I read an article in The Age this morning about Ernest Hemingway penning stories in cafes. I discovered the beauty of writing in cafes when I was in Brisbane on a month long May Gibbs Residency last year. It was truly wonderful having ME all to myself 24/7 – living with my characters and the world they inhabit, cooking dinner and cleaning up for one instead of four. Life was so simple.

However, when it came to writing a chapter from scratch, I felt it hard to sit down and concentrate. This has always been the hardest part of the writing process for me. I find excuses to leave my desk – make a cup of tea, take Saffy for a walk, check my email, even weed the garden, or write a blog. (See, I’m procrastinating now).

So I would go down by the Brisbane River with my notebook and pen in hand, find the right cafe and the right table (these two factors are very important) order a chai latte and write my new chapter. I found that I could really focus which surprised me, because I can’t even read a book with the TV or radio on.

After about an hour or so, I would take the chapter back to my apartment and type it onto my laptop, adding to it as I went.

I churned out a chapter a day this way.

I’ve come to a sticky chapter in Little Paradise, so I’ll be off now to my favourite cafe before I find anymore excuses not to write.

Are you more right brain than left brain?

Take the Right brain vs Left brain Creativity Test and see how you score

It will take you about 10 minutes to complete.

Let me know how you scored. I was slightly more right brain which I’m glad about as I consider myself a creative person.

Do you think Einstein would have scored more right brain or left brain?

Do you think an artist like Picasso would be way more right brain?

When I thought I was safe at home…. A study has been conducted by Queensland University of Technology into laser printers. It seems that some printers can emit dangerous ultrafine particles into the air.  A range of printers were tested, some with no emissions, some with low, medium and high emissions. Unfortunately, the brand of laser printer I use was not tested. I’m not taking any chances though. My office is small. Now I always open the window and leave the room whenever I print a document. You can read more about it on:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/02/12/2489916.htm

I downloaded a pdf of the original research paper which included the names of the printers but am unable to find it now on Google. I think you have to purchase it.

I had a lot of fun yesterday at the launch of my new book A Ghost in My Suitcase. Here are some photos from the launch. More will be posted on the Ghost in My Suitcase page of this website. Thank you to all who came.

This is the beautiful fishpond chocolate cake made by my brother and sister in law especially for the launch. Swimming around are Passionfruit Jelly, Long Scar, Whiteface, Big Mouth and in the middle is Bully. Everything on it was edible, even the pebbles around the edge. I’ve kept the fish to take with me on school visits. If you read A Ghost in My Suitcase, you will find out what the fish and the fishpond mean.

Me with my cousin Belinda, who posed for the cover of my book

I’m holding up dragons’ teeth. These are used to calm a ghost hunter’s spirit