Tag Archives: writing

Living a Dream

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

Today we arrived in Menerbes, a walled medieval village that runs along a hilltop in the Luberon Valley. We’re staying here for three weeks so I can live out a lifetime dream of writing in France. We arrived at 6 … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Writing is like loose pyjamas

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

Julia Cameron said that writing should be like loose pyjamas. What she means is writing can be casual and comfortable. Cameron writes three ‘morning pages’ of longhand every day. Morning pages are stream-of-consciousness writing that have no restrictions and carry … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

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 →

Posted in Writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Newcastle Writers Festival 20-22 March

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Karen Whitelaw

This year’s lineup at the 2015 Newcastle Writers Festival at Newcastle City Hall will thrill any book lover. A taste of the talent: Helen Garner, Marion Halligan, Favel Parrett, Bob Brown, Michael Robotham, Les Murray, and proudly standing alongside them … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Newcastle Writers Festival | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

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

Friday Fictioneers – 12 December 2014

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Karen Whitelaw

It’s Friday Fictioneers time and it’s good to have time this week to play. Check out the blog run admirably by Rochelle Wiseoff-Field to learn all you need to know about Friday Fictioneers. From there you can link to the … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction, Short stories | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments

“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 →

Posted in Short stories, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments