About two weeks ago, I had the chance to grab a place in a masterclass with a famous Australian author, Fiona McIntosh. She was brilliant. So brilliant, I contemplated ditching Celine Dion as my ‘go-to-girl’ when I need advice, instead replacing her with Fiona McIntosh as my screen saver. However, there have to be limits to your loyalties, and Celine is pretty well up there for me. Having said that, I love Fiona McIntosh only a smidgen less than Celine (you have been put on notice Mrs Dion).
What did you learn on your course, I hear you say? Well, I discovered the novel I was writing was crap, and I am now working on a new novel as a result of the course. Sometimes, you just have to change lanes mid-journey and be true to yourself (that sounds deep!) Fiona showed me that discipline (ie. not lying in bed until 9am on your days off reading Hello magazine), determination (not watching Dr Phil instead of writing while lying on the couch on your days off), and belief in yourself (as opposed to lying in the fetal position while chugging down red wine, when you get home from being sent to work in the ER as a nurse, when you have no emergency training), are what you need to succeed as a writer. That and a lucky break.
So, having pitched my imaginary new novel to a Sydney editor who came to the course (it was a masterclass!!!), I now have to write said imaginary novel, in about eight weeks. I think that could be my lucky break. I hope so, but if not, then well, fucked if I know. I shall post some new spring recipes soon. Until then – leap, then look. It works!
It’s actually Monday that has arrived, but with it has come some sun, a final round of edits on my next book, and a plan. From now on, when a little down in the dumps, perplexed or lost, I am simply going to say to myself “what would Celine do in this situation?” I love Celine. I love her so much I did heaps of extra nursing shifts a few years back and went to Las Vgas with my muse to see her in concert. He refused to come with me, sitting in the sports bar at Caesar’s Palace instead. Which is probably a good thing. I bawled my eyes out the whole way through the concert. I still don’t know why, but for ages afterwards I couldn’t even talk about seeing her without crying. Pathetic, I hear you say. Yes, but she is going to be my inspiration for a better year. So on that note, let me share with you a recipe for a cleaning product I use around the house. It’s cheap, easy to make, effective, and is something I’m pretty sure Celine would use, if she did her own cleaning… This week will see a return to the kitchen for me too. My beloved has put his foot down. It was nice while it lasted!!
Jane Ainslie 