Dim's Write Stuff

The science of the evolution of words is a deeply fascinating and curious thing. So fascinating and curious that author Nick Earls took the idea of etymology and fashioned it into not one, not two but three amazing adventure books for kids . But (lots) more on that another day... The concept of word play and word origin is equally as absorbing for writers as for readers and led me to ponder on the development of the word 'selfie '. Selfie : a picture of a person taken by that person. (usually badly if that person's name is Dimity) How did the term 'self-portrait photograph' become reduced to such a bland, throw away two syllable text term? When did we become a race of need-it-yesterday, don't-have-time-to-speak-full-words narcissistic androids? And if we are that desperate for a shot of our own mugs, what is wrong with using a tripod or the old fashioned method of accosting a complete stranger and risking camera abduction in the name of getting behind th...

I'm not sure when Free Time packed her bags, turned her back on me and walked out the door. It might have been last month sometime in between the submissions, presentations and school projects. Maybe it was when I was hanging the washing out. It could have been while I was driving back from school. Or when I was attending a seminar somewhere. I am ashamed I didn't even notice, until now. It feels like I haven't seen her for a long long time. And I miss her. If any body knows where she is, could you please pass on a message to her from me? Tell her: I'm sorry. I'm to blame. It was all me, my neglect that caused her to leave. I'll try not to ignore her any more. Really I will. From now on, I'll make sure we unite, like we used to. We'll have fun again; go for long walks, light candles around the bath, like we used to. Listen to the family finish their stories, watch them, laugh with them, like we used to. Tell her: I'll reserve more spa...

Thrilled to announced I'm on the road again, touring the blog-sphere this time with Alison Reynolds and The Littlest Bushranger . Be sure to join Alison and I on Friday 14th June at Boomerang Books Blog. Can't wait to get wait to jump in the saddle and take off. Yeah Ha. Visit Alison's site for a full listing of Blog Tour dates and competition details. http://www.alisonreynolds.com.au/

Are you the type who can't thin out vegetable seedlings because you believe if they took the trouble to germinate, they should all be given the chance to grow? LET GO. Does your garden look like an Amazon rainforest because you can't bear to get out the hedge clippers? LET  GO. Do you possess more meaningless, random five-year old art work than you actually have five year olds because you won't throw anything out? LET GO. Do you hang onto ill feelings long after an altercation just in case you need them again for round two? LET GO. As a writer, are you reluctant to edit your own work, because they employ people to do that sort of thing for you anyway don't they, and any self-respecting editor will be able to see how much blood, sweat and tears each word took to produce therefore earning its place in your convoluted story? LET  GO. An oft hackneyed term that is easier said than done. Perhaps, as writers, we have to deal with the id...

Do you have a Harry Potter trapped within you bursting to be free? Do you know someone between the ages of 10 and 19 who find it hard to suppress their written words? Then check out the latest Young Writers' Program for Kids on offer by the Queensland Writers Centre. These workshops are sure to bring out the budding author in you. I'm especially intrigued by the Story Safari and wish I knew the appropriate age-reversing spell which would make me 10 again so I could don my khakis and tag along with Tristan Bancks. Aimee Lindorff Write On! (Age 12 – 17) with Aimée Lindorff Tuesdays (Term 2) Commences 16 April, 4:30 – 5:30pm. Do you love to write? Want to make new friends with similar interests? In this 10-week workshop series with Aimée Lindorff, you’ll learn the secrets of building tension between your heroes and villains though narrative, themes and story structure. Discover the core ingredients of great storytelling, from getting ideas out of your head ...

Once upon a time I wrote a book. It was about kids and magic and Christmas. It was loads of fun to write and even more fun to share with people. I shared my book with kids; little kids, big kids and kids, like me, who still believe in Santa. A few days before Christmas, when the blizzard of excitement from sharing my book with everyone died down, I crept back home to my own family  and quietly wrapped a few presents and baked some Christmas goodies share with them. As I sat through dozens of Christmas movies, sang along badly to carols and paraded the streets every night to ooh and ah at the decorated houses, lit up like...well...Christmas trees, I realised what a brilliant thing my little book about Christmas was part of. Kids jumped with glee when they recognised a familiar line, idea or concept shared by the wider Christmas audience. Christmas is after all, more or less, universal. PS Who Stole Santa's Mail? formed part of the magic, the ...

Yesterday marked the beginning of a 14 day festival for the Chinese New Year of the Snake . Without labouring on the origins or traditions of this colourful and significant celebration which I've been fortunate to know since childhood, here are a couple of reasons why I like it: It's a chance to restart 2013. If the first couple of months or so haven't quite panned out expectation-wise, no matter. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, this is when it really all kicks into gear. It's cool labelling each new year with a symbolic zodiac animal. This is the Year of the Snake (or Black Snake). Meticulous, agile and able; usually gets on with everyone, but often quick tempered. These are snake attributes which quite frankly apply to this little black rooster too. None-the-less I am hoping to apply some sophisticated, silky and smart snake-ness to my writing world this year. I love stuffing my self with Chinese delicacies. I don't follow the traditional fare ea...