I joined a nine-week novel writing course today. It begins next Monday. I want to get this damn book written⁠—the one that’s been rolling around my head like a lost pinball for a decade. That’s all I want. Just one book written. No matter the outcome. It’s not too much to ask for from these lazy damn bones, is it?

I’ve devoted much of my ‘studying’ life to writing—an undergraduate degree in creative writing; a postgraduate degree in writing, editing and publishing; countless weekend courses; one six-month long novel writing course (where I think I wrote about 400 words in total)—and here I am again, handing over my credit card in the hope that this one will propel me towards completion. Or at least half-letion. I know that I just have to get the story down (the story that I think it is now, not the one I’m sure it will become) . The editing, the pulling-apart and putting-back-together again will be like having a wine at sunset sitting on the deck of your favourite seaside pub (bloody easy). I like figuring the problems out once I can see the story’s full potential down on paper. It’s like a puzzle where some of the pieces don’t quite fit or, more often than not, are incompletely the wrong shape, and I have to figure out how to re-shape them or bin them and start again with the knowledge of what won’t work to create the piece of art these words will become. And by ‘art’, I’m not talking myself up. Anything that comes out of the imagination of a human being is art. That means the first car was a work of art. The first shuttle into space. The first pair of shoes. The first eating utensil. The first poem. The first drawing. And then all the ones that came afterwards. We’re all artists, whether we think of ourselves that way or not, because we’re human.

And I’ve decided to join the human race. Follow me over the next nine weeks, as I write the first 20,000 words of my novel.

p.s. here are a couple of photos of Morocco, which I visited recently with my sisters. Best. Holiday. Ever. Beautiful country. Hospitable people. Awesome fun with sisters.

My WordWhisperer business has exploded. And I’m so grateful. I have new clients from New Zealand, the US, and the UK, as well as here in Australia. All of it comes from word of mouth.  To say I’m blown away by the abundance of work that flows to me would be an understatement. I’ve been freelance writing and editing part-time for about seven years now, and all that has laid the foundation for a fully-fledged business in the present.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I feel like I’m living a dream where my days are spent in the midst of words as I help people with perfecting their stories and messages. Guiding clients as they bring an idea, which is felt, imagined, and dreamed about but not fully formed, into fruition is one of my favourite things to do. I truly feel like I was born for this.

What it all ultimately means, though, is that I get to live life on my terms, weaving in time for family and loved ones, music festivals, travel, friendships, and service to my community—and it makes for a good life. And I never forget to appreciate that.

I’m deep into editing two books at the moment, as well as website content, and delivering a training program. Honing an author’s voice is like finding the pearl in the clam at the bottom of the ocean. Sometimes it takes a little time (and holding your breath), but it’s always worth the effort. Whenever a client asks me how they find their ‘voice’, I always suggest they start with how they speak. Jot down a few lines in your normal speaking voice, I tell them. Say it like you would if you were speaking with your best friend over a cup of coffee. That’s a great place to start. If you’re funny in real life, let it come through. If you’re more reserved, allow that to show. The key is being authentic to both yourself and your story. The voice of your characters, if you’re writing fiction, will be different to your voice if you’re writing a blog post. No matter what you’re writing and what tool you’re using (i.e. a blog post or a character), make sure you have something you want your reader to take away from it. That’s your starting point. From there, you can start to build your scaffolding around it, which could include the characters and plot. Before you know it, you’ll have written your entire story or blog post. Tell the story you want to tell, not the one you think will get you the most readers—or acclaim.

Tell your story. Even if it’s only six words long. (‘For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.’)

There’s no time to wait. Unless you’re off to a music festival… then tomorrow is fine.