It's done. It's over. I proved I could do it. This ridiculous deadline artificially cultivated online is complete, and for my part I can say I am an official National November Novel Writing Month winner. O frabjous day! Callooh etc. I would have celebrated earlier, except it's too all much. Difficult, un-fun at times, a bit … Continue reading Final down low on NaNoWriMo
Creative Writing
Hashtag Inspo NaNoWriMo
Life events, friends, experiences, reading, other entertainment, it all informs creative writing some how. Sometimes it is directly, sometimes it is more round about. In one short story I tried so hard to avoid depicting a life experience peculiar to me that it resonated quite closely with the experience of a friend. Oops. Thus, even … Continue reading Hashtag Inspo NaNoWriMo
The Man From Snowy River does not come from Detroit
In response to Southerly: While I haven't written about a suburb in Sydney, I do commend this article from Southerly's blog. Specificity in writing is crucial. Part of the reason I set my fictions in certain real or historical places is because I'm somehow exploring what they mean to me. And if they mean something to me, … Continue reading The Man From Snowy River does not come from Detroit
Ipso facto NaNoWriMo
I have put a lot of pressure on myself over a long to prove I am a writer, and to improve and to hone my craft while I sweat blood over the merest detail of a finely tuned short story. As my recent week full of rejected submissions demonstrates, this job is never done. Even … Continue reading Ipso facto NaNoWriMo
NaNo a GoGo
I'm making good progress towards that totally arbitrary 50,000 word deadline in November. So much so that I can make out what I'm trying to do with this novel project. It's definitely becoming something more than I thought it would. Basically, I never presumed my first proper novel attempt would be a reflexive and literary Australian horror story. … Continue reading NaNo a GoGo
A room right with WriteSpace
Part One WriteSpace: it's everything I had imagined a day devoted to writing to be. There were desks, comfy enough chairs, food and beverages, natural light, power, a thoughtful selection of writing resources for inspiration, and much kind service from our host. Quiet tapping on laptops is comforting. We happy few are getting work done, … Continue reading A room right with WriteSpace
Changing spaces
I'm going to a writing retreat. I won a place, which is nice, and I'm looking forward to it. Not sure of what to expect, or what I'll gain from it, but I hope something a bit writing related. It shouldn't matter where we write, but it sometimes it might. Sometimes, the household is full of … Continue reading Changing spaces
How a story is a horse, of course
Writing has been hard work. I've had trouble getting from the end of the middle of one story, to its conclusion, which I've worked out. And, with my novella, I've begun fixing everything I've realised is wrong with it, but it takes a while to warm up. I'm not feeling the mojo, in other words, … Continue reading How a story is a horse, of course
Lessons from rejection
Where I have the most experience as a creative writer is in the submission rejection process. No, no need to get all sympathetic and tut tut. It's true and it maybe true for a while yet, for a myriad of reasons. On the bright side it indicates I'm still sending stuff out there. And that's … Continue reading Lessons from rejection
It’s all in the name
It's no secret writers make up names; for their characters, for their stories and for themselves. Females have taken to disguising their authorship since at least Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell started getting their poetry published. The other day a writer revealed she didn't (really) read books by female writers and disguised her name as … Continue reading It’s all in the name
Writing Bec 