Diary

Completing a first draft by the end of January was always going to be a stretch and so it proved. On a positive note though the final few chapters are planned, I know exactly where this book is going, and I reckon I’m a good two thirds finished. Anyway, January 31 was always going to... Read more »

Chatting with my lovely mentor earlier this month resulted in firming up the timeline for this book project. An important point to consider was that it will be 20 years since Tasmanians first learned of plans to build a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley. Details of an overheard lunchtime conversation at a Hobart waterfront... Read more »

And before you ask, that title has nothing whatsoever to do with November being the month where writers take up the challenge to write a novel in a month. Or NaNoWriMo . My magnum opus isn’t a novel, but I know writers who use November as a motivation tool to keep their own work progressing.... Read more »

An impressive title for another impressive anthology put together by Tasmania’s northwest FAW group, and in which I again have several poems included. Once again the volume has been compiled by Allan Jamieson, and kudos to him for doing a terrific job, as it truly is a fine looking book with a wealth of varied... Read more »

The following wasn’t the winner of the 39th Poetry Festival’s iconic Poetry Cup event, but it came pretty close. Or so I understand. The winner is judged by audience response so the more claps, foot stomps, cheers and sundry expressions of approval, the better. Poems have to be read in one minute or less too... Read more »

I still find it amazing that some of these poems I write, and that I rarely agonise over, take hours to compose, or even – really – take terribly seriously, nevertheless strike a chord or find favour in a publication. Of course they wouldn’t ever do that unless I took the time (and had the... Read more »

There has, of course, been the odd wobble in the planned routine but essentially this book is now steadily moving forward. My wonderful mentor has just sent back the second lot of comments, with gratifyingly few criticisms. She did say there was only some minor editing to do but otherwise it’s looking good. Phew. I... Read more »

After way too many stop starts in the writing routine, this stalled project is now firmly on track and underway. I managed to divest myself of a couple of commitments recently and my brain had a gear change. It’s allowed me to be much more focussed on progressing this book. For three days a week... Read more »

Rejection is all part of the writing game. At least it is if one is prepared to put it out into the public sphere in the hope a publisher or editor is impressed enough to print it, and ideally pay the writer for the privilege. That’s the life of a freelance journalist, jobbing writer, or... Read more »

Awards and grant opportunities for non-fiction writers working on book projects are nowhere near as plentiful as they are for fiction writers, so when a friend sent through the link for Hardie Grant’s Spark Prize, it took me about five minutes to decide to enter once I’d read through the guidelines. That decision was the... Read more »

Volunteering on an information stall for ABC Friends at Exeter Market yesterday proved to be a lot more beneficial than simply flying the flag for our public broadcaster, worthwhile though that also certainly proved to be. During the course of the morning while chatting to a couple of guys about why whoever wins government in... Read more »