Author: susanfurber

Learning to write a novel

For the last 10 years, I have been on a writing journey.  In the last 3 years I started to take it seriously and in 2020, I will be aiming to push forward to the next level and complete another draft.  I heard a statistic the other day, that 80% of people who start to write a novel, never complete it.  That’s really high and I am determined to buck that trend.

Let’s recap
So over the 10 years, and you will see some examples on this blog, I have been on a journey of travel, corporate communications and photography.  What I have recently realised, is the close links between writing and photography as ‘storytelling’ opportunities and interestingly the cross-over of what makes a ‘good’ piece of writing with what makes a ‘good’ photograph.  They are both very subjective but in both cases the process of learning and finding new ways to develop provides the interest and the catalyst to keep going.  That’s why I call this my storytelling journey, because the written word and an image both hold the same level of challenge, interest, excitement, joy and satisfaction for me.  So they both have and will form part of this journey.

What have I done recently
Over the last 3 years I have balanced working and travelling with writing the first few drafts of my novel, through the guidance and tuition of The Writer’s Studio.  I have done this on-line, across states, sitting in coffee shops, on buses and at home on the laptop.  Earlier this year I completed the first part of the Third Draft Course while throwing my life upside down and moving to Broome. I also took that opportunity to use some other resources with the Australian Writer’s centre, by doing some short courses and getting into podcasts.  The year was frustrating and I considered being part of that 80%, but at the end of it I decided to take advice and keep moving forward.

What next?
So, the next step is the final part of the Third Draft, which is called Third Draft extension and runs for 12 months.  It is much more writing and will take me deeper into my novel.  Even at the preparation stage, which I am in currently, there is plenty of re-thinking and re-jigging to be done.  Its daunting and exciting at the same time.

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I thought this timeframe would therefore be a good opportunity to develop a regular practise and incorporate a blog update along with each piece of daily writing.  Who knows, when I am hopefully one day published, this might be a great resource to look back on.

So the goal for now is to strive to develop a routine and look for some balance.  The reality is I have to work to do all the things I enjoy and want in life – travel, writing and photography and I also need to stay fit and healthy and get out of the house.  I look forward to sharing my experiences and resources.

The next step of the writing journey begins!

 

 

What if I want to slay dragons?

I had an epiphany while I was cleaning the bathroom today.  It was right after I dislodged the showerhead slightly, resulting in a complete soaking of myself in a dry shower.  As I untangled myself from the wreckage of the plumbing, I thought to myself, I don’t want to be a travel writer.  I don’t even really want a travel blog.

So…. what on earth am I doing writing this post I hear you ask?

To be fair, the epiphany was the culmination of a few months of real thinking on my part, and then an interesting author talk at the local library this morning.  The author wasn’t a travel writer at all, in fact he wrote children’s books and his presentation was followed by a mad Irishman teaching us how to draw dragons (literally), but I digress.

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Dragon’s are real!

My point, is that an author from a completely different genre and with a completely different approach to his writing journey, highlighted the one thing that I think I have been missing lately.  The one thing that the travel writing lists of great places to visit in Broome isn’t doing for me or my development as a writer.  The one thing that goes back up to the top of my list.  Imagination.

Maybe it was the fumes from the cleaning agents, but I realised that this ‘journey’ I am on at the moment, is less about travel and more about writing.  But not writing about travel, if that makes sense, but storytelling.  My novel is stuck in ‘boredom town’ and my travel articles are not inspiring me.  I read so many articles that say the same thing as well.  Where is the imagination and individuality?

Storytelling is definitely a word that is overused.  It has become a buzzword in business and for this reason I tend to resist using it, but it is fundamentally at the heart of what I want to do, tell stories.  How, what format and what stories are the challenge and this chapter of my life is the time for me to explore and work this out to pursue a direction.

So, what has the shower drenching resulted in (other than forcing me to create more washing).  I am going to re-purpose my blog…again.  Yes I know, but this is my personl blog, its not my business calling card or my job.  It’s just me.  This will now become my ‘life journal’ and now the fun can really begin.  I want to talk about my writing, about travel and about life.

So while I haven’t really got a plan to slay dragons, in fact I didn’t even stay to try and draw one myself, I can imagine that I was able to, and I can imagine that I was successful.  It’s time to take the next step.

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Footsteps in the sand

PS – In case you are wondering, I still plan to keep working towards my Top 12 Broome travel experiences (I have ticked off 5 so far), as these are all things that I want to do and experience, but I will be using them in a slightly different way in my writing in the future.

Do you want to meet the snubbies?

It’s no secret that the whale watching season buzz has commenced, as they travel between their feeding grounds of Antarctica and the warmer waters of Australia.

But in Broome, there is an all-year round abundance of wildlife, with one very unique and not so well-known mammal often taking centre stage.

Earlier this month, I was able to tick a special item off my ‘Broome List’ with an afternoon Eco Cruise to see the Snubfin dolphins of Roebuck Bay.  I chose a Broome Whale Watching cruise for a few reasons.

Why Broome Whale Watching?

This local company has a strong focus on the ‘eco’ part of the cruise.  Their commitment to keeping plastics out of the ocean by not using any single-use plastics in their food and beverage services was a fundamental part of their ethos and was supported by their on-board actions.

At the same time, it was also a great opportunity to ‘test the waters’ and try out the company for a future whale watching tour.  I will be first in line when the whales arrive in Broome.

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Going…going…gone

The joy of wildlife

Snubfin dolphins were first recognised as a new species only in 2005.  They have a blunt rounded head, no beak and a small dorsal fin with a fin that is blunt and rounded.

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Snubfin Dolphin, Roebuck Bay

Our cruise was abundant with marine life from the start, in fact the first part of the cruise was an all-sides viewing of dolphins (snubfin and bottlenose), 2 types of turtles and a hammerhead shark as well as various other bird and fish.

All you have to do is try and take a good photo.  Easy.  Photographing dolphins is a challenge which I am still working on, but I must admit the slower moving snubfins provided some exciting and fun opportunities to observe and capture a few images.

Sunset over Roebuck Bay

Broome is known for its sunsets and the cruise finished with a relaxed spin around the bay, followed by a hint of a tune as the sun set over the red pindan cliffs.  As soon as it finished, I wanted to go out again.  A good sign of a great experience.

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Sunset over Roebuck Bay, Broome

To find out more about Broome Whale Watching, visit their website https://broomewhalewatching.com.au/

The ‘Broome List’

Before heading to my next destination to find work again, I plan to experience Broome to the fullest, for the next 5 months.  I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to do this.  I find myself as a strange combination of a traveller, with some local knowledge and that most definitely inspires me to make the absolute most out of this time.  I’ve been doing a lot of research into different things to do and see – there are plenty of day-to-day experiences that I will be doing regularly – walking on Cable Beach, coffee at the General Store, visiting the Mango Place for a mango smoothie, watching the tides change at Streeters Jetty.  That and enjoying the weather, the pool and the laid back lifestyle that makes me feel like I am on holiday..(well sort of)..

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Streeter’s Jetty at high tide

I’m all about balance.  I am a Libran.  I do it badly, but I strive for it always in my life, so the next 5 months will be trying to achieve some balance between work, future work and experiences.  That’s the hard bit.  The easier bit for me though, is coming up with my list of the 12 things on my Broome List.

I have prepared my list.  10 are brand new experiences and 2 are repeats from previous visits, that I would love to do again.  There is one spot that is ‘flexible’ because I may not be able to financially achieve the option I have chosen for this spot.  So here is a question for my readers.  Do you have an item for me to add to the list as Number 12 – something the arm-chair readers would like to see – a view, a challenge or an experience?  Add them to the comments if you do.

Pleasingly, I have ticked off 2 items already in May, so you will hear about them very soon in upcoming May blog posts.  The rest I will have to start planning on when to do them and I will then reveal them in the blog over the next few months.  Can’t wait!

Broome Time

Its been just on 4 weeks since arriving in Broome, Western Australlia. Tipping the end of the wet season, the first week was humid with a few remaining storms that had lingered for our arrival.  I spent the first month on-foot and changed accommodation in the middle.  I now have my own ‘studio unit’ which is comfortable, cool (when the fans are on) and with a shared pool and garden to enjoy in the mornings and evenings when the sun dissapears but it’s still warm.

There are a couple of disappointments to be honest.  The Town Beach café, which I fondly remembered enjoying breakfast and dolphin spotting at, has closed.   This is where I was going to write my book.  It seems not.  The town centre has been undergoing renovations for a while and the streets are messy and closed with the end of construction.  Locals say it needs to be finished by the end of May and I hope it is.  I’d had enough of construction in Sydney, both in the city centre and in the Northern Beaches and it feels to me like the local businesses are suffering, they are quiet even with the impending start of season just around the corner.

But these are just adjustments, letting go of the ‘dream’ and creating a ‘reality’ was always going to be part of the plan.

On the positive side, some of the old favourites, Cable Beach, Matso’s, The Mango Place and Town Beach still remain as remembered.  I have also discovered the Broome Library which will be a great spot for writing, reading and working on my blog posts!

A month on foot has given me blisters, a light tan and also re-aquainted me with some of these locations as I pounded the streets, finding my way around.  I feel like I can visualise the town a little better and have set myself up for finding my local hangouts.  Good coffee is still on the list.  I have had a few mediocre ones, generally sticking instead to chocolate milkshakes and Iced Coffee if I’m honest!

Broome presents me with an interesting challenge.  A mental toughness is needed to dig in and find structure and comfort (and work!) in a different environment, where there are probably only 2 shops to buy clothes from (but you live in shorts and tshirts), limited café’s and expensive toasted sandwiches (but cheaper to buy from the supermarket anyway) and a delicate balance between travel and work to be re-found.

And….there are galleries and bookshops to visit, pindan earth and tranquil waters.  There is much to explore, learn and find out, about Broome and about myself. And last Friday, I purchased a car, to take me on the Broome journey and beyond.  I’m loving him already!

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This is my Broome journey…And Gecko my car!

Travel retrospectives

I have started 2019 in typical fashion for me, with a number of ideas and projects that I would like to work on during the year.

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One of them, is a resurrection of my blogging, specifically focused on travel and photography stories.  My idea is to create a catalogue of retrospectives, covering the trips and experiences I have had over the last 10 years.

This is going to range from overseas photography experiences through to the back-yard local adventures.  I will work on a plan of locations in the next few weeks and then aim to post every fortnight.

If there are any special requests from my current readership on locations,  then leave a comment and I will add to the plan (assuming I have been there!).

 

Exploring Canberra in Spring

Crisp spring days, Informative locations and guides, wide open spaces and traffic paced down, for a relaxing break, my recent family holiday in Canberra provided an opportunity to unwind, take in the sights with a great selection of places to visit, without the hustle and bustle of the larger cities.

My favourite Canberra experiences

Parliament House
It seemed like a must see.  Walking the halls of Parliament exploring the architecture, art and passing by the PM.  Watching the theatrics and process of Question time as the parties go head-to-head on topical issues was actually quite an interesting afternoon.

 

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Heading down the steps of Parliament, just after a sighting of the PM on the other side

 

Canberra Lakes
We were lucky enough to have a permanent lake view of Lake Ginninderra from our Airbnb apartment, which had a lakeside walk, some restaurants and a park to enjoy.

The artificial lake, Lake Burley Griffin in the centre of Canberra was hard to miss, whether driving past on the way to an attraction, or walking through Commonwealth Park to its shores and the Captain Cook Memorial fountain and Robert Menzies walk.

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Lake Burley Griffin – Captain Cook Memorial Jet

 

The National Arboretum

The Arboretum was re-established and opened in 2013 after the site, which was mostly pine plantations previously, was destroyed by bushfires in 2003.

In addition to the Village Centre which houses information, a café and a shop, the Aboretum has a number of walks and wide open spaces to explore including a regional garden and an interesting collection of Bonsai and Penjing.  A great place to walk, relax and unwind.

 

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The Art of Bonsai at the National Arboretum

 

And if you are there on a Sunday…

If you are staying in Canberra on a Sunday, you really cannot go past the fantastic Old Bus Depot market.  Locally produced and sold wares, spread out of two floors and washed down with coffee and the most delectable jam filled donuts.  Open from 10am – 4pm every Sunday.

We stayed in a lovely Airbnb apartment in the up and coming suburb of Belconnen and used access to a rental car and Uber to get around and see the city.

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MS Walk and Fun Run – Sun 30th April

For a number of years now, I have tried to challenge myself and raise money in the process for various causes.  From the mega-Moonwalk in London through to some smaller 5k or 10k walks, the challenge each time is to be active, prepare and enjoy a morning, afternoon or evening in the outdoors.

This year, I decided to do the MS Walk, for the second time.  A meaningful cause for me and this year it the walk is around the beautiful Sydney harbour.  I will put a badge up if any blog readers fancy sponsoring me for this event, which is in 3 weeks time.

Thankyou 🙂

https://www.mswalk.org.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=8684

 

 

 

 

Writing underway…month 1

I started my course with the Writer’s Studio – 10 month novel and script, at the beginning of the month and as I go into Week 4, its amazing how quickly you can make something a habit.  I have not been able to allocate a single time of the day to write, but I have been able to allocate time on most days, either during a lunch-break or after work in my hour allocated TV free time.

I have just been working through the exercises and trying to be as open and unrestricted with my writing as I can.  I get feedback from my tutor regularly, and so far she hasn’t said “Don’t give up your day-job” so I will take that as a positive (but seriously, the regular feedback and validation you are heading in the right direction is fantastic for me).

Today I did a few extra exercises to get a jump on this week’s tasks and for the first time I stopped in my tracks to think about whether I was getting too bogged down with a particular idea and maybe need to widen my thinking a bit more.  I guess the idea is working for me so worth pursuing, but it was interesting the shift and the questioning that pops in every now and then.  We have and are mainly dealing with structure this month, so haven’t started actually crafting the first draft, but it is going really well and I am enjoying the idea generation and the learnings that are coming out each week.


Looking forward to month two!