Fall Foliage, Writers’ Conference, Washington and Broadway: Finding Creative Spaces

 The last few weeks of travel in the USA have been inspiring and have left me feeling as if I have so much to write and so little time.

Fall Foliage

Beginning in Montreal and driving through Vermont and Maine, following the changing colours of fall was beautiful. Staying in an inn in Camden, Maine for a few days and experiencing life on the
coast was so relaxing. The sky had a golden tinge to it and, with the golds, reds and browns of the leaves, it created an idyll I didn’t want to end.

Seeing Robert Frost’s home in Vermont was a privilege. I love visiting author’s homes and the country they were inspired to write in. Thinking back to college days and reading Frost’s poetry for the first time to now being in the landscape is overwhelming. The land of Nothing Gold Can Stay and The Road Less Traveled is so beautiful.

Writers’ Conference

Leaving Maine and flying out to Phoenix was my next adventure.  The beautiful Emma, who has moved to the US to pursue her music career, met me. What a blessing it was to see her as her dreams become closer to reality.

My first overseas conference was amazing. The teaching and wisdom from the speakers has given me much to think about. I have a deeper understanding of publishing and writing. The speakers were wonderful wordsmiths and I loved hearing the way they employ words to change people’s lives.

Why do we write? To influence, help and inspire others. To do that well we have to get better at our craft. There is no easy road.

Along with the teaching, I met some wonderful women: Alice, Marilyn, Diana, Desiree, Lindsay and Christine.  All of them reached out in friendship. I knew no one there at the conference and now I have found new friends. What a bonus!

As writers the connection with each other is important, as what we do is a solitary activity. Often there is no one at home to discuss things with in the same way as when we talk with a writers’ group or with others at a conference.

I have pages of notes from the conference but it is the stories of the people I met who have inspired me to want to be a better writer. For example, Desiree has written a book about losing a son to mental illness and suicide and the journey that has been. Her faith and struggle inspire me. Others told me stories of their lives and work. I realized once again that life is a series of struggles and that listening to others tell of how they cope with life can teach us.

Washington

Even if we’re not American we’ve heard the words of Lincoln, Jefferson and Martin Luther King-words that endure through the ages and speak to our generation. Will our words endure? Will we be able to write not just for our generation but also those to come? What a challenge!

Broadway

New York City has a buzz, energy and atmosphere like no other. It is a big city that never sleeps. It’s exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time.

With millions of people there are millions of stories. Seeing Samuel L Jackson play Martin Luther King and deliver a monologue of epic proportions was a gift.

Being in New York on the day of the marathon was incredible as we watched the coverage with story after story of reasons why people ran. Friends and family of those lost on September 11 ten years ago spoke of their reasons. Survivors of cancer or relatives of family lost to cancer, personal goals and inspirations-all those stories inspire me as a person and as a writer. I always want to know the story behind the people.

Meeting Olive Knight, who is a Kimberley indigenous woman leader, was inspiring. She is here on Broadway performing with Hugh Jackman in his show. Her son, Clifton and two other indigenous players were here too to perform in Hugh’s show.

A segment where Clifton sings, didgeridoos play and Olive sings with Hugh while images of Australia are shown on the bigscreen provide a poignant counterpoint to the Broadway show tunes-especially for an Aussie.

Lining up with hundreds of people to attend Hillsong NYC to hear Robert Fergusson talk about knowing who you are in God, was also a privilege. World-class speakers who capture audiences in the palm of their hands and use words well to change people’s lives are gifts.

Meeting Danielle, who has moved to New York to attend the New York Film School was also inspiring as she is living out her dream. As Hugh Jackman said in his show, ‘We Aussies like to give things a go. ’I hope Danielle gets her break and sees her dreams come to fruition.

Leaving
New York City

So, leaving New York City will be hard. It captures your heart and mind. It creates creative space in a different way to the quiet of coastal Maine and Vermont. But it’s been a creative space I’ve loved and been excited by. Now it’s back to good old Perth to begin life in the real world again. Au revoir, NYC.