Author Archives: Karen Whitelaw

Expanding the Moment

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Sometimes I come across a passage of writing that stops time. It’s a magical moment where the writing creates a strange paradox: the words go on but time itself stops long enough for me to observe this expanded, intense and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

500 Characters

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

The swarming crowds on Miyajima Island don’t climb the hill behind Itsukushima Temple. Thankfully. They’re mesmerised by the temple itself which seems to float on water at high tide. From the boardwalks they have an amazing view of the famous … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

What is Time?

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Two things happened last weekend that made me question Time. Firstly, I heard Jeanette Winterson discuss time at the Sydney Opera House. She grew up in a household that lived in End Time. When Mrs Winterson had drills to practice … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Friday Fictioneers – 8 August

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Every Friday writers from around the world contribute 100 word stories prompted by a photograph. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields co-ordinates Friday Fictioneers. Thank you, Rochelle. Here’s my story and you can check out the others on Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers blog. Slippages Made … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 57 Comments

Is There a Right Way to Write?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

I was astounded recently when a former student, a woman whose work I admire, who has gone on to become a successful prize-winning writer, confessed she didn’t like to read, that she didn’t read. Until I heard this I believed … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Friday Fictioneers – 18 July

Posted on July 17, 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. Here’s my story and you can check out the others on Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers blog. No Hard Feelings … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged , , , , | 49 Comments

Writing in Digital Time

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Since I embraced the digital era in the last year – yes, I’m a slow learner – I’ve started to fear my writing has suffered for it. Time I used to spend redrafting stories has gone into writing blog posts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Characters and Objects

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Look at someone’s room and you’ll know something of its owner. The sunroom with a bright rug of crotchet-squares hanging over a wooden rocker. The rumpus room with the giant flat-screened TV and the brick bar in the corner. The … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Friday Fictioneers – 27 June

Posted on June 26, 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. Here’s my story. Sugar Gliders My daughter is leaving for university in the city. She packs the important … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged , , , | 47 Comments

Friday Fictioneers – 20 June

Posted on June 20, 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. Hey Diddle Diddle This morning Tom tentatively suggested we demolish the … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories | Tagged , , | 37 Comments