edwina shaw

SHOWING OFF :)

/ Edwina Shaw / Leave a comment

Received this wonderful feedback from my stint as Writer in Residence at Ryan Catholic College and wanted to share it (well okay – show off!).

“Edwina’s visit was great. She was very flexible and able to accommodate our needs – and I threw a diverse range of needs at her! She was able to adapt her workshops to suit students of all year levels from Year 5 to Year 8, and to meet the needs of both high-needs and high-performing children. Her workshops were simple in structure – rather than ‘dazzling’ us with technology, she got down very quickly to the core of writing. This enabled our students to produce some very high-quality work very quickly.

I would strongly recommend Edwina to other schools – especially those looking to engage a writer who actually draws work out of students. They loved the program, their teachers loved it and we have all been able to take some great tips for writing away from it.”

Graham Joseph

Curriculum Leader – English (5-8) Ryan Catholic College

Thanks Graham 🙂

Remember you can book a workshop with me anytime through Speakers Ink

 

BACK ON THE HORSE THAT THREW ME

/ Edwina Shaw / 4 Comments
The horse that threw me

The horse that threw me

 

I’ve been writing a long time now. In 2002 when my children were small, I first dedicated time each day to a creative writing practice and used to spend naptime typing in a fury to complete a novel.

Since then my beautiful babies have grown into young adults and I’ve written another five full length manuscripts, one of which has been published.

Not for want of trying.

Much as I try to convince myself that rejections hurt less over time, it’s a lie and I know it.

The elephant hide I’ve tried so hard to develop has worn as thin as an old cotton sheet in places, tearing at the slightest tug. I’ve tried to chuck it all in, get a normal job like other people. But that hasn’t exactly gone to plan either.

I want to write. I still want to write. It’s how I make sense of the world. How my brain works best, what I enjoy most, get most satisfaction from, what I’m best at.

And so today, I’m dragging out the last half-baked rewrite of “Dear Madman” and seeing what I can salvage. If I can figure out how to give it the voice and form it longs for.

I’m scared of that horse, it’s big and fiery-eyed and stomping its hoofs. But I’m getting back on, goddamn it! I’m going to cling to its mane as it bucks and twists; it won’t throw me again. I’m going to ride it, as fast as I can, as far as I can, wind in my hair