Closer still

Writing a book is definitely not an easy process. Not that I ever thought it would be. I’m a slow writer too. At least I’m not a writer than can just blurt 1000 words out on the page and then return to tidy it all up. I need to edit as I go and feel it’s the best it can be before advancing. On a good day that can mean tapping out a good 1000 words in a day’s session, but more likely it will be 500 words. The approach to writing is different for every writer, but at least I’ve learned over the years that I don’t need special rituals before starting, or need to be touched by my ‘muse’ as some do. When I sit down to write, I’m working. I believe it’s called discipline!

The end is definitely in sight now and the time has come to approach a publisher or two. To that end I’m taking advantage of an opportunity to pitch to one publisher I identified some time ago as one to contact. An Affirm Press author was a guest at the last Tamar Valley Writers Festival I was involved in organising, and one of their staff is now on the TVWF board. I spoke to her at the recent screening of some Sydney Writers Festival sessions, as part of the TVWF’s program of events and she was encouraging.

More recently I learned Affirm Press are accepting submissions, but only on the first Monday of the month. So after reading the guidelines several times to be absolutely certain I have everything covered, the plan is to aim for an August submission.

Between prepping for that, writing up some articles for The Veterinarian, and working on a comp entry for another online journal, the next two weeks will be busy.

The photo of tee shirt and badges? The tee shirt was central to an Action during the campaign and I recently completed the chapter where it featured. The badges came a little later in the piece and were made in their hundreds, but these and many other items of memorabilia collected over the 12 years, either by myself, or that have been given to me,  will be offered to the Community History Museum for their collection. But only when I've typed  The End.

After all this campaign was a significant part of Tasmania’s history. It needs to be recorded for posterity.