On trying new things

I’d written and scheduled the post below but felt compelled to come back in and add this: there are truly horrific events happening in the world this week. It is overwhelming to comprehend the scale of conflict and disaster. Here in Australia, we are in the last days of campaigning for the referendum on constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - a time of immense pressure and challenge especially to First Nations people.

Here a three things I did this week. More than happy to share links and useful resources from readers. K x

• Donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support rescue and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan

• Donated to Medecin Sans Frontieres Australia to support work in Palestine and Israel

• Continued to support the YES campaign ahead of Saturday’s referendum: sharing stories and videos, proudly wearing YES merch and having conversations. Will vote YES on Saturday with hope.

On Monday night my ten year old daughter and I tried fencing for the first time. She’s been obsessed with learning how to ‘sword fight’ after watching the new Netflix adaptation of One Piece and then reading the books. Fortunately for us, we know a fencer - writer Kelly Gardiner - who hooked us up with the details for a free come-and try-session with the Whitehorse Chevaliers for #thisgirlcan week.

It was brilliant. Everything about it - the warm up, the history of fencing, learning the difference between a sabre and an epee, getting the gear on, that first duel. We stabbed and laughed and got sore thighs and my daughter’s face was LIT UP with pride and excitement and, let’s face it, delight at getting to stab a sabre at her mum.

The day before we’d all gone to the local driving range and whacked golf balls into the sky (or along the ground mostly, for me). It was another first for my daughters and a deeply satisfying ‘coming home’ for my partner - who reckons he hasn’t had his clubs out in a decade and who visibly relished the the deep thock of smashing those balls out into the field.

Both these experiences reminded me of the importance of having a crack at new things, how much joy this can bring and why it’s good to have a rough wish-list bouncing about in the back of the mind or on the page in a journal of the new things you might want to put in your own path. Madeleine Dore wrote about this in her substack On Things and I’ve had it flagged since she published it.

On doing things for the first time

It’s literally good for the brain to do new stuff, and so so good for the soul.

I’m lucky that this writing life often throws new experiences my way: climbing big trees and volcanoes, sailing to Indonesia, visiting an abattoir and the continual joy of meeting new people in new places. Often I’ll try and wrestle learning or doing something new into an upcoming project so I give myself an excuse to make it a priority. What strange passion or skill can I give a character? What weird and wonderful setting can I sneak in so that a research trip is essential?

So, I’m starting a new list of new-to-me things I want to try (and including some that have been on my list for ages!):

• getting air-borne: My gorgeous cousin posted about trying the flying trapeze recently at The Fly Factory - so it’s that or finally getting off the ground kite-boarding.

• also air-related - some kind of bungee fitness class which looks incredibly fun (all recommendations welcome!)

• an open water swim challenge

• making something lovely out of wood

• successfully growing a fruit or vegetable we haven’t tried before

• learning how to tango

• learning a full dance group dance routine and performing it (yes I’m still getting those emails from Body Electric and no I still haven’t committed!)

• overnight hike somewhere new

• getting in a writers room for tv

• baking a souffle (this is actually a challenge with two dear friends after swooning over a souffle at Bistro Elba, we were meant to have all given it a crack by October 1, I have made no attempt yet - it seems TERRIFYING)

Will update when I tick any off! What’s on your list? What new thing have you tried recently?

Reading

• This stunning piece by Susie Thatcher on grief, writing and her friend, writer Harriet McKnight, in Kill Your Darlings.

• This piece by Jenny Odell by way of Austin Kleon’s excellent newsletter. Given me a new path into my PhD work.

• Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood. In AWE. A writer at the height of her craft. I’ll be chatting to Charlotte tonight in Carlton for Readings Books.

• How to Build a Boat by Irish poet, playwright & novellist, Elaine Feeley. Longlisted for the Booker Prize. Powerful, lyrical story of a boy with an incredible brain and the teachers who help him.

• After the Forest by Kell Woods. Debut dark historical fantasy with delicious fairytale vibes.

• Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth - the latest from superstar Hepworth, absolute page turner and brilliantly plotted thriller that is also really well-researched and respectful of the experience of those within the foster system. Looking forward to speaking with Sally and debut writer Amy Lovat at the first and SOLD OUT Literary Listings lunch this friday!

Listening

• Prepping for the upcoming ASA panel on AI by deep diving on some on-topic pods. Found this one from Ezra Klein super interesting.

• Two brain new writing/reading pods that we raved about on The First Time this week - That Rom Com pod and The Word Count pod

Coming Up

Has been lovely to schlep about at home, hang with the fam and get through some of the work that’s been piling up this last fortnight, but ready to hit the road again for more events!

• In conversation with Amy Lovat Mistakes and Other Lovers, Nice Stack of Books Meeniyan. Sat Oct 14, bookings here.

• Touring in lutrawita/Tasmania and appearing at Fullers Bookshop, Hobart on Thursday 19th October and Petrarch’s, Launceston on Friday 20 October.

• Appearing at the HNSA conference on the Past, Present & Future: Bending Genres panel. In Sydney and online, Sunday 22nd October, 12.30pm, bookings here.

• Hosting Holly Ringland for Readings talking her new book The House That Joy Built on Wed 25th October, 6pm, bookings here.

• A Westside event in Yarraville, Tamara Oudyn interviews me on The Hummingbird Effect for the Sun Bookshop, Saturday 28th October 3pm, bookings here.

Have a great week, K xx