The Winton Writers Festival is drawing to a close.
Some have already left. Some are off exploring dinosaurs or sitting quietly with new books and thoughts. There were sunset drinks and final conversations, photos taken in golden light, and that strange sense of holding something while it’s still happening — knowing it’s about to become memory.
I’m even in a photo or two.
Standing tall. Smiling. Not tucked away at the edge like I used to be. That’s a new thing, and a startling one.
I almost didn’t post it. That old voice, the one that worries I’ll seem smug or silly or “too much,” tried to talk me out of it. But I’m learning to hear it, give it a hug, and gently move forward anyway.
Because what I really want to share — what matters most — is this:
When you are among fellow writers, fellow creatives, it’s not about performance or prestige. It’s about shared language. A common vein of thought. And that vein leads, always, through the heart.
As a fairly solitary person, I don’t often find that kind of connection outside of my immediate family. But it does happen. On artist residencies. Yoga retreats. And now, here — on this festival weekend, under the wide western sky.
This is how our hearts are meant to work.
Why they have chambers.
They are designed to grow stronger in company — the right company.
So if you ever get the chance to go where the creative thread is shared, where others speak your strange internal language without asking you to translate — go.
Even if you’re nervous. Even if you feel like you don’t belong.
Go.
It might change something in you that’s been waiting for years.
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I’ll be sharing a few more images and moments from the road home over the next few days. And from that hollow log that is Substack – I’ll send out the newsletter somehow- on Sunday as usual. Probably written from my bed in Blackall. The Oasis motel has the most divine beds by the way. Like clouds. I slipped between the sheets the other night and muttered “this is too soft – I’ll never sleep” and woke up several hours later!
Header photo: age of dinosaurs – a bit of fun.
Even when John uses a smart phone for capture – in this case mine, his photographs have an essence. John photographed all Slim Dusty’s album covers, has been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery and exhibits widely. He is also a wonderful writer who has published many books, his talks on the craft and his approach to not just writing but also publishing were riveting, I think my main takeaway from John’s talks was his direction to not get carried away with all the social media and fluff – to instead live an interesting life and thereby become an interesting person.
Because then – when we invite people to see through our writing and photos and when they view the world how we do…it’s interesting.
It’s a philosophy I heartily agree with and whenever I’m feeling “stuck” I always travel and speak with other people – when I come home I’m far more interesting to myself – if not others. And I’m not longer stuck.
Enjoy 💕
