My writing is being studied at university! A blogger award! & The story of NBWG!

Three personal updates

Update 1: My writing is being studied at university!

It’s quite an honour to have my writing studied at university. In fact, wow!

Okay, so that statement probably makes it sound more than what it is. But my writing really has just been studied, analysed and dissected in a thesis paper at the University of Technology, Sydney…

UTS graduate of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Information Technology – Jessica Frawley – is a gifted academic and innovator. Last year, she conceived a brilliant idea: to initiate a collaborative storytelling project whereby individuals wrote stories using only their mobile phones. You can read more about my contribution to the project here. But, not only did Jessica instigate the mStories project, she also wrote a thesis about it… one that has awarded her with the highest mark for an IT Honours thesis.

And, in writing her thesis, Jessica used the mStory I wrote to prove how increasingly visual and multimodal the semiotic landscape is becoming, also that new literacies such as those created by mobile phones are reshaping and redefining literacy as a whole. She used highly intellectual phrases to refer to my work, such as ‘intersemiotic complementarity’, ‘visual and lexicogrammatic components’ and ‘metafunctions’… and I’m real chuffed that she did.

Shapter’s story uses repetition, synonymy, antonymy, meronymy, hyponymy and collocation to provide intersemiotic connection between visual and lexicosemantic meaning-making elements.

Why, thank you, Jessica! Indeed I did.

To read my mStory, just head over to the mStories website and, while you’re there, think about getting involved too. Perhaps Jessica will apply ‘Royce’s (2007) intersemiotic complementarity framework’ to your story next! She’s just been awarded the UTS Chancellor’s scholarship for doctoral research. Go Jessica!

Update 2: A blogger Award!

Dear reader – you will also be pleased to know that you’re reading good quality stuff here on my blog. A few weeks ago, I received a Versatile Blogger Award from JB Rowley for:

Your blogging contribution to writing, including help and good advice for writers

Thank you, JB (read more about JB here)! It’s very nice of you to say so, and to offer me this groovy award:

For my blogging contribution to writing, including help and good advice for writers!

In accepting this award, I am obliged to share seven completely random things about myself. Okay, so these are:

1. I have a high pain threshold
2. Number 1 is not applicable when it comes to gardening
3. I have tangled with a real, live dragon
4. Although I love living in Australia, I miss England every day
5. My favourite animals are frogs
6. I don’t drive
7. I have been mugged four times

Re point 3: It was a komodo dragon, while I was trekking across Komodo Island in Indonesia.

Also, in keeping with the spirit and rules of this award, I will now award the Versatile Blogging Award to the following eight awesome bloggers:

• Trent Jamieson – for taking the time, effort and creativity to entertain us with Pieo. I love that guy!
• Rowena Cory Daniells – for the generous and ongoing support you offer fellow writers. I aspire to develop as big a heart as yours.
• Ian Irvine – for sharing so much of your writing life, experience and knowledge with your fans. Thank you.
• Alan Baxter – for offering readers consistent variety, information and opinion. If it’s on your blog, I know it’s worth reading.
• Bothersome Words – for speaking from deep within the editing heart of transforming manuscripts into masterpieces. I acknowledge your candour and editorial wisdom.
• Lisa L Hannett – for the chirpy voice which with you share your news, information and writing experiences. You’re a pleasure to read.
• The Story Department (Karel Segers) – for making me think outside the box. You have broadened my mind into applying screenwriting techniques to my novel / short story writing.
•  M J Wright – for catching my attention with your interest-grabbing headlines! My curiosity is always sated when I read on.

Readers – if you’re not already following these bloggers, it might be time to start.

Fellow bloggers – these are the rules that go along with this award:

1. In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award (15 isn’t mandatory, but it’s a nice gesture. Try and pick at least 5).
2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award.
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
4. In the same post, share 7 completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Update 3: The Story of NBWG!

And, in my final piece of news, I’ve been in the news – as the founder and leader of the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group. Thank you Sue Raines for your article in the Partners in Crime (Sydney) February/March newsletter; and thank you Jacqui Dent for the write-up in the New South Wales Writers’ Centre enews. You can read a pdf of the NSWWC ‘member story’ Writing in Isolation here: NSW Writers’ Centre enews.