Life will always be my inspiration

Yesterday I read an article written by novelist Susan Johnson published in the Q Weekend publication called Truth or Dare.  

Johnson discussed how her new novel My Hundred Lovers is a mock memoir – it’s the story of a woman’s life told through her body’s memories. 

She says that as with her other books, she anticipates that some readers will confuse fact with fiction and mistake her actual life with her imaginative life, the world inside the book for the world she walks around in.

The main part of the discussion is centred on the strife she (and other writers for that matter) has found herself in when drawing inspiration for plotlines and character development based on family, friends and real life people she has encountered.

Johnson says ‘As long as there have been books there have been people unhappy about what is inside them’ arguing the case for a novel to be judged for what it is, not its source material.

Reading this article it got me thinking about the few stories that I have already started developing myself. I have thought up scenarios and character profiles and I will admit – these have been borne out of situations I’ve been in and people I know.

I have been slack and to be honest, only really work on these stories every other month...  

For a writer, I would have to assume that personal relationships and life experiences are the obvious choice for developing material to write a book or memoir. I myself am an avid reader and I automatically assume (apart from the obvious like Harry Potter or Twilight) that the storyline and the characters have been somewhat taken from the author’s real life and adapted in a certain way to be introduced to the reader.

I am lucky enough to have a large group of friends who are all so different – I couldn’t think of a better bunch of people to create interesting and complex characters from for my writing.

In the Q Weekend article, Johnson said she was a bit apprehensive about one story she wrote that drew obvious parallels between the main character (based on herself) and another (based on an ex-boyfriend). She received scathing emails, but luckily, didn’t get sued as other writers have…

I could not imagine receiving a defamation writ from a friend who was so aggrieved at finding them depicted as a character in my book. You should find yourself lucky to be deemed interesting enough to write about! 

Reading this story affirmed something in my mind – I will always write about instances and people in my life because life itself is the best inspiration for good, honest writing.

To all my friends and family – if one day I actually get any of my work published and you do think that a certain someone in the pages of my book sounds a little like you – trust me, take it as a compliment!

To borrow from Susan Johnson – ‘A book in order to become a book must be cut from its moorings and be judged for what it is, not for what it was once tethered to.’

Yard update: Easter makeover

So over the Easter break, we spent a lot of time in the yard. Last week we completed the landscaping of the Western side of our house, complete with stepper stones and pebbles in the same vein that we did the other side (so it's matchy-matchy). This means much less maintenence and a better looking side yard.

Before shot: mud and grass  

After shot: We used charcoal stepper stones and a pebble mix called 'Fruit Salad'

Very happy with the finished result

So at Easter, it was time to tackle the front yard. We decided that we would fill the front trough with larger pebbles so that it would eliminate weeds or any growth around the front of the house, keeping it much neater (and much less hassle work-wise to look after).

We used a medium river rock called Autumn Gold, which has golds, cream, charcoal and brown shades. These pics were taken just after the rocks were hosed down, so they look a bit darker than they really are.

After that job was complete, we set to work designing our front garden. We started by cutting out the existing turf and making a shape for the garden bed. Then after much shovelling and lifting we dumped (a lot) of soil into the bed and planted our beautiful Little Gem Magnolia which sits in front of our master bedroom window.

Next weekend we will get another delivery of soil so we can put more plants and grasses in. We'll be using stones and larger rocks in this front garden as features as well... next time I think I'll employ the use of gardening gloves, as I still have quite a lot of dirt under my fingernails - not pretty.

Industry chic

With Easter days away, I've been thinking about plans and what we're going to do with our bit of extra time off work. I've come to the conclusion that I am going to spend the whole four days dedicated to our home and garden.

Now that we've pretty much nutted out a scheme for the house (industrial with hints of natural material) I have been googling colour schemes for feature walls, as well as decorator accents, lighting and furniture.

There will be a few trips to Bunnings, I dare say, but I am looking forward to devoting my Easter break to beautifying our abode.

Below is some inspiration I've taken from my online searches. Let's hope 'industry-chic' can be pulled off!  



Dulux's Re-Set colour template

If truth is beauty, how come no one gets their hair done in a library?

I'm going back blonde bitches. I have been feeling a bit dull with my more natural hair colour and want to brighten up a bit... I feel like I'm not really myself without my golden locks.

Don't let anyone tell you what you should be - follow your inspiration and be a dreamer, don't conform to society's expectations. Take some time out everyday and count your blessings and be in awe of what you could achieve in life. Surround youself with people who are happy for you and fill your soul with warmth. Nothing is impossible - you can do anything if you really want to. You deserve unrelenting and fulfilling love - no one should make you feel bad for the choices you've made or for the person you are today. Life is a journey after all and today, right now, you are in exactly the position you are meant to be.

A Veivers 2012

Being positive. Because I choose to be.

Getting shitty at life is so easy.

I have found that thinking negative thoughts, becoming upset over spilt milk and always thinking the worst is a place where we, on occasion, find ourselves.

At times being a grumpy bum feels like the best option when you couldn’t be bothered trying to be upbeat – hey, if you’ve been by waves of disappointment, it’s hard to remain optimistic when you’re stuck in a rut.

Personally, I dwell on things. I try my hardest not to go back to these thoughts and think about something else, but certain things get a hold of me and I’ll find myself back in my little room of negativity, dwelling over what could have been, mistakes I’ve made and regrets I, regrettably, have.

Obviously I’m not divulging what these things are, but I can tell you that I’ve had enough of my own stupidity.

I am not sure why I choose to be this way, but from today onwards I am getting over it and moving on with my life in a positive way.

My dad gave me a beautiful book a few years ago by Dr Wayne Dyer called Being in Balance. It’s basically about the way you think and how you can take positive steps to change your thoughts, which in turn, change your life. It’s an amazing book.

This morning I read the most inspiring quote by Dr Dyer:

You can sit there forever, lamenting about how bad you've been, feeling guilty until you die, and not one tiny slice of that guilt will do anything to change a single thing in the past. Forgive yourself, then move on.

This is really what I needed to read – it sounds lame, but I think that I was meant to read this. The most important part of this quote is where it says “Forgive yourself, then move on.” I forgive others easily, but not myself, so that’s something I know I have to work on.

I want to be in a place of positivity – Lord knows that this year is going to be one of the biggest in mine and my husband’s life so I want to mentally prepare myself to be the best person I can be. I owe it to Ben and my family and friends and especially myself – if I allow them to, good things will happen.

With a lot of faith and most of all forgiveness, I feel like I’m heading in the right direction. I think it’s hard to admit you stuffed up, but it’s even harder to hang on to those thoughts and not let go of them.

Thanks for letting me indulge this little post – I hope that I’ve inspired others to let go of some negativity in their lives too.

 

Reassurance in words

Did you ever hear a story, watch a movie or read something that really just makes you think about what you want in life? That inspires you to chase down your dreams and make a change for the better?

As it happens, such a thing has happened to me. I have just finished reading the wonderfully written Eat Pray Love – the tale of Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote the book after pretty much going through the lowest time in her life, making a change, and starting again from square one.

All I can say is that after putting the book down, I knew I was meant to read it. I know it sounds silly because millions of people have read it and empathised with Liz as she struggled to find herself through adversity… but it struck a chord with me so strong I feel like there was some higher power guiding me through the library to the little shelf where the tatty book sat.

Liz Gilbert’s tale about life starts in New York and flows through Italy, India and finally finishes (or you could say, begins) in Indonesia – more specifically, Bali (where my husband and I went for our honeymoon). I laughed, cried, sympathised and at times, envied her for getting through the tough times with such grace and finally, understanding and acceptance for her position in the world.

Lately I have been struggling with a few personal issues (lets call them hiccups) that have seemed to have caused me more torment that what I thought they would. Basically, I thought I was stronger than what I actually am and haven’t been dealing very well…

I really do feel though, after reading this book that it has helped put some more perspective into my life and I’ve made the decision to make some (minor) changes that I hope will make a bigger difference. I guess you could say that it’s kind of given me that final push I needed to make moves to do something about my situation.

Before people start making assumptions I really am okay – you know when a few issues just get you down and instead of keeping a level head, you kind of lose your shit a bit and start drowning in knee-high water? That’s me at the moment. I just need to change the way I look at things and put my thoughts into more organised categories.

I’ve also learnt from Liz that it is important to forgive yourself in order to move forward and as I’m writing this, I’m smiling as if my emotions are my conviction that I know I’m on the right path.

For those of you have haven’t read Eat Pray Love and without going into the synopsis, I would simply say go and read it. Even if you’re not a book reader and find reading wanky; just give it a go. It might change your life for the better.

PS: I am not giving you permission to just go and get the movie – it in no way begins to even scratch the surface of this amazing story.