creativity – Page 2 – girl and duck

Institute Opening Sale! Be quick!

Hello, dear reader. Do you remember the Ponds Institute? Here at girl and duck HQ, I desperately wanted to call our new school, The Pond Institute. In loving memory, of course. And so I could justify a lab coat. But. I didn’t want to get sued. So, we have opened the girl and duck…

Let’s dress up! Book Week costumes a-plenty. Send me your pics!

Lights! Camera! Book Week! I LOVE dressing my characters. I have to know what they’re wearing, in order to get a true sense of them. Over the years, loads of readers (and their parents) have sent me their Book Week, Truly Tan pics. But there’s plenty more inspiration in my books. Here’s my own little…

One word to help flagging writers

By: girlandduck July 4, 2018

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, inspiration, personal development, procrastination, writing, writing advice9 Comments

A while back I wrote about the Three Ps of Creative Writing: Patience, Perseverance and Passion. You can read that post here. I still believe in the three Ps. But I get bored quickly. And I like finding new ways to motivate myself (and others). Because creative writing is hard. Always and forever. Lately, I’ve…

Scribbles Is On Sale. This Week Only!

By: girlandduck June 10, 2018June 10, 2018

UncategorizedCate Whittle, creative writing, creativity, Edwina Wyatt, inspiration, learning to write, personal development, Sarah Epstein, Scribbles creative writing course, video, writing, writing advice, writing communities, writing fiction, writing for children2 Comments

This ducky is stuffed. She won’t create nothin’ this winter. But this doesn’t have to be you! If you’ve been thinking of joining Scribbles, now’s the time, pop tart! Starting today, Sunday June 10, we’re having a super duper, once only, Scribbles Winter Warm-up Sale. Save big bucks, make new friends AND put some sparkle…

Three ways to make yourself write

By: girlandduck May 29, 2018

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, inspiration, lynda barry, personal development, picture books, procrastination, writers' block, writing, writing advice, writing fiction, writing tips3 Comments

Excuses not to write or create. We’ve all got truckloads. Snoresville. Don’t waste mental and emotional energy trying to push through or fight with your excuses. Don’t try to rationalise them, either. Don’t take them out, hold them to light, polish and stroke them. And don’t try tossing out your everyday life in the name…

Creators! Are you feeling fragile? This might help

Melbourne, Australia. May 2018 Weather? Yeah, right. Big weekend for the children’s book industry. Kid Lit Vic. Scribbles Masterclass. Book launches (Jess Racklyeft, Lucinda Gifford). I cooked roast lamb. Himself cooked parsnip soup. As I said, BIG. Following the ruckus, there have been heaps of posts and comments and ruminations flying around the Duck…

Cottage news, awards and competitions (for you), film news and a studio that requires imagination

Blog time. Go, Jen, go. K. The hunt is over! We bought a cottage in the country! OMG! This Easter we got ten substandard Easter Eggs and a 1930s cottage with two big trees, a wasp nest and a headless statue. Exhibit A: We move in winter. Lots of time to declutter — the house,…

Geek Duck’s Top Ten Tips for Partners of KidLit Creators

By: girlandduck February 18, 2018February 18, 2018

Uncategorizedcreative writing, creativity, illustrating children's books, inspiration, kid lit, mindset for creatives, storytelling, this writing life, writing, writing advice, writing for kids10 Comments

I rarely if ever have guest bloggers. Why? Because I can’t be stuffed. It all sounds like way too much verk. And you know how I like to keep verk to minimum. But last week Geek Duck came to me and said, ‘I want to write a blog post, do you mind?’ ‘Go right ahead,’…

House Huntin’, Book Writin’, and the Inaugural Scribbles Live Round

The other day my friend, Tania McCartney, told me about Bullet Journalling. Sounds like fun! I’ll follow it up. It made me think of Bullet Blogging. Could I try that??? Is that even a thing? It is now. Here goes: The hunt for a country house continues. We’ve seen millions (well, that’s how it feels).…

News from the house hunt, and ‘where to from here?’ for this blog

You know how I used to have a blog called Baxter Street? Well I did. It was more personal that this blog. For 2018 I’ve decided to combine the best of Baxter Street with the best of Girl & Duck. Which means sometimes I’ll bang on about personal stuff that might not interest you. Other…