Dear blog readers, It’s been a while! I intended to take a three-week blogging break after Christmas. Then four of the five of us came down with the flu, then I caught up on my missed editing work, and then I went away for a week. So it’s been a while. I want to tell… Continue reading Springfield writing retreat
Tag: writing workshops
TGIF
Each week always starts off fresh with five days of possibility before the weekend, and then all of a sudden, it’s Friday and some of the possibilities haven’t quite eventuated! Brene Brown, author, research professor and Ted talk speaker, sends out a weekly email entitled TGIF. But the TGIF stands for Trust, Gratitude, Inspiration and… Continue reading TGIF
July musings
It’s been a little while since I posted! Four of my family of five have been sick, and I went down sick with the kids a month ago. We also had a holiday in sunny Queensland during the school break (everyone was well), and then we were back home with a sick daughter. So I… Continue reading July musings
Different ways of thinking
There are so many different types of creativity and different ways to harness it. There’s also different ways to be logical and methodical and as many permutations as there are people for combining creativity and practicality. I am a blend of inspirational and practical thinking – I do love to be organised because it means… Continue reading Different ways of thinking
Quest writing workshops
A vial full of unicorn tears, an old book with a hand drawn map, a pack of potion recipes, a feather, a baby dragon … these were just a few of the treasures found in my quest box for our writing workshops. But really, the treasure was the dozen or so kids I taught writing… Continue reading Quest writing workshops
September holidays writing workshops for kids
Photo credit: Mandy Couzens Do you have any imaginative and creative children or grandchildren who would like to spend a few hours in the holidays writing a story? I’m running four writing workshops for kids in the September/October school holidays. I’ve presented these workshops in primary schools but this is the first time I’ve run… Continue reading September holidays writing workshops for kids
The Grand Imaginarium writing workshops for kids
On the loveliest of spring days these school holidays, my friend Renee and I took our kids to the Abbotsford Convent for a writing workshop with Lucinda Gifford, run through the Grand Imaginarium. Lucinda is an illustrator and writer. She showed the kids her sketchbook – it was amazing. If I could choose an instant… Continue reading The Grand Imaginarium writing workshops for kids
Guest lecture on writing and blogging
I had the pleasure of presenting a university guest lecture this week for third-year teaching students. My topic was writing and blogging, with a focus on writing workshops for primary school students. As I caught the tram to the university, it reminded me of my own uni days – a long time ago! I spent… Continue reading Guest lecture on writing and blogging
In the margins
I stared at the file in dismay. My words from my middle-grade manuscript had been kindly and meticulously edited by my friend Renee. There were almost 5,000 words in four chapters. Renee’s comments were in purple. She’d given me quite a few ticks, but there were more suggestions and deletions than ticks. Out of the… Continue reading In the margins
Writers be warned – do not describe eyes!
Last night I went to a structural editing workshop presented by author Paddy O’Reilly through Writers Victoria. Structural editing can feel like wading through wet concrete because you sink deeper into the mire with every step and feel further away from where you’re trying to go. At least, that’s what it feels like to me.… Continue reading Writers be warned – do not describe eyes!