Indrani Perera

poet, publisher & mentor

Tag: writing

  • Spring, Again!

    IP - Spring again

    Can you feel it? Or rather can you smell it?

    There’s something about this time of year, when the flowers open their buds and show off their shiny new petals. With their opening, comes the heavenly smell of nectar borne on the breeze. It’s heady stuff I tell you and just what’s needed to wake up from the foggy winter slumber.

    I’m not sure what it is but I’m finding winter harder and harder to get through (it’s probably my age but shhhh! I’m trying to pretend it’s not happening!). During winter my energy levels get super low and by the end of the day all I want to do is sit on the couch and eat chocolate. Which I’m sure is not helping at all with feeling good and full of energy.

    But that’s now fading into the past because there are blossoms and bees getting busy, making honey.

    Time for me to start getting busy too! What are you excited about this spring?

     

  • A Little Morning Walk

    IP - A Little Morning Walk

    I'm coming out of hibernation and starting to go on morning walks again.

    I had the best of intentions this winter to do more exercise but honestly the lure of the heater was far too strong.

    It's so good to be moving my body again and drinking in the lush pockets of natural beauty that can be found even in the outer suburbs, and a highly urbanised environment like mine.

    I'm super grateful to have this reserve close by to my house and I plan to visit it more often now that the weather is becoming more hopeful!

    Where do you go when the weather starts to get warmer?

  • Souped Up!

    IP - The Week of Soup

    It’s hard keeping the troops fed. Especially when they come home from school, starving. All that learning sure does burn calories! 

    I’m not sure about them but I know that I get bored with making the same things so I took a little time the other day to go through my recipe books and find some tasty recipes.

    My two favourite cookbooks at the moment are both by Hugh Fearnely-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame. They have incredibly naff covers but Hugh’s Three Good Things…On a Plate and Light & Easy are both fantastic cookbooks.

    I must be craving warmth because every recipe I flagged was soup! White bean soup, barley soup, lentil and bacon soup, chickpea soup, eggplant soup and fennel soup to be precise. I figured why not have a crack at making them all and so I did.

    The biggest hit was the lentil and bacon soup followed by the white bean soup. I also quite liked the fennel soup with its preserved lemons. The chickpea soup tasted a lot like a hot, runny, hummus! 

    It felt great to be back in the kitchen, making something new. And so wonderful to be a eating so many new flavourful soups!

  • 3CR Radiothon & Spoken Word Show

    IP - 3CR Radiothon & Spoken Word Show 1

    I’ve just joined community radio, 3CR's Spoken Word team as one of the four hosts. This morning I did my first ever show – a live broadcast for the station’s annual fundraiser. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time!

    IP - 3CR Radiothon & Spoken Word Show 2

    This is me in Studio 1 at 3CR right after this morning’s broadcast. We were broadcasting live with poems sent in to us from poets all round the country. It’s part of the drive to raise funds for the station. Our show’s target is $1650 and if you can donate to help keep us on air we can keep bringing you new and amazing poetry. Click here to go to the page to make a donation. Every little bit helps! And it's tax deductible too!

    IP - 3CR Radiothon & Spoken Word Show 3

    Lucky for me tech whizz and all round incredible human being Brendan Bonsack was driving the panel and the fabulously witty and super calm Waffle Irongirl was sharing the mic. It was a blast and I’m hooked!

    If you didn't manage to catch the live broadcast, don't worry, you can hear it over on our podcast page.

     

  • Mentoring

     
    Indrani Perera is an Australian author who shares her extensive experience and knowledge as a published poet with her students. She provides expert guidance for emerging and established writers. Her mentoring services include encouragement and support, feedback on writing and editing  as well as publishing industry advice and information.
     

    ‘What sets Indrani apart is not just her mastery of poetry but her genuine investment in nurturing emerging voices. Her feedback was always constructive, pushing me to explore new horizons while staying true to my voice. Her mentorship was a blend of professionalism, warmth, and genuine passion for the craft, making every interaction both enlightening and enjoyable.’

    Lakshmi R Kanchi

    Author of Lake song

     

    ‘Indrani was one of the first poets published by Ginninderra Press. Her first collection, Defenestration, clearly demonstrated that she was a talent to watch and her second, pas de deux, amply confirmed her dedication to the craft of poetry. New and aspiring poets would learn an immense amount from her workshops and benefit richly from her enthusiasm and insights.’

    Stephen Matthews OAM

    Publisher, Ginninderra Press

     
    To book an online mentoring session, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Mentoring’ in the subject line.

     

    IP Workshop Page Blog Banners - Mentoring

    Take a deep dive into poetry with a one-on-one session with Indrani, tailored to meet your needs. Be that feedback on your work, questions about writing techniques or information about the industry, she is happy to discuss it all!

    Indrani shares her knowledge about joining writers’ groups, attending open mics, submitting to journals, entering competitions, preparing manuscripts, finding a publisher and more!

    Duration: 1 hour
    Class Size: personal, one-on-one session
    Venue: online
    Cost: $100 per session
     
    IP Workshop Page Blog Banners - Meet Your Mentor (Title & Headshot only)Hello! I’m Indrani Perera.
     
    I have been writing, editing and publishing for over 25 years.
     
    I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping writers to become published authors.
     
    I have had two poetry books published, been shortlisted for major Australian poetry prizes and my poems appear in literary journals in Australia, India and the USA. I have performed extensively on the open mic and been a featured poet for Girls on Key, the Melbourne Spoken Word & Poetry Festival and the Perth Poetry Festival.
     
    I also have significant experience in the publishing industry — working in an Australian book shop, for an independent Australian publisher and as editor of the Pocketry Almanack print journal.
     
    I can help you achieve your writing goals with support, encouragement, feedback, editing and industry advice.
     
     
     
    To book a mentoring session or enquire about what she can offer you, please email Indrani with ‘Poetry Mentoring’ in the subject line.
     

    Don’t see what you’re looking for? Send an email to Indrani and she can design something just for you!

     

  • Boxed

    IP - Boxed 1

    IP - Boxed 2

    IP - Boxed 3

    You know me, I love making things and getting a bit of a production line happening. I've been doing it since I was in primary school. I saw some cute little felt turtles with walnut shell backs at a market and wanted to make one for myself. They looked so easy to make and I thought it would be cheaper than buying one (it's not but you do get the satisfaction of making it yourself). Of course once you buy the materials to make one, you have so much left over that it makes sense to make lots and then give them away to all your friends as presents.

    Not much has changed for me since then I have to admit. Once I start making something, I start to think alf all the people I know who would love to have one of whatever I am making. In this case, it's wooden book boxes to store Circus of Similes Ephemera.

    You can see the boxes with their envelopes on the spare room bed in the above pictures. I'm still using whatever I've got to make what I need. Although I don't think anyone needs these boxes. I just hope that they will like them and get some sort of pleasure or enjoyment from their contents. I know I'd like to receive one of these in the post!

     

  • Tagged and Tied

    IP - Tagged and Tied 1

    I've been collecting various bits of paper ephemera and craft supplies for quite some time. Years in some cases. I find it impossible to walk out of an art or craft store without taking home something that may come in handy. Like the tags and labels in the above photo. I had no idea what I was going to use them for but I just couldn't resist. I mean how could I? They look so evocative and welcoming, just sitting there. You can imagine them as part of some bygone store or era. Luckily for me vintage, is in. But really, does it ever go out of style?

    IP - Tagged and Tied 2

    You'll be pleased to know that I have actually used all of the items for a new project. Of course it has to be The Circus of Similes, my current obsession. The cardboard label has become a nameplate for the Circus of Similes. I don't know where it's going yet but figuring it out as I go is part of the fun!

    IP - Tagged and Tied 3

    Repurposing old items and giving them new life is something I've been trying to do more of lately. Whether that's turning clothes into cleaning rags or using old jars to store herbs, there's something deeply satisfying about using what you've got to make what you need. 

    I originally created a ticket design for The Circus of Similes to post on this website's home page. Then idea was that it gave the visitor a free ticket to enter to The Circus. At some point I had the brainwave of printing out these tickets and pasting them on to these baggage tags.

    IP - Tagged and Tied 4

    IP - Tagged and Tied 5

    I also added the tickets to these teeny tiny wooden tags. How cute do they look?

    Creating all these vintage styled items has combined my twin loves of digital and handmade. Making things for The Circus is proving to be a bridge between designing things online and crafting things with my hands. And going back to childhood with the glue and the scissors. Looks like cut and paste is back in people!

     

  • On Cephalopods

    IP- Cephalopod 1

    IP- Cephalopod 2

    IP- Cephalopod 3

    I was so stoked when I discovered these cute little octopi online. 

    They look a lot like the octopus that adorns the front page of the Travelling Light mini book, located in the mysterious Hall of Mirrors, which you'll find on my latest creation, The Circus of Similes.

    These cephalopods are keeping good company with a key to the Escapologist's Trunk and an arrow that matches The Circus of Similes logo. All resting on a calico drawstring bag.

    If you've been following along, you'll know that The Circus is the place where poetry goes to play and it's the place where you can go to find fun downloads to inspire your own poetic masterpieces. And it's all free!! But not the octopi or its new friends. I don't think I can bear to part with them yet.

     

     

  • Perth Poetry Festival Finale

    IP - Finale 1

    IP - Finale 2

    The Perth Poetry Festival Finale was emceed by the fabulous Scott-Patrick Mitchell at the Switch Theatre on Wellington Street in Perth. I think this intimate venue was my favourite performance space for the festival. It was easy to make eye contact with all the members of the audience and tp see their reactions to my poems.

    I was the second performer for the evening and after thanking my lovely husband who was at home all week keeping the home fires burning and looking after our beautiful girls, Gary from WA Poets, who was manning the camera for the Zoom, wished me a happy birthday. At that point the whole audience burst into song! It was a brilliant way to start a performance.

    After the performance, Laksh, Gillain and Ro took me out to dinner at the Moon Cafe in Northbridge where we indulged in mocktails and a vegan ice cream for me for dessert. It was the perfect end to a wonderful birthday and a brilliant festival!

    Thanks Perth and all the lovely people Meet for making my trip memorable in all the right ways!

     

  • Perth Poetry Club

    IP - Perth Poetry Club 2

    When I was exploring Northbridge on my very first day in Perth, I wandered past this funky little diner style cafe with its retro 50s booth seats and promised myself I would come back. I mean with a name like The Moon, how could I resist? At the time I hadn't twigged that this was the venue for Saturday afternoon's Perth Poerty Club at which I would be performing.

    The Perth Poetry Club is hosted by Elio to a packed room at the back of the building. It's on every Saturday afternoon and always has a zoom component so anyone can join. There were so many people that eighteen of them didn't get a chance to perform on the open mic! Poetry is alive and well inn Perth I tell you!

    IP - PPC 1

    For this set I read out a poem from each issue of the Pocketry Almanack that I have published – so far there have been seven issues. If you're an emerging poet who hasn't been published in a journal, had on over to Pocketry. Submissions for issue eight will be opening soon.

    Those beautiful Almanack poems from unheard voices deserve to be taken out from time to time and shared with the rest of the world and I am more than happy to introduce them to new audiences so they can meet people and make new friends.