Author: kristinekennedy001krissykoolk

Dreaming of a writerly life

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Last year, work was challenging. I taught a year 4 class in a school I’d worked at for several years and, for all intents and purposes, it was a year like any other. Busy, rewarding, difficult…highs, lows, etc. The difference last year was a consistent pull inside my mind and my heart, that I wasn’t giving my creative self enough of an outlet. I felt hamstrung by the constraints of the education field and the lack of autonomy teachers experience. On top of that I felt a growing need to see my own children more often, rather than always sending them to before and after school care so I could wade through the never-ending sea of work.

When I made the decision to have a year off, a sense of relief flooded through me. Like an inexplicable weight had been removed from my shoulders. The consistent churning disappeared from my stomach, and an excitement for the possibilities and opportunities I could follow became my default feeling.

As I said goodbye to my 2019 class, the parents of one of my students gave me a gift that has propelled me and my mindset into the new year with gusto. It was a gift set from Kikki. K; the beautiful, Swedish design and stationery business. It included a book called ‘Your Dream Life Starts Here,’ and a ‘Dream Life Journal’, which is a space to record your thoughts, feelings and dreams as you read through the book.

I have begun working my way through the book and journal and I have found it utterly illuminating. I can’t say I’ve ever sat down and truly thought about my dreams and ambitions in such a meaningful way, I’ve certainly never written them down.

Kristina Karlsson is the author and Kikki.K founder, and she has collaborated with a host of incredible people to produce this book. The story of Dr Tererai Trent and her dream of escaping a brutal life in Zimbabwe is a standout and will surely leave you inspired to acknowledge and follow your own dreams too. One of the questions posed in the book is –

What would you do if you knew you could never fail?

Kristina Karlsson

I love this question because, for me, the limitations I’ve put on myself throughout my whole life have been crippling. I’ve stopped doing things I loved because I worried what people thought. Or I’ve not started things at all because of my fear of other people’s opinions. What a waste! Well, no longer. Now is the time to cast aside the irrelevant (and often non-existent) judgements of others and follow your dreams.

Here is my list of things I would do if I knew I couldn’t fail:

Finish writing my comedy show and pitch it

Be in the comedy show

Collaborate with other creative people

Do stand up

Buy a book store

Write everything I want to

Dance

Sing in a band

Learn French

Create a podcast

Draw / paint

Help others write more (especially teachers and kids)

This is not an exhaustive list but when I look at it I see some pretty clear themes for my dream life. It involves a lot of writing, a lot of humour, creativity, learning and growth. I also see that I’m on the right path. I’ve chosen to follow these dreams more purposefully. And I feel bloody amazing about it.

So, how about you? What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Dream without limitations and write them down!

Obviously first thing’s first – have a cup of tea xx

Scotty From Marketing Claps Back

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‘Well hi there fine citizen

Australian, my neighbour

I can tell from your poem

That you surely vote Labor

Or worse, could it be

That you vote for the greens?

Haven’t you read?

They’re not all that they seem

The Greens and the hippies

They’re the ones you should blame

Now that our fine land

Has gone up in flames

They hate it whenever

We try to do good

They won’t let us backburn!

But we knew we should

We know ALL of the things

That we needed to do

But the Greens wouldn’t let us

They’re bad through and through

And anyway, really

Is fire SO bad?

You’re acting like

This is first one we’ve had.

But this is Australia

And this is the season

When fires will start

Not for rhyme nor for reason

If you’re still concerned

Let Rupert assure youse

The Hanging Rock races

Is really page one news

So you see noisy citizen

It’s high time you relax

Untwist your knickers

And have a chillax

The cricket’s on soon

We can cheer on our boys

Now there’s a fine place

For your unceasing noise

Then shush up your mouth

And do like the others

The quiet Australians

Your sisters and brothers.’

Scotty from Marketing

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The country’s on fire

From your place to mine

But Scotty from Marketing’s like

‘Nah, this if fine’

‘Ya don’t need to worry

Coz we’ve got the cricket

And on top of that

We’ve got true Aussie spirit’.

‘Ere, shake my hand

I said shake my hand

I came back from Hawaii

So shake my damn hand’

‘I get it, you’re tired,

This fire’s a real beauty

I won’t take it personal

I’m doing my duty.

I’ve come back from holiday

To show you I care

So if you lash out

Or give me death stare

I’ll know you’re not thinking

Not in your right mind

‘Cause this fire’s a beauty

From your place to, well, not mine.’

Ah gee thank you Scotty

We’re so glad you’re here

To share in our sorrow

Our crisis, our fear.

But there’s something you’re missing

Slipped through to the keeper

The whole country hates you

It goes even deeper

You and your bro pack

Of cricketophiles

Have got this one wrong

By 10 million miles

Do us a favour

There’s been a big shout

HOWZAT? Cries Australia

You’re bloody well OUT.

Using a Writer’s Notebook

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Writers need a space to record what they observe as they move through the world. A personal space to jot down the kernels of ideas that begin to form anywhere, anytime.

The only difference between writers and non-writers is writers record their observations.

I have 2 writer’s notebooks. One that I use in my daily life and one that I use with the students. The only reason I have 2 is because some of my observations and ideas aren’t appropriate to share with school kids (I tend to use swearing in dialogue regularly, ergo, inappropriate for school). However I still use my school writer’s notebook almost every day and students can see where my ideas have blossomed from.

If you haven’t already started your writer’s notebook journey I encourage you to do so. Whether it is to become a better teacher of writing or if you just want to begin documenting all those amazing ideas you have, places you go, or memories you want to keep, it really is a critical step in your writing journey.

Choose a notebook that suits you. Lines, blank, big, pocket size – whatever it may be and personalise it. Mine is covered in quotes and pictures (see above) that lift me up whenever I look at it, they make me want to open it. Students really love bringing in photos, quotes and other ephemera to personalise their own. It’s an important step that says to kids:

Look. This is different to your school work books. This is your space. You choose what goes in here and you choose what it looks like.

At the start of 2019 I sat with my new class and showed them my writer’s notebook. I explained why I had chosen what I had to personalise it and then we discussed ways to generate ideas for our writer’s notebook. We looked at a page I’d created that showed a (not-exhuastive) list of things I love. It included the word CHEESE, because, quite simply, I love cheese. I then showed them how that had sparked an idea for a poem which I read aloud.

Aside from the sheer brilliance and accuracy of my poem, what the students saw was the authentic use of my writer’s notebook. And as teachers, that’s what we’re aiming for. Authenticity and purpose.

At the end of the 2019 one of my delightful students gifted me these earrings that she made herself. What a treasure.

I’ve never met a cheese earring I didn’t like.

I hope you managed to do a little writing today. And if you haven’t yet sorted yourself a Writer’s Notebook – have a little browse at a local business nearby. You’ll find something that speaks to you. And then write about it – because talking notebooks are pretty rare.

Enjoy your tea xx