Write your escape

The current COVID restrictions have limited our ability to be outside our own front door, let alone travel further afield. The idea of getting on a plane and lying on a beach whilst your little ones miraculously entertain themselves in the sand at your feet, feels like a far-off dream. Finding space for yourself and a little ‘me time’ in a home-schooling environment is a long-forgotten throwback to 2019! But wait. There is hope for a little escapism. The next time your kids hit Roblox why not turn to poetry?

Writing has seen a massive resurgence in iso. In the same way that people have turned away from their ‘ever-on’ electronic distractions to embrace home-cooking, sew quirky face masks and plant edible gardens, writing and writing societies have experienced an unexpected surge of interest and participation in events.

I think it’s amazing! Women are turning to writing as a way of dealing with the pandemic. Whether it’s a result of having more time due to enforced isolation, or as a form of therapy to escape the trials of home-schooling, more and more women are seeking us out.

And it’s the traditional writing forms women are turning to. The society’s poetry workshops and fiction writing seminars are proving the most popular. Some people are dusting off longforgotten manuscripts, others are taking up word-wrangling for the first time.

If you are tempted to give it a go here are some tips to get you started.

Tip 1 - Don’t jump straight into writing your first epic novel. Warm up your creative juices by writing short poems or 500 words on practice topics. Keeping it short allows you to focus on the words and also means you can squeeze in writing time even if you can only spare 15 minutes. Here are some ideas for you to write about: • the first time I… • outside my window… • rain on my face…

Tip 2 - Your first draft is just that, a draft. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Like all things in life writing takes practice so give yourself time to hone your skills and find your style. Once you’ve written your first piece leave it for a couple of days and then reread it fully end to end. Make notes of which bits don’t quite work and then rewrite the piece from scratch.

Tip 3 - Think about joining a writing group or society. Sharing your work with supportive fellow writers and getting feedback is a great way to improve your writing. The Society of Women Writers Victoria is one such organisation but there are plenty of others to choose from. What is unique about SWWV is its long and proud history of encouraging women of all ages, stages and abilities. They are currently offering reduced an annual fee of $20 plus one-off $10 joining fee. Like many organisations and businesses, the Society converted its workshops and meetings into Zoom-based activities which makes it more accessible for busy mums.

The best advice I can offer is just jump in. Give it a go and you will be amazed how rewarding and absorbing writing can be.

By Caroline Webber, President of the Society of Women Writers Victoria. Find out more about the society, its workshops and meetings at www.swwvic.org.au