This week a response to a video on reading. Kids with books are good, and I'm a big fan of books and always have been. I want to make that clear. Kate Forsyth is an interesting writer and she has much of value to say about writing practice but a recent video has put me … Continue reading Stories/Literacy
Story decision making
It's a step and it feels like one, when launching a story into the maw of potential publishers. It used to be an actual trip to the post office. Now, not so much. What it entails is a dash to a deadline, other times a carefully considered effort to fit a piece to the journal where you … Continue reading Story decision making
Collected work – in progress
I'm in the midst of editing and putting together some of my short stories. My novella is in competition stasis and while I thought I had time to enter it in a slightly later competition for novellas I was wrong. So, because of submission overlap and the fact this second competition is accepting novellas but … Continue reading Collected work – in progress
X Files: Minor Stories Please
If you're not all caught up: here be aliens, creatures and spoilers. Sure, X-Files rebooted with a conspiracy-mythos that links all the worst events in the world to all the biggest public and private organisations and governments...in order to take over America. Right. Actually no. I'm with Scully here. It's too much. But then, I … Continue reading X Files: Minor Stories Please
Stick together and defend
Seldom do Aussie pub rock anthems get recognition for their assistance in solving writing dilemmas, but this changes here. By the way that's not a sentence I'd ever thought I'd have to come up with, but there you go, writing is strange like that. We know that ideas come from anywhere. Like today, when I was driving … Continue reading Stick together and defend
Doctor Who: reports from afar
Hot on the heels of the news of Steven Moffat leaving after 2017, with Chris Chibnall to take over Doctor Who, there are now reports that Peter Capaldi could depart as well. Some are calling it a fresh start with a new producer in Chibnall, and it might be. The thing is, if I were taking … Continue reading Doctor Who: reports from afar
X Files: X marks the writer
I was always a fan of X Files. At the risk of revealing my age, some series were often enjoyed communally. It was virtually the only thing we all agreed on as bunch of undergrads, lapping up the ongoing trials and tribulations of FBI's most basementy duo, Mulder and Scully. It wasn't just Moonlighting, but … Continue reading X Files: X marks the writer
Doctor Who: Moffat and Chibnall, looking back
I woke to the news that Steven Moffat is leaving Doctor Who after this year. Hmm, I want to say. Hmmm. I will miss the complexity of his plots and his use of time. It is, after all, a program featuring time travel. I will miss some of the humour too and energy and the pathos … Continue reading Doctor Who: Moffat and Chibnall, looking back
Shelf Life: Poppy by Drusilla Modjeska
The Stella Awards have initiated #stellaspark to fund raise for their literary prize, but also to get people talking about their favourite books by Australian women. I selected Poppy: A Life by Drusilla Modjeska, for exactly the reasons I tweeted. It was moving and powerful and is a useful guide for writers tackling stories where … Continue reading Shelf Life: Poppy by Drusilla Modjeska
Writing Workshop Review: Taming the Beast
It's been an out of the ordinary couple of days for me. On Friday I attended the Summer School Wheeler Centre writer's workshop Taming the Beast with Sonia Orchard, while this afternoon featured another instalment of me at the dentist. Turns out both had things in common: bit of probing, and fixes for things. How to clarify … Continue reading Writing Workshop Review: Taming the Beast
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