Tag Archives: writing

Writers’ Festival Gems

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Karen Whitelaw

Every writers’ festival has its own personality. Sydney Writers Festival is big, brash and busy. The speakers are the top of the literary game nationally and internationally, as well as including promising new authors. But it’s so huge now you … Continue reading →

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

Generating Writing Ideas

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Karen Whitelaw

One of the questions writers are asked most often is, where do you get your ideas? At the Newcastle Writers’ Festival I went to a great session on Microfiction where author Susan McCreery talked about her New Year’s resolution to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Lose the writing doubts

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Karen Whitelaw

A writer friend asked me if I would be her accountability partner. She has nearly completed her “autobiographical novel,” a beautifully crafted, honest and moving story of love, belonging and tragedy. She now rings me every Friday, and for half … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , | 17 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

THE NWF/JOANNE BURNS AWARD 2016

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Karen Whitelaw

It’s time again for the Microlit Award jointly-sponsored by the Newcastle Writers Festival and Spineless Wonders. Finalists in 2015 saw their work made into visual presentations. Very exciting! Check out my winning story under ‘videos’ here. In 2016 finalists will be considered for … Continue reading →

Posted in competitions, fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 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

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