long weekends mean nothing to me due to the fact that i only work a two day week, but i am glad for them due to the fact that my man could be there beside me the past two days as goals were kicked and hurdles jumped.
i did a reading at the emerging writers fest on sunday arvo, and it went really well. it was an enormous experience being able to 'prove' i am a writer by reading an excerpt from my novel. i felt validated. it's weird to try and explain. but finally, instead of just talking about my novel (and inadvertently feeling like a wanker for doing so), i could actually read a bit of it out - and i felt that made it 'real'. i did the diffnt voices and everything. it was an amazing experience.
then, earlier on this evening, i had a gig at the local, where i chose to perform new material. upon meeting the other performers and mc's for the evening i was immediately comfortable, because they were people that i love to see perform. as i haven't actually done any standup since last year (ooh! weird too say that!) i was afraid i'd go to pieces on stage. but i didn't. it was an excellent night, and now i know what works and what doesn't from the routine i performed.
i have been booked in again at the local for march 22. in between now and then, i will concentrate on finishing the 2nd draft of the novel.
which is going great, by the way. :o)

oh me oh my. i can't believe how slowly the hours are trickling by. though i have learned something today - while the hands are occupied with filing, the mind is free to do whatever the hell it wants. so far today, my mind has jumped an office window (it was fun), rolled around in some grass, and had a quick nap.
i decided today that if i could live out the rest of my life as any fictional character, i would choose either elizabeth bennet, emma woodhouse or carrie bradshaw. who would you choose?
i watched bjork's greatest hits last night. watching that always puts me into an altered state of mind, a kind of floaty, glowy, life-is-so-full-of-possibilities one. that, edged with a slight urge to take nap.
or maybe that's just my hangover talking.

back from queensland, and i have the scars to prove it. literally. apart from being attacked by sandflies, i also had my first experience of a bluebottle jellyfish sting. i would recommend trying to avoid this experience yourselves, if you can help it. on the bright side, i finally got over my body issues and spent a day at wet 'n wild water world at the gold coast, and that was a hoot. pardon the visuals here, but i must admit there was something quite liberating about parading around in my bathers for a whole day. while in qld i also managed to add to my tacky home decoration collection by purchasing a plastic framed picture of ganesh with a built in, multicoloured spiral flashing backlight. very classy! extra party lighting plus extra karma points are now just a powerpoint switch-flick away - great combination!
i've been invited to participate in the emerging writers festival in melbourne, organised by express media. four writers will present readings in a session called 'foreign affairs - writing from diverse cultures' on sunday afternoon (jan 25). i'll be reading an excerpt from my novel-in-progress, so if you'd like to hear a snippet and you're free on sunday arvo, do pop along. the full festival program is available at express media's site.

heard back from penguin today. i'm happy, very happy that they get what i'm trying to do with the book - they love the main character - they described her as 'a delight - loveable, infuriating, funny and flawed'. they love the story, they love the funny ('a terrific feel for dialogue'), they've used the words 'real strengths', 'wonderfully evocative' and 'delicate balance' . they have asked for a re-draft. i have decided i will be doing a re-draft.
i am happy, but i feel like i should feel happier. after all, i have received a detailed written report which shows that they have read and spent time with my manuscript, and that they respect what i am trying to do. but all i can seem to focus on right now is the huge challenge that lies ahead, the re-working and re-writing bit. it's taken me two years to get it to where it is now. i don't want it to take me six more months to get it to where it needs to be. but then again i want it to be better, because all the feedback they have given me re: areas that need attention, is reasonable. the changes they are suggesting will not change the essence of the story, they will enhance it. but it ain't gunna be easy, thats for sure.
here's the plan. i will try and get it done before uni starts. nothing like a short term goal.
tell me i can do it. leave me messages. i can do it. i can do it. i will do it.

happy new year!
new years eve was good fun. didn't get home till four in the morning then managed somehow to sleep for ten hours straight - there's something a little nqr about waking up at two pm. spent what was left of a quite perfect new years afternoon at williamstown beach. lovely.
at the nye party i met up with a few people who i hadn't seen in a while, and the last time a lot of them had seen me was on raw finals on telly. it's weird intro-ing yourself to someone new and have them say back 'yes, i know who you are'. i also answered a few questions about my writing and the progress of my novel. a couple of days earlier, i'd been writing a bio of sorts and for the first time wrote the words 'have completed a novel length work which is currently under consideration with publisher'. it was weird enough reading that back, let alone trying to say it aloud without feeling like a wanker.
but then again, there's no point trying to act as if i don't think about where it is and who it's with all the time anyway. i wonder if it's been read. i wonder if it's been read more than once, by more than one person. if it's been written on, or if its margins are still wide and white. has it even come out of the envelope yet? did it excite anyone?
i wish my manuscript could send me a postcard.