This coming weekend, I will be one of 3 guest writers for an online writing retreat, Inkspill, organised by Nina Lewis. I’ll be adding my own perspective to the mix, along with Charlie Jordan http://www.charliejordan.co.uk/ and William Gallagher http://williamgallagher.com/. Want some inspiration for your writing? Take a look: http://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/inkspill-a-teasing-taster-writing-retreat-right-here-in-5-days-time/
Nina asked me to send her a biography. You might think I would have one to send ‘off the peg’, but it just doesn’t work like that. Every biog I have ever sent out has been different from all the others. This is partly because there are so many facets to my professional life, and not all of these are relevant at the same time. I can’t help comparing myself to an octopus.
While you ponder on that idea, here’s an octopus poem I wrote after watching a family eating together in a restaurant.
The feeding of octopi
The octopus family
have tentacles twenty
food is plentiful
all is quiet until
plates are empty
when table quivers
upholstery shivers
as octopus babies
lie on their backs
their tentacles rising
they writhe and wriggle
as octopus mom
and octopus dad
slither and grab
trapped in the middle
© Heather Wastie
Perhaps this poem should have had 8 lines per stanza instead of 5. Anyway the line “trapped in the middle” echoes how I sometimes feel trying to keep track of so many creative tentacles!
Loved that poem! Reminded me of some of the meals out we had as family back in the day. Am currently writing a lot of family poems so I love that in taking a writing break I have come across yours.
Thanks for being part of INKSPILL 2014, I can’t wait for this weekend…. oh, wait, with so much to do I need the next 3 days – won’t wish them away! Hope people come and join us.
Glad you like it, Nina. I’m looking forward to the weekend too! It’s a great idea.