creative writing | creative life
A while back, I wrote a blog post. You know why? Because I had a nice photo of bulbs in pots. You know. Flowers and stuff. Here it is. Pretty, hey? I thought, how can I write a blog post around this image? I love this image. I want to use this image! I must, I must, …
Writers love words. Not just for what they do—create entire universes. They love them as individuals. Most writers (and editors) will blush with delight when handed a dictionary. They enjoy nothing more than ‘word talk’. Who likes pernickety, lilting, lumber, moot? Moot is a queer word. Queer is a great word that's taken on a …
It’s only subjective! They don’t know everything! You have to stick to your guns! Over the years I've been privy to conversations wherein authors discuss/ argue/ wail about their editors. Likewise, I'm often asked by aspiring authors and illustrators, ‘What should I do when my editor makes suggestions and I don’t agree with them?’ Sometimes …
This week on Duckie TV, we kicked off Q & Q Friday 2017, with a mindset question. A duckie wrote to ask if I ever compared myself to other writers and if so, how did I cope with it. Hello? Did I ever compare myself to others? Hell, yeah! I've even tried to dress like my favourite …
Continue reading "Do you compare yourself to other writers? Let’s break the addiction"
Look. See the water on the steps? Yep. That's rain. Rain, I tell ya! Oh, happy days. Perfect weather for plannin', dreamin' and schemin'. Do you plan your year in advance? Do you set goals? I do. Kind of... If you subscribe to girl and duck (and why wouldn't you?) you would have received an …
1 Stories exist in their entirety before we start writing. They live on the astral plane. It's up to us to usher them onto this plane. 2 Stories want to be on this plane. But only on their terms. 3 All stories have a face. But they're tricksters. The first face they show you might be a ruse, …
Continue reading "Six curious things I believe about stories"
Hush, duckie. Do you hear? We are now in the quiet zone. That weird space between Christmas and New Year when time goes all weird and stretchy and sort of Einsteiny. When Melbourne is like a ghost town because everyone has loaded up their SUVs and their frayed tempers and racked off—air conditioners blaring. Silence. Sweltering …
Continue reading "Girl and Duck e-book launcheroony (almost)!"
Hey, sleepy head. Did you miss Part One? You can read it here. Okay, so I've eased up a bit. This next lot? Not so hard-arse. 5. Always begin with pen and paper. Go to the computer later but connect your hand to your brain first. It’s a physical thing. Our imagination is stimulated by …
Continue reading "Tough love tips for aspiring authors: Part Two"
IMPORTANT MISSIVE TO POTENTIAL DUCKETTES Or: A quick note from my studio. If you have this note you obviously follow the girl and duck blog. But are you also an Official Card Carrying Duckette? What I mean is, do you subscribe to girl and duck? I hope so because I don't want you to miss any …
I have the lurgy, dear reader, and I have spent the day in bed. Here's what I've been doing (in bed): Reading Flow magazine Reading The Element by Ken Robinson Answering emails to sweet people and nice girls Watching Ted Talks Thinking about YOU. That's why I've written this list. I hope you find it …