Category Archives: Uncategorized

In Defense of Procrastination

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Some writers think procrastination is the same as being blocked. Some call procrastination thinking. I’ve just watched a Ted Talk by Adam Grant called ‘Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers.’ He conducted a study which makes a strong case for the procrastination-as-thinking camp. Grant is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Microlit

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Only 4 days to go until I see my 200 word Microlit story up in lights at the Newcastle Writers Festival! 4 finalists were chosen in the Festival’s inaugural Microlit competition  in partnership with publisher Spineless Wonders. My story is … Continue reading →

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Newcastle Writers Festival 2016

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Keep the weekend April 1 -3  free for the 2016 Newcastle Writers Festival. It’s an exciting line-up this year. Check out the program . If you want to spruce up your writing there are Masterclasses by Carmel Bird  and Claire Scobie, and sessions on Self-publishing … Continue reading →

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The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

In 2010 the Australian Book Review formed the annual ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. It was created to honour a highly respected Australian short story writer and has become one of our leading short story awards. Entries are now open to … Continue reading →

Posted in short story competitions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Fiction & Compassion

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

  In a large regional town like any other large regional town in Australia lives a woman in her 60s. One of those battlers – you know them, the people who life has kicked around a bit but they get … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Writing from the forgotten senses

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

For three days last week the wind blew the rain horizontally. It pelted against the window glass and the drops sounded like someone throwing sharp needles. Last week I’d given myself a writing challenge: to write somewhere different each day, … Continue reading →

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Love the Details

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Details should be more than a writer’s friend; details should be our lover. Get intimate, close up. Slow down. Examine him/her with intense and specific attentiveness. Details make the place in our writing real. Whether it’s travel, memoir, stories or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Short Story Competition

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

  The Newcastle Short Story Award is now open to Australian residents. You’ve got until midnight on 31st January 2016 to polish up your best story under 2,000 words. The shortlisted stories from the inaugural competition in 2012, including one of mine, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, competitions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Wallpaper 

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

 Rue Jacob is just around the corner from where we’re staying in St German de Pres. Oscar Wilde died in a hotel there in 1900. A few days before he died he is quoted as saying, “This wallpaper and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

A Busker

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

  As I walked over the bridge from Notre Dame to the Ile de la Cite in Paris a man came the other way pushing a piano on a trolley. He turned his piano upright and started to play Mozart.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments