Yesterday I took a stroll and found myself in a New Age shop on Glenhuntly Rd in Elsternwick, called Qi. They have many rocks and crystals for sale, embedded in jewellery, or individually, or collected inside little gauze bags in combinations that are supposed to DO something. So I got myself a Willpower Kit to … Continue reading Willpower rocks
World Fantasy highlights: Connie Willis (with Neil Gaiman)
I'm still in World Fantasy wind-down mode, and today bring you the highlights provided by Toastmaster, Connie Willis. If you read this blog regularly, you'll know that I was recently blown away by her novel Doomsday Book, so was particularly keen to hear what she had to say in person. And what a delight! I … Continue reading World Fantasy highlights: Connie Willis (with Neil Gaiman)
cool word: syzygy
This word is cool for two reasons: SYZYGY - has 3 Ys alternating, not to mention a Z. What an awesome scrabble word! SYZYGY - means 1. An alignment of three objects, for example, sun, moon, and earth during an eclipse. 2. A pair of related things. The first meaning is celestial so I love … Continue reading cool word: syzygy
World Fantasy GOH: Ruth Sanderson
One of about six Guests of Honour at the recent World Fantasy Convention was artist Ruth Sanderson, who has illustrated an uncountable number of picture books (and/or book covers), many of them fairytales and other fantasy stories. Her paintings, several of which were on display in the Art Show, were breathtakingly beautiful -- had I … Continue reading World Fantasy GOH: Ruth Sanderson
World Fantasy wind-down
It’s hard to believe that it’s essentially a week since the World Fantasy Convention in San Diego – I’m still recovering from all the people, panels and parties! I had the most amazing time. This convention was all about socializing and informal networking. Yes, I attended quite a few panels (mainly those featuring the various … Continue reading World Fantasy wind-down
Heading to San Diego
Today I'm boarding a flight to San Diego USA to attend my first World Fantasy Convention. Exciting! It feels rather indulgent to be taking a trip halfway around the world simply to hobnob with other genre writers and industry professionals, but I know it will be a worthwhile experience. There will be plenty of people to meet, … Continue reading Heading to San Diego
More on writers and platform pressure
Oh my, the debate about writers and platform expectations is still raging. Over the past couple of days I've spent hours knee-deep in blog posts and reader comments, my little introvert heart pounding with apprehension. (Hours not writing, I might add...) Rachelle Gardner's post on Wednesday talked about the need to quantify the size of … Continue reading More on writers and platform pressure
An evocative word: darkle
Today I highlight a wonderful word that seems custom-made for the fantasy genre. Darkle verb tr., intr.: To make or become dark, indistinct, or gloomy; to be seen darkly. According to A.Word.A.Day, it's a back-formation from darkling (adv., a.: in the dark), from Middle English derkeling. Earliest documented use: 1819. As far as I can … Continue reading An evocative word: darkle
What I get out of blogging
Today I'm going to muse on a topic that has been floating around the writing industry blogosphere the past week or so -- which is what writers get out of blogging and how big a 'platform' novelists need in order to sell books (or to even be considered for publication by the larger publishers). Anne R Allen … Continue reading What I get out of blogging
The 10 commandments according to McKee
This just arrived with me on email and I feel compelled to share: Robert McKee's 10 Commandments of STORY I. Thou shalt respect thine audience. II. Thou shalt research. III. Thou shalt dramatize thine exposition. IV. Thou shalt layer a subtext under every text. V. Thou shalt create complex characters rather than merely complicated story. … Continue reading The 10 commandments according to McKee
Ellen Gregory 