How To Increase Your Community’s Creativity

Last week, I was at the Glen Street Theatre talking on a panel discussing community art and creativity. I was joined by fellow passionate community creatives: public artist Greg Stonehouse, architect and illustrator Miguel Gonzalez, and Aboriginal art advocate Aunty Clair Jackson. Our task was to read and comment on…

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When Death Snaps At Our Heels

Life can be over in an instant. Last Tuesday, I almost lost mine. If it wasn’t for a lucky moment or two, I would have smashed into the rocks at Manly’s South Steyne and drowned. Poetically, this was the same day I blogged about loving nature, because it helped me…

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The Importance of Place

In 2001, I immigrated to Australia for love. I didn’t realise how much I was giving up. The first year was the hardest. I lost friends. I lost family. My qualifications and experience weren’t recognised here. I had a degree with honours and two diplomas but found myself working menial…

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Are We Destined To Do What We Do?

Last week, my eleven-year-old daughter came home with the news that she’d been sent to the principal’s office. When she told me, I didn’t know how to react. The exact same thing had happened to me when I was her age – except for my daughter at least there’d been…

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Writing Rockface: The Over Blight

As well as writing amazing stories (he he!), I run a full-time creative support business. It includes editing, mentoring, teaching, book layouts, and other publishing support for authors and publishers. My last two posts looked at filter words and points-of-view, but today I’ve got what I term ‘Over Blight’ on…

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Writing Rockface: The Point-of-View Disorder

As well as writing amazing stories (he he!), I run a full-time creative support business. It includes editing, mentoring, teaching, book layouts, and other publishing support for authors and publishers. In my last post, I looked at filter words. Character ‘point-of-view’ or ‘POV’ is another writing issue close to my…

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Writing Rockface: The Filter Word Infection

As well as writing amazing stories (he he!), I run a full-time creative support business. It includes editing, mentoring, teaching, book layouts, and other publishing support for authors and publishers. Over the last few weeks, I’ve edited so many manuscripts riddled with filter words it’s time to speak up. I…

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