Freelance Writing

In the midst of the concentrated work in adjudicating other people's writing, I managed to escape to two inspirational events, which certainly fired up my own creativity.

The first was a play by a writing friend at Oran Mor in Glasgow. The venue itself is interesting. A converted church, it has been given over to the arts and eating (there are a couple of restaurants)! The novel idea of a Play, a Pie and a Pint runs at lunch time in the downstairs area. You buy the combined ticket for the play, pie and a drink, take it to the long tables and seats and that's where you both eat and watch the play.

The play I saw, 'The Secret Commonwealth' by Catherine Czerkawska, was a sort of storytelling monologue by the actor. He played Robert Kirk, a 17th century Scottish minister who is torn between the church, new ideas and the old traditions, where fairies live beneath the hills. It was thought-provoking and beautifully written and acted (with energy). An added pleasure was the haunting Gaelic music sung softly now and then by a young woman.

Yesterday at the writing group, we had a wonderful award-winning poet, Sheila Templeton, to speak on, and read, her poetry, in preparation for the competition she will judge for us. What an inspiring day, with insight into writing poetry and allowing memories to surface from the subconscious. No wonder Sheila is the new Makar for the Federation of Scottish Writers. Some of her own poems moved us almost to tears, while others had all the women laughing and nodding in agreement.

Now it's back to the remainder of the adjudications with renewed interest.

Rosemary