Creative living journal #51
A school visit along with many other wonderful things!
Monday
Yesterday I made my way out to Quirindi where I stayed the night before a full day of school sessions at Wallabadah Public School. There were six schools from the region who came together at Wallabadah for a cultural session in Gamilaraay language (the language of the region), a sporting session, my author workshop, and more.
It was so wonderful! All the students were lovely and eager to participate, listen, learn, and engage.
Honestly, though I’ve been doing sessions all year, I still felt anxious to the point of nausea this morning. A big part of that is because though I know what I want to say and share with the students, I never quite know how the day will run.
Plus, being in a new place, with new faces is always a challenge. Then add on potential technical difficulties with presentations (yup, my PowerPoint presentation did not happen today, but luckily it was all totally fine for me to do without because I was prepared 😅) and not knowing beforehand whether students will be engaged or interested, of course there’s going to be anxiety.
School visits are great fun and so rewarding, but also unpredictable.
But, I am happy to report that I survived! And I feel like I actually thrived too. I was in my element, and a big part of that was because the students were amazing.
I even shared my illustration process, which includes showing the below incredibly messy, very rough storyboard …
… and then showing the next stage where it looks a little neater before sharing a finished illustration.
And even when showing that first incredibly messy, very rough storyboard and telling the students that it was totally okay to have a little giggle at the mess because the mess is part of the process, the students made comments like:
‘Don’t be so hard on yourself!’
‘It looks great!’
‘You’ve done such a good job!’
‘You should be proud of your drawings!’
😮
What a beautiful, lovely, kind, thoughtful bunch of primary school kids. The teachers and staff members were all lovely too.
I know, I know, I’m gushing, but it was such a highlight. This is the good stuff about being an author, truly.
Tuesday
Although yesterday was such a fabulous day, today I am exhausted.
Rest day.
Kind of … still some admin and emails and messages to catch up on.
Wednesday
Mister 5 had a kindy session today, and he walked right on in with barely a hug or a backward glance. I am so happy he felt so confident, and this prep will help so much when he officially starts big school next year, but where has my baby gone??
Finalising a few things for Narm-Jaap: A Flinders Street Station History! Friends, I’m not even sure I’ve told you yet that that’s what book two in the Our Lands series is called – have I?? Well, if not, now you know, and now you can start to get excited! It’ll be off to the printers NEXT WEEK!!!
The latest What does it mean to live a creative life? interview is live!
Check it out if you haven’t already – you’ll read about Melissa’s many creative endeavours, and her passion for word origins (including the meaning of the name Melissa! Because, when you get two of us together of course we’re gonna talk about it!).
Wrap up
Before I wrap up my chaotically creative week, some exciting news was announced on Thursday. My dyuramin (sister) Dayle is one of the recipients of the Write It Fellowship!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that’s a ton of exclamation marks, but I am SO freaking excited for Dayle!
Here’s a one-sentence pitch for the story that got Dayle selected:
After Dark by Dayle Fogarty: An urban supernatural story following a woman who survives possession and uncovers the monsters haunting regional Australia.
There’s also another Fogarty who was selected! (Naomi, are we related?!)
Check out Dayle’s Substack (Functionally Feral) too while you’re at it and hit subscribe to follow along on her writing journey and show your support.
This was kind of a big week.
I didn’t realise it during each moment. It’s only now looking back and reading over my journal before sending it off that I can see a lot of good, happy, big things happened.
I’m not always great at celebrating or pausing before moving onto the next thing, so that’s probably why I’ve hardly stopped to think about how I had a great school session, my littlest had his own great school session, my second book Narm-Jaap is going to the printers, my dyuramin had a BIG win, and my kids each had a win of their own at their ninja warrior class through the week.
Small and big wins, many moving forward things, and just an all round good week.
This is my pause and reflect.
Here I can share with you all and celebrate and stay in the moment, even if for just a little minute.
Your turn
I’m of the era of having bought a pretty piece of paper with my name on it that included the meaning of my name, which ended up laminated and hung up on the wall of my bedroom. Oh, those were the days! Were you of that era too? It fit perfectly with my sunflower bed spread and Leonardo DiCaprio and River Phoenix posters.
And, after speaking with Melissa Garside about word origins and name meanings, I’m curious, what does your name mean?
I acknowledge the Darkinjung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I am writing from today. I walk, talk, write, and create with respect on this land, and I acknowledge the enduring connection the Darkinjung people have with this Country; I thank them for their care of this Country, and I pay respects to the Elders past and present, and extend that respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here reading or listening.