Well reader I did it. A couple of posts ago I mused about setting up a blog (or some such) to publish some short story-like things I have stored in my computer from years ago. I can now announce it is done, or at least started. The site, called the Adventures of the Affronted Falcon, … Continue reading Amusing Me: to be or Knottbee.
Notes on Writing Related Stuff
Writing somebody else’s world
I began a story for a particular call out for submissions. In a keenly felt tragedy of non-epic proportions I lost what I wrote in the first draft mid way through. I managed to start again and finished it. Mind you, I wasn't going to, but the ideas for this project kept percolating. What I … Continue reading Writing somebody else’s world
And then I remembered
Completely forgetting about a short story being published is just one of the many ways I can tell I haven't coped very well with some less than wonderful personal happenings at the end of December and into January. But's that was how it was. And, I had a good day today full of art, and … Continue reading And then I remembered
Only stories left alive
Avoiding space Space is the ultimate void with which we fill with stories, because human nature abhors a vacuum. After seeing Rogue One and reading various articles about women and Star Wars (especially since the passing of Carrie Fischer) and after happening on a Twitter thread about symbolism in the Aliens franchise, space seems just … Continue reading Only stories left alive
Stop Crowd Sourcing Imagination
Hearken, ye. Herein dwells the frustrated rant of a writer. I think I'm reaching a critical impatience point with certain types questions some writers ask. Or I'm getting old and crotchety and not jiving with how newbies work their creativity. Social media is exceedingly useful for writers. There's endless advice and interplay of ideas and support. … Continue reading Stop Crowd Sourcing Imagination
Navigating the forest of writing tasks
At best, addressing the other jobs a writer is required to do took up an occasional discussion in the writing courses I have completed. I don't mean day jobs either. I mean the promotion, blogs, virtual or real reader engagement and blurbs that take up so much time. Of course bios are ubiquitous and get … Continue reading Navigating the forest of writing tasks
Winter of Content
It's been bitterly cold and dark in Melbourne, but the sun has been shining on me this week. I got a present in the mail from the Stella Prize as a thank you for their support. That was unexpected. Nicer still was a flash fiction piece being accepted by Fewer Than 500. After several years … Continue reading Winter of Content
Writer: Know Thyself
The process of becoming aware of your writing style, and more importantly, your mistakes, can take a while. Like poker players with tells, errors and odd phrasing, or word tics, can follow any wordsmith through their works. I have fall back phrases, and repeated words I make the effort to eliminate, even if I have … Continue reading Writer: Know Thyself
Mid Year Writing Stock Take
In Australia the end of June marks the end of the financial year. Retailers hold sales, and everyone works out if they need to make more deductions ahead of preparing tax returns. Then it is July and the pace slows a bit amid winter's chill, except for accountants. For me, it's time to take stock … Continue reading Mid Year Writing Stock Take
Abstraction Distraction
I'm in online writing groups. They are peopled mainly by novelists, and mainly those who self-publish. What's interesting is a proportion of novice writers seem more concerned with publication theory than writing practice. For example, when posting working drafts, this cohort worry about how to define it for Amazon. Some sling single chapters or incomplete drafts … Continue reading Abstraction Distraction
Writing Bec 