If you have never been to Mission Beach you have to go. Forget the fact that Cyclone Yasi did its dance there early in the year and knocked it for a six. The famous (cyclone resistant) coconut palms still line the edge of this peaceful white sand beach and every where are signs of a close knit community pulling together to help each other back on their feet. The caring nature of this community is most evident roadside, where you see signs like this one, or smaller ones tied to posts that say – ‘ drive slowly, recent cassowary sighting here.’ Of course you slow down hoping to see one of these unusual creatures and wondering what magical land you have arrived in where people care so much about their flora and fauna and each other. I imagine a sign in my neighbourhood  that says ‘ slow down, recent grumpy writer sighting here.’ Perhaps people might pull over, give me a hug, a massage even or a bowl of nourishing soup. They might offer advice like ‘take a break’,  ‘what’s the rush’,  ‘ how can I make it easier for you to write’. Even though writers like cassowaries may be an endangered species, it seems for now at least we have to learn how to read the signs ourselves if we are to avoid falling in a heap and never getting up again to finish our books. ‘Are you speeding’ is the crucial one, for if you are you will be worn out before the day has even begun. Reading the signs to look after yourself when you write is the first step. Writing the book is so much easier when you do, as twenty Mission Beach writers recently found out!

Feedback from  happy Mission Beach Write Your Book On A Weekend Workshop participants:

Jan, I absolutely loved the workshop. You teach without appearing to teach and to me this is one of the most effective ways to empower others. An absolute honour to meet you. June Perkins Mission Beach, Aug 2011.

Jan’s workshop pulled the threads together to bind the pages and create an outline, chapters, title, ideas, dot points and a list of to do’s to create the story. The polishers – my group:(the ‘Novelle’s), supplied a soft landing for
the buttons pushed to land in a jumble and be sorted, gently swept away or saved and carefully placed for the first draft of ‘the book’.  Fiona Croft, Mission Beach, Aug 2011.

Jan I have already written a little zine book about cassowaries, I love them!! Zine books I mean, my girls are madly making them as well, infectious! Danielle Wilson, Mission Beach,  Aug 2011.

WOW workshop was sponsored by The Mission Beach Community Arts Centre.Thanks to organiser Laurie Trott. See June Perkins blog

You can see my latest photo poem set in  a Mission Beach moment on my blog Readin Writin n Ramen.