A Few Bard Steps

Since that little drive out of Marrakech to the Sahara, so to speak, I've long been thinking of what the distance between the Atlas Mountains and Zagora could do for me. The answer, whilst copping my regular dose of chlorine but also narrowly dodging a one on one with a psycho parent (yep, they exist in this realm), finally came to me; a special about writing. Probably why the first picture used is that of Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde at Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland (taken 2016)

Melbourne writer Catherine Deveny, one of my favourites, kinda said, 'Stuff reading, let this be the year of writing'. By year she meant summer but we're in winter now; that's my defence.

Daintree Rainforest, Australia (taken 2014)

Whilst I've long since spoken about locations, both domestic and international, I've been thinking about the effect of location; it's quite nice and can be the best thing ever! Apparently that was the most memorable part of the Twilight series so here's my epic shrug. Moving on.

Brixton, London, England (taken 2016)

My decision to become a writer was one of those majestic grade four choices we can't seem to shake... or regret. In saying that, I have to devoutly admit that the steps I've taken away from the homeland have most certainly influenced my words. Without them so many wouldn't have been written. But, and this needs to be noted, some stops we make for the sake of adventure can have an equally beneficial effect on imagination.

Novels are my agenda for life, as are short proses and maybe the odd screenplay one day. I've recently finished a manuscript, working title is Oracle, which took me five weeks to get down. That's a personal best for me, and now I find myself wanting to write another with a few of the same characters frequenting a little place named Thailand. We're going global now.

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand (taken 2014)

Lucky one spent two weeks in Southeast Asia back in '14... and hopefully a few more in the years to come; I'd skip over for the lantern festival - I hear Yi Peng is a correct title, in Chiang Mai this year, but my boss will claim my head if I do. Reasonable... by my logic.

But here's a major point of this rant - sometimes the stops we've looked the least forward to making can inspire a hundred pages. Back in '14 the tour I was on stopped at Koh Phangan, the Full Moon Party Island. After a full on beach party, in which much kerosene was wiffed, I was left most certain that I wouldn't return (ironically I didn't mind the dead party we attended on night one - very quiet).

Koh Phangan, Thailand (taken 2014)

That said, considering my current manuscript and where I want to take it in the future, a young Alicia Rossi navigating the Phangan beach scene strikes me as interesting, even if it freaked this introvert out more than once. Lissy will be right though, she'll have a Persian badarse looking out for her.

St George's Square, Belfast, Northern Ireland (taken 2016)

Another locale that's proven beneficial is Belfast. I devoted two days to Northern Ireland earlier this year, most of which was spent nerding around Game of Thrones locations, but seeing the locals at St George's Square got a short story done in no time... as well as one set on the Antrim Coastline (it is stunning I should add, but be ready for the hale) about a young man now in need of more page time; Alec O'Shea, you'll have your day!

The Giant's Causeway, Antrim Coastline, Northern Ireland (taken 2016)

I have made research trips for the sake of my writing; the first one was a roadtrip down to Lorne on the Great Ocean Road during my teenage years (Mum and Dad, thanks again even if you might not remember it) and the latest was seeing the Atlas Mountains and Moroccan landscape so that a potential fantasy read might have a better detailed setting.

Atlas Mountains, Morocco (taken 2016)

These steps I've never regretted, I got SO much from taking them, and it can be said for the somebodies of the literary world. Juggernaut writers Tim Winton (Dirt Music, Cloudstreet) and E. Annie Proulx (Brokeback Mountain, The Shipping News) have created so much with their surroundings. I really cannot stop envying them. I may die doing this.

But still, it's these unexpected gems that get the pages worded and give the characters in our heads a place to call home. It's not just places either; I've met my share of people from around the world who have given form to characters and stories themselves. I met a carpet weaver in Morocco; I couldn't speak her language and she couldn't speak mine but her silent standing has given me plenty to work with.

The Carpet Weaver, Morocco (taken 2016)

As you no doubt might've realised I've been posting a lot of pics (this is not a photo essay, whatever the hell that might be) from across the world; it really is an interesting world. Don't kill it politics! All of these places, getting back on point, have done me a service.

Some may seem insignificant (hell, you might not look at them twice!) but should the day come where there's a book with my name on the cover they'll mean so much more to me. I'll be skipping back to them with a smile on my cracked face going 'I love you, you place!'

Hozier Lane, Melbourne, Australia (taken 2016)

I really am that crazy but yeah; the kids I teach are right.

Don't ever underestimate the steps you HAVE to take. Never do that. You might just come out on top kiddies. I'll let you know when I've reached it myself.