every day in may : day two

I had the most wonderfully creative day today.

First, I went to the Williamstown Literary Festival and heard Garry Disher speak about generating ideas for stories. Basically he is always on the look out - anecdotes, experiences, overheard conversations, you name it!

Then, I went to the Royal Botanic Gardens, because I got the strangest call the other day. Someone called to tell me they had found my purse. My purse? But it's sitting right next to me. Then it dawned on me. Almost two years ago, my purse was stolen, out of my hand. Without thinking, I gave chase, and the mugger ran across the street into the Botanic Gardens. And now they had found my purse hanging in a tree! Crazy.

I was so curious to see what it looked like. So I retrieved it, and sat in the grass to open this little time capsule. It was so weathered that it almost looked burned, and all my old cards and things were still there, even a salvageable lipstick! Funny experience, peering into the past. Hmmm, now there's an idea for a story....
* edit - I actually blogged about the mugging here, if you are curious!

And then, because I was there, amongst the great gums and the canoodling couples, and it was such a gorgeous autumn day, I sat in the grass and i wrote the first draft of my children's book. Now I haven't reread it yet - it may have to be completely rewritten - but at least it's a first step!

(talking myself into it)

(couldn't resist doing a little sketch)