NON-FICTION

Writing fiction is a lot of fun. Writing non-fiction is a little less fun, but pays the bills.

One type of non-fiction writing that I won't talk about too much here is technical and corporate writing. I've worked as a contract corporate writer on and off since leaving uni, but it's hard to make annual general reports and training courseware sound more glamorous than they really are. They are challenging, often surprisingly so, and they keep me fed and clothed. 'Nuff said.

Another type of non-fiction that I write from time to time is creative non-fiction. Freelance journalism, travel writing, that kind of thing. The wonderful thing about this kind of writing is that it's portable, fascinating (you get to learn stuff), and can give you the odd tax-deductible holiday.

I've included a short travel article here that appeared as a feature in Insight magazine. I've chosen this because it links in with my second novel, Ki. Ki was very much inspired by some of the ideas and mindscapes that this article touches on.

 

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Mongolian Shamanism

2400 words, including sidebar

Mongolian shamanism is one of the oldest shamanic traditions in the world. Many scholars regard Siberia/Mongolia as  the birthplace of Shamanism, and suggest that many other shamanic traditions, notably those of the Native Americans, are its direct descendents. In October and November 2000, I was fortunate enough to stay with and study under one of Mongolia’s most respected Shamans. Dondog Gombuhu lives in a traditional felt tent in Outer Mongolia. Over the weeks I was with him, he generously shared many of his practices and beliefs with me.

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 “The spirits hate a square house. They hate a house made of wood,” Gombuhu explained. “That’s why we live in felt tents, round like the world.”

 

<Sorry, rest of article snipped for the time being>