Preparing for HARDCOPY in Canberra
My year has taken an unexpected and exciting turn.
Before travelling to Scandinavia, I wrote a submission for a place in a national professional development program for emerging writers. Last week I heard it was accepted!
Only thirty writers are chosen nationally to participate in this program so I’m thrilled to be one of them. The focus is developing a full-length non-fiction manuscript while learning about writing and publishing in Australia. It’s a wonderful opportunity for which I’m very grateful.
The program is called HARDCOPY and offered by the ACT Writer’s Centre. It’s made possible through funding by the ACT Government and the Australia Council.
So what does this mean for my bicycle experiment?
Well, it means I’ll be riding in Canberra, the nation’s capital. No, I’m not riding to Canberra – that would be a bit extreme and this experiment is not about the extreme. It’s about incorporating bike riding into my everyday life in a way that is realistic and achievable over the long term.
HARDCOPY involves two three-day workshops in Canberra. The first workshop is at the end of May and the second is early September. Looking at the temperatures in Canberra this week, I think it’s going to be similar to what I experienced in Oslo and Copenhagen – which is rather cold for a sub-tropical coastline dweller like me. But thanks to my recent cycling in Scandinavia, I’ll be better prepared for meeting the climate of the coldest of Australia’s cities.
Canberra is also a planned city, having been built in the early 1900s on an undeveloped site to serve as Australia’s capital. It was designed by an American architect Walter Burley Griffin and rather than a grid format, streets follow a wheel and spoke formation. A bicycle reference perhaps? I’ll be interested to see how this design works for bicycle paths. As Canberra is home to the Australian Parliament, I’m wondering if I’ll see Tony cycling. The current Prime Minister is a regular cyclist, lycra style.
With my flights booked and my accommodation confirmed, in a few weeks time, I’ll be writing – and riding – in Canberra! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
a bike for all seasons 
Congratulations Gail! What a fabulous opportunity. Enjoy Canberra, the cold & the Autumn colours…& of course the writing program.
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Thanks Sheila 🙂 I’m very excited about it all!
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Wow. How exciting! Congratulations.
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Thanks Andrew 🙂
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Great news Gail! Congratulations!
What an opportunity to honour two passions at once.
Looking forward to some ‘çapital’ posts.
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Nice word play Robyn! Thanks aplenty!
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Well done Gail, I look forward to reading what you come up with! (But please no detailed descriptions of budgie smugglers). Cheers, Paula
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Hahaha! I think we’ll all be in luck on that front Paula 🙂 I expect it’ll be far too cold for Tony’s budgie smugglers…at least I hope so!
Thanks for writing Paula 🙂
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Definitely don’t pack away those warm clothes! Great news, Gail – I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I’ve only visited our capital city once, but I really enjoyed that holiday. Looking forward to hearing about your Canberra adventures. 🙂
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Thanks Dayna 🙂 No doubt I’ll be layering wool on wool topped with a good windstopper!
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And gloves!
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Congratulations Gail! Great news. I’m looking forward to reading about Canberra cycling. The lines on the street maps certainly look more symmetrical than our Brisbane roads. 🙂
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Yes it’s given me quite a boost Jane. Thanks! 🙂
And you’ve reminded me I better research some maps for bike trails before I go.
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What a wonderful opportunity Gail. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it when you return. Stay warm!
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