Entries Tagged 'AWM Forums' ↓

Did you have a rejuvenating festive season, finding lots of lovely writing time, or enjoying a break from the page to get out and live? I had three weeks off the grid, on the beach and then the Great Barrier Reef - no internet, no mobile, no techo-tentacles at all – and it has given me a fresh torquoise clear-headedness as I dive back into my writing projects.

Non-techno Tentacles

It also gave me time to reflect on my goals about being a member, and sometimes a leader, of various online communities. The incredible benefits of being able to find information and support anytime of day or night, no matter where I am, were brought home to me as I indulged in writerly thoughts far from any screen. Gone are the days when one needed a a head full of knowledge and a parlour full of colleagues to write successfully. Now we need skills more than knowledge – the writing skills of old, sure, but also research and networking skills different to anything known a generation ago, or even a decade.

Speakeasy 2010 will continue to focus on promoting these skills among writers, informing our reader/writers about developments in online communities and digital publishing, as well as providing current news on publishers, agents, competitions, festivals etc. So what’s been happening while I was off snorkelling? Lots!

Over at a Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, Joe Konrath has distilled five years of blogging wisdom into one great post about how to survive and thrive as a writer.

Many writers use online forums as a way to participte in a writing community. If this sounds like you, I recommend a quick look at the 3 tips outlined by the adventurous writer: learn the local netiquette, choose a forum group that requires a level of commitment that suits you, and remember forum communities are a two-way street (not a one-way self-promotional vehicle).

For those writers who made a NY resolution to get the hang of Twitter, check out the inkygirl writer’s guide, which has a comprehensive range of tips and info on planning and practicing effective engagement with the twitterverse: such as using #amwriting and #writegoal to find fellow writers online, tracking your retweeters with tweetmeme, or taking some time to consider an overall strategy for Twitter as part of building your personal brand online.

My 2010 goals for the AWMonline writing community are: to engage with industry experts to provide a range of training and resources for our members; and to work with our A-team of awesome volunteers to provide a totally clean and current database of industry contacts. With so many talented and dedicated writers of all stages and genres in our membership, I know 2010 will be another wonderful and even more inspiring year.

So, what are your writing goals for the year? And, bearing in mind that Konrath suggests we set achievable goals and reward ourselves when we reach them, what are some of the rewards you plan for yourself? Do you plan a simple celebratory meal with friends/family, or a trip to AussieCon4, or an e-reader? The possibilities are endless – and so are the opportunities!

Special News: AWMonline Live Forum

A live forum to discuss proposed changes to laws protecting Australian books starts soon at www.AWMonline.com.au

Writers are encouraged to participate in this live, online forum that aims to demystify the impacts of the Productivity Commission’s proposed changes to the restrictions on the parallel importation of books. Ask your questions, air your comments, and plan your response to this crucial issue for Australian writers and readers.

11am to 12 noon today

www.awmonline.com.au [You need to be a subscriber to access the forums. Subscriptions start at $19.95]

Special guests:
Sophie Masson, ASA
Sheryl Gwyther, Saving Aussie Books
Kelly Hunter, Romance Writers of Australia

Hope to see you there soon!
   
 

The Australian publishing industry hits the international headlines, but not in the way we’d hope. At Speakeasy, we despair to see the threat of copyright ‘reform’ baying at the windows of our healthy and diverse booksellers industry, while the Productivity Commission seems set on unlatching the door.

Thank Gawd for the take-no-prisoners eloquence of Richard Flanagan, naming names in his article Losing Our Voice:

The big end of town – Dymocks Booksellers in cahoots with Coles-Woolworths – are pushing for a change that will see jobs lost, a remarkable industry crippled and Australian cultural life dealt a body blow …

… While the Coalition’s proposal is opposed by everyone from Matthew Reilly to Tim Flannery to Tim Winton, from the Australian Booksellers Association to the Australian Publishers Association to the Children’s Book Council of Australia, the only people the Coalition can wheel out in its defence, to plead its supposedly egalitarian case, are those horny handed sons of the proletariat, Alan Fels and, yes, Macquarie Banker Bob Carr, peddling the fiction of privileged writers and grasping publishers opposing cheaper books for the masses …

… And if his Government sanctions this proposal it will fall to Kevin Rudd to explain not just to Australia, but to the world, what sort of nation he wishes to lead that would seek to destroy rather than support and develop its writing?

For what nation can advance with its tongue torn out?  

~

Galleycat features inspirational footage of Six Apart’s Anil Dash (of Typepad Journalist Bailout Scheme fame). He advises publishers to concern themselves less with what the rest of the industry is doing, and more with honouring the value of their own content.

FishBowlNY covers the Mediabistrio Circus conference on the intersection between media and technology. Looking at what’s next for digital publishing, Dash and Eileen Gittens (founder of self-publisher Blurb) agree, bloggers benefit from producing ‘evergreen’ online content with enduring relevance.

With this in mind, I offer you a quote from Flaubert: "What a bitch of a thing prose is!"

~

The Q150 Writers train is en route from Townsville to Mount Isa. Authors on board Matthew Condon, Belinda Jeffrey, and Gregory Rogers will be posting updates and musings at ABC Pool – head over to see the latest, and jump into the gene pool to mash their stuff and post your own. Let Speakeasy know if you do, and we’ll post the link.

~

AWMonline Forums:

This week’s forum with Agent Sydney is bubbling along, offering industry insight fresh from an Australian literary agent on a range of issues. Drop by to post your questions before the forum ends this Friday afternoon.

Guest Writing Racer quote for the week: "It’s halfway and I’ve only written 180 words! I have however, according to the Word Count Button, written 721 characters (with spaces). And some of those spaces just lept off the page!" The word total was so blinding, my hump-day brain can’t do the maths, so stay tuned for updates. Upcoming racer guests include John Birmingham, Leigh Redhead, and Allison Rushby. Something for everyone!

Last week, AWMonline subscribers spoke with Australian YA author Michael Gerard Bauer during an online forum. The dynamics of having so many enthusiatic writers put questions to our internationally successful guest quickly created a warm and vibrant conversation. Here are some highlights from the discussion:

Kate: How conscious are you of the influence of your locality when writing?
MBG: Quite a bit. I taught at Marist Brothers in Brisbane and I based the school setting for “Don’t Call me Ishmael” on that. I felt the Ashgrove location a great deal in The Running Man and made a conscious decision to use the real suburb and street names in the story because it was based on some childhood memories of growing up there.

Robyn: Do you think having been a teacher has helped you as a writer, and if it has, what have you found most valuable about it?
MBG: Yes, definitely. I think it gave me a good understanding of the people I was writing about. I certainly couldn’t have written ishmael as well without drawing on my teaching years. During teaching I also read lots of YA books and loved them. Now when I visit schools to talk I feel very comfortable in that environment.

Samantha: What are some of the things that helped you make the trasition from full-time teacher to full-time writer, Michael?
MGB: Desperation to write the story was one thing! Having a very supportive wife who continued full time work helped a lot too. And some great good fortune.

Lynn: Do you work solely on one project at a time or do you mix it up?
MGB: I work on one project at a time but there has always been the next story in the back of my mind that starts to take over when the first one comes to an end.

Samantha: What does your writing week look like and how has your success, and associated PR obligations, impacted on your ability to write new material?
MGB: My writing week looks like a bit of a shambles most times! I’m trying to be more consistent and organised with my writing. On a good day I would have an early walk (really helps with ideas) have breakfast, write till lunch and then for a few hours after lunch. I have had to think more in the last 2 years about balancing writing and school/festival vists because sometimes I’ve been away for 5 weeks in a row interstate. You have to make space for the writing.

Kate: As a former teacher, and as a writer for young readers, what are your thoughts about encouraging creative writing in young people?
MGB: I don’t mind encouraging kids to enter comps. It gives them a structure and a focus for their writing. As long as winning or getting a prize is not the main objective but more simply a way to practice their writing.

Jim: I can understand the joy and passion of writing, but what is the most frustrating part of your successful life as an author?
MGB: I really feel blessed to have the chance to be a full time writer so I feel I’ve got nothing to complain about … but … I guess like every writer it’s when the ideas in your head end up all clunky on the page and that hard struggle to get it right. There are great rewards of course when you do it. Also wanting to write and not being able to because of other commitments.

Elaine: Do you recommend having an agent or trying to find a publisher?
MGB: I can’t say much about having an agent. I don’t have one but I know some authors who do and swear by them. I tend to do everything myself and I must admit sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone negotiate contracts etc for you. My overseas sales have all been organised by the rights people at Scholastic.

Joanne: Do you have a critique group or circle of people that you use to help you with your projects?
MGB: No, I don’t. I think I’m too self conscious to be scrutinised! But I know people who do and find them a great source of support and inspiration.

Jodi: Do you think your teaching background has led you to write YA novels? What are you working on at the moment? Do you ever think you’ll write/publish more short fiction?
MGB: Yes, I think my teaching has led me to YA novels. Although i tend to write stories that I like rather than think too much about aiming them at a particular audience. Must be my arrested development that they end up YA! At present I’m writing a shorter novel – 25000 – words where the narrator is a 11 yr old boy. he tells the story of his dog’s life but also reveals things about his family. i’m not sure who will want to read it but I have to write anyway.

Luke: I know Dinosaur Knights has only just been released, but are you working on your next project yet? Can you tell us anything about it?
MGB: I’m enjoying trying to write [my latest story] from a young narrator’s POV. It means my language has to be simple and straight forward. I want to tell a powerful story with simple language. Some people might say I use too much imagery and symbolism and exaggerated similes/metaphors in some of my previous novels!

Robyn: I’ve been reading lately that YA and kids books seem to be selling well – better than books for adults even – despite the ‘global economic crisis’ .
MGB: I think children’s books particularly in Australia are so strong and well written so maybe they are better placed to weather the storm.

Meg: Thank you to all our wonderful forum particpants – you have created a fantastic, informative discussion that shows such enthusiasm for the craft of writing. And special thanks to our guest, Michael Bauer. Your generosity in sharing your experience with our beginner and developing writers from around Australia has enriched us all, Michael. You’re a treasure!

MGB: Thanks everyone, this has been such great fun! Thank you for your wonderful questions. I hope I’ve managed to make some sense with my answers. I might have to have a lie down now though …

It is a busy time here at AWMonline!

Next week we have a live online Q&A forum with Children’s/Young Adult author (and total sweetie) Michael Gerard  Bauer. I’ll be posting details next week, but for now just mark the date in your diary: next Wednesday 29 April at 11am-12pm.

This Tuesday we welcomed guest Writing Racer Christine Bongers, who inspired Racers on to our greatest word count yet, bringing the total tally up to a massive 34,112 words!

We are also starting to get some firm details about the program for the Byron Bay Writers Festival, with early Bird ticket sales having just opened. AWMonline will be hosting an all day pre-festival publishing seminar … but more about that later.

This week, a Keitai character presents a few of our favourite links for your clicking interest:

• The territorial copyright debate on our little island is making international news: The Guardian reports the issues more clearly than  most Australian news outlets.
• Keitai books take off: ‘If Shakespeare were alive now, he would be a mobile phone novelist‘.
• The Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) are conducting a series of one-day seminars in the east coast cities of Australia. Check out multiplatform producer Kelly Chapman’s blog about it.
• The Tweenbot art experiment restores faith in human (well, New Yorker) nature. I so want to program one of these adorable gizmos to perform random literary readings, and record the results.
• Business cards for the econopocalypse, featuring meat and lasers. Extra handy for writers: informative and edible!

Wishing you all a happy writerly weekend.

To help you achieve your writing goals for 2009, AWMonline is offering subscribers the opportunity to join in a regular, live, online writing race.

Our celebrity guest KIM WILKINS will be joining us for our first AWMonline writing race, tonight at 8pm AEST for one hour.

Subscribers can log in tonight at 7.45pm AEST and go to "forums" under "writing resources". Let us know you’re online, check for the correct starting time, and then get writing!

At 9pm AEST, it’s pens (keyboards) down… Let us know your word count for the night, and how you feel about your progress. You’ll be amazed at how motivated you are when racing alongside your online writing buddies!

So AWmonline subscribers, start planning for a night of productive writing. If you want to join us and become an online writing racer, it’s easy to subscribe at www.awmonline.com.au  – subscriptions start at $19.95.

     Being a complete newby to this whole media/arts management role that I now find myself in, I’m scanning around for some training. I came across this article … ‘Recessions, sponsorships and the arts’ by Jane Haley, CEO, AbaF. For anyone involved in managing writing projects, the general principles in this article are extremely useful. I wish I was smart like her.

Good news – Ronnie Scott from The Lifted Brow has agreed to be a guest for a live forum with AWMonline! Hurrah, my first one! Stay tuned for details.

I’ve started editing my novel. You know that feeling when your body is at work/home/school etc, but your mind is deep in a plot somewhere? Do you get that, too? I used to get in big trouble for having an active imagination. It amazes me that now I actually get paid for it!

     Lots on my plate, organising AWMonline forum guests and drafting the next e-newsletter, all while sticking to my new coffee budget. So a short post today, with some plum links for writers seeking to improve your craft and your paypacket…

Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots and Leaves guru) reviews How Not to Write a Good Novel, a must-read for any writer. Sound advice on avoiding mistakes for beginners, delivered with lashings of humour by Sandra Newman (author) and Howard Mittlemark (publisher and ghost writer). For example: ‘A great many plot problems that show up in unpublished manuscripts can be resolved with a single strategy. Know what the chase is, and cut to it.’ Indeed. Reminds me of this hilarious blog post from Justine Larbalestier, where she re-writes Snakes on a Plane to great effect.

Interested in developing a career in the new media industry? The Australia Council has published The Writer’s Guide to Making a Digital Living, "a professional development resource for creative writers. Its primary target audience is any writer (young or old, emerging, mid-career or established) in Australia or overseas, who aims to earn income as a professional creative writer and is interested in how the new media industry can enhance their craft skills and income earning potential."

Yes, please!

     AWMonline has run live forums with both Australian and international agents, and they have been unanimous in advising writers to read, read, and read some more. There’s no better way to know your craft, know your genre, and know your market.

The development of e-books means readers are faced with expanding choices of not only what to read, but how.

For those who still like their books on paper, here are some cool things to make reading comfy, easy, and fun – especially for those of us who have RSI from all our writing. (Excuse the product plugs – rest assured, I’m not getting any kickbacks!)

I swear by the book seat - it’s like a bean bag for your book with a strap to keep it open. It’s perfect for hands-free reading, but not very portable. For one-handed, take-anywhere reading, I want to try the thumb thing. And there are a squillion readling lights available, including these two: the flex neck for a clip-on reading light with style, and this kids reading light with digital timer – it’s designed to encourage recalacitrant readers to read for a minimum time, but I can definitely see it come in handy setting limits on my own night-time reading.

But then, I need to read more than I need to sleep.

Many readers have gone digital, notably Nathan Bransford, literary agent, and Kate Eltham, QWC CEO and writer. I guess I could live without books-on-paper (cut to scene of desperate woman standing atop a windswept cliff, 1984 edition of The Mists of Avalon clutched to her heaving breast). But what about bookshelves? Bookshelves maketh the home, and they’re not there to house dusty bric-a-brac, people. They’re meant for books.

And what about our favourite independent booksellers in Australia (gleebooks, Readings, Brisbane’s Better Bookshops…)? We are fortunate to have so many surviving and thriving when treasured ones overseas are going, going, gone. There’s still a place for independent booksellers in the world of digital publishing, but it’s a different place.

Sigh. Kindle and Sony Reader do look good. I could read whenever, wherever, no seats and things and lights required. Even, now, on my iphone.

So, writers – there’s lots of options, gadgets aplenty, and definitely no excuses. Want to be the best writer you can be? Then read, read, and read some more!

     Need help setting your new year’s writing goals?

Subscribers to AWMonline can check out the forum here. The Writing Goals 2009 forum has been set up to support you in your writing goals for this year. It will be an ongoing resource for writers to provide each other with encouragement, commiseration, and celebration as required… So head on over and state your Top 3 writing goals for 2009.

Or else you can go to StikK and make a contract with yourself. Maybe your contract with yourself is to fulfill your dreams of signing a contract with someone else! I’ve decided to StikK to my goals this year to lose weight, go hiking, water my herb garden… Oops, that’s right: writing. Okay. I will edit my manuscript this year. And that’s that. 

For those who are not inclined to set themselves up to fail with outrageous new year’s resolutions, I recommend Lisette’s latest blog at QWC.

So, will you resolve, dissolve, or evolve as a writer this year?