Back now from Granada with tales of the Alhambra tumbling around in my mind. Most writers are familiar with the dreaded blank page or the empty screen – the panicky feeling of sitting over a paragraph for so long that it shames me to think of the time I can spend in lengthy struggles before the words, any words, offer themselves up. So different from those other times, so heady, so invigorating, when it’s someone or something else sitting here and the story spins itself. Alpha state? Muse? My father’s spirit world sitting on my left shoulder? I don’t know, but I’m always terrifically grateful for the intervention. This usually happens when I have been living with a story for some time and so it has percolated, as it were; scenes come alive in my mind in early morning and I can’t wait to get to my computer. This is when writing becomes joyful for me – a bit like that great golf shot that keeps you coming back for more – and the opening scene of my new historical novel with the red fort at its centre presented itself in such a way. . .
Those who read my blog titled Hola! posted just before my trip will recall that I said I would try to post the result of the day’s workshop on digital storytelling with Janine and Liz of Chronicles put on by the City of Scarborough. I’ve been asked by a number of people about this first attempt and so it is with some reservation that I post the link here http://youtu.be/WthDJtmmBYE . I guess it shows how in six hours a complete amateur can be taught to record a story, insert photos and music and put it together using a program called Pinnacles. Digital is here to stay; the girls are great and can be contacted at stories@chroniclesscarborough.com.au.
