Well, it’s official, according to Melissa Markham of Yesterday’s Hopes, I rock!

Melissa has very generously awarded me (okay, me and 4 of her other favourite blogs) the Rockin’ Girl Blogs award. Click here to find out what she has to say.

The timing is pretty awesome, not only have a just finished a liver cleansing diet that I have been trying to avoid doing for 12 months (round of applause please. It was a definite challenge!) but I have just returned from the end of semester High School assembly where my eldest received an Excellence Award. I’m getting really good at these assemblies now, haven’t cried at the last two.

But it does make me realise that, whilst I would like to think that more awards are handed out at school these days, I do have to conceded that my family are decidedly smarter (or more motivated) than I was at their age.

 I think I received 3 awards during my whole school life, yet my little darlings exceded that in certificates and books before the end of grade 3. Hence my delight in being a Rockin’ Girl Blogger. Thanks heaps, Melissa.

Stay tuned to find out the five Rockin’ Girl Bloggers I pass the award on to.

One of my goals move a step closer to reality yesterday. So I have to let you all know what I have done (whether you want to know or not, sorry).

For ages ‘the man’ (or should that be ‘my man’) has been letting me know about the wonders of downloadable books and how I should put my writing workbooks in the same format. In response I have been doing the standard wife thing, nodding my head and saying, ‘I’ll think about it’.

Well, a few weeks ago work was a little quiet for me (yes I do have quiet weeks! Occasionally) so I thought I would have a go and Hey Presto! I now have my workbooks available online to download as a .pdf.

I won’t mention the times I spent actively swearing at my computer, stumbling through html or wondering what on earth I was supposed to do. I have just chosen to focus on the fact that I have learned yet another new skill that will hopefully enable me one day to forget the skill of how to sweep and vacuum.

So if you are interested in checking out the workbooks click on the links below.

I Want To Write, But Don’t Know Where To Start

Effective Goal Setting For Writers

Only a few days left to book in for the ‘Making Money From Writing’ workshop this weekend. Besides, let’s face it any excuse to go down south is worth it. Just think of the green hills, log fire, red wines, sumptuous foods, to say nothing of the great company and it being tax deductable.

For those who need even more reason to go (as if) below is the start of the newspaper blurb.

‘The thought of making a living as a writer is one that appeals to many. Visions of relaxing on the verandah typing on a laptop, or traveling the world with all your expenses covered by the last article you wrote, have inspired many people to put pen to paper. While, in truth, the life of a freelance writer is rarely as visualised there are many benefits; wearing your ugg boots to work, choosing your own hours, picking the projects, even the occasional holiday paid for by articles. However for many the true benefit of writing for money is as a second income, something you can do alongside your role as mother, earner, student, retiree, and so on. ‘Many aspiring writers fail not through lack of drive, but through lack of knowledge,’ says Elizabeth Bezant, international freelance writer, writing coach and founder of Writing To Inspire. ‘Editors are busy people and more often than not they will take the piece of work that is best targeted to their publication and that needs the least amount of editing. To succeed it’s vital to know which publishers to approach, which topics to write about, to say nothing of how to write them and submit them.’

I’m not a poetry person, let me state that straight up. Other than the occasional line my appreciation doesn’t go far past A.A. Milne or a wonderful male reading voice, however after reading last week’s Sunday Times I am being forced to reconsider.

For those who didn’t get to read the article by Denise Cullen it was expounding on the health benefits of writing Haiku poetry. (A japanese style of poetry that consists of 3 lines and no title. First line has a total of 5 syllables, the second 7, and the third 5).

Apparently the mere composing of the poetry will calm the mind, thoughts and emotions, lift the spirits, keep the brain active, and many other things. As a writer I’ve always believed words can do such things, but it’s nice to have it in print.

So next time you are tempted to swear at the driver in front of you, yell at the children, or hang up when you are put on hold, remember 5,7,5.

For everyone who didn’t get to Corrigin at the end of last week, you’ll be pleased to know that we struggled through and had tons of fun anyway. Everybody is so great down there (and, for the record, I did meet a few who didn’t stir, but not many).

Corrigin might not be the greenest of country towns but the views are still expansive and stunning. Add to that the well behaved, friendly children, culinary skills of the P&C, meeting up with friends, and the fun of Friday night’s Karaoke and you can see why I had such a great time.

Also, much to my delight Scot and I had ideal driving weather to and from the wheatbelt so were able to make the most of the drive down. Have to say that I breathed a sigh of relief when I met Scot, offering a 3 hour lift (6hrs round trip) to somebody you have never met can get a girl into all kinds of trouble, but he turned out to be a true gentleman and an all-round good guy. He laughed at my jokes, didn’t fall asleep when I rambled on and didn’t complain at the scenic tours I took when I temporarily lost my sense of direction. (Sorry if that has messed up your street cred, Scot. Reckon you were either on your best behaviour or saving up your ‘feralness’  for the school children and your next book).

I have spent days trying to figure out how to reply to the wonderful comments Jackie, Principal of Corrigin District High School, pasted at the end of my last post. Her words left me speechless. Sometimes people voice things that say more than you ever expect, words that should be framed for those moments when you wonder who you are and why you do what you do. For me, Jackie, your comment is that - Thank you.

Just when I’m settling back into home life it would appear time to pack up the suitcase again. Good job the family are so self-sufficient (and that I managed not to catch the dreaded lurgy that has had them all coughing, sneezing and overheating for the past fortnight).

This week I’m off to the Corrigin Young Writers’ Festival. For those unfamiliar to WA that’s about 3 hours south-east of Perth, into the wheatbelt area that Sally Murphy (children’s author) recently quoted as ‘not good at doing green’.

Along with me doing workshops is Scot Gardner, a young adult’s writer from the east coast. I’m also told that the afore mentioned Sally (quiet and retiring, yeh right!) will be around to introduce and stir. Ah now here’s a question, is it a prerequisite for all residents of Corrigin to stir, or is it just the little enclave that I’ve met?

Anyway, while most of the workshops are during class time on Friday at the High School, I’m also talking on writing true-life short stories at the Senior Citz Hall Friday morning and doing individual coaching sessions on Saturday morning before heading back to Perth (and hopefully to a house free of flu bugs). So if you’re passing, or fancy a drive, feel free to drop in. Just don’t ask me about entry fees, because that I’m not sure of.

Hmmm, now is it a good sign to make your radio interviewer cry on air? Not sure, but I guess we’ll find out.

Today on ABC’s Family Matters we read a story and had Bernadette Young in tears. Shortly after an SMS came in from a listener who had been driving and had had to pull over because she was crying too much to drive. I’m so grateful to Mary who phoned in with the funny story about her mum who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Maybe next time we should focus on the humorous stories.

It’s weeks like this one that could really go to a writer’s head. Good job I’m the modest kind.

First, Pam and I were overrun by people driven by the need to buy our book, ‘Stolen Moments’, at the Alzheimer’s Conference 2007. Then, just when we had confirmed Sue and Harvey’s kind invitation to be interviewed on 6PR’s Sunday Brunch, ABC radio phoned to ask if we could talk about ‘Stolen Moments’ this Wednesday (tomorrow) at 1.30pm during Family Matters.

Like I said, good job I am modest.

I’ve just come back from the Alzheimer’s Conference 2007, here in Perth. What an awesome event that was. There were over 880 delegates from over 20 countries, endless workshops and talks, and no end of chatting. I met some fantastic people. carers, professionals, researchers, and those who have been diagnosed with the disease.

As you can tell my mind is still reeling, and of course my feet as still throbbing. How do people who are on their feet all day manage it? Pam and I manned our Life’s Inspirational Moments table for 10 - 12 hours a day, I had my comfy shoes on (Pam had heels on) but …. If anybody has tips on standing all day PLEASE let me know.

Also, another question, if they spent so much money of building our ‘you beaut’ Convention Centre (where the conference was held) why didn’t they include enough parking ? All the bays had gone by 7 most mornings! Great function centre though, loved the views and the idea of having a hotel attached, to say nothing of the food. Off to sort all the stuff I bought back now, and perhaps put my feet up again.