Category Archives: Uncategorized

Big Journey of a Little Fiction

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Who would have believed that one little 200 word story could travel so far? Other stories I’ve had published, 20 times as big, live in the dark pages on my bookshelf after their five minutes in the spotlight. ‘Koi’ keeps … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Artist Date

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

When I ask my inner artist on a date to Carriageworks to see Francesco Clemente’s exhibition Encampment, my critic says dryly, ‘How imaginative! Taking your artist to an art space.’ Does my critic ever wonder why I never invite her? I plan it carefully. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Short stories, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

What is Microlit?

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Short shorts/ microlit/ flash fiction/ microfiction/ very short stories, by any other name would be as… umm… short. The deadline for the national Newcastle Writers’ Festival/Joanne Burns Award 2016 is gaining on us – 31st August. See details here. That might … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Award Winning Australian Writing 2016

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

                Last Thursday I got the exciting news my story ‘Koi’, which won the Inaugural Newcastle Writers’s Festival Microlit Competition has been selected for the Award Winning Australian Writing 2016 anthology! And to top it off … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, short story competitions, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Speech Recognition Software

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

Over the past year I’ve noticed that my hands and wrists are becoming sore from typing. Not just the soreness from overuse but there’s been some nerve pain too. So I started looking up speech recognition software on the Internet, … Continue reading →

Posted in technology, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

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 →

Posted in competitions, Newcastle Writers Festival, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

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 →

Posted in competitions, Newcastle Writers Festival, Uncategorized, Writers Festival | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

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