this is where i'm at.

i got my copies of silverfish new writing 7 in the mail yesterday - actually they had arrived early last week, but i wasn't home to receive them, so had to pick them up from the post office. it was great to see my piece, the breifcase, in print. it's very different to anything i've ever written before. i'd performed the piece at a reading a while ago. i wasn't able to approve the final edit for silverfish, as technology conspired against me at the time - the editors were unable to contact me. so i only realised that the story had been included in the anthology after it was done and dusted. i'm happy with the final edit, but reading it was an interesting experience. i realised i hadn't actually decided what it was about.

i took the anthology in to work with me today and a few people read it, and two readers said they thought the story was sad. i was a little surprised (though i don't know exactly why i reacted that way), and one person (not at work, but elsewhere) asked me what i was on when i wrote it. truth is, i got the idea on a train when i saw a man with a briefcase. he was dressed in a suit and looked pretty professional. when he opened the briefase i got a glimpse of what was inside - all he had was a banana and a book - and that struck me as a little bizarre. kinda like that episode of sex and the city when carrie is on jury duty, and she sees the guy who brings the fruit into the court while they are waiting to be told if they were part of the selected jury. i wrote the idea down and didn't know what to do with it for ages. the resolution of the story came to me out of the blue one night - not sure where from - but i remember sitting on the couch, watching tv, and all of a sudden getting the idea of what would happen in the end. i thought at the time that the theme of the story was disconnectedness and alienation, but weirdly i never thought it was a sad story. in restrospect, i guess it is a little sad. i'll put the story up here soon, and maybe you can tell me what you think.

i got page proofs today for black inc's growing up asian in australia anthology, which is coming out next month. it's very exciting to have two pieces out so soon this year, and it's very motivating. 2008 has been a bit of a rough trot for me so far. it's excellent to have things happen that remind you of your purpose, that help you re-organise your energy into areas that are fulfilling and enriching. i've gone from feeling helpless and forlorn, to re-gaining my focus. i'm liking how that's feelimg.

i will be working on two other short pieces this week, plus adding to the other project which will henceforth be known as - quite originally, i'm sure you'll agree - 'the project'. i'm not going to say much more about that till it's done. some things just need to be protected.