Writers Residency - a Fabulously Productive Opportunity

By Alyssa J. Montgomery

 

I knew my week as an Artist in Residence at Bundanon was going to be wonderful and I'd been looking forward to it ever since I'd been notified I’d been accepted in January. But, I had no idea just how fabulous it would be. 

A week with no other intrusions - just living with my characters and their stories was surreal. There was none of the usual write a bit, have to leave it for a few days (or longer) then try to get back into the story and the characters' heads and hearts again as I sat back down to pick up the threads. So I powered!

I arrived at Bundanon to check in at 2pm on the Monday afternoon and I had 54000 words. By Friday lunch time I had 87000 words. I didn't need to do my normal thing of reading the last chapter again before I sat down to write the next chapter because I was already there, in the scene, in their heads, feeling their emotions. I can't begin to tell you how unbelievable it was!

I had my plot on sticky notes on my plot chart when I arrived, so I thought it was just a sit down and write task, but it was so much more rewarding because I found the characters took me in a couple of entirely different directions when I put fingers to keyboard. It was a voyage of discovery which I loved, and I got to know my characters so much better in those few days than I had when I drove to Bundanon.

I was also able to write until I was too tired to write anymore because, of course, I didn't have to get up the following day to be at my day job. I found I didn't sleep in, because I am used to starting work at 7am, so I was up and ready to go again early. (Another writer who shared a kitchen with me said I was like the "Everyready Bunny"!!)

Now, of course, that 87000 words is a first draft and now I have to polish, polish, polish. But, it's so much easier to polish in fits and starts than it is to write like that. So, I am eternally grateful to the South Coast Writers' Centre for the opportunity to do the residency and for the Bundanon Trust who manage the Artists in Residency facilities.

It was also the ideal place to write the third book in my Return to Hope Creek rural romance series as I was able to look out from the studio windows and see my writing companions - the wallabies and wombats!

What is Bundanon? It's a property in the heart of Dharawal country and the name means Deep Valley. Arthur Boyd, the famous Australian painter, owned the property which is situated on the Shoalhaven River and he and his wife donated the property to the Australian Government for the Australian people. It houses not only the Artists in Residency studios but also an Art Gallery, The website is : https://www.bundanon.com.au/homestead-site/?

I have decided that I will find somewhere to go and spend a week at least one week (until I retire) annually so I can have a similar retreat and be productive.

Love to love: When writing flows - especially in the middle of the Australian bush paradise that is Bundanon

Love to laugh: At being described as the "Eveready Bunny"

Love to live: The writer's life. What a dream come true!!

What’s your best writing experience/best surrounding to have written in? Would love to hear from you.