Famous Australian playwright, Michael Gow, once said in an extraordinary writer’s workshop given at JUTE that “there are no rules, only examples”. I cannot recall if he was saying something brilliantly original, or quoting someone else who is awesome. Yeah. That would be because I don’t read enough examples.Read More →
I know most of you all want to write something insightful, stirring, meaningful, and gobsmackingly clever and on point. But what if what you wrote got you into trouble. Serious trouble. Like dead.Read More →
Writers are bower birds, so watch out what you say around them! We’ll pick up on any old event or situation you name and immediately start plotting a story. We often find ourselves telling stories about the experiences of other people. But hold on. Some stories are not yours to tell.Read More →
What’s it all for? Writing. Why do you write anything? What’s the compulsion? Do you understand the act of writing? Are you conscious of the gift?Read More →
Who the hell are you as a writer? What do you stand up for? When you hear of evil and see evil, do you speak of it? Where’s them fighting words? What you got?Read More →
Look. A piece of Art. How amazing! Yeah, I’m keeping up with my artform. I liked it, click that thumbs-up icon. Click, it’s off my list. Next! Oh, come on! Really? Back it up.Read More →
magic realism noun a literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy, and everyone is doing it these days.Read More →
It’s Modern Family’s Jay Pritchett. It’s Star Trek’s Doctor McCoy. It’s Orange Is The New Black’s Galina “Red” Reznikov. It’s a Hollywood (and small screen) staple, and some might conclude a complete cliche. Yet the ‘crusty but benign’ character, forever firing off conflicting messages of love and disdain, has something to tell us writers.Read More →
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from a full-time writer and theatre-maker was this: just say ‘yes’.Read More →
I saw one of my Write Sparks workshop writers today at the markets. He was busy at his foot reflexology stall, but I caught him between customers. He wanted to get some advice about where to go with his script and I told him a bit about creative developments.Read More →