Inspiration must be one of the most precious, unpurchasable gifts of life. And I've been lapping it up as I work on my children's book about two beautiful fish who embark on a wild adventure. These days , it seems as if much of my inspiration is drawn from nature.
Photo: Maguk Walk, Kakadu National Park, Australia
Text and Image Copyright Michele Gierck
www.michelegierck.com.au
Wildlife photography and getting your book published have their commonalities. Both require patience. Waiting and hoping. Wondering. What will happen? Waiting some more. Then finally, finally, often when you've almost given up, that magical moment arrives-- like this honeyeaster pecking at the eucaplyptus silver princess. Or an equally delightful agent's call. As always, I wait in hope.
Text and image copyright Michele Gierck
www.michelegierck.com.au
Sometimes, when I've been buried in writing, or the intricacies of life, the garden offers a place to rest my weary soul. It's so full of delight, of surprise, of tranquility.
Text and Image Copyright Michele Gierck
An old friend, a respected Australia journalist and storyteller, once told me that when it comes to writing people's stories, put away your preconceived ideas and biases, and simply meet them as a person. Listen without judgement. Be really present. And you might be surprised. How insightful. 
I was speaking at a conference this week. My topic was storytelling. There's nothing more precious than our stories, except of course a healthy memory to file them in. There are so many different stories all around us, if we tune in--and listen. 
If you drew your life story as a shape, what form would it take? A square, with sturdy sides? A thinly lined circle? Or a long meandering squiggle? (The trunk of a scribbly gum tree, covered in a mass of squiggles, comes to mind.) Would your shape be vibrantly coloured, covered with daubs, dots and blotches, gently shaded or perhaps painted with thick oils? How might you choose to express the shape of your life?