Creative Writing, one year in

By Lucy Ardern

Writing has been a constant during the thirty years of my professional life. Journalist first, strategic communicator next (please don’t call it PR!).

And while I get a thrill out of identifying a missing comma, ditching a capital, or working out how to use fewer words to say more, I wouldn’t describe it as pleasure exactly. More like sick satisfaction, and there has been little room for true “let your hair down” creativity.

Professional writing demands precision not play.

This changed about 12 months ago when I went along to a writing workshop at HOTA, and met a few friendly, courageous individuals from the Gold Coast Writers’ Association who inspired me. Despite a demanding job and little spare time, I suddenly couldn’t think of a good reason not to try writing stories. They were doing it after all.

After a few failed attempts at microfiction, I decided to use a recent Korean trip as inspiration. Every time I told the story of traveling with my partner and teenage family member to Seoul, people were interested. And that seemed like a reasonable place to start.

Four months and 40,000 words later, I had a draft. Of course, it wasn’t a good draft. But after feedback from a few kind readers and a lot of editing, it’s getting better.

And I’ve got a second book well underway.

Somehow, I have become a writer of character-driven mysteries. I know, it was a shock to me too! I can’t tell you why exactly, I just started writing and that’s where it went. Of course, there are lots of mysteries, thrillers and crime stories on my bookshelf, but they sit alongside every other genre.

The most surprising thing is that I am finally using the “w” word. A few years ago, I started running and embracing the title was the hardest and final step there too. I used “jogger” for the longest time.

As a long-term writer and new creative writer, I’ve discovered a few things that help me. I hope they inspire other storytellers who are starting out, stumbling or striving:

· When inspiration strikes, start. You never know what your brain and fingers will accomplish together when you let them.

· Keep going. Writing can be hard but there are good bits and you need to keep turning up to experience the highs and just get things done.

· If you only have fifteen minutes a day to write, use that. Elizabeth Gilbert tells us in Big Magic to imagine we are having an exciting affair with our creativity – those stolen kisses in a stairwell. Intoxicating.

· Constructive criticism will expand your creativity. Valuable feedback from other writers and readers takes your writing to places you could never visit on your own.

· This is not just about writing when you can, it is also about embracing the excitement that comes with doing something you are passionate about. Get it? It’s all about you.

· It is actually about the writing. Don’t worry if it is any good. Don’t worry if it will get published. Don’t worry if you will make any money out of it. The pleasure that we get from being creative is the point. Nothing else really matters.

Thanks to the Gold Coast Writers Association community for the warm welcome. If you’re reading this and haven’t attended a meeting or joined up, please do. It will make your writing life more enjoyable and ease the burdens that come with being a creator. The moment you confess something to the person sitting next to you who nods their head in recognition makes it more than worth that half day, once a month.