A lovely way to spend a Saturday, I was left on quite a spiritual high.

 

Good for the Soul!

Sitting in bed with my Notebooks

Today started too early and I never really caught up. I managed several errands and tried to read some articles on writing. I had several mugs of coffee, surprise,surprise, that didn’t help my wandering attention. By 4pm I gave up and gave in. I was level exhausted tired. I had been up until 3 a.m researching. I woke up an hour ago hauled myself out of bed and read half a poetry book whilst chomping on carrots. I won one battle!

I am now scouring notebooks for inspiration and writing will happen…. The carrots are back in the fridge and I am halfway through a bar of white chocolate!

Apologies for spelling I am on the phone and can’t see what is being typed.