Hi writers,

As writers our task is to give our writing, our art, time.

In early February I attended the Professing Creativity Conference at MasseyUniversity in Wellington. This conference saw the launch of the Aotearoa Creative Writing Research Network.  I spent three days listening to some of New Zealand’s most well-known creative writers speak about their own writing and teaching creative writing in Aotearoa.

One keynote address was given by Angie Farrow, who teaches Theatre and Creative Processes at Massey, is a fellow PANZ member, and an award winning playwright.

Her presentation focused on experimenting, – playing, taking risks, and being brave. I felt totally inspired by her words and wanted to pass on her message.  She encouraged writers to tap the imagination and dive deeply into spaces we don’t always want to go. Angie suggested by dreaming the story we actually get to visit a ‘small place’ and this means language is only one part of this world. It worked for me. Thanks Angie.

I think the importance of believing in our own freshness, writing with the vitality of our own experiences,  fuelled by our imaginations is priceless.

So go on – take the risk.

Write on…

Donna Banicevich Gera

Playwrights Association of New Zealand
http://www.playwrights.org.nz