tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170737412024-03-14T03:09:20.054+11:00Write on TrackDianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-36711451078740991112008-10-03T17:58:00.004+10:002008-10-03T18:04:40.517+10:00Moving blogsI have a new home.<br /><br />That's right. <br /><br />My new blog home is <a href="http://www.dianecurran.wordpress.com/">here</a><br /><br />So why the move?<br /><br />I had already set up a wordpress blog because it allows me to add static pages, which means I can excerpt my writing and my writing blurbs. (Hold the Anchovies and Beyond Happily Ever After already excerpted)<br /><br />Once my critique partner, <a href="http://www.kikilon.wordpress.com/">Kiki,</a> advised me that I could import all my old blog posts, it didn't take much more convincing.<br /><br />Besides, it's much prettier than the standard blogger themes we have available, and I didn't want to mess around looking for new templates and have photobucket logos all over my blog, because the bandwith had been exceeded.<br /><br />So if you're visiting here, come to my <a href="http://www.dianecurran.wordpress.com/">new blog</a> and say hello!Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-75423766718459890392008-09-22T11:27:00.005+10:002008-09-22T11:47:11.966+10:00Having my butt kickedI really like the warmer weather of spring, but I hate the hayfever. And this year, my allergies seem to be more ferocious than usual. I went to Melbourne with a cold, I came back with a cold and then spring made its debut. Robbie brought a blanket back from Sydney, put it on our bed without a second thought, and that set off a whole different set of allergic reactions. There have been times in the last two weeks where I've felt as if I couldn't breath. And being at work and talking on the phone all day has exacerbated the situation, until I can barely talk without choking up. I tell work I'm allergic to the place but they just laugh at me.<br />So this afternoon, I'm going back to the doctor. Maybe she can confirm my theory.<br /><br />While I've been plagued by coughing, sneezing and a stuffed up nose, my head has remained mostly clear, which has been very helpful to keep me on track with the editing to get my partial complete, and my STALI entry finished.<br /><br />My cp, Kiki, has been living up to her name and KICKING my butt (in a very nice and encouraging way). It's good to be held accountable. Otherwise, I could get lost on the internet, surfing the waves, but never actually making it back to shore.<br /><br />So after working on Making the Cut for the majority of the weekend, I sent it back to Kiki for another critique.<br /><br />The workshop by Margie Lawson at the RWA conference was also very very useful. Without a doubt, it is the best editing workshop, I have ever participated in, and I look forward to completing some of her online courses.<br /><br />I realise I haven't done a collage of Making the Cut. Time to find some suitable pictures.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248655274099124594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SNb4KckoqXI/AAAAAAAABg8/Fyuw0ID_fNw/s320/100_0360.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>I'm reading New Moon again. This time a lot slower. The first time, I was so distressed that Edward had left that I rushed through it until he came back. It's better slower. But then again, a lot of things are!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-43748952544399415142008-09-06T19:27:00.006+10:002008-09-06T21:36:01.030+10:00Beyond Happily Ever After appears in Wet Ink magazine OUT NOW!Okay, so I'm just a teensy weensy bit excited.<br /><div></div><br /><div>A couple of months ago my short story, Beyond Happily Ever After, was accepted for publication by Wet Ink magazine, and now its on the shelves. This is my first sale!<br><br></div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242838736877496674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJODa49qWI/AAAAAAAABgU/zJxbg3jgpZY/s320/beyondhappilyeverafter.png" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you have come to my blog looking for a summary of Cinderella, this is not the place to be. However, if you want to know what happened to Cinderella after she married her Prince 'Charming' and you are an adult, then read on:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here is an excerpt:<br><br></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Beyond Happily Ever After</strong></span></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></strong><div><br /><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">And they all lived happily ever after.<br /></span></em></div><div><span style="color:#6600cc;">That’s what Prince Edward had promised on their wedding night, but Cinderella found that the reality of life in the palace was far removed from any fairytale.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Twelve months after the dream wedding, Cindy showed no signs of producing the expected heir to the throne. Each evening a dozen chefs would concoct a feast containing all manner of aphrodisiacs, but Cindy often felt nauseous and bloated by the rich food. After dessert, the Prince would grunt and grind away, shouting commands to his sperm as if leading his troops into battle. Cindy opened her legs, laid back and thought of the kingdom she now served. Occasionally she wondered if her husband’s sperm had gone AWOL.</span></div><div><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Each month as her stomach retained water and she menstruated, the newspaper hounds and gossip magazines published pictures of her ‘baby bump’, and expectation flew around the countryside like clucky hens. Cindy cried as she confessed to her husband that she was still without child.</span></div><div><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242838742403007874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJODveWRYI/AAAAAAAABgc/MPEaGCnidGs/s320/Issue_12_cover%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>To read more, go to the <a href="http://www.wetink.com.au/">Wet Ink website</a> and purchase the magazine...<br><br></div><div></div><div></div><div>I had so much fun with Cinderella and her friends, that I expanded the short story into a novel...so stay tuned.</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-37537541502402596032008-09-05T18:04:00.004+10:002008-09-06T19:27:09.742+10:00Spellbound on SouthbankAnd now the Romance Writers Conference.... Spellbound on Southbank.<br /><br />I had an amazing time at the conference. Although I didn't splurge on a room at the Langham Hotel, I was just across the road at the Travelodge so there was no travel time, and I had the delights of Melbourne on my doorstep.<br /><br />On the Friday, I attended Margie Lawson's workshop, which included the EDITs system (my manuscript is now full of colour, highlighting different aspects) and powering up the emotions. I left the workshop feeling as if I'd learned so much new, amazing stuff that would inform my editing and my future writing.<br /><br />Friday night was the 'One Enchanted Century' cocktail party, and inspired by Twilight, I went as a vamp with bat wings. (I love my wings, I think every girl should have a pair)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242446115609505266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMDo92sH7fI/AAAAAAAABeU/GsSo0-dbbh4/s320/100_0763.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBXzbUoTI/AAAAAAAABfE/Q1un-QOnkJM/s1600-h/100_0764.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242824793410281778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBXzbUoTI/AAAAAAAABfE/Q1un-QOnkJM/s320/100_0764.JPG" border="0" /></a> Of course, I wasn't the only vampire in the room: Nikki also looked very cool.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBYGuJomI/AAAAAAAABfM/_IER7Ta3QZ4/s1600-h/100_0765_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242824798589526626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBYGuJomI/AAAAAAAABfM/_IER7Ta3QZ4/s320/100_0765_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> And the devil made and appearance, right next to Nicki the angel:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBYjkmvEI/AAAAAAAABfU/f2OcJrgJsRk/s1600-h/100_0767_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242824806334118978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBYjkmvEI/AAAAAAAABfU/f2OcJrgJsRk/s320/100_0767_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Kiki was wired for sound and took out a prize for her unique costume.<br /></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBZOEk3rI/AAAAAAAABfc/yAwVckaluaM/s1600-h/100_0769_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242824817742503602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBZOEk3rI/AAAAAAAABfc/yAwVckaluaM/s320/100_0769_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>There was many gorgeous fairies at the party: it was as if 'wings' were the must-have accessory of the night.<br /></p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBZHw-gLI/AAAAAAAABfk/dyF8gZ6zJos/s1600-h/100_0772_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242824816049684658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJBZHw-gLI/AAAAAAAABfk/dyF8gZ6zJos/s320/100_0772_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>But Drinkerbell (Tinkerbells booze hag sister) also made an appearance with a carefully crafted tiara with champagne bottles and cigarettes:</p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242827654684930610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJD-WgW8jI/AAAAAAAABfs/1--xlUIxM-c/s320/100_0774_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></p>A homage to Lizzie Gardiner's Gold Amex dress, was the Harlequin cover skirt:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242827658829370562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJD-l8eFMI/AAAAAAAABf0/ldnF_VxFDEs/s320/100_0776_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /><br />And the Harlequin ladies themselves:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242827662253580482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJD-ys3YMI/AAAAAAAABf8/xkBWpTyqXyc/s320/100_0784_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMDoh__cfYI/AAAAAAAABeM/vVFMEb2MmAU/s1600-h/100_0763.JPG"></a>One of the highlights of the conference for me was meeting Kiki, my fabulous critique partner, in person.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242827672376544498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SMJD_YaXjPI/AAAAAAAABgM/Gl1yy_kPu34/s320/100_0797_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>The weekend was filled with workshops and fabulous conversation. It was lovely being able to put faces to names of the online friends I've made through the <a href="http://www.writeinjune.blogspot.com/">50ks in 30 days challenge</a>, and from the Romaus group. I came back from Melbourne with a request for a partial, and my head swimming with new writing craft information, and my veins coursing with writing mojo!</p><p>Bring on the Hot August nights - next year's Gold Coast conference.<br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-45454601666372848362008-08-28T15:08:00.004+10:002008-08-28T15:56:05.059+10:00Wicked the Musical<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY5VVUv-II/AAAAAAAABdw/ad4GDjgyzw0/s1600-h/Wicked+program.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239438255156361346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY5VVUv-II/AAAAAAAABdw/ad4GDjgyzw0/s320/Wicked+program.jpg" border="0" /></a> Seeing Wicked was a huge priority of my Melbourne trip so Jen and I went to the show the first night that I was in Melbourne.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY5VUR_myI/AAAAAAAABd4/3yGxJKVVCi8/s1600-h/100_0849.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239438254876367650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY5VUR_myI/AAAAAAAABd4/3yGxJKVVCi8/s320/100_0849.JPG" border="0" /></a> Generally, I am not a musical fan (well except Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors). I usually find the story is only stringed together, an excuse to carry together a bunch of songs.</p><br /><p>Wicked is different. Firstly, it's based on the book by Gregory Maguire so it has a substantial story, exploring themes of nature vs nurture, good vs. bad, popular vs freak.<br /></p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01RcrEXI/AAAAAAAABdQ/cfjCpUratUw/s1600-h/100_0733-1_edited-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239433306313527666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01RcrEXI/AAAAAAAABdQ/cfjCpUratUw/s320/100_0733-1_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> Melbourne, priding itself on being a cultural city, has thoroughly embraced the musical. When we had walked down the wrong end of Collins St, and stopped to ask a policeman where the Regent Theatre was, he could have told us to follow the yellow brick road. (I'm surprised there wasn't one!). But he told us to head back in the direction we'd come, and look for the green lights. It seems that Melbourne has turned Emerald. I didn't manage to get a photo of the Wicked tram but I did spot it (along with the Kylie tram).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01gUinaI/AAAAAAAABdY/8xzzzpPEgxc/s1600-h/100_0735-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239433310305951138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01gUinaI/AAAAAAAABdY/8xzzzpPEgxc/s320/100_0735-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY017me39I/AAAAAAAABdg/0_oyBuvc8Ws/s1600-h/100_0736.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239433317628960722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY017me39I/AAAAAAAABdg/0_oyBuvc8Ws/s320/100_0736.JPG" border="0" /></a> We left the theatre absolutely thrilled with the production - it was so spectacular especially the flying monkeys which, to my disappointment, are not featured in the program. Both Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison (playing Galinda and Elphaba) had fabulous voices and carried the emotional heart of the show, and the storyline of Dorothy's intrusion into Oz worked its way into the story well. I loved the twist at the end, though I suspect that the twist is not part of the original novel. (It's going to the top of my to be read pile).</p><br /><p><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01wxUwSI/AAAAAAAABdo/1spxzn3YygA/s1600-h/100_0794.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239433314721644834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLY01wxUwSI/AAAAAAAABdo/1spxzn3YygA/s320/100_0794.JPG" border="0" /></a> I took my chances in the Wicked lottery on the Saturday night. Line up 2 & 1/2 hours before the show for your name to go in the little green barrel. As I reached the top of the queue to enter, another woman by herself was writing her name on the slip so we agreed to both tick that we wanted 2 tix so if either of our names were drawn we would get in. Over 100 people turned up to take their chances and as each name was drawn, there were cheers of excitement from the lucky few. Finally, the guy said he only had one single ticket left, and he would keep drawing until someone wanted it. Guess what? The lady I'd made the pact with was drawn out - guess I just wasn't lucky enough!</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-37588484624696041542008-08-27T11:35:00.007+10:002008-08-27T12:19:21.172+10:00Looking for vampiresAs you know, I've been fairy obsessed with the Twilight series by <a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/">Stephenie Meyer</a> over the last few weeks. I've now read the whole series and have read the first book Twilight twice. And I'm sure it's not going to end there. <div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239012357117972258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS1-zfmDyI/AAAAAAAABcY/IrjQgnXDEc8/s320/100_0730.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Before I left for Melbourne, I packed my bat wings, </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239012360865181282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS1_Bc_7mI/AAAAAAAABcg/Kl2kpPOuQSY/s320/100_0764.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>and I figured if I was going to find Edward Cullen anywhere, it would be Melbourne - often overcast and raining, full of dark brooding figures in black. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>And all that Gothic architecture. </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239012370986858946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS1_nKMecI/AAAAAAAABco/ykR0qo6KYsw/s320/100_0801_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /> If he needed a holiday anywhere away from Forks but offering the same type of weather patterns, then Melbourne would be perfect. Not much chance of sparkling in the sunshine there.</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239014080888243410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS3jJCdBNI/AAAAAAAABdA/Ncj-c_ggfVQ/s320/100_0844_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />It seems I wasn't the only one looking:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239012373599241314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS1_w5CRGI/AAAAAAAABcw/Hhq954sPdLE/s320/100_0820_edited-1.JPG" border="0" /><br />When I spotted these signs on the drive to the hotel on the first day, I knew I must be onto something. With such first class facilities available, Edward wouldn't even need to hunt. He'd just make a withdrawal. So on my last day to Melbourne, I went back there. But alas, it looks like Edward was still in Forks. Might have something to do with the fact that the sun was actually shining that morning.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239014119658553730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SLS3lZeBAYI/AAAAAAAABdI/Q5y5JWn9TUM/s320/100_0804.JPG" border="0" /></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-62784569139634611462008-08-19T01:01:00.001+10:002008-08-19T01:01:00.547+10:00Byron Bay Writers Festival Day 2Day 2 and we were relieved to wake up to blue sky and sunshine. <div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235476362331129602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgmA0azhwI/AAAAAAAABZA/WGbDilQ6cuo/s320/100_0643.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I began the day by dropping into the Kids Tent and watched Danny Katz and Mitch Vane in action. Danny read from their new book 'The Little Lunch Games' while Mitch illustrated the story on butcher paper. Kids in the audience were then invited to draw their own characters.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235476367283213954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgmBG3eVoI/AAAAAAAABZI/QaFyx8d88Wk/s320/100_0642.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Next I noticed the line-up for a fix, as the caffeine addicts stood patiently waiting to get their morning hit. (I'm a reformed caffeine addict although my poison was Coca-Cola)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235476373268564146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgmBdKfiLI/AAAAAAAABZQ/JW59KMfUOos/s320/100_0654.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>I attended a session called First Writes: the Path to Publication. In this session Annette Hughes said 'the hardest thing about memoir is there's no end, you're not dead yet' which is how I felt when I was writing the pizza delivery girl tales - trying to work out where it should end! (these publicaion sessions always get me in because I'm still on that first path). </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Afterwards I talked to Lollie Barr, who wrote the young adult novel The Mag Hags. and whose by-line I see every week in the paper.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235476374123742578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgmBgWYhXI/AAAAAAAABZY/ff2HjsXwpdQ/s320/100_0656.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>And I couldn't resist asking Aussie Idol Damien Leith for a photo opportunity as I'm a sucker for an Irish accent.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235476380095874018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgmB2mQA-I/AAAAAAAABZg/fHR6_6SMlUY/s320/100_0657.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Morris Gleitzman always draws a crowd and the queue in the background of this photo are his young fans eager for an autograph. Perhaps you don't have to be an Aussie Idol after all?</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235480429088774930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgptiRYmxI/AAAAAAAABZo/3se_DV1cSOk/s320/100_0658.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Next session I attended was 'Talking the Talk: Getting the dialogue right' with <a href="http://www.maxbarry.com/">Max Barry</a>, Virginia Duigan, Michael Gow and Judy Nunn. Max said 'You are writing a story that is taking place in the mind of the readers' summing up that we need to give our readers space to bring their own experiences to the story. </p><p>I bought Max's book Company following the session and told him I was nominated him for Foxy Author of the Week on my friend Natalie's blog. So - of course, had to get a photo with Foxy Max!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235480439499954466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgpuJDmmSI/AAAAAAAABZw/bdt3dqBkZiY/s320/100_0664.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Next, I dropped by the kids tents again to see the talented and very young William Kostakis exercising excellent crowd control on the youngsters. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235480445614786018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgpuf1fheI/AAAAAAAABZ4/h7w2HPUPfRo/s320/100_0667.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>It seems that William has been writing about the same character (Courtney) since 6th grade. That's a long long obsession. You can read the results in his young adult novel Loathing Lola.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235480446996567298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgpuk-71QI/AAAAAAAABaA/pc-zGgveMS4/s320/100_0668.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>The next session was We'll Always Have Paris: celebrity versus literary publishing with the heads of Penguin Australia, Pan MacMillan along with the editor of Wet Ink magazine. I introduced myself to Phillip Edmunds as my story Beyond Happily Ever After will be published in Wet Ink next month.</p><p>Back at the cabin after a long and full day, we debated a mystery. How did our cabin key end up on our doormat? Well, it seems that the bush turkey was the culprit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235480450940474418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgpuzrPFDI/AAAAAAAABaI/IbTpegEwMME/s320/100_0671.JPG" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p>Saturday night dinner options were difficult and after much searching we ended up with two tables at opposite ends of the balcony at Hogs Breath Cafe. After a group near one vacated, we managed to make it one large table and ended up having an interesting conversation about men. But mostly we were exhausted...ready to retire and prepare for another exciting day at the Byron Bay Writers Festival.</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-73835020613533148792008-08-17T21:29:00.002+10:002008-08-17T21:52:48.487+10:00<a href="http://nataliehatch.blogspot.com/2008/08/ive-been-tagged.html">I've been tagged!</a><br /><br />Copy the list below.<br /><br />Mark in bold the movie titles for which you read the book.<br />Italicize the ones that you’ve watched.<br /><br />Tag 5 people to perpetuate the meme. (You may of course play along anyway.)<br /><br /><em>1. Jurassic Park</em><br />2. War of the Worlds<br />3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park<br />4. I, Robot<br />5. <em>Contact</em><br />6. Congo<br />7. Cocoon<br />8. <em>The Stepford Wives9</em><br />9. <em>The Time Machine</em><br /><em>10</em>. <em>Starship Troopers</em><br /><em><strong>11. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy</strong></em><br />12. K-PAX<br />13. 2010<br />14. The Running Man<br />15. Sphere<br />16. The Mothman Prophecies<br />17. Dreamcatcher<br /><em>18. Blade Runner(Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?)</em><br />19. Dune<br />20. The Island of Dr. Moreau<br />21. Invasion of the Body Snatchers<br />22. The Iron Giant(The Iron Man)<br />23. Battlefield Earth<br /><em>24. The Incredible Shrinking Woman</em><br />25. Fire in the Sky<br /><em>26. Altered States</em><br />27. Timeline<br />28. The Postman<br />29. Freejack(Immortality, Inc.)<br />30. Solaris<br />31. Memoirs of an Invisible Man<br />32. The Thing(Who Goes There?)<br /><em>33. The Thirteenth Floor</em><br />34. Lifeforce(Space Vampires)<br />35. Deadly Friend<br />36. The Puppet Masters<br /><strong><em>37. 1984</em></strong><br />38. A Scanner Darkly<br />39. Creator<br />40. Monkey Shines<br />41. Solo(Weapon)<br />42. The Handmaid’s Tale<br />43. Communion<br />44. Carnosaur<br />45. From Beyond<br />46. Nightflyers<br />47. Watchers<br />48. Body Snatchers<br /><br />Well obviously I'm not a huge science fiction fan... (were all of these books?)<br /><br />so I'm tagging the following people -<br /><br /><a href="http://simmone.livejournal.com/">Simmone Howell</a><br /><a href="http://stephaniekuehnert.blogspot.com/">Stephanie Kuehnert</a><br /><a href="http://www.rhiancahill.wordpress.com/">Rhian Cahill</a><br /><a href="http://www.kikianika.blogspot.com/">Kiki</a><br />and <a href="http://www.maxbarry.com/">foxy Max Barry</a>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-21141680312319708112008-08-17T21:09:00.004+10:002008-08-17T21:25:44.428+10:003 more sleeps until MelbourneOnly 3 more sleeps until Melbourne and as I actually start the first leg of the trip tomorrow morning, I've spent the day packing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So what will I need to go to the Romance Writers Conference?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Firstly, it's Melbourne so I need my scarf and some hats. (Remember the hat thing is part of my new image)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235444709808791794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgJOZlZ4PI/AAAAAAAABY4/Cl_XK2Cco5E/s320/100_0706.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />I'm attending Margie Lawson's 'Empowering Character Emotions' workshop on the Friday and we've been instructed to bring highlighters, red pen and 3 - 5 chapters of our work in progress. I imagine the pages are going to end up very colourful! I've also got my flash drive (don't leave home without it) and some rescue remedy to take before my pitch to an editor plus the notebook. No point taking my laptop (at least not to the conference) because the battery dies very quickly now.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235444704570616946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgJOGEhrHI/AAAAAAAABYw/K8BOIvtiY0k/s320/100_0707.JPG" border="0" /><br />And then there's the One Enchanted Century cocktail party on Friday night. I've put together a vampire costume - bat wings, black lace top, black velvet pants, and I needed something to set it off. This necklace was made by a work colleague, Jill, and I purchased it yesterday at a jewellery party that she held. Perfect!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235444700250203778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgJN1-dZoI/AAAAAAAABYo/43VM46KfBwg/s320/100_0703.JPG" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p>And of course the bat wings:<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235444695137573570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKgJNi7g2sI/AAAAAAAABYg/YSlCqchhE0U/s320/100_0704.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p> </p><p>Once a girl has bat wings, what else could she possibly need?</p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-75063663378360365622008-08-16T22:15:00.003+10:002008-08-16T22:23:48.959+10:00Byron Bay Writers Festival pt 1We set off on our annual pilgrimage to Byron Bay Writers Festival on Thursday at noon. I didn't envy Roby's task of driving through the relentless rain, but we stayed optimistic that the weather would be on our side and the sky would clear.<br /><br />It was not to be...<br /><br />We burrowed in the cabin for the rest of the afternoon, and as soon as we stepped out of the car in the main drag of Byron, the rain poured down once more. So we stepped into the nearest eatery Fresh and were pleased with our dining experience.<br /><br />Jen and I tackled the collage poetry on our first evening back in the cabin, and we all tried to chase the rain away with the power of our minds.<br /><br />Not powerful enough...<br /><br />The next morning after we'd showered and breakfasted and filled ourselves with caffeine, Lyn turned up on the doorstep as we were about to leave the cabin and walk over to the Festival site and told us that the Festival had been cancelled. We reacted with despair and gloom. How dare the gods be so unkind!<br /><br />Roby and Caz drove over to the site to assess the damage and check out the water-logging, while Jen and I stayed in the cabin to wallow in collage.<br /><br />When the troops returned, we debated what we were going to do to fill in the day. We rejected the possibility of getting cabin fever while surrouned by pouring rain, and opted for a quick lunch, followed by op-shopping and a trip to the cinema to see Mama Mia.<br /><br />In town, we almost walked past Vinnies before we realised that it was Vinnies. As Jen had infected me with the collage bug again, I was itching to get my hands on more magazines and more glossy raw words to recycle and transform. The magazine shelf held the usual suspects - the Who Weeklys, the New Weeklys: all the glossy gossip garbage. New Scientist attracts my eye but there is no decent size text, and I finally settle on a couple of New Women magazines and a 'Real Living' magazine.<br /><br />I scanned the bookshelf - I cannot resist checking out second hand books. The typical tired and wretched paberbacks toppled over each other but nestled amongst them was a copy of Gregory Maguire's 'Mirror Mirror' (the retelling of Snow White). Score! I grabbed it - it's meant to be mine.<br /><br />The second op shop is too tiny to have a book section but I buy a purple scarf to keep my neck warm for the rest of the weekend.<br /><br />It seems that many of the misplaced festival attendees have decided to spend the rainy afternoon at Mama Mia -- the foyer is filled with patrons waiting for the cinema to open. This is my second time seeing the musical after seeing it on Cheap Tuesday in Coffs Harbour with a group of work colleagues. The second time is different - perhaps they're more reverential in Byron Bay. The Coffs audience was in hysterics every time James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) opened his mouth to sing but Byron Bay accepts his singing without a titter.<br /><br />We decide to eat at the Curry House that evening, and are given the room upstairs, all to ourselves except the couple who are stuck in the room next door (it seems more like a store room than an eating area). Thrilled by the tiny enclave to ourselves we dance and talk and chat and feast.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235089434489822338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKbGGp4qnII/AAAAAAAABYI/On-xthOWZvQ/s320/100_0635.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235089441119947010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKbGHClaSQI/AAAAAAAABYQ/d1S_z1TVm54/s320/100_0637.JPG" border="0" /><br />And hope that the rain will go away....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235089445092698418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SKbGHRYlqTI/AAAAAAAABYY/J9IwWopdLqw/s320/100_0640.JPG" border="0" />Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-42945909516848344562008-08-10T11:43:00.003+10:002008-08-10T12:20:38.264+10:00Missing in Action<div>I admit I've been missing in action and still haven't done my updates about the Byron Bay Writers Festival. So you might wonder what has been keeping me from blogging?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Firstly, there's that little thing called work which takes up a huge chunk of my life. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Secondly, after reading Twilight by <a href="http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/">Stephenie Meyer</a> just prior to my trip to Byron Bay, I have been totally absored in the Twilight universe and have fallen hopelessly in love with Edward Cullen. I've now read all four books but I think the third book, Eclipse would have to be my favourite. I had Twilight on loan from my library but now I have purchased all of the books (and read them all), I will probably dip in soon for a second round, while I wait for the movie. I love the emotional intensity of the story, although book 4 grossed me out a bit in some parts, and I do have to question: is sex really better once you're a vampire? Guess I'll never find out.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232707866269788898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJ5QFI5nKuI/AAAAAAAABXQ/PwziljOT7w0/s320/twilight_book_cover.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Thirdly, I've booked a pitch at the <a href="http://www.romanceaustralia.com.au/">Romance Writers of Australia</a> conference in 2 weeks time, so I've been preparing for that. Initially I was going to pitch Diary of the Future but I've changed my mind and decided to pitch Making the Cut (I need a better title) - my story about the film festival in Bilby Creek. Subsequently, I've been spending a lot of time with my head and heart in Bilby Creek, reacquainting myself with my heroine Chloe Watkins, my gorgeous hero Luke Radcliffe, and the bitchy and sexy little antagonist Kirsty McInnes. I'm adding more scenes in Luke's POV to balance it out a bit, and I will probably have to add some more scenes in Elizabeth's POV. (Elizabeth is the Queen Bee of the town, head of every committee, who has hired Choloe for the position of film festival director).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then there's the anthology we're compiling for the <a href="http://www.nvwg.blogspot.com/">Nambucca Valley Writers Group</a>. I've been collaging title pages for each section, and I also need to collage a title page for the anthology (not the cover - just a title page). I've completed the page for the Poetry Section and I really like it so I will be using a similar struture for the rest. (maybe you'll get a sneak peek later)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Plus I've been uploading all of Jennifer Gordon's new designs to the Cafepress shop. Have only got as far as image uploads so far (with more to come) but I will announce once we have a swag on new designs on products.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, it's busy, busy, busy - but I love being in the space of when I'm busy in a creative way. There is no other feeling like it.</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-23484191009676384582008-07-30T20:29:00.004+10:002008-07-30T21:08:47.873+10:00Alchemy<div align="left">Before I tell you about my trip to Byron Bay Writers Festival last weekend, I want to talk about alchemy. How one element can be transformed into another, which is what we as writers are doing all the time. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I realised this weekend while at Bryon that in the last twelve months or maybe less, I have experienced a personal alchemy. And it's not just the new hairdo.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center">BEFORE:</div><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228755930596504418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBF0NRr82I/AAAAAAAABWY/ZdEaVe6JPm4/s320/100_0580.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center">AFTER:</div><div align="left"><br /></div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBGuDcUN4I/AAAAAAAABW4/BNnJY8tWDfI/s1600-h/100_0683.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228756924389144450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBGuDcUN4I/AAAAAAAABW4/BNnJY8tWDfI/s320/100_0683.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBFzrChqlI/AAAAAAAABWI/mAmlPeGNxRk/s1600-h/100_0684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228755921406110290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBFzrChqlI/AAAAAAAABWI/mAmlPeGNxRk/s320/100_0684.JPG" border="0" /></a>Actually the photo has been taken at night with a flash, so it doesn't show the highlights in my hair. I'll have to have a photo taken in daylight.<br /><br />Back to the alchemy: it's more than my appearance. It's an inner transformation - I now know in my heart, my soul, and my mind that I'm a writer. <br /><br />I've always been a shy person, not wanting to blow my own trumpet, even shying away from talking to people, especially writers who have achieved what I want to achieve. This year, I just went for it: I talked to authors, I networked, I had a great time.<br /><br />But I don't know why it was different from a year ago. It wasn't just the hair, although it may have given me an extra boost of confidence. Maybe it's the fact that I've written six complete manuscripts. Maybe it's because my short story Beyond Happily Ever After will be published in <a href="http://www.wetink.com.au/">Wet Ink magazine</a> in September. Maybe it's because I'm so out of the writers' closet to friends and family, that I've admitted it to the rest of the world. I don't know what caused the transformation, but it feels great and I've come back from Byron Bay filled with writing mojo.<br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBFz_x6NyI/AAAAAAAABWQ/A0C_lJt9_qA/s1600-h/100_0684.JPG"></a><br /> As writers, we all transform words. We take a vocabulary, a lexicon and churn it around in our mind and then spin a tale, devise a plot, develop a character and create a story. And yet all we have to work with is twenty-six letters in an infinite number of combinations. Writing is an alchemy all by itself.<br /><br /><br />Collage poetry is also an alchemy. I take the basic ingredients of cut-out words<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBF0TqaDrI/AAAAAAAABWg/IhWs_k31dvM/s1600-h/100_0945.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228756918534902370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBGttojkmI/AAAAAAAABWw/dOHLk0MmzbI/s320/100_0947.JPG" border="0" />and then transform them into something like this:<br /><br /><p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBF0paqfQI/AAAAAAAABWo/UI87AG8Er-g/s1600-h/more+dark+fire.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228755938150350082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SJBF0paqfQI/AAAAAAAABWo/UI87AG8Er-g/s320/more+dark+fire.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> I promise that I will be back with more pictures and tales of Byron Bay Writers Festival, but in the meantime, tell me -- when did you 'transform' into a writer?<br /><br /></p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-63309118662688405242008-07-19T16:19:00.004+10:002008-07-19T16:51:25.715+10:00HolidaysI'm on holidays this week and everything seems to be more real and exciting.<br /><br />This time next week, I'll be halfway through the <a href="http://www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au/">Byron Bay Writers Festival</a>. I've given up deciding which sessions to attend. Suffice to say, I think I'll have to be packing myself lunch each morning, as I probably won't have time to line up and buy lunch, or walk back to the cabin and make it. I know by the end of next weekend, my head will be swarming with ideas and concepts, and then I'll be straight back to work on the Tuesday. C'est la vie!<br /><br />Anyway, there'll be lots of photos and stuff from the festival posted when I get back. And I plan to do a bit of <a href="http://www.chickollage.blogspot.com/">collage poetry</a> while I'm there.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.romanceaustralia.com.au/">Romance Writers of Australia</a> conference is going to be another chock a block weekend in a month's time. I'm booked into a day long workshop with Margie Lawson on the Friday, followed by four other workshops over the weekend. Plus I'll have two free days in Melbourne to check out the sights, maybe head down to St Kilda, do some window shopping, and go see <a href="http://www.wickedthemusical.com.au/">Wicked the musical.</a> Also on the Sunday night after the conference, I intend to head down to ACMI for the 15 minutes of fame Simmone Howell reading as part of the <a href="http://www,mwf.com.au/">Melbourne Writers Festival </a>announced yesterday. More rubbing shoulders with the literati. Maybe one day I can be the one signing the books!<br /><br />Then I'll be flying back to Newcastle and popping down to Sydney for a couple of days to meet my new nephew and catch up with other friends and family members.<br /><br />For now, I need to edit some chapters to send to my (very patient) critique partners and cut out some words to take to Byron to have a bit of a collage poetry fest while we're there. I also need to start planning my Chickollage website. Not much point having the domain name if I'm not going to do anything with it.<br /><br />I finished reading the first novel in the Dexter series the other night. It was a bit of a disappointment after seeing the TV show, as the TV show seemed to have a much more interesting character arc for all of the characters. I was about two chapters away from the end and was thinking, it can't be ending that quickly, not based on what I'd seen on TV. Shrug! I don't think I'll read the second in the series. Although I have read number 3 - yeah, I did ask my library why they had number 3 stocked but none of the others. Weird!<br /><br />Lucky they are not so weird with Stephanie Meyer's series - I've just started reading Twilight and loving it so far. Of course, it leaped to the top of my TBR pile when I received the email from the library to say my reservation was waiting for me. I can't remember whether I've reserved all of the trilogy, but I might just go out and buy them anyway, I'm only a third of the way in and I'm already sure it's a keeper. And I'm sure the library wouldn't appreciate it if I kept their copy!Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-19812811695719211792008-07-13T10:44:00.004+10:002008-07-13T10:53:33.010+10:00Work Life Balance<div>I'm on the countdown to my holidays - just four days of work before I'm on holidays so I guess I'll be pretty restless this week. But first of all I have to give a training presentation at work on Tuesday, as part of my application to be in the training team.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now this is already interfering with my work/life balance because it's so busy at work, there's no time for any preparation during work hours, so today will be spent preparing for the presentation.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222294730930916418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SHlRY42IDEI/AAAAAAAABWA/Su4S4KBUbC4/s320/Bad+Guys+0019.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Here is one of the images I plan to use in the presentation. I also plan to make the participants play a card game matching the person with the type of aged care they require, the type of fees they will have to pay and other variable factors of aged care.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But meanwhile the other stuff is on the back burner, much as I hate it. I need to do something massive today to stay on Writer Island - 15 pages of editing, and the house is mocking me. I have to do housework. But I'm still in my pajamas. Procrastination really wants to take hold but surely I let her have her way yesterday.</div><div> </div><div>So I need to get with the program: get off the net and start working on the stuff I have to do.</div><div> </div><div>Then after Tuesday I can relax, and concentrate on the writing again.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-40344696982545700932008-07-06T11:05:00.005+10:002008-07-06T11:39:50.638+10:00July is editing month<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SHAa7j7EDII/AAAAAAAABVw/buyjgNh26KY/s1600-h/50ks+in+30days+certificate+Diane.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219701578679979138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SHAa7j7EDII/AAAAAAAABVw/buyjgNh26KY/s320/50ks+in+30days+certificate+Diane.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Our <a href="http://www.writeinjune.blogspot.com/">50ks in 30 days challenge</a> ended on Monday, and it feels strange no longer to be writing under pressure. A staggering 1,749,046 were written during the challenge and I'm proud to be on of the motivators of the challenge (along with my partners in whip-cracking and mirth, <a href="http://www.sandiehudson.blogspot.com/">Sandie Hudson</a> and <a href="http://www.rhiancahill.wordpress.com/">Rhian Cahill</a>). It is great to see others achieve and push their writing boundaries.</div><div></div><div> <br><br>I have emailed our gorgeous winners certificates out (so now everyone who made 50ks is officially certified) and ordered the badges so we can wear them at the RWAus conference in Melbourne in August, and display our tenancity, our creativity and our insanity.</div><div></div><div><br><br>My head is now all over the place as July is editing month for me. I'm working with two different critique partners so I'm switching between working on <em>Diary of the Future</em> and <em>I'm with the Band</em>. My first 3 chapters of <em>I'm with the Band</em> have insertions and deletions scribbled all over them, and I'm about to add these to the computer, to keep myself on <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writer_island/">Writer Island </a>for another week. And in between thinking about the characters of each of these stories, the guys from<em> Hold the Anchovies</em> keep making guest appearances in my head insisting that I finish that story. Because although I'm at 80k, I haven't reached the end yet. As the story starts with a pizza-fortune telling, I would also like to end it that way to bring it full circle and to show Lisa's emotional growth, but I'm not quite sure that Lisa has grown as much as she needs to as yet. And in hope, I have updated the status bar in the right hand colum with a projected word count of 85,000 but they may expand according to the character's moods.</div><div></div><div><br><br>Except for the cold weather and getting home in the dark after work, I really like July. It's the month I cash in my enforced savings plan by getting my tax refund and then make the annual pilgrimage to the <a href="http://www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au/">Byron Bay Writers Festival</a> with my writing buddies. Just a couple more weeks of the day job and editing and writing...and then I'll be lapping up the festival atmosphere. Can't wait....</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-38398029087343100852008-06-30T23:41:00.004+10:002008-06-30T23:54:11.604+10:0050ks challenge comes to an end<div>I started June with a commitment to write 50ks in 30 days.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I hit 50ks on the 23rd June, so I took a couple days at a slower rate, and then pushed through to see exactly how much I could write in 30 days.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My grand total as of 10 minutes ago is 65,040 words. Woohoo! The story is not yet finished, although I'm sure there are going to be lots of words that will be left on the cutting room floor.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217671808914688786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SGjk3aTuCxI/AAAAAAAABVo/ANOLJrw4RCc/s320/winner_50in30.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>It's been exhilirating, exhausting and revealing. Literary revenge has been very satisfying and the writing has been cathartic. Seriously who needs to pay for therapy when you can write? There were times that I dredged my memory banks, and there were other times when I gave my imagination free reign.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But most of all, I was bouyed and motivated by the wonderful support of <a href="http://www.writeinjune.blogspot.com/">my fellow 50k challengers</a>. What a great bunch of writers!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And no matter what word count we each achieved, we are all winners!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tomorrow is a new day, a new financial year (three cheers for the tax return) and a new month!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tomorrow is the beginning of an editing challenge, a commitment to finish Diary of the Future and submit it, and the annual pilgrimage to <a href="http://www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au/">Byron Bay Writers Festival</a>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But first tonight, I need sleep.</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-18346456151086386452008-06-15T18:41:00.003+10:002008-06-15T20:04:40.275+10:00My Brilliant Pizza CareerMy current work in progress is Hold the Anchovies, which is based on My Brilliant Pizza Career.<br />I won't mention which company I worked for as I don't want to suggest that their stores are a hotbed of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll but that's where I got my education.<br /><br />And it's interesting reliving it. At least on the page<br /><br />So far I've written 33,799 words in 15 days - add that to the 25,067 I wrote for Nano 2004 and I have a total of 58,866 words altogether. Not bad - not bad at all. I've pulled a few non-identifying photos from my photo album from that era.<br /><br />Below is a 'pizza' made by my mother for the owner of the store. Look closely, the whole thing is made of icing. It was a farewell delivery.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXw-F190I/AAAAAAAABUk/gLUHwp97wn8/s1600-h/1986_0009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212027905075705666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXw-F190I/AAAAAAAABUk/gLUHwp97wn8/s320/1986_0009.jpg" border="0" /></a> I could not have done the job without my faitfhul companion Helga, my 1966 VW Beetle. She was famous amongst my pizza customers, and had a certain infamy amongst my fellow staff for breaking down. I loved Helga- she was my independence and my freedom and I was sad to say goodbye to her when she finally packed it in. (this pic and song is from my 1986 diary)<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXxUKuZeI/AAAAAAAABUs/-2uisOPpi2Y/s1600-h/1986_0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212027911001761250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXxUKuZeI/AAAAAAAABUs/-2uisOPpi2Y/s320/1986_0001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thought I would include a photo of me from that circa. This is taken at a post work party, actually the farewell party that the cake pizza was made for.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXxhFr_aI/AAAAAAAABU0/mhSpFpl_U0g/s1600-h/1986_0004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212027914470292898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXxhFr_aI/AAAAAAAABU0/mhSpFpl_U0g/s320/1986_0004.jpg" border="0" /></a> More pictures of Helga - this time with my sister and cousins posing as car models. I don't think they got the car ad job.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXx-wSCAI/AAAAAAAABU8/BbZHLx-OgdM/s1600-h/1986_0007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212027922433574914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXx-wSCAI/AAAAAAAABU8/BbZHLx-OgdM/s320/1986_0007.jpg" border="0" /></a> I worked for the pizza place for a couple of years, but my brilliant pizza career ended not so brilliantly. My second delivery to the same customers late at night -- but I never made it back to the store. A drunk idiot coming through the red light made sure of that. </p><p>Helga was off the road at the time. Almost as if she knew something. I was driving mum's car - the yellow one. Lucky I'm a survivor.</p><p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXyPaoiiI/AAAAAAAABVE/DtwcFrCgTqI/s1600-h/1986_0005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212027926906178082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SFTXyPaoiiI/AAAAAAAABVE/DtwcFrCgTqI/s320/1986_0005.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-39538523920990980742008-06-08T22:04:00.007+10:002008-06-08T22:47:23.409+10:00Writing workshopMy writing in the <a href="http://www.writeinjune.blogspot.com/">50ks in 30 days challenge</a> has continued steadily during the work week and I passed 20,000 words last night.<br /><br /><img src="http://picometer.writertopia.com/words=20494" /><br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div>20K in a week. I'm pretty happy with that.</div><br /><div>Although I'm drawing a lot of the story from my own life, things keep making their way into the story that didn't actually happen. The characters appear to be developing wills of their own, deviating slightly from the actual events, but I just shrug my shoulders and keep typing. While the story and action is flowing, I'm going to go with the flow.</div><br /><div>For the entire manuscript, I now have 45,511 words and estimate I will be finished at around 75k.</div><br /><div>No new writing today as yet for Hold the Anchovies (but the night is not yet over). I spent the day at a memoir writing workshop with the lovely Alice <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pung</span>.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209485295717647538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SEvPRoHfBLI/AAAAAAAABSk/1tVUIp0jsW8/s320/Alice+Pung+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>And at the workshop I wrote the following about my birth:</div><br /><br /><div><em>I was anxious to see the world. I was supposed to be an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aquarian</span> but I had decided that twenty-two minutes into Sagittarius I would make my appearance. Freedom-loving, independent and above all spontaneous: no quack was going to tell my mother my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">birthdate</span>.</em></div><br /><div><em>Mum was already in hospital with a kidney infection. Lucky! Because I didn't give her much warning. It was probably the infection that stirred me into action.</em><br /><br /><em>In the middle of visiting time, my grandmother clutched my mother's hand. 'You're having your baby.' She turned to my father. 'Tell the doctor.'</em><br /><br /><em>The doctor dismissed her claim. What would my grandmother know after giving birth five times herself? But they quickly realised that she was right.</em></div><br /><div><em>Half an hour later I was born. Mum said I looked like a skinned rabbit. Three months <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">premmie</span>.</em></div><br /><div><em>Years later I told her I was trying to teach her a lesson about being early. She never learned that one.</em></div><div><em></em><br /></div><div><em>Afterwards, my father caught the train back to my Nana's house and ran down the street announcing my birth to all the neighbours. 'It's a girl!'</em><br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209484972477052114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SEvO-z869NI/AAAAAAAABSc/mfrjUZxCEHs/s320/Alice+Pung+workshop+group+shot+1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Alice commented that my voice is meta-fiction --- fiction that is self-aware. I guess it's like the Seinfeld episode where they start pitching the idea to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">NBN</span> and turn their lives into a sitcom. Self-referential.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, it was a great workshop. Good company as usual and we did a number of various writing exercises but now I'm brain drained and wonder if I will get any more words out for my couple who keep rebelling against their author.</div><br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209484382346306818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SEvOcdiyZQI/AAAAAAAABSU/3rwjaCvsLE4/s320/100_0580.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>But it's cool if I don't. Tomorrow is a public holiday!</div><div> </div><div>And you gotta love that.</div><div></div></div></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-5478321289595314192008-06-02T22:42:00.003+10:002008-06-02T22:56:32.426+10:00It's my story....and I'll write it if I want to....Well, I'm off to a flying start on the 50ks in 30 days writing challenge.<br /><br />Sunday (got to love it when a writing challenge starts on a weekend), I hit a personal best of 7,409 words and today, despite the fact that I had to work, I still managed a respectable 2,828 words. So my total 50k wordage is 10,237 - only 2 days in and I'm already 20% into the goal.<br /><br />I've set the total wordage goal for Hold the Anchovies as 75,000 and now have a total of 35,304 so I'm almost at the half way point of the story.<br /><br />Once I decided that I was mostly writing about a period of my life, I pulled out my diaries, and wrote up a timeline. I think this is why the writing is flowing so well. I know how the story goes, the plot points, and how the story ends. I have snippets of conversation and dialogue written in my diaries, which provide a pivotal point for scenes. I have no opportunity to deviate from the timeline or the cause and effect of the events as they happened. I might throw in a couple of interesting and fictional customers just for the fun of it, but by facing up to the fact that this is my story, and yes, indeed I'm writing a sexual memoir, then I have given myself permission to just write. And as a result, the words are flowing.<br /><br />On the last attempt of the story, I freaked out. It got too close to the bone and I thought it was the wrong thing to be writing...that I should be trying to fictionalise the actual events. But all names have been changed to protect the guilty. But stories come from everywhere, and I know they come from real life...this time, it's just happening to be coming from my life. My last five drafts have all been fiction, with a few incidents and adaptations from real life.<br /><br />This time it is real...it is truth...well, my version of the truth. Perhaps the other characters in this period of my life would have a different version of the truth.<br /><br />But then again...they're not writng the story.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-12072357030321539362008-05-30T22:36:00.004+10:002008-05-31T11:57:29.272+10:00I'm so excitedI'm excited. Despite the fact that the year seems to be flashing by...it means that I'm one day closer to going to <a href="http://www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au/">Byron Bay Writers Festival </a>(programme announced today), one day closer to the Romance Writers Conference and a week in Melbourne and gulp....one day closer to starting <a href="http://www.writeinjune.blogspot.com/">50ks in 30 days</a> (our June writing Marathon challenge) Gulp, actually, that's only a day away and I haven't achieved everything I wanted to in May.<br /><br />I'm excited about Byron because not only do I get to spend fabulous quality creative time with my writer friends, I get to catch up with my pal Jen, who I have not seen since she moved to Melbourne in January last year. Collage poetry will be happening!<br /><br />I'm excited about the <a href="http://www.romanceaustralia.com/">RWA Conference</a> for obvious reasons and it is years since I've spent time in Melbourne...14 years to be exact. I'm still hoping that I'll be able to scrape up the funds to see Wicked the musical while I'm down there.<br /><br />And now 50ks in 30 days starting Sunday. Today I was re-reading the first 25,000 words of Hold the Anchovies and I realised why I stopped writing it. It's not that there wasn't a story...quite the opposite. There's a story there alright, although it doesn't have a happy ending. It's my story. And I think in that first 25ks I got a bit too close to the bone, freaked out and stopped writing. (And isn't it at the point that you freak out that you're supposed to keep on writing) Yes, parts have been fictionalised... but so much of it is the absolute truth, so during June I need to find a way to access that story again and to stay with it. To stay with my truth, and not shy away from exposing my soul, my heart or my vulnerability.<br /><br />I'm also excited about having fire again, and the cat is very happy curled up in front of the fire. It will make a big difference to being able to churn those words out. It was starting to get very cold here at night, and I was going to bed early (shock, horror) just to stay warm. But now the room is a pleasant temperature, the fire is burning and I hope that my creative fire will continue to burn throughout June.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-63759847364964381682008-05-18T16:16:00.005+10:002008-05-18T16:58:54.444+10:00Inspired by success.<div align="left">Years ago, it seemed like it was only a crazy dream. Me? A published author? Sure I'd strung a play or two together and seen them performed, but aside from the very trashy novel that I wrote when I was 15, I hadn't written a complete novel. That was the first step.<br /><br />And five complete first drafts of different novel-length stories, I call myself a yet-to-be-published writer. (I can't count the group anthologies). But there's a bit more involved in becoming published, and there's that big hurdle called submission. I've submitted to contests and magazines but have yet to put myself completely out there by submitting to a real live publisher. It's almost time.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">For many years now, I have been hanging out in writing communities - online and in real life. And watching other people's success has inspired me and provided me with the perserverance to keep at this strange world of publishing.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">First: <a href="http://www.marleygibson.com/">Marley Gibson</a>. I met Marley online in around 2000 or 2001 when we were both hanging out at Red Dress Ink and writing chick lit. Marley has since found success with Young Adult writing and her first two novels were released two weeks ago, writing as Kate Harmon. I'm looking forward to reading it, and will be putting in my order to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zeta-Omega-Sorority-Kate-Harmon/dp/0142410179/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211092683&sr=8-1">Amazon now</a>.</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201603863383327250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SC_PJ4tDQhI/AAAAAAAABQc/l4voshL_JTQ/s320/zeta.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Secondly, my real life friend Roby, who will have three fantasy novels coming out in 2009 with Pan MacMillan. I was there when she got not quite 'the call' but 'the-we're-very-interested-call' and could share directly in the excitement with her. Roby has been generous enough to share her journey with me and the rest of our <a href="http://www.nvwg.blogspot.com/">writers group</a>, including anecdotes from lunches, the pitfalls of editing etc and the full manuscript. Very exciting!<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201602480403857922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SC_N5YtDQgI/AAAAAAAABQU/ZYUSAVhLya0/s320/100_0445.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">This is Roby, after finding out that Pan MacMillan wanted to speak to her.</span></em><br /></p><br /><br /><br />Lastly, I became friends with <a href="http://www.rachelcharlton.wordpress.com/">Rachel Charlton</a>/<a href="http://www.rhiancahill.wordpress.com/">Rhian Cahill</a> when we both did Nanowrimo last year. The novel she wrote during Nano has been requested after a publisher did a surf-by of her blog and read an excerpt of a different novel. How cool is that! So Rach/Rhian has encouraged me to get my work out there:<br /><br />So I'm out of the writing closet (not that I've exactly been in it). I have a new blog which will focus on writing and excerpts from my work and you can visit it <a href="http://www.dianecurran.wordpress.com/">here</a>.<br /><br /><br />Eventually I will have excerpts all five novel-length stories on the site, plus the occasional collage poem, and featured products from my Cafepress store.<br /><br /><br />It has been so inspirational sharing in the success of my writing buddies. It shows me that it's not just a far-fetched fantasy that only happens to the lucky ones. It happens to real people. It happens to the people with dedication, perserverance and talent! And I plan to be one of those people.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201607441091084834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SC_SaItDQiI/AAAAAAAABQk/9dq7s4M06zM/s320/writers+mantra.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Available in the <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/chickollage/1741941">Writers' Zone</a> in my Cafepress store.<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br />Back to the editing!Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-79302586888483577992008-05-04T19:12:00.004+10:002008-05-04T20:47:46.731+10:00Hunk of buttMy online blogger and writer pals have gone guy crazy. They've been posting hunky guys to their blogs and in Sandie's case, creating <a href="http://sandiehudson-writer.blogspot.com/">a blog devoted to hunks</a>.<br /><br />Not to be outdone, I have posted one hunk of butt below. The photo is from my archives but the man shall remain nameless. And I do have quite a few photos from other angles, but they may well identify the man in question.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SB2IF8XXPhI/AAAAAAAABQM/4lrJa85GBqY/s1600-h/hunk+of+butt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196459180740263442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SB2IF8XXPhI/AAAAAAAABQM/4lrJa85GBqY/s320/hunk+of+butt.jpg" border="0" /></a> The photo was taken in a previous life when I worked with this hot guy in a career very different from the one I have now. Suffice to say, I had a big crush on the owner of this butt. Can you blame me?<br /><br />Unfortunately, the crush is as far as it went despite flirtations and a kiss on the lips. Maybe something else happened in a parallel universe perhaps?<br /><br />Anyway, he inspired quite a lot of prose from me, almost poetry, and at least one character in a novel. Nothing like some real life inspiration to draw upon.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-70979296143396252812008-04-22T21:56:00.004+10:002008-04-22T22:40:38.445+10:00Another first draft complete<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SA3besXXPgI/AAAAAAAABPw/rfLbhWbMc94/s1600-h/beyondhappilyeverafter.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192047265779760642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SA3besXXPgI/AAAAAAAABPw/rfLbhWbMc94/s320/beyondhappilyeverafter.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Woohoo! Another first draft finished and Cinderella gets her 'sort of' happy ever after, at least the best happy ever after that she can hope for in the complex love and family circumstances she is now in.<br /><br />After ditching the false beginning which was all about Sleeping Beauty who suffered from narcolepsy (and never made another appearance in the story), I have replaced it with the original short story that started it all. And this is my final first draft word count:<br /></div><br /><div align='center'><table border='0' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='5'> <tr> <td><table border='0' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'> <tr> <td> <img src='http://www.zokutou.co.uk/wordmeter/pel_pu.gif' width='6' height='22' border='0'><a href='http://www.zokutou.co.uk/wordmeter'><img src='http://www.zokutou.co.uk/wordmeter/pk_pu.gif' width='100' height='22' border='0' alt='Zokutou word meter'></a><img src='http://www.zokutou.co.uk/wordmeter/per2_pu.gif' width='6' height='22' border='0'></td> </tr> <tr> <td><div align='center'><b>68,572</b> / 68,572<br>(100.0%)</div></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> </div><br /><br />Today, I've been editing 'I'm with the Band' and looking through magazines for words for a collage gift that I'm making for a friend. I will post a picture of the gift once it is finished and presented.<br /><br />My last short story has been doing the rounds of the office and I've been getting some very interesting and encouraging feedback. It's very appropriate for my co-workers to read it as it is set in a call centre, and we work in a call centre. But I've got to hang out for another four weeks to find out the competition results. The results are in, but will not be announced until the writers' group AGM. Best not to think about it.<br /><br /><div>So with the completion of Beyond Happily Ever After, that makes five first drafts in various stages of development. Time for some editing!</div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-80202731103588873662008-04-20T14:30:00.005+10:002008-04-20T16:07:27.067+10:00The Almighty Critic has forgiven me & the Ipod oracleIt seems that the Almighty Critic has forgiven me. Or maybe he/she had a second read of my writing and decided it wasn't so bad after all.I found the missing 844 words. The words were hiding in a notepad file entitled 'rescued document' with loads of question marks and the missing words. I came across it accidently last night when I was creating my google base feed for the Chickollage store. So now I have to compare those the two versions of the scene.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I've been churning out the words with regular word sprints. I'm hanging in there on writing 100 words a day and often surprise myself as to my productivity, especially on work days.</div><br /><div></div><div>Beyond Happily Ever After is now up to 64,821 words. I've extended the word count goal as the story expands, but I truly think I will cross the finish line of Beyond Happily Ever After in around 2.5k words. I've already written the final part of the story. I just need to write the 2 scenes that get me to that point.<br /><br />Once I've finished Beyond Happily Ever After, I will start preparing the first three chapters of both that and I'm with the Band for a competition coming up in June. Which mean synopsis writing. Not one of my most favoured aspects of writing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I want to dedicate May to polishing one manuscript for submission (which means - gulp - more synopsis writing but reducing a 5 page double spaced synopsis to a single page single paced synopsis. More gulping).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And then in June, a bunch of RWA writing buddies and I are doing our down under version of Nano. We've dubbed it 50ks in 30 days and we're taking advantage of our winter and the need to hibernate to work on our novels. I have no idea what I will be writing, although I may resurrect Hold the Anchovies, my novel about working as a pizza delivery girl.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, it's full on and there's lots of work to do!</div><br /><div><br /><br />I thought it was time for another MP3 oracle. This time it will be an oracle by the divine Ipod because I've moved up in the world. I love my Ipod. I love that this it makes a random selection from all the songs on my computer - and I cannot promise I will know all the songs (or artists) it plays today.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Set the Ipod on shuffle, and then hit play to answer the first question. Hit next to answer each subsequent question.<br /><br />So here goes:<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">1.How are you feeling today?</span><br />I guess that's why they call it the blues - Elton John(um, no I'm feeling good today. Tomorrow when I get to work may be a different story.)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">2.Will you get far in life?</span><br />Wild Star - Transvision Vamp (you don't cruise,you just ride on by)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">3. How do your friends see you?</span><br />Before too long - Paul Kelly (he who is nothing will suddenly come into view)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">4.Will you get married?</span> </div><br /><div>Alimony Blues - Chris Wilson (so I guess that's a no)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">5. What is your best friend’s theme song?</span> </div><br /><div>Fall to pieces - bluehouse<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">6. What is the story of your life?</span><br />The Angel and the Madman - Moving Pictures (Hmm but who is the angel and who is the madman?)</div><br /><div>Moving Pictures have certainly provided the soundtrack to my life.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191203993536583954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rjLepptQn2c/SArchydWWRI/AAAAAAAABPo/0i9yJVu1fD0/s320/moving+pictures+sticker.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">7. What was high school like?<br /></span>Don't tell me the time - the Motels (This is probably right, I have never liked living my life to a schedule but it is part of adult life)</div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#993399;">8. How can you get ahead in life?</span> </div><br /><div>In this little town - Dave Stewart & the Spiritual Cowboys (well, yes, I am living in a little town and I have never been more productive)<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">9.What is the best thing about your friends?<br /></span>The Trouble with Andre - Shakespear's Sister (hang on, I don't even have a friend named Andre, maybe that's a good thing.)</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">10. What is in store for this weekend?</span><br />Would I lie to you? - Eurythmics (guess I'm not telling)</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">11. To describe your grandparents?</span><br />Mexican Moon - Concrete Blonde (huh?????)</div><br /><div>-"thinking of you underneath the mexican moonlight"</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">12. How is your life going?</span><br />"working through the rooms in my head I came across your image"</div><br /><div>I Don't Care - Shakespear's Sister.</div><br /><div>"whenever I fall, I land on my feet"</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">13. What song will they play at your funeral?<br /></span>Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor (cool!)</div><br /><div>Does this mean that I will come back to life?</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">14. How does the world see you? </span><br />Another Stupid Love Song - Amiel</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">15. Will you have a happy life?<br /></span>When you Smile - Concrete Blonde (ok, so I need to smile more)</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">16. What do your friends really think of you?</span><br />The Power - Vanessa Amarosi</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">17. Do people secretly lust after you?</span><br />I Think I'm Paranoid - Garbage</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">18. How can I make myself happy?</span><br />Blue Black - Heather Nova (really not sure how to interpret this one)</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">19. What should you do with your life?<br /></span>Wreckage - Chris Wilson</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>'We're wreckage but I love you just the same."</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">20. Will you ever have children?<br /></span>Island - Heather Nova</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">21. What song would you strip to?</span><br />Hymn - Chris Wilson (definitely not! - this is an instrumental with a heartbeat)</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">22. If a man in a van offered you candy, what would you do?</span><br />I've got to fight - ???????</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">23. What does your mum think of you?</span><br />Heaven and Earth - Tania Bowra.</div><br /><div>Ah, the dichotomy!</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">24. What is your deep dark secret?<br /></span>Reckless - Australian Crawl</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">25. What is your mortal enemy’s theme song?</span><br />Mustang Sally - the commitments</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">26. What’s your personality like?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">People Like Me - Chris Wilson</span></div><br /><div>"people like me - we'd rather live on nothing than slowly die to live"</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#993399;">27. Which song will be played at your wedding?</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Don't Change a Thing -INXS</span></div>Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17073741.post-13199932264069637842008-04-14T21:48:00.003+10:002008-04-14T22:00:18.122+10:00And the words just vanish!I lost 844 words tonight. Actually more - I'd written 121 words during the day and when I tried to save the new 844 words to my flashdrive, it gave me grief and wiped the whole file instead. There is a copy of the file on my hard drive but only up to last night's writing.<br /><br />Aargh!!!!<br /><br />Cinderella's cursing me too! When I left her at the end of the 844 words, she was holding her new gorgeous baby in her arms and now - she has to go through the labour again. Well, not really - the scene I lost wasn't about her labour, it was about her husband's anxiety because he's just been busted! With his pants down. You get the drift. Prince Charming! Not quiet.<br /><br />So it's back to recreating the scene. Perhaps the almighty critic of the universe had decided that it just wasn't right. The judgemental flash drive obviously didn't think much of it. But it would've been nice if they'd let me decide!<br /><br />Back to work!Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13787290349219206985noreply@blogger.com4