A product of yesterday’s ‘Witnessing Landscapes’ workshop with Sally Piper. I am capable of travelling great distances, leaking through porous rock and soil with the force of a mountain behind me. Some seasons I am so abundant there is no holding back the pressure, and so I must surface and travel above ground, liberated byContinue reading “Spring fed”
Category Archives: creativity
Silver buckshot
I have met avid readers who tell me they won’t go near memoir and personal essay, perceiving it a self-absorbed genre full of trauma or egoistic navel gazing. It’s hard to hear because I mostly write about myself and my world, hoping to at least tap into a universal human experience for readers to relate to in some shape or another. It never occurred to me that the missing ingredient to that relatability might be a rich setting or environment.
…on mental health, Tourette’s, horses and cats
Our property really isn’t ideal for horses. We only have a few spare acres of slope, prone to bog in the wet season, wild weeds in the dry. We would need some sort of shelter, and storage for feed. We’d need to shore up our fences and gates and make allies of our neighbours. There’dContinue reading “…on mental health, Tourette’s, horses and cats”
…on maintaining creative practice
I have always aspired to have a daily creative practice but have never managed to sustain it for long. I love my garden – but it would surely be more wonderful if I spent a little time in it every day. I love to write – but the bulk of my writing energy goes toContinue reading “…on maintaining creative practice”
…on resolutions
Belated post:
I know I’m not the only one who likes to start a new year with intention. When I was a kid I made resolutions. These days I choose a word or phrase to inspire me, or a good habit to adopt, or I’ll make a change of some sort, like clean out some cupboards or rearrange our furniture. Recently it’s a phrase or motto I can live by until it becomes habit. ‘Little and often’ for my procrastination and perfectionism. ‘Less is more’ for my inclination to magpie every object that catches my eye, and overeat, or obsess. I know plenty of people who do the very same, in their own ways. It’s not a resolution as such. There’s more breathing space.
Being Born is born!
What Does It Feel Like Being Born is a memoir about having babies, juggling family life and accidentally becoming an activist.
…on aging as a woman
It was an off-the-cuff question from an eighteen year old boy. He faltered a little by the end, realising too late that he might be breaking etiquette, crossing a line. I’m his employer. It’s none of his business. I probably should have reminded him of that.
…on learning to write, and being edited
This entry is drawn from a guest blog written for Leisl Leighton.
Black Dog
Maybe it follows you home. Slinking in the distance, tail between legs, like you might turn around any moment and chase it away.
Contract teacher
My first day on the job I am called to the Principal’s office to discuss my role and responsibilities and complete some paperwork. He ushers me in and offers me a chair. With glasses perched on his nose he flips a manila folder onto the desk. ‘Please, eat your lunch while we chat,’ he says.Continue reading “Contract teacher”
Jodie Miller writes... 