For mother’s day we made a late afternoon trip up Mount Cootha to see the sunset. It was my first mother’s day without my eldest son at home.
One day they will all be winging their way into their lives and so these times are even more precious, to still be a family with children at home.
We looked at the lights of the city make their journey from pink to navy.
Then headed home for a cheesecake made by my daughter. Youngest gave me a Paddington Bear, he had discovered in an op shop, knowing this was one of my favourite childhood characters.
My children took a liking to Paddington after seeing the movies as teenagers!
Embracing the possibilities of the future, I reflect on this quote.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” –Anaïs Nin
So there may not be too much going on my blog, but behind the scenes is another story.
I recently made the monumental decision to return to university to study a masters of teaching!
My goal is to become a high school teacher of humanities and literature, and or work in curriculum design and education innovation and to continue to write for youth and children.
This week I will hand my first year essay in on the topic of ‘behaviour management. ‘We have been learning about the movement from traditional discipline to management to engagement, and the power of evidence based research to inform teacher practice, amongst other things, over the last few weeks.
I love popping into the class discussions online, and attending our collaborates as well. Some brilliant people are changing their professions, and will be taking some amazing life experiences and a diversity of cultural backgrounds into classrooms. Wish us all well will you!
University writing of the academic kind is a different kind of writing from my poetry and creative blogs. Involving, introduction – body- conclusion type structures and TEELS (topic sentences, examples, explanations and links) and the joys of APA referencing, and peer reviewed citation. Every assertion needs professional substantiation.
Reading peer review articles on topics of ‘antibullying’, ‘teaching pedagogies of social justice’ and the power and disempowerment from discourses at first was feeling difficult, but then it became more and more interesting.
I am loving it!
My novel is about to move into its third draft, and I will be back onto that soon. I went to a brilliant masterclass with Karen Foxlee, and rest assured inspired by authors like Karen, I will ever give up on my writing dreams. I will carve out ‘a fortress of time’ to work on my books as well.
Many authors have more than one job, and writing isn’t always the paying one.
Whilst I may miss having a day I fully control what I do in terms of reading and writing, the new horizons of educational research are just brilliant!
This week one goal is to write some poetry inspired by the power of the research in education and the amazing people who are revolutionizing this field, and creating brilliant teachers through their work.
And to make it back into the world of my novel and have a daily meeting time with that novel!
I’ve managed to book myself into a writing conference in July, and also have a poem inspired by guinea pigs and nursery rhymes that has made its way into an anthology.
And whilst all this is going on I have also managed to catch up with some friends, and see some amazing Indian dance at a friends dance school concert, and say prayers in the park for strength and humanity. Nature is such a solace and our neighbourhood is full of magpie bird song. So pretty!
I am aware that many people in the world are suffering, and think of how the power of stories and education can make a difference.
I have a special project under wraps at moment, which I hope will be part of this process.
Time to go, have another essay to work on! The life of a student!
The last month I’ve been working on creating folio samples for applications and checking my archives for works that have potential, but perhaps just need more editing or a process of reinvention.
The above picture is of a poem from a Writing Group Anthology from 10 years ago! Under One Sky with the Licuala Writers.
I enjoyed writing this poem, capturing childhood with my children and a memory of a trip to Kiribati. Maybe I will write more pieces like this! My children are all grown into adults, and one has left home, which makes poems like this especially poignant to read.
Last week was a super productive week, making entries to writing competitions, and anthologies, as well as preparing some new picture book submissions.
I was especially pleased with edits on the picture books. Leaving them for a while really helped, and resulted in a magic day when I looked at them and just knew what to do to polish them.
I’m on a break from working on my novel, and about to move into its third draft. I’ve such an optimistic feeling that the same magic will happen in the break from working on the novel.
May you enjoy the reconnection with your story archives!
Have you ever had a positive experience with revisiting an old story, picture book or poem and a magic day of editing it to shine?
I have been a bit quiet of late, as a new book, Illuminations: 19 Poems and 1 Story, is about to be born.
At the end of this post is a preview of the back cover.
It has been a happy process – and has reunited me with designer Heidi Den Ronden and editor Matilda Elliot from Magic Fish Dreaming and led to working with new illustrators, Ruha and Minaira Fifita and some additional editing from Belinda Belton.
This book will be available in June 2020. I am using the Ingram Spark platform and developing more publishing and distribution skills this time around.
I’ve also retreated a bit to do some writing! Will keep you posted on the book, and I am keeping up my instagram posts.
I’ve been reflecting on how we treat the aged in our population after passing my fiftieth year. Some new poems being born through my poetry notebook. They are perculating, aging gracefully to find their meaning!
That’s all for now. Keep well, and think of happiness as a process not a destination.
I am on a blog and social media break, to dream and plan for next year. I will be back sometime in January.
For now I am:
Drawing up designs for puppets and making them. Whilst preparing for readings by the river under a tree in January.
Reading a book for the children’s multicultural book day, ready to review it.
Doing some assessment design.
Looking at the stories and poetry collections I want to focus on.
Enjoying the family, the adorable antics of our pet guinea pigs, who are couch climbers!
Surviving the Brisbane heat, with the aid of air conditioners, some planned trips to the pool or swimming water holes, and lots and lots of drinks of water.
Reading a pile of books I always wanted to!
Wishing I was an actual mermaid!
Have a beautiful holiday and break with your family, friends or your crazy and lovable pets.
June Paisa Perkins 