In many ways I suppose this could be a good weekend for reading. But that's not what I'm supposed to be doing... I'm at a writers retreat. I'm supposed to be writing. I'm here in a house with eight fellow word wranglers. There are laptops everywhere. The floor is strewn with cables. Wine is being mulled... … Continue reading On a writing (not reading) retreat
Blast from the past: specimens and notebooks
Another thing I came across on the weekend while sorting through storage boxes was all my old thesis stuff. Two boxes, filled with notebooks, log books, specimens, and negatives. So many negatives. Remember them? Much of my thesis involved looking at tiny bits of steel under electron microscopes and I have the photos to … Continue reading Blast from the past: specimens and notebooks
Thoughts on Among Others by Jo Walton
I recently read Jo Walton's Among Others, winner of the 2012 Nebula, Hugo and British Fantasy Awards for best novel. Since it's one of the few recent SF novels I've read of late, I thought I would share some of my thoughts. [Mild spoilers...] Among Others has been described as many things: a fairy story, … Continue reading Thoughts on Among Others by Jo Walton
When I was 12 – family road trip with dead kangaroos
I've been sorting through old storage boxes today, and I came across my first ever travel journal -- it's illustrated and everything. I was 12 years old, and our family was going on a camping road trip to South Australia's Flinders Ranges in our brand new 8-seater Mitsubishi van... *** Sunday 15 August -- Spent … Continue reading When I was 12 – family road trip with dead kangaroos
Quotes for writers who are stuck
I've been working on a novel for a while now. I'm getting very close to the end of the first draft, but the closer I get to the end, the harder it gets. Something's not gelling. I know the ending -- have always known it -- but I can't quite figure out how to get … Continue reading Quotes for writers who are stuck
Of Monsters and Men at the Palais
A while back I gave a plug for Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, whose album My head is an animal I had recently discovered. Since then, they've become seriously popular here in Australia (and possibly the world) and concluded their Australian tour with a concert last night at Melbourne's Palais Theatre -- which I … Continue reading Of Monsters and Men at the Palais
A campfire memory
My introduction to Tolkien came when my dad read The Hobbit to my sisters and I as we sat around a campfire. Could there be a more perfect scenario? Our family was camping in South Australia's Flinders Ranges. I was about 11, my sisters younger. Our evening's entertainment consisted of hunkering around the fire that … Continue reading A campfire memory
D&D Chronicles: Of gods, monsters and travelling
ASH Ah, that paladin survived the wights after all... Although I fear Alix, despite fighting bravely, will bear emotional scars for a long time. Euphoric with relief at their triumph, I became rash and demanded to try one of the mysterious vigour leaves recently given us by Ergosh. We did after all need to find … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Of gods, monsters and travelling
D&D Chronicles: The paladin’s tale
ASH The plains are calling me home. We've found the sacred vessel those cursed goblins stole from our village. We've avenged the deaths of our loved ones -- never have I enjoyed a battle as much as when we slaughtered the humanoids. My sword sang in my hands. For once, that paladin and I were … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: The paladin’s tale
Identify what’s important and make time
In this life there are always things we want to do, and things we have to do. Then there are the things we should do... All this has me writing really long to-do lists, at which I often stare perplexedly trying to decide which item to tackle first. Sometimes it's a challenge to figure out … Continue reading Identify what’s important and make time
Ellen Gregory 