What a finale! The judging in the Scribbles Creative Writing Awards is over and our beautiful certificates are winging their way to our winners and highly commended. Other prizes are also being dished out! Sheesh. We don’t just give you a certificate and send you on your way! That is so NOT the Scribbly way!…
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If your writing was a breakfast cereal, what would it be? No, seriously! Stick with me here! If you likened your writing (or your story) to a breakfast cereal, you might have some astonishing insights. You might even discover a fun and effective way to self-edit or rewrite. Step back from your work and try…
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I’ve been thinking about teaching. I think about it a lot. You see, I’ve been gathering notes for another tutorial to add to the girl & duck Institute. This one’s about voice. Voice is one of my FAVOURITE topics. It should be every author’s favourite topic. Well. Top five at least. By the way… Do…
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Okay. So. I’m writing this while someone drills the outside walls of the studio. Not sure what they’re doing. It’s like there’s a giant dentist outside trying to break in. A painting just fell off the wall, knocked a cup of tea flying and tipped over a Peace Lily. Aside from that, it’s business as…
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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…
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In the last Q and Q Friday video, we talked about writing picture books via the illustrations. In other words, an alternative way to write a PB is to start with the pictures. Lots of creators, especially illustrators, work this way. Pictures first. Words second. Sweeeeet. So. That’s what I’m doing here. I’m pulling some…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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