The Writing Instinct

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Missing writing...

A quick check in as I type single-handedly and recover from an operation to my left arm. Through the haze of pain-killers I realize how long it has been since I wrote anything. I miss writing and I miss blogging, particularly visiting my favorite blogs. I have even let my own deadline for finishing my first draft, fall by the wayside. I miss my characters and where their life was heading. Time to get them back on track...

Monday, April 25, 2011

Beautiful Malice

A few months ago I purchased a young adult thriller titled Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James. I enjoyed reading it so much that I just had to find out about the author, who I am proud to say, is a fellow Aussie. I discovered that Rebecca also has a blog.

A few weeks ago my daughter and I entered a competition, held by Rebecca to celebrate the newest cover of her book. However, we did not realise that the competition had closed (in fact she had also announced the winners but we were so excited to enter we negelcted to check her blog properly!). Rebecca still kindly sent Jena a copy of Beautiful Malice. Jena was so excited she read it during the school holidays in two days. In three words, Jena's response was: "Oh. My. God!" She thoroughly enjoyed it and asked me if there was a sequel. While I don't know the answer to her question, what I do know is that Rebecca was generous enough to still consider Jena.

Thank you Rebecca. You absolutely made her day!

Friday, March 4, 2011

I died last night

I died last night.

I was driving in the left lane on an Australian road, minding my own business, when a car came screaming at me from the opposite lane. I swerved, missed it and felt very fortunate that it did not hit me. I then approached the object that was causing the oncoming traffic to drive into my lane. Just ahead of me I saw a small trophy. I could not believe it was this trophy, so insignificant, that was reaping so much havoc. And then as I passed the trophy, car after car unknowingly crashed into me. I saw the drivers’ faces, aghast and in disbelief. I realised then the inevitability of the moment: that I was going to die. And when the cars crashed into me, one after the other, after the other, I expected to hear a deafening crush, but there was none. I expected pain, but there was none. Looking up I felt myself floating above my vehicle and ahead of me were those who had died just before me, but by other means. I saw them moving forward and upward with their beautiful multicoloured gowns trailing behind them. I momentarily thought of my family whom I had just left behind. And I though to myself, it’s okay. It’s okay. They’ll be fine. My heart leaped and I moved forward to join the colourful angels. I felt so content.

Interpreting this, I know that this dream is not about me dying, per se. It is about some part of my behaviour that is dying. And that is a good thing. I am changing the behaviour that ties me down, that makes me beholden to others. I realise that there are things I can let go of, things that are as insignificant as that trophy. I can cut back on these insignificances. It's okay. I don't have to always be running everything so tightly and on schedule. It's okay. I can trust my family to do things for themselves sometimes. They'll be fine. I need to trust in myself and follow that which makes me happy, makes me content. And then I will join the happy angels, in all their glory, that have come before me. I know I will.

Until next time,
Mervat

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Window shopping in Paris

At times, when I need inspiration (such as now when I have to crunch numbers for our business!) I look back at some of the pictures I took while in Paris, last May.

Our time there was such a mix of weather patterns and emotion. Regardless, I remember those short nine days with warmth and fondness.

Please, let me share some of my Parisian window shopping adventures with you.

Florists...