Three day novel writing race
The City of Salisbury in Adelaide, South Australia, is a great supporter of the arts. Every year they sponsor a Writers’ Festival. I haven’t yet attended one of these but all reports say that it is a worthwhile event to attend.
As a part of that festival – to be held later this year – they hold a special novel writing race. Writers are asked to write a novel over this coming weekend. It is a long weekend throughout most of Australia so that gives writers 72 hours exactly to finish their masterpiece.
I am not going to enter this year because of other commitments which would cut into my writing time. Next year perhaps?
In the meantime, for more information [sorry – this link no longer works].
They also run a short story and poetry writing competition and details are also found on that web page.
Your Life is a Metaphor
10 Comments »2nd April, 2006; Category: Articles, Devotional Writing, General, Novels, Poetry, Short Stories
Inspiration
Inspiration comes to writers – and people in many other spheres of life – in many, varied and sometimes strange ways. For example, a few years ago I had a sudden insight during a sermon at church. Something that was said – I don’t remember what it was – gave me an idea for a children’s novel. Over the next few months I actually wrote that novel. It is now in the final stages of editing and will be soon ready to send off to a publisher.
New Inspiration
During today’s sermon, Daryll, our pastor, used a string of metaphors to introduce his topic. Immediately I was inspired to write a series pieces using metaphors. It’s only an idea at this stage. Not sure if these pieces of writing will be articles, stories (true or fictional), poems, devotionals, whatever.
Daryll found the list in chapter 5 of the Rick Warren book “The Purpose Driven Life.” (published by Zondervan).
Some Metaphors for Life
- Life is a three-ring circus.
- Life is a minefield.
- Life is a roller coaster.
- Life is a puzzle.
- Life is a symphony.
- Life is a journey.
- Life is a dance.
- Life is a carousel (sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down, and sometimes you just go round and round).
- Life is a game of cards (you have to play the hand you are dealt).
- Life is a race.
- Life is a marathon.
- Life is a battle.
Of course, both the author and Daryll forgot to mention my alltime favourite from none other than that great philosopher, Forrest Gump:
- (Insert southern drawl) “My Mama always said:’Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get.”
Actually – that last one is in fact a simile – not a metaphor. Oh well, never mind.
The point is this; inspiration for writing is all around us, in the commonplace, in those we meet everyday, in ordinary situations. We just have to open our eyes, our ears – all our senses – to the possibilities.
And that idea is far removed from the main thrust of Daryll’s sermon this morning.
Life is like a maze: just when you think you have found the way out, another interesting path opens up before you.
Writers’ Week in Adelaide
Eager Readers
Today I attended the last day of this year’s Writers’ Week in Adelaide, South Australia. This is part of the Adelaide Festival of Arts held every second year. Writers from all over Australia and many from overseas gather for a week long series of talks, panel discussions and book launches. Held in the beautiful parklands of the capital city of South Australia, this highly popular event attracts hundreds of authors and thousands of eager readers every day of the week long event. Many line up to buy the featured books in the Bookshop tent, and then line up again to have their new purchases autographed by the visiting authors.
Sonya Hartnett
One of the featured Australian writers at this year’s festival event was Sonya Hartnett. She spoke passionately about her books and the craft of writing, the influences on her writing and read passages from several of her books. She is also adamant – and quite outspoken on the topic – that far too many poorly written books are being published.
Author Highlight and Book Launch
Perhaps the highlight of the day was a book launch by a local author. Mary Gunther, an elderly Adelaide doctor, started her medical career in New Guinea working in a hospital run by the Lutheran Church. During her years there she experienced many difficulties living in a strange land with many frightening aspects, such as spiders i her shower, snakes in her toilet and ants that seemed to be able to eat anything.
Treasure Box
She gave an enthusiastic and graphic account of some of her adventures – and misadventures – and the MC eventually had to interrupt her account to say that her time was up. Since returning to various medical practices in Adelaide she has been asked numerous times to “write a book.” A few years ago her husband rediscovered a box in their shed left by her mother. It contained all of her letters written weekly from New Guinea to her family at home. This became the source material for her book, called “Doctors in Paradise.”
Writers’ Week in Adelaide
Writers’ Week
Today I attended the Thursday sessions of Writers’ Week in Adelaide. This is a regular feature of the Adelaide Festival of Arts which is held every two years. Prominent writers from all over Australia and selected writers from overseas are invited to be guest speakers. Previously I have been unable to attend because of work commitments.
Adelaide Parklands
Writers’ Week is held in a beautiful section of Adelaide’s parklands, about 200 metres across the road from the Festival Centre and about five minutes walk from the CBD. The organisers have set up two large tents filled with chairs. Over the years the Writers’ Week sessions have proved so popular that the chairs spill out of the tents and over the adjoining lawns. Being 31C today every shady spot nearby also sprouted chairs filled with eager readers and writers listening to the speakers.
Book Shop
In between the two tents is the Book Shop which sells mainly books written by the guest speakers. Many avid readers snaffle up these books and then proceed to the table where the eager writers are waiting to sign their books. Next to the Book Shop is the very essential food and drinks tent. South Australian wines are a popular and well patronised feature of the drinks section.
Speakers
The writer I enjoyed most today was Simon Armitage, an English poet. His talk was very entertaining. Simon entertained the large crowd of well over a thousand, illustrating his talk with some of his excellent poetry. Another entertaining speaker was Australian writer Michael Robotham. He also entertained the audience with tales of his experiences as a ghost writer of the “autobiographies” of some celebrities, including Rolf Harris, Lulu and former Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell. More recently he has turned to writing novels, including the highly popular “The Suspect.”
Welcome
No Comments »6th March, 2006; Category: Articles, Devotional Writing, Novels, Picture Books, Poetry, Puppet Scripts, Short Stories, Young Readers
Welcome to this web site, the home page of writer Trevor Hampel. This site needs lots of work on it so stay tuned.
Just to arouse a little curiosity here are some of the things I write:
Picture books, novels for young readers, puppet scripts, poetry – both for children and adults, devotionals, short stories and articles.