The Writer's Shopping Mall

My local shopping centre provides a range of consumer experiences. From speciality stores to generic cheap shops, there is something for everyone. Writing is the same – from contemporary to classic, crafted to common, there is something for everyone. So as a writer, what shop am I?


Firstly, I can tell you what I’m not. I’m no Collette Dinnigan, that’s for sure. As much as I appreciate finery and lace, the haute couture is simply not my style. There are some writers who are highbrow and literary, advanced in their understanding of language and nuance…the company of which I would be grossly inferior to reside amongst. They are well-read or well-bred – or both – and wind their way effortlessly through the literary world. The Vogel award would be at home with the Dinnigan’s of the writing world. But alas, probably not with me.

So then we come to the next shop along our tour, a stark contrast to Collette Dinnigan…Bras ‘n’ Things. Hmmmm. As seductive as the window dressings always look, it’s simply not me. The most you’ll get from me is a hint of lace every now and then and a sexy silhouette. Some things are just better left to the imagination. Plus, my Mum might read it. Yet, there are those writers who delve deeply into the world of g-strings and push-up bras with great success. You just won’t find my name listed amongst them.


So what about the $2 shop? Call me proud, but I’m hoping that you won’t find me there either. The translation is often poor, the English appalling and the smell…it’s enough to turn me off before I even buy anything. Not that I’m a snob – remember, I’m no Collette Dinnigan – but I would like to think of myself slightly above the mass produced, exploitation based consumerism of the cheap shops.


The homewares shop with the beautiful dinner setting in the window? You may find me there occasionally, turning the practical into the beautiful, combining form and function. It is true, there are elements of me to be found amongst the shelves, but it’s all too narrow, too limiting, too perfect. For me to reside there would need to be a second-hand aisle with the chipped plates, dishwasher worn glasses and a few family heirlooms. I aspire to broader pastures where the crockery isn’t always sparkling.


The florist, with it’s beautiful ribbons, magnificent colours and aromas of decadence? I can appreciate it, but I can’t write it. Description has never been my thing. Some writers do it well with their flowery descriptions, but even the good ones can only hold my attention for so long. I like a few ribbons and bows as much as the next gal, but continue with the description of each individual gerbera petal and the subtle hues of the coral pink roses juxtaposed against the iridescent green of the leaves…and you’ll lose me.

So what does that leave for my shopping tour? There’s the shoe shops – once again a little too specific for my liking. I’m into practical but every now and again it’s time to launch into the world of the impractical – purely for the sake of it.


The music store? Possibly. I spent many years writing songs, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that you will find my work there, sung by someone else. Unless you read the CD covers and the fine print you’d be unlikely to recognise me.


The gamers shop? Definitely not. Fantasy and sci-fi just aren’t me. I like a good story and can live with odd names and unusual places as long as there’s a plot solidly built around relationships. Plus I like a good, healthy dose of reality. I can understand the need to escape, but reality always speaks so much more vividly to me than fantasy.

The coffee shop? Once again, you’re likely to find me there occasionally. The overheard conversations, the chance to observe and report on the body language on display – all of these are crucial to my writing. But I am not limited to relational tales of the surface level; the gossip that is shared over a celebrity magazine is simply not enough.. So yes, I will be there…but not in totality.

Maybe I’m a Target kind of girl. Like my wardrobe, my writing reflects the varied nature of a general store – a bit of this, a bit of that. Some poetry, mixed with a few short stories – and don’t go down the novel aisle just yet because it isn’t finished…and I’m not sure if it ever will be. The clothes are functional, perhaps a bit too similar to what you’ve already seen, but if you find the right accessories you might just get away with it. The price tag is reasonable and you are going to get what you expect. There will be a few surprises – like when you find something that you didn’t like on the rack but it looks great on you. It’s quite possible that’s where you’d find me a lot of the time. Accessible, unintimidating, friendly. A place you go to relax, but also to find just what you’re looking for.

The baby shop? You’ll definitely find me there. With three kids under three I couldn’t help but be. The fodder they provide me with is too good to not explore occasionally, but I am more than a mother, more than a parent. I am also a wife, a lover, an independent thinker. Don’t confine me to the baby shop alone…but do occasionally come and have a look at the gorgeous blue outfit that just makes you smile because it’s too cute and join me for a giggle.

But that’s not the sum total of me as a writer. I would like to think that when true inspiration strikes, you’ll actually find me in that little obscure shop tucked away in the corner. In my shopping centre it’s called Sobi. It has a slightly distinctive look and feel – not so out there you need a personality of enormous proportions to wear it, but different enough to be unique. It doesn’t shout, but it stands quietly and confidently in its identity. You know there’s not going to be thirty other people in the same outfit, yet the style is congruent with the trend. It has some off-centre things, some crocheted shrugs and your favourite paisleys. But most of all you can’t help but look each time you pass, just wondering what great little find you’re going to make this time. The racks never get boring, the stock is constantly changing. It’s a reflection of who you are and where you’re at. You’re not a high-class socialite with a budget to match; you’re not a no-name shopper without discernment. You’re somewhere in the middle where class meets individuality and sophistication meets style. And you know you’ll keep coming back because there’s just that undeniable x-factor, that special something that you can’t put your finger on. It’s bright and colourful without being gaudy. It’s trendy without being a slave to fashion. It has something that will bring out your best bits and let you gloss over those bits that everyone knows you have but you’d rather not see, let alone draw attention to.

So that’s who I am. That’s the sort of writer I want to be. Real, relevant, entertaining, enlightened and just a little bit quirky – just so you know it’s me.