Author Archives: Karen Whitelaw

Writers’ Secret Weapon: vulnerability

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

I once heard Peter Carey, two times winner of the Man Booker, tell Phillip Adams on ABC’s Late Night Live that the week before a new book comes out he can find himself curled on the floor in a foetal … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments

Friday Fictioneers – 6 June

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Every Friday writers from around the world contribute 100 word stories prompted by a photograph supplied by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields to Friday Fictioneers. I love constructive comments on my stories. My inspiration this week came from a Japanese 10th century folk … Continue reading →

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Stories at The Mosh Pit a huge success!

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Originally posted on Jessie Ansons:
At the quirkiest cafe in downtown Cardiff, a group of writers gathered to read their work… On Saturday afternoon I was lucky enough to MC a brilliant writers event in Newcastle, NSW. The day was…

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Live Reading

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Doing anything Saturday? Why not come along for coffee and entertaining readings by some of our best local authors. It’s free! See you there!

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David Malouf at Sydney Writers’ Festival

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Sydney Theatre. 11.30 am. 22 May, 2014 The auditorium lights faded. Enter stage right, David Malouf. Australian Book Review’s first laureate. Multiple literary award winner, including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Man Booker short-lister. Enter Tegan Bennett Daylight. Interviewer. One of … Continue reading →

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Alex Miller at the SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Hornsby Library, 21st May 2014 You would expect when an insightful author like Alex Miller stands up to talk to his readers he would make us think. Not only did he succeed, but more importantly, he made us feel. First … Continue reading →

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Friday Fictioneers – 9th May

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Aftermath She makes herself get up at dawn to walk along the shore. No one is around then. It eases her into the unsafe world; otherwise she would hide in bed all day. The police car usually passes her on … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments

Books are Bad for You

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

There is no way someone who lives books, reading and writing can ignore a column piece called Books are Bad for You. My hackles go up immediately and I’m ready to argue with its author, Howard Jacobson, before I’ve even … Continue reading →

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Sentence Fragments: How to Use Them

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Pedants point smugly and sneer, ‘That’s not a sentence.’ Microsoft Word screams when we use them. But many writers write in fragments and to great effect. Good fragments aren’t made by chopping off any old sentence randomly. Fragments are short … Continue reading →

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Friday Fictioneers – 18th April

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Every Friday writers from around the world contribute 100 word stories prompted by a photograph supplied by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields to Friday Fictioneers. I love constructive comments on my stories. The Dragon Trevor must have sped straight to the hospital after … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged , , | 67 Comments