Synchronicity

The Universe often communicates to me through synchronicity, meaningful coincidences as Carl Jung defined them, thrown in my path. It’s the only way I can explain my attendance at two events over the last week.

I’ve been rewriting my manuscript which, in my case, really means I’ve spent a long time thinking about how it should be rewritten and not very much time in the actual process. Something always felt wrong about the way I was rewriting but I couldn’t put my finger on it, or my fingers on the keyboard to correct it. I know the story I want to tell, I just can’t find the words to tell it. I must have put out a silent cry for help to the Universe because, suddenly, I was inspired to attend a couple of events.

A few weeks ago, I scrolled through the events on offer at the Wheeler Centre. A talk by author Ceridwen Dovey caught my eye. I had never heard of her or her books, but the first line of the description appealed to me, “What is guilt – and how can we escape the grip of the past?” Guilt is one of those things which I’m attempting to deal with in my manuscript so, despite the event being on the same day as my birthday, I booked a ticket. On the night, I almost didn’t go. It was my birthday after all. But I’m glad I did. Ceridwen Dovey spoke in depth about her book, “In the Garden of the Fugitives”, her research and the research of those who inspired her, all while fighting off the flu and coping with a hoarse voice. I could have listened to her endlessly. I left that night with new thoughts of how to form my rewrite. I got home, ordered her book on Kindle and began to read. It was an epiphany. I had found a new way of writing.

A few days after booking my ticket to Ceridwen Dovey, I received an invitation from the Melbourne Writers Festival to attend a preview of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a film based on the book of the same name. I had vaguely heard of the book and thought it might be a good way to spend a Sunday morning, so emailed my RSVP. I’m so happy I did. Once again, I found myself attending an event which seemingly will help me with my own writing. I can highly recommend this movie and I’ve also started to read the book with the hope that it isn’t too dissimilar to the movie.

Two different authors, two different books, however they have both assisted me to look at my manuscript in another way. I can almost see the shape of my rewrite taking place. Now I simply have to sit down and encourage my fingers to tap away on my keyboard, without interruption. I hope I can motivate myself to do this. But perhaps a bit more thinking first…