Writer - Jan Price

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I'd like to welcome you to my interview with writer, Jan Price.  Enjoy.

Jan Price

Hello Jan.  Can you please introduce yourself?

I'm Jan Price from Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

How long have you been writing?

30/40 years.

What first got you interested in writing?

Interests in emotion, people and nature. 

Do you attend a writing group?

28 years ago and I’m a member of three writing groups; DLS, (Ballarat,)  Ballarat Social Writers Group, (I formed this group,) and The Grampians Writers Group Inc., (of which I receive the Newsletter), and visit these friends a couple of times a year, due to my shift to Ballarat.

Why do you attend a writing group?

Feedback, exchange of ideas, and friendships with similar-minded people.      

What is the most valuable thing you've taken away from your writing group?

A sense of being alive. 

What genre(s) do you write?

Poetry.  Poetry is condensed and requires depth – this I love. 

Are there any genres that you don't enjoy writing?

Long stories.  Too much- he said/she said and descriptions of entry and exit!  

Have you ever had anything published?

Yes.  Anthologies; Newspapers; Mags; Journals; three self-published poetry books;  10 A4 pages of Literary Competition wins and placements list. 

Have you sent your writing to agents/publishers?

Modern poetry hardly sells – agents/publishers not very interested.  You have to be mixing with a group of poets who attend university – then you will be published. 

Who/what influences your writing?

My mother, nature and people.  By, listening and watching everything outside of the main event. 

Where does your inspiration come from?

For poetry; inspiration comes from anywhere – helps to be aware of ‘outside of yourself’. 

Is there a certain time of day where you are at your most creative?

Mornings are best.  Quiet space with a window – staring relieves and helps creativity.  

Unless you end up staring for too long!  Do you have an editing process, like reading your work aloud to yourself in front of the mirror?

I edit and read aloud as I work; take work to groups for feedback – no mirror, just passion.

What do you enjoy the most about writing?

When that metaphor works on paper! 

What is the best piece of writing advice you've ever been given?

Explore what you really think and write it with respect to your readers.  

What advice could you give to a new writer?

Write all your miseries down, then begin your real writing.  

How important is it for you to share your writing?

You find out what works with different kinds of audiences; ex. Serious, fun-loving; working class and well educated. 

Have you ever attended an open mic event for spoken word performers, as either an observer or performer?

Many times as both. 

Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies/interests?

Drawing, making cards, photography; painting, listening to music, good conversation with like-minded people, listening to the birds in my garden, and brain healing. 

Are you interested in eBooks, or do you prefer the old fashioned, paper made books?

Love to hold a book of good poetry with my morning lemon tea. 

If you could have written anything, what do you wish that could have been?

Self help book re: break downs. 

What are you working on at the moment?

Contacting people over seas who will tell me about their lives for me to write poetry.  

That sounds fascinating.  Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Just love what you do – if you can’t, you’ll never be able to handle that rejection slip.

Would you be able to provide a short piece of your work?

This is a piece titled;  Anne Bronte  and the inspiration was love of artist. 

Anne Bronte    

  

I must

- past the sleepers in the churchyard

through the stone-walled lane

to Haworth’s moor -

leave spottled-brown eggs in scrape-nests

to the Red Grouse in the purple heather;

forfeit delight at the rare Brown Hare

fear-twitching ears in a cottongrass skite ;

still and never with sketch plot the red fox

eavesdropping for mouse-squeak below snow;

to bridge-stroll the falls wintered and beyond

the kissing-gate climb to find in the bleakest mist

my passed familiar kin on bumbling feet

amidst the un-bodied black faced sheep -

snuff-snapping grass-slip where rocks rough -

and he lost on his way home from The Black Bull

his talents dagging behind him

without a love to whisper he’s missed;   

and more still in un-wuthering weather

marvel the eagle

spiralling over Top Withens’ farm

catching a drift of crumble

up-scenting

from its millstone grit

for to Scarborough I am called to the sea

to medicinal my cough un-bloody

and though I’ll stagger the sand to sit

I’ll urge my companions ‘Walk on’.

and on Whit-Monday I will say

‘Have courage sister

for I hear in the heavens

the gulls’ joys

trailing the whales’

weepings.’  

© Autumn 2012 – Jan Price

Thank you very much Jan.