Write on.

So now I have the writing bug. Except it's surprisingly hard to keep going alone. Don't get me wrong, being on your own with your thoughts and the computer, or paper and pen, is par for the course for a writer, and essential as a stethoscope and warm hands for a doctor. But, having committed words down, structured a story, sketched out characters, visualised powerful images, avoided adverbs, skimped on adjectives and strung out a scene to wring as much emotional value out of it as possible, what a writer needs is someone to read the work. Without having to go the whole hog, complete the manuscript and send it off willy nilly to see if someone out there in the harsh world of publishing will pay for it. As a writer, I want someone to read at least sections of my work as I write it, or give me feedback (kind and constructive, of course) so that I know I'm on the right track. And I want to know that I am not alone in feeling isolated, dubious, or worried about rejection or ridicule.

So the answer is a writers group. I used to belong to a writer's group called the Medway Mermaids, based in Gillingham, Kent. We were a girl-only group, met once a month, reviewed each others work, run workshops, competitions, exhibitions, open mic sessions for the poets among us, supported each other, commiserated with each other's rejections and rejoiced when one of us was published or won a competition. Meeting once a month kept us going during long slogs of writing that next chapter, or scene or verse. Chatting online to each other often lifted flagging spirits or generated new inspiration. I wasn't a member long because I left the UK to come to Gib. But I really miss the interaction with other writers, the learning from them, the companionship of like-minded people.

I don't think there's a writing group in Gibraltar. But there are lots of very good writers here. So if any of them read this post, please contact me. Perhaps we could set up a group here, run meetings, workshops, invite writers to give seminars, publish our own anthologies....In short, a group of writers here in Gib could put Gibraltarian literary talent out there, in the world of international literature.

War of Words

Gibraltar's Autumn Festival is well under way for the year and there has been a bit of everything for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. I treated myself to a browse around the Fine Arts Gallery, and thoroughly enjoyed the art exhibitions, both the International Art Competition entries, and the exhibition of John Lennon prints. Congratulations to Mario Finlayson who won the art competition with his intriguing and quasi-surrealist "Enigma". I found it a mesmerising piece, bold in that special way that is essential to all artists. I'm not an art critic, and I don't pretend to know much about art, but to me, any form of art is in no small part an emotional response to the world, external or internal, of the artist, and, by its nature, evokes an emotional response in others. Which, following my own logic, is why work such as Tracey Emin's can be considered art, because, it is, if nothing else, provocative and emotive. And I guess, for the same reason, those cold, picture postcard type pictures, however well executed or accurate or technically skillful the creator, don't quite reach the definition of good art for me.

I feel similarly about the poetry competition. I have yet to read all the Highly Commended entries, and, since mine is one of those, I am keen to see the standard that was set by my co-competitors. But what must have set the winning adult poem apart must have been the boldness of imagery, the taking of an intense emotion and moudling it into a relentlessly powerful, rhythmic waterfall of words. It is not an easy poem to read, and its meaning remains elusive at first, until read aloud, when its intensity becomes more lucid. Well done, Jackie Canessa.

And on a final note, a brilliant set of poems by Gibraltar's kids. It was enormously heartening to see and read the enthusiasm for poetry by youngsters. Poetry is an intense art form, and a difficult art, and one that is as important for youngsters as for crusty old bards. Perhaps this bodes well for the greater development of literature as part of Gibraltar's rich cultural landscape, and that its popularity will increase to the levels of other forms of art such as painting, theatre, dance and music.