Category Archives: Writing

Writing about Emotion

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

William Faulkner knew it. Janette Turner Hospital, Kate Grenville, Julian Barnes know it. But studies are just starting to prove it. The more writers hold back on the effusive emoting of their characters, the more emotion their readers will feel. … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Readings of Place

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

In Writers in Action, David Malouf says we learn about dimensions and space from our first readings of the place in which we grow up, and we go on to apply that to whatever else we look at. One part … Continue reading →

Posted in Short stories, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Just Write

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

It’s one thing to actually force yourself to observe your writing habits. It’s harder to take the next step of understanding why you behave in ways that are obviously counter-productive, and then finding positive ways to get what these negative … Continue reading →

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Changing Negative Behavioural Patterns – Part II

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

We often blame procrastination when it’s our behavioural patterns that stop us doing the things we genuinely want to do. My last post, Recognising Writing Behavioural Patterns, was all about mapping and recognising these patterns as a way to changing … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

Recognising Writing Behavioural Patterns

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

Why, with all my good intentions, enthusiasm and motivation, do I fail to be as productive with my writing as I’d like? Why do I start exciting new writing projects and often find they peter out after a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Newcastle Herald Short Story Competition

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

THE Newcastle Herald is inviting writers from across the Hunter to enter its third annual short story competition. The twenty-five shortlisted stories will be published in the Herald from December 26 to January 23. Stories must be inspired by one … Continue reading →

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“The Blog Hop” & “My Writing Process Q & A Tour”

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

Marg from Marg’s Slices of Life passed The Blog Hop onto me. While I was thinking about the questions she sent, Joanna and Ron from The Lazuli Portals nominated me for My Writing Process Q & A Tour. As the … Continue reading →

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Writers are Observers

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

The rain storms over the past week have lit up our sky with rainbows. Many of them have been perfect arches in full vibrant colours crisply delineated. Some have been double rainbows. When I was standing in the park photographing … Continue reading →

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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

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