Lizabelle

I haven't had much emotional space for writing recently (at least, not for fiction-writing; I've filled reams of journal space), and am only now starting to delve back into my long-term projects. I'd forgotten how much strength it takes to break through those initial barriers, and to ignore the voice that demands, "Why am I doing this and why do I think anyone would ever want to read it?" Not to mention the one that says, "You will never write anything worth reading."

Which is why I'm lucky that some of the efforts I put in before blowing my life up have born fruit. They've given me something to cling to, and I shall post them here so I can keep clinging when I need it.

I had an article published on Australian women's lifestyle website The Hoopla: My Dad. What might have been. It's the first time I've written openly about the most terrible time in my life, so putting the story out there was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but I also received some wonderful feedback and, perhaps most importantly, discovered I'm not alone. (I also discovered that sometimes people will pay you for your writing, which was nice.)

One of my short stories was recently shortlisted for the Pittwater Short Story Award. It didn't win, but it's the first time (to my knowledge) that anything I've written has been shortlisted, so I'm looking on it as progress. It was also lovely to share the shortlist with my friend and fellow writer, Zena Shapter. Another new, positive experience. :)

Small steps. But a few droplets of success, quenching my thirst just enough to keep me going.