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Top 50 Aussie Writing Blogs

2 Comments »3rd April, 2009; Category: Blogging, Blogs

I am always on the lookout for good blogs – especially those that deal with writing. I was delighted a few days ago to find out that someone has compiled a list of Australian blogs about writing.

Jonathan Crossfield on CopyWrite has compiled a list of the Top 50 Aussie Writing Blogs. I am delighted that my blog sits at #25. It’s doing better than I thought, thanks to all of my readers who keep on coming back for more.

Go over there and have a look at the list. It’s based on various factors, including page rank and traffic. Each blog has a link to it, so it would be worth having a look at some of the blogs listed.

I’ll wait patiently here while you have a sneak look.

Good writing.

April is Poem a Day Month

No Comments »1st April, 2009; Category: Blogs, Group writing projects, Master of Arts course, Poetry

Over the years I have written about 500 poems – I haven’t done an accurate count. Most of these were written when the inspiration came to me, usually when I was particularly moved by a scene, an event or a special set of circumstances.

Over the last year I have written about 40 new poems, some of them quite long, the longest being about 140 lines. Almost all of these were written ‘on demand.’ I wrote them because they were expected of me as a part of my Master of Arts course. Most weeks I had to produce a poem in a set format as a part of the assessment process. It was tough going, but I managed it. I found the discipline of enforced writing actually worked in my favour: I had to produce something and that meant honing my skills as a poet.

With this in mind I endorse the idea behind April being the Poem a Day month (click here for details and rules). Each day a writing prompt by Robert Lee Brewer of Poetic Asides on the Writers’ Digest site will be given and poets are encouraged to write a poem a day for the entire month – or you may choose to only write one every few days. All poems submitted will appear on the blog site.

It’s a good challenge. Are you up to it?

Not sure where I’ll find the time. [sigh]

Good writing.

Writing prompts #10

No Comments »25th March, 2009; Category: Writing Hints, Writing prompts

My short story starters remain popular month after month.They are the most accessed articles on this blog. You can access these ideas by clicking on the link below.

Also becoming popular are the articles in my writing prompts series of articles.

Today we have another 20 writing prompts. Use these as warm up activities, or for ideas for stories or articles or blog posts. Use them however you like. Let me know in the comments how you went using these ideas.

Twenty Writing Prompts:

  1. Write about your favourite fruit.
  2. Who is your favourite famous person in history (alive or dead)? Write down a list of questions you would like to ask during an interview.
  3. You are waiting for a bus. A public phone starts ringing and you answer it. Write down your conversation.
  4. You go fishing and catch your best fish ever. As you take it off the hook, it talks to you. Record your conversation.
  5. Describe the life of a clock – from the point of view of the clock.
  6. A small spaceship flies in through your window and lands next to your computer. Describe your reaction. What do you do next?
  7. Describe the worst disaster you’ve ever experienced.
  8. Write the first sentence of the novel you want to write someday. Make it great.
  9. “It’s not over yet.” Write down what you think might happen next.
  10. Write about the things you wish you had done on your holidays.
  11. “That’s what’s wrong with this organisation.” Make a list of the things that need correcting. It might be best if you don’t leave this list lying around at work.
  12. Write about the things you are not certain about.
  13. Describe what happened tomorrow.
  14. Imagine you are an ant living in a colony of ten million ants. How valued do you feel? Write about your feelings.
  15. One of your hens hatches an egg containing a small dinosaur. How do you look after your new pet?
  16. Imagine your best friend has died. Write an obituary for your friend.
  17. “I thought this would never happen to me.” Describe what happened and how you dealt with the situation.
  18. Make a list of things you could do when sick in bed.
  19. “My life is based on a true story.” Write about the things that you wish had happened in your life.
  20. Make a list of the highlights of your life so far.

Further reading:

Writing while you sleep

4 Comments »18th March, 2009; Category: The Writer's Life, Writer's block, Writing Hints

Writing while you sleep?

Now – there’s a thought! Wouldn’t it be ‘luvverly’  if you woke up each morning and the writing pixies had been busy all night on your keyboard?  Sure to be nothing but fairy tales though.

Say – there’s another story idea – WHAT IF you wrote a story about pixies writing your story while you slept?

See – I’m full of ideas!

And pleeeeze – do not say I’m off with the pixies! That would be fairy insulting and damaging to my elf-esteem.

(Picks up large jar full of tablets. Looks at clock. Yes – time for my medication.)

Seriously folks – there will be times when you’ve been working hard on a story and you get blocked, or tired or just cannot see where to go next. In those situations it might be better to quit writing, get some good sleep and let your sub-conscious take over for a few hours. Then you can come back to the writing with fresh eyes, and a refreshed mind. Might just work wonders.

Good writing.

Writing prompts #9

No Comments »16th March, 2009; Category: Short Story Starters, Writer's block, Writing Hints, Writing prompts

Sometimes writers get stuck for ideas. This might just be a temporary blip on the radar screen. If it persists over a long period of time, the dreaded writer’s block might be the cause.

Whatever the situation, writers are left without ideas. This is where my very popular short story starters can help. Then we have this series of writing prompts to get you out of those writing ruts. Today I present the latest list of writing prompts.

Use these as writing warm up activities. Use them as jumping off points for stories, or magazine articles or even blog posts. Use them however you wish.

Twenty Writing Prompts

  1. Write about a career you have always dreamed about.
  2. Write a conversation between a cow and a blade of grass.
  3. What is your favourite household appliance? Write about its life from the point of view of the appliance.
  4. If you had a choice, where would you live and why?
  5. Write a list of ten things you would never write about.
  6. Write a list of menu items you would offer to an enemy who came into your restaurant.
  7. Choose an item in the room. Describe it without saying what it is and from the object’s point of view.
  8. Make a list of the ten greatest inventions ever.
  9. Write five things you would never tell your children – or your parents.
  10. You are alone in the house. Your cat/dog starts talking to you. Record your conversation.
  11. Choose a colour. Write about how it would feel if everything in the world was that colour.
  12. A stranger approaches you in an airport and asks for a thousand dollars. Record your conversation.
  13. Describe boredom. Make your description exciting.
  14. Assume that more ice creams are sold on Tuesdays. Write a short report on why this is so.
  15. Take on the role of your editor. Write the most devastating rejection letter you can imagine.
  16. What would you do if you could live for a thousand years? describe your life.
  17. Make a list of ten things that the world would be better off without. (“Things” – not people!)
  18. Describe the best party ever. Who would you invite? Where would you hold it? What would you have to eat?
  19. Describe what you would do if you found an elephant in your garden.
  20. Write down your thoughts about the most controversial current news item.

Further reading:

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