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The Power of Self-Publishing
September 15, 2012
Self-publishing a book is very empowering. With less than ten percent of work that is submitted to traditional publishers being published, it’s any wonder that writers keep going. We find that for the average 200 submissions that we get for each issue of [untitled], that we only publish about a dozen. This isn’t because what we receive is bad writing, it just isn’t of the standard that we can work with.
This is why we are very passionate about helping people to realise their dream of being published and to eradicate that 80s stigma of ‘vanity’ publishing. Any writing has an element of vanity or ego. Why else would a person spend so much time working at it and suffering the rejection that essentially is the life of a writer? (remember there’s 90 percent-ish being rejected). But there is also an element of wanting to find the truth in the writing and sharing it with the world, whether it is fact or fiction.
For us, there is great satisfaction of working through a project with a writer, helping with the editing or putting it together in preparation for printing, and being there with them when they realise their dream. For us, the aha moment is when we’re at the launch and the author is sitting at the ‘signing’ table with a stack of their books and a huge grin on their faces.
Young Writers
August 5, 2012
Well it’s time for us to go off to a writers’ camp again. Not so far to travel this time, in fact not even out of Melbourne. Today we’ve been writing up questions for a quiz and thinking about what sort of things year 7–10 students might like to write about.
I remember when I was in high school, I liked to write stories that were pretty tragic, like the world ending (Day of the Triffids was inspiration) or other themes that I thought at the time were pretty deep. A very vivid memory for me was in Year 12 English when I received an A for a short story about my relationship with my father. I still have that story. But more important than the mark I received for it is the fact that it was encouragement to keep writing. This reminds me that while these writing camps are fun and don’t add to the students marks, it’s important for us to take them seriously because we’re helping them form a relationship with the written word (or creating stories with words, pictures and photographs) and a wrong word (in our feedback) can make a difference to their confidence.
It’s going to be fun working with them on their photo stories, flash fiction and cartooning. Hopefully, there’ll be something they remember in years to come that inspired and encouraged them.
Writing Through Adversity
July 8, 2012
I was fortunate to be asked to attend a panel last week at Mentone Library to discuss ‘Writing Through Adversity’, because of our published book, Journey: Experiences with Breast Cancer. This book has already received great feedback despite the fact that it’s only now just reaching the bookshops.
The panel consisted of five women (one being Mairi Neil, who contributed to our book) who talked about how writing has helped them cope with difficult times in their lives. It occurred to me as I was listening to various discussions that this is true for myself. In fact, when I look back at my personal journal writing, most of the entries are made when I was going through troubling times. Seems when I’m happier, I don’t feel the need to write. Is this because when I’m unhappy, I spend more time wallowing in it? I don’t think so. I think that writing has always helped me make sense of things. It’s the time when I can write to my ‘therapist’ who is in fact myself. But on the page, I can make statements that I know will not be shot down or thought ridiculous. And I can answer those statements and try to come up with solutions.
Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. – Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha.
Isn’t this why many people write? To make sense of the world? To find the truth about life? And this is why people read. To make sense of the world and to realise that although they may feel like an odd ball, they are in fact like many other people.
So you cannot have writers without readers. They go hand in hand. And for those writers who boast that they don’t read, you’re doing yourself a disservice. And for every writer who wants to improve their craft. Go read a book!
Stories are Currency
June 20, 2012
Humans, by nature, are curious. And because of this we are natural storytellers. It’s our way of making sense of the world and connecting with other humans. There’s no escaping it. Before technology we were telling stories around the fire and drawing images on cave walls. Does this mean that stories are the currency of life?
Everything we know is a story. Science is the story of what is and where it came from. Religion is the story of why it is so. Morals are the stories of how we should behave. There’s no escaping stories and of course we don’t want to.
With technology changing the way we communicate, it seems that it’s even more important to tell our own story. There’s that need to be heard and understood and validated.
So, what’s your story and how do you tell it? Words, pictures, music?
Taking Flight
May 30, 2012
Busybird has been all over the place in the last few weeks and while we might have wings, it’s good to be home and take time out to get grounded again. So, what have we been doing? [untitled] issue five has its own wings now that we’ve released it into the wild. For any of you 40 or so people who already have a copy, we’d love to hear what you think. Personally we believe that Australia has some awesome new writers out there and this issue continues to prove just that. We’ll be at the Emerging Writers’ Festival this coming Sunday to continue our work in advocating new and emerging writers. We’ll be in the Atrium of Federation Square as part of the Page Parlour.
Kev and I were up at Mildura last week where we had the honour of hanging out with 21 up and coming talented writers at a writers’ camp. What a blast to spend a few days with year 7-10 students with such an abundance of talent and a willingness to work hard at stories, songs, poems and drawing.
While we were there, we penned a song for Cheeky Monkey and tortured the kids with our singing! Our apologies to the school counsellor who’ll have to pick up the pieces after that.
In June, Les Zig and Blaise van Hecke will be running an intensive weekend workshop for writers wanting to polish up their work ready to submit to publishers, or for those wanting to self-publish. Check out the details here. Who said that winter was a time for hibernation!