Don't forget your free short story at the end of this newsletter CREATIVITY...?
On a cool, grey, drizzly day, when I’m nursing a headache and completely devoid of inspiration, the Queensland Writers Centre's weekly newsletter tells me their magazine for the June quarter focuses on how writers think about and apply creativity in their lives. I can’t wait to read it. I’m hoping that somewhere in its pages it will tell me where I can obtain a supply of this creativity stuff. Even just a spoonful would be useful today. Then, instead of sitting on the deck listening to the waves breaking on the beach, I could go and sit in my office and be productive.
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Don't forget your free short story at the end of this newsletter
TOP MARKS It’s usually criticism and not congratulations voiced by residents about their local Council. On this occasion, it's top marks to the Mackay Regional Council. But the major prize goes to the library’s Community Outreach Team for their efforts in securing the Sydney Writer’s Festival sessions for local residents. All sessions will be live-streamed on roster at either of the two city libraries over the Festival from Thursday to Sunday at the end of May. One session is also scheduled for screening at Sarina Library. A special mention also goes out to the Sydney Writer’s Festival committee for allowing this to occur. Unlike the Melbourne Writer’s Festival which requires libraries to purchase a ticket for each person for each session attended at the library, the Sydney Writer’s Festival organisers make their program available free to libraries. A key speaker on the Thursday morning is Jane Harper, who will be discussing her latest book, Exiles, which is likely to be the final instalment in her recent series.. Remember to read on to the end for your free short story
TOOLS OF THE TRADE A statement borrowed from another writer claimed that writers have only three tools in their toolbox: grammar, punctuation and spelling. While there can be little argument with that, what if you don’t know, or are unsure about how to use those tools? As with any new tool or equipment, an initial learning period is involved – often accompanied by bad language – and in some instances, requiring the expertise of a teenage family member. Remember to read on to the end for your free short story
WHAT’S NEXT? Congratulations to the US publisher Penguin Random House for seeing the light following a major backlash in response to their publication of ‘amended’ versions of Roald Dahl’s books to render them more ‘acceptable’ to today’s readers. They now also will publish the books in their original unexpurgated form as the Classic Collection. The backlash such activity existed outside the US. Camilla, The Queen Consort, in a speech at Clarence House in recent days, spoke strongly in support of Freedom of Speech – and against messing with Roald Dahl’s books – forcing publisher Puffin UK (owned by Penguin Random House Children’s) to scrap its plans to ‘censor’ Dahl’s works. Remember to read on to the end for your free short story.
INSPIRATION While the gentle sound of a babbling brook is conducive to reflective and creative moments, the constant sound of rain on the roof is not so much. A few quotes from articles in a recent journal seem determined to encourage writers to plough on regardless: ‘Inspiration’ is just a posh word for ideas. You just need a couple of ideas each day to carry you through (Robert Harris). Remember you’re writing when you’re not writing – it has to happen in your imagination first (Joelle Taylor). I think fiction should be heard in those whispering little voices in the back of your mind, the ones you could never articulate out loud (Dominic Nolan). It’s a lot harder to keep going than give up. You’ll get a lot of knockbacks but if you believe in yourself and keep writing you’ll get there (Dorothy Koomson). |
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