Dim's Write Stuff

Ever had a burning desire to increase your love of humanity believing that it will improve your chances of attaining true Enlightenment? A fool-proof way to achieve this is simply to make new friends. Not sure how? Read on... Next time you're waiting in queue at the supermarket checkout or coffee counter or (here's the clever bit) at the book-launch line for the autograph of a revered author, turn around to the person behind you and say, "Hey, you'll never guess who I know!" They'll start tingling with expectation and desire to find out; after all anything is better than just standing around, right? Tell them you know this person. She's a children's author (No way. Incredible. How fascinating. These are probably the thoughts swirling through their minds right about now) "Yes way." you confirm. "And she's not bad either." (Now here's the amazing bit) Let them know they can even read some of her work at this site calle...

A picture is worth a thousand words. Seeing as we are already well and truly on the home run to Christmas, and I've more than likely used up my thousand word quota on the preceding months, looks like you're going have to make do with this collection of pics to bring you up to speed on Dimity Powell - children's autho r (aka Dimity Powell - a fully self-funded, not for profit organisation). Scroll to your heart's content. Laugh out loud if you want. I won't hear it. Feel free to comment on the superb quality,composition and stunning content of the shots. Or not. Be thankful that I don't post copious, catch-up, look-what-I-did posts more frequently. (insert chubby cheeked smiley face). And so, the story thus far: The Beginning (Feb - March) Joined the welcoming fold of  the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Went for the stimulating presentations and support... ...like Peter Allert, stayed for the eats. Visited a galaxy ...

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 ...