Fitzroy

I very much enjoyed a presentation the other night by Annabel Smith, author of US best seller Whiskey & Charlie (published in Australia as Whisky Charlie Foxtrot).

Her presentation ‘What to expect when expecting a book’, held at the Fitzroy library, was engaging and informative. She covered a range of topics including working with publishers, going to writers’ festivals, promoting a book, entering writing competitions, how much writers get paid, and use of social media.

She also shared stories and insights from her own journey as a writer.

One of the tips she provided resonated with me – the acronym “WIBBOW”, which stands for “Would I Be Better Off Writing?” Though Annabel did say it’s important for writers to have an internet presence to promote themselves and their work, WIBBOW is great to keep in mind so you don’t spend too much time with social media, blogging or other activities instead of actually writing.

As a first time ‘wanna be’ author, I can definitely relate to WIBBOW. I’m not a full time-writer, after all, and there are many distractions.

In the past I’ve had snippets of time to write, but very few decent blocks of time. This year my circumstances have changed and I’ve organised at least two or three days each week to focus on writing my memoir.

Annabel’s talk also made me reflect that I need to get out more, meet other writers, go to writer festivals, and read more books.

In other words, I need to immerse myself in the art and craft of writing so I can become a better writer.

Footnote: You can find out more about Annabel Smith on her website: http://annabelsmith.com

If thickness counts then I’m on my way to a best seller for my memoir 🙂

I’ve almost completed my second draft and so far I have 124,036 words written. I also have a few reflective pieces to add which I’ll blend into the narrative.

Today I’ll finish reading the current draft to get a sense of the story and then work on finalising the second draft.

When the second draft is completed I’ll hand it over to my editor for review. And then work on the third draft.

The third draft will require a lot of editing as I currently have enough material for two books. It will also require a fair bit of fine tuning so it is readable and interesting for the reader.

So if you excuse me, I’m off to read my memoir – I just hope I don’t fall asleep!

Everybody remembers their first belly whacker.

I do.

It happened at the Fitzroy baths back in the 1960s, when I dived into the pool almost horizontally and my belly hit the water first.

My guts felt like they had exploded, I doubled up in pain and sank below the surface. I eventually surfaced and somehow got out of the pool holding my stomach, which had turned a deep lobster red.

And it was not funny.

Though when some other ‘unco’ kid did a belly whacker, that was funny. You’d hear the whack and the scream, followed by a one or two word curse.

And when your mate did a belly whacker that was especially satisfying. You could stir him up for days on end.

A belly whacker from the side of the pool was painful, but a belly wacker from a diving board looked excruciating. I was lucky to learn my lesson diving from the side of the pool and not from a diving board.

I miss swimming at the Fitzroy baths, but I definitely don’t miss a belly whacker.