Dim's Write Stuff

I don't know if it's that time of year or if the stars just happen to be in good alignment. The air is thick with the Literary Festival, Writing Conference, and Award Vibe. It's as challenging to cope with as a lungful of wattle blossom but every bit as beautiful to behold and far more exciting to be part of. So what better way to launch myself into this weekend's CYA Conference for Children's Writers and Illustrators  than by being Short Listed in the 7th KATHLEEN JULIA BATES WRITING FOR CHILDREN MEMORIAL COMPETITION with my Picture Book entry 'Rainforest Magic' ? The competition is conducted by Di Bates of Enterprising Words in conjunction with their popular and invaluable e-zine publication, Buzz Words Magazine . It's an absolute honour to have my manuscript judged as worthy of a Top Ten Placing in this year's comp. Plus it fills me with enough warm fuzzies to approach my CYA Pitch with a winning smile...well at least on the inside.

Thrilled to discover that one of my short stories for children was shortlisted for the Marshall Allan Hill Children's Writing Award 2011 Competition . This annual award is conducted by Jelli Beanz Publishing  who focus on short stories and poetry especially for children. " Voice of Winston", is a humourous little tale about one girl surmounting her fears in the pool with the help of an over talkative mozzie. It didn't quite win this year but has given me plenty of warm fuzzy feelings to 'just keep swimming.' Keep an eye out on my Kool Kidz page  for it some time soon!

Kids keep me teetering along that fine line of complacency and wanting to do better. Their sense of logic, realism, fantasy and tender pragmatism somehow weaves into rich, satisfying life tapestries in ways I could never create with mere words, but try constantly to emulate. Their raw enthusiasm breathes life into art the same way coffee kick starts my tired brain. I simultaneously marvel and envy their crafty naivety. This also happens to be why I adore writing for them. During recent Book Week Writing Workshops , when I asked students why they thought I might enjoy writing, the reply was often, "Because you like having fun." Yes. Who doesn't? Writing for kids is truck loads of fun. One of the frequently asked questions I got asked (being not quite as well known as JK Rowling) was, "What have you written?" I garbled on about short stories for school magazines, picture books etc. Hindsight being 100% correct and 100% use...

One of the serendipitous side effects of conducting school workshops, is the enthusiastic emergence of creative talent. Following a week of Writing and Illustrating Workshops conducted by Angela Sunde  and myself, many students of Coomera Rivers State School, have approached us keen to develop their ideas and launch their stories and illustrations upon the world at large. Angela was able to assist with various suggestions where kids from 6 - 18 years of age can indulge in the art of creative story telling, poem writing and illustrating. We both strongly encourage children with a creative flare and a burning desire to take it further to check out these sites. They offer kids information about Writing events, Conferences and Workshops, Festivals and Competitions, all designed to show case and promote the work of young writers and illustrators. If you know of any people who want their stories heard please feel free to pass these onto them. Somerset Celebration of L...

Day Three of National Book Week 2011  and I've well and truly set sail on my Inaugural Writers' Workshop sojourn. I've always been thrilled to be part of workshops on anything of a literary nature, inevitably walking away with some new precious gem of knowledge on the craft of writing and renewed desire to continue turning pages. Now the pencil is in an other's hand or rather hands. Who would have thought that conducting Writing Workshops could be so utterly enjoyable? Fun, is the best way I can describe my first foray into imparting to primary aged students of Coomera Rivers State School some of the finer nuances of Picture Book writing. Gruelling would be another. Six classes in under six hours was certainly not for the faint hearted but I would not hesitate to repeat the experience. Any concerns about them not 'liking' the subject matter were quickly dismissed. All grades from Preppies to Year 7 sat enraptured as they were guided through typical pictu...

Coomera Rivers State School  launched itself into National Book Week today with all engines blazing. Enthusiastic teachers and volunteer parents transformed the recently opened school's i Centre (library) into a vibrant journey of countries around the globe in keeping with the One World, Many Stories theme. A tour of the World Each class put together fantastic displays depicting all corners of the world including the Arctic, Africa, Asia and Australia.    To promote a love of all things literary, a Galaxy Book Fair is also running all week courtesy of Scholastic Books . Kids can browse through the hundreds of titles on display and purchase their favourites as well as participate in some fantastic competitions.   Angela shows grade 4s how easy it is   Last but by no means least, to celebrate the art of story telling and the magic of reading, local, well known and talented children's author and illustrator, Angela Sunde  w...

That's the theme for this year's Children's Book Council of Australia Book Week  and it's on soon ~ 20 - 26th August 2011 . For me it's a time to not only promote children's literacy but a chance to celebrate and embrace the joy of reading. If children are our key to the future then the power of written information in its multifarious forms is the vehicle they must learn  to operate. With it they can venture anywhere, anytime and achieve anything. There could never be too many stories to fill up this world. Don't be afraid to share yours, write one, enjoy one, draw one with a young person you know..... at any time. I'll be conducting fun workshops on writing picture books at a local primary school. Can't wait. Check out The Book Chooks  ways to Celebrate Book Week . It's chock full of fantastic ideas and novel activities to get kids involved with the fun of fabricating with words, weaving new worlds and exploring their imaginations.