Blog
Book Launch
Book Launch – Anthology “Au Revoir” Post by Guest Blogger, Jan Wood. An amazing morning of celebration at our Book Launch of this year’s Anthology, “Au Revoir”. Seventeen members of Women Writers Queensland contributed a short story to create a plethora of short stories in many genres. A successful Book Launch, held on Octobr 14th, at […]
Write Out West
Post by Guest Blogger Virginia Miranda Three Towns, Three Writers, Three days of Inspiration Ten women on a bus, driven by the very patient Chris from Coorparoo RSL, departed Brisbane on August 1 for their “Write Out West” workshop tour. First stop, the Black Cat Café, Millmerran for lunch. A tiny town which offered us […]
A Different Kind of Truth
Post by Guest Blogger Beverley Young. The word “Fiction” anywhere in the description of a genre, denotes the story as a creation of the author. This may extend to the description of events, characters, and settings within a story. In some instances, the fiction may be a parody of reality. The challenge for every author […]
Post by Guest Blogger – Raelene Purtill
A Writer’s Journal The YouTuber seduced me with a decorated page that tracked her word count, before she flipped over to her vision board displaying her projected Instagram followers and her dream book cover. The airship of my story was down in flames, but I had new inspiration: a writing journal. Why Journal? From Julia […]
Bribie Island Retreat 2024
On 5 October 2024, a group of writers from Women Writers Queensland visited the Bribie Island Community Arts Society (BICAS) as part of our annual 5-day Writers Retreat. The beautiful Toc H, Coungeau House, Banya Street, Bongaree, was again a welcoming sight. It was to be my first retreat, and Toni Risson’s welcoming presence on […]
Connecting to a Forgotten Past
I’ve always believed that the journey of researching and writing about family history is just as important as the destination, but the research will often take us along unexpected paths. Uniting the current generation with earlier generations about a forgotten past is a worthy undertaking, but the project is often complex and can take a […]
What can we leave out to make space for magic?
When I need to listen to or read plain and clear words that have a way of stealing up on you, I go back to Ernest Hemingway. Many authors do this well, not just Hemingway of course, but when I get bogged down or my mind starts cluttering up, I reach for Hemingway. An audiobook […]
How to find an editor to fit your budget
An internet search for freelance editors will return over twenty-six million results so you will certainly find editors who will offer their services for reduced rates, but how do you choose one that is right for you? You will want an editor who is a good fit for you, one you can work with and […]
Rejection is part of the process
Rejection and criticism are inevitable parts of being a writer. No matter how good your writing is, you will always encounter people who don’t like it, don’t understand it, or don’t appreciate it. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your passion or let the negative feedback get you down. Here are some […]
Bling on the Bitumen
Some people dive into canyons with elastic around their ankles. Some plunge into shark-infested waters with small tanks of air on their backs. Others open their laptops and dive into subjects they know nothing about. Each adventure requires a leap of faith, the belief that, ‘I can do this’. Probably. I spent the last two […]
Finding a Publisher
If you’re an Aussie writer looking for a publisher, you might be feeling lost. There are so many options out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? Well, don’t worry, I’m here to help. In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how to find a publisher for an […]
The Ironbark Tree-Finding Stories and Poems
In one of my many journeys I enjoyed with Cross Country Tours Australia, I came across a dead, yet upstanding iron bark tree. Its roots were partly exposed by the cutting of a gigantic, gaping hole next to it. The crown of the tree was now, what looked to me an angry face, accusing me […]
Autobiography or Memoir
A simple question but one that is often misunderstood. “Is your book an autobiography?” A question I’m often asked. “No, it’s a Memoir.” To differentiate, an autobiography MUST start from the beginning of the author’s life and the work must cover inciting incidents, antidotes and fun experiences in chronological order. In other words, it is […]
What keeps me writing
I wish I could write a novel but whenever I put my mind to creating something from a blank page, that’s exactly what I’m left with. The stories that get my imagination zinging are of characters who dwell in my ancestral closet, like my great-grandmother who in 1932 built a one-room house on the beach […]
Bribie Retreats – A Must
I recently wrote and complied a booklet about the Bribie Island Women Writers’ Retreats to share with other women writers the importance of the retreats in the yearly activities of the group. If possible, this will be uploaded to our website at a future date. Our retreat is a time when we can meet over […]
Homage to Maiwar
Once it was called Maiwar Home of the peacemaker platypus Steering warring beasts Towards peace and reconciliation. Now it’s the Brisbane River A slippery bendy brown beast I think I’m in one place Then discover I’m in another. First Nations, convicts, free settlers Ebb and flow like its tides The river surges, retreats, resurges Both […]
A Literary Luncheon
July saw 75 attendees enjoying a sumptuous high tea at the Cambrian Centre in Booval. The tables were scattered with ladybugs and butterflies, and bundled, old, and precious books bound with scarves and ties performed their role as elegant centrepieces. ‘Gladys the Tea Trolley Lady’ was a highlight, with some attendees aghast when they entered […]
I’m a writer so why should I concern myself with technical stuff?
When you begin writing your story or novel, thinking about things like proper layout, margins and indents can feel like obstacles to putting your ideas down on paper. Publishers, editors, agents and competition organisers require that all writing be formatted in certain ways. Apart from being visually appealing a properly formatted document is easier to […]
Bribie Island Writers’ Retreat
Bribie Island Writers’ Retreat The 2022 retreat will be held 7-9 October At the retreat, writers can dedicate quality time to their works-in-progress; join structured workshops; begin new work; discuss writers, writing and books and generally share good times with like-minded people. The retreat runs for 2 nights, from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon. This […]
Writing From Mythology
God made man because he liked to hear a story – so say the Africans, and the richness of worldwide mythology proves God chose wisely. My favourite Mythological writer runs the Westcountry School of Myth in Dartmoor. Martin Shaw wrote The Lindworm, Fox Woman and The Night Wages. He asks, what if the stories owned […]
