Indrani Perera

poet, publisher & mentor

Tag: writing

The Ghost Train

The Circus of Similes, my latest invention, is bringing the carnival to the big top with its latest attraction, the Ghost Train.

Not for the faint of heart, this attraction is for those mighty souls who have written a poem and want to share it with the world. You can post your precious poetry on socials for all your friends and family to see or you can send it off to a publisher and hope that it gets printed in a journal.

But how will discover those journals that publish poetry? Don't worry, The Circus has you sorted because the Ghost Train contains two different downloads. One helps you to find a journal for your poem and the other helps you to find publisher looking for full length poetry manuscripts and chapbooks to publish.

Head on over to The Circus of Similes now and hop aboard The Ghost Train!

May 9, 2023
World Poetry Day

I spent World Poetry Day 2023 with a group of fantastic kids ranging in age from three years old right up to fourteen. We had a fantastic morning of playing games, thinking about what poetry is and of course, writing some poems.

Some of the kids had memorised poems which they recited for all the adults and kids gathered in the cosy lounge room next to the wood stove. Can you believe it's already getting cold enough to light a fire? The smallest member of the group sang us a song and there were also some poems read from the page. Just like a mini open mic really, with a little bit of everything. Next time it would be wonderful to se them memorise and read their own poems aloud in from of an audience.

It's the first time I've run a poetry workshop and it was wonderful to be working with such an eager and enthusiastic group of people. They were willing to experiment and learn and we all had great fun. I can't wait to run another workshop! A big thanks to all the families who came along and made the morning so enjoyable and an especial thanks to Victoria Konash for the lovely photos.

March 21, 2023
The Circus of Similes

Imagine a place where poetry goes to play. Where words dangle on the trapeze or whirl around the ring. Imagine you can download PDFs, print them out and play. Well you don't have to imagine any longer because it's now a reality!

That's right, I have created The Circus of Similes where you can download writing resources filled with prompts, games and more to inspire your creativity and fuel your poetry. Best of all, it's all free!

The Circus is a mashup of word games, children’s toys, paper craft, book binding and poetry. You can download and create all sorts of paper ephemera and instant books to brighten your day, inspire your writing and create new poems.

It’s a place where you can forget the daily, for a little while and you are welcome to wander through its rooms for as long as you like.

March 1, 2023
The Poisoned Path

The environment has been on my mind of late. From day to day I don't give it much thought but when I have a moment to be still or quiet, a sense of unease creeps into my thoughts. At times it feels overwhelming, this tide of humanity that has over taken this fragile and precious planet. And then it comes out in my poetry.

I wrote A Poisoned Path a couple of years ago after a morning walk down to the local creek. It runs between houses and a golf course until the houses turn into an industrial estate. I was standing at the water's edge looking through the trees to the sun shining on the green when I saw a rabbit bounding down the path. She seemed so out of place, here in the suburbs at the edge of a sprawling city.

I've been sending this poem out the various publications since then and I am so pleased that Brenda Eldridge of Ginninderra Press has decided to publish it in the September edition of The Crow. You can subscribe to The Crow or grab a copy for only $5 – it's the best value poetry journal in the country!

September 22, 2022
Twenty Four Hours of Poetry

I have just spent the most amazing day immersed in the world of words. It began with Claire G Coleman's workshop, Embracing Your Poetic Licence, at the Wheeler Centre for Books. The workshop was part of the Melbourne Writers Festival and it was wonderful to be attending an event at my first ever writers' festival. It sorta felt like a coming of age moment as an author! The festival program was incredible and there were so many great workshops that I wanted to do but I decided to be content with one.

Claire is the author of several books including Terra Nullis and I've wanted to attend one of her workshops for a long time. She gave us some great exercises and stressed the importance of reading poetry for all authors but especially authors of prose to learn the techniques of lyrical writing.

After the workshop some fellow festival goers were heading out for drinks so I tagged along as we headed downstairs to the Moat. It was so, so, so cool to be chatting to other writers in a spontaneous gathering after an event. This never happens to me – usually all my commitments as a mother prevent this from happening! Thanks Tash for the idea. And the funny thing was, three of us were having milestone birthdays in the following week – 40, 45 and 50. What an odd coincidence!

I spent the rest of the evening out in Fairfield at my first Mothertongue spoken word event. I'd seen one of the co-hosts, Fleassy Malay at a festival at CERES a few years back and since then Mothertongue had been on my list gigs to attend. It was wonderful to be back in the spoken word space, hearing the stories and words of women and gender diverse poets speaking their truth. It was an intimate gig and the cakes and chai from the caterers were delicious. I could even eat them which is no mean feat given all my intolerances!

After the gig I got a lift into the city from a lovely poetry friend and spent the night in a hotel!! It was a real treat to be able to stay out as late as I wanted and not worry about having to catch public transport home to the hills. It was wonderful to stay in such a lovely room with city all lit up outside my window.

The next day I hopped on a tram to Carlton for Emilie Collyer's workshop, Where We Meet the World. The workshop was put on by Melbourne Poet's Union and they even provided snacks! Fresh fruit, biscuits and tea and coffee for the break. It's the first writing workshop I've been to where I've been fed!

Emilie is brilliant. I could happily do her workshop every single week it was that good. If you ever get the chance to do one her workshops, sell the car, abandon the cat. Do whatever it takes, but be there. I promise you, you won't regret it. Not for one moment.

I feel so blessed to have been able to spend a while day devoted to my passions. A day of learning, writing, reading, speaking and hearing poetry. What more can a woman ask for?

September 11, 2022
Burrow

Burrow is an online literary journal that is dedicated to mental health. It is published by Old Water Rat Publishing which is a family affair consisting of Phillip Hall (poetry editor) and daughter Rhiannon Hall (managing editor). They publish poetry and other micro forms on what it means to live with good or poor mental health. They feature poets at every stage but their main focus is on new and emerging poets of any age.

Having a literary journal dedicated to mental health is vital given the current challenges facing humanity and the planet. After two years of a pandemic, lockdowns and isolation we need the solace that self care can bring more than ever. And this is a journal that is '…especially interested in where self-care intersects with such priorities as: ecopoetics, postcolonialism, ekphrasis, progressive religion & secularism.'

I am excited to announce that three of my poems are featured in the most recent issue of Burrow - Gifting (February 2022). It's humbling to be rubbing virtual shoulders with such Australian poetry luminaries as Anne Elvey and Owen Bullock.

My suite of poems is called Gifts that Bind and the poems are a different brew, binding threads and Catching Some Zeds. The first two poems are about the eco-dyed notebooks I made and you can see pictures of them in Burrow. The third poem is about giving yourself a break and taking a nap instead of ticking off more things on the never ending list of things to do.

The handmade poems bring together my twin passions of writing and making. Both creative endeavours – one featuring hands, the other head – are filled with heart. And of course, the poems speak to the joy of making things for someone you love. I am so excited to have poems that are about my experiences of creating things with my hands published in a literary journal!

If you are in need of some self care, I would highly recommend checking out the most recent issue of Burrow.

February 21, 2022
Tidal River

The ocean. The horizon. Mount Oberon. The river. Wildlife. Friends.

Five days camping and sleeping under the stars.

Bliss.

February 18, 2022
What Next?

I am feeling a real shift in my energies in the last couple of weeks. After having crashed and burned in January, I'm rising from the ashes ready to fashion a new self. But who will I be?

Okay, that's a tad dramatic. Perhaps it's more about fashioning a new routine or crafting a better life. You know, being mindful about what I want to do and where I want to spend my energy. Because let's face it all resources, even energy, are finite.

I'm really feeling the pull to return to handmade and making objects I need with my hands. I haven't really done any craft for a couple of years and I miss it. Desperately. Buying things isn't anywhere near as fulfilling as creating something with your own hands.

I'm also wanting to spend more time with my gorgeous girls – learning, growing and laughing together. I've been so busy with my projects (especially with Pocketry) and serving other people that I haven't had as much time for them. And they are smart and funny and full of plans and energy. It is so wonderful to watch them grow into the people they are meant to be. When I look at them I realise how precious and short our time here is. Soon they will be flying the coop and I want to savour all our time together.

The other thing I am keen to do is dive into the three million writing projects I have buzzing around in my brain. Ideas for collections of poems that want to be written. Plans for mini books featuring my poetry and photography. Playing with words, illustrations and design to create digital pieces. Delving into non fiction and essay writing. Taking my rewilding experiences with Firekeepers of the last six years and learning to write about Australian nature. I've got so many ideas, it's wonderful!

What are your plans for the coming year?

February 11, 2022
Back On The Bike

I woke up this morning all groggy and fuzzy (it's both a reality and a metaphor for how I've been feeling of late). The aim of getting up early was to get some work done before the kids woke up. It was my attempt to get back into the swing of things after taking January off. But the thought of sitting down at my computer wasn't appealing at all. Once I opened the curtains and saw that the sun was just getting up my decision seemed more simple – go for a ride and see the sun rise.

It feel so good to be back on the bike. There was so much beauty in the morning with the birds already awake and excited about the day. It's hard not to feel good when you hear them so busy and joyful all around you. I think it was the magpie I heard when I was still lying in bed that planted the seed for this adventure. Lying there under the doona, half asleep and hearing her carol in the dawn was a wonderful way to wake.

I stoped about a million times along the way to take photos and drink in the beauty all around me. I feel like I've been asleep to all that gorgeousness for the last month while my brain went AWOL. And now, after my morning ride through beauty, I am coming into focus.

February 9, 2022
Bushranger’s Bay

It's great having friends who know places to go to around Melbourne. And it's even better to spend a day with those friends visiting one of those places. Especially when that friend is knowledgeable about plants and which ones are good to eat like the native raspberry that was growing alongside the path or the saltbush berries nestled in the leaves.

Travelling with friends has you doing unexpected things and this list was no different. We climbed the massive rock that was next to the beach and stood on the top of it perilously close to the edge in the strong winds blowing in off the water.

Just in case that wasn't enough to get the blood pumping I then got dumped in the waves and churned like milk into a pat of butter. I loathe being dumped and getting salt water up my nose and down the back of my throat. Nothing like a good dunking to know that you're alive (and thank goodness I still was!).

We'd never been to Bushranger's Bay before and enjoyed the walk to the beach and back along the sandy track. We even saw a wallaby in the bushes next to the path as we walked down to the beach. And then on the way back there was an echidna!

With the pandemic and restricted overseas travel we have been doing a lot more travel close to home and I am falling in love with our own unique Australian animals. It's all too easy to think that all the spectacular and amazing things are overseas and that I have to spend a fortune and hop on a place to see them when the reality is, this country (and any country for that matter) is incredible. All you need to do is have an open mind and a willingness to explore.

January 31, 2022