Get tips, tricks and tools on the craft of writing.
Writers have explored their bodies through words in a variety of ways.
In this recording of a webinar held in July 2017 as part of the Write-ability Goes Regional and Online program, children's book author Jessica Walton takes us through different examples of text and description and discusses how different approaches to writing about the body.
"Your voice is needed," says Write-ability tutor Jessica Walton. "We need disabled writers writing poetry, novels, essays, picture books, articles, blog posts and tweets. We need disabled characters that reflect the reality of our lives. We need to write ourselves on to every page and platform until our voices are heard."
"A rejection or a bad review are part of a writer's life", says WV tutor Alison Stuart.
Alison Stuart is the published author of seven full length historical novels (with romance) and a collection of short stories. Many of her stories have been shortlisted for international awards and ‘By the Sword’ won the 2008 EPIC Award for Best Historical Romance. She is a past president of Romance Writers of Australia.
"A person's ability to communicate and connect through story allows the reader to see themselves, or to see something they've never considered", says WV tutor Candy Bowers.
Candy is a writer, actor, poet, playwright and producer. The Co-artistic director of Black Honey Company, Candy makes fearless, sticky work that delves in to the heart of radical feminist dreaming. Her credits include Hot Brown Honey, Sista She, Australian Booty and MC Platypus and Queen Koala’s Hip Hop Jamboree. She is currently making One The Bear- a fairytale for the hip hop generation for Campbelltown Arts...
"When writing your life story, simply get the words down. Dig deep to find your emotional truth and try to enjoy the process", says memoir tutor Spiri Tsintziras.
Spiri is the author of several books and award-winning stories, most recently the memoir ‘Afternoons in Ithaka’. She teaches creative writing at Swinburne University and regularly mentors writers to help them achieve their goals.
"They say it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to get really good at something", says WV tutor Lili Wilkinson.
Lili is the author of 10 books, including ‘Scatterheart’ and ‘Green Valentine’. She established insideadog.com.au and the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature. Wilkinson has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne. Her latest novel is ‘The Boundless Sublime’.
"Dedicate yourself to your craft", says WV tutor Donna Ward.
Donna Ward is the founding managing editor of ‘indigo’, the journal of Western Australian creative writing, previous editor of ‘Sotto Magazine’, and publisher at ‘Inkerman & Blunt’. She has past lives as a psychotherapist and in community and welfare management. She is author of many research reports and her prose has been published in ‘Southerly’, ‘Island Magazine’, ‘Ext2012’ and ‘Fish Anthology’ (Ireland).
"I think you have to work to find your own voice and write 'from the heart'," says WV tutor Leigh Hobbs.
Leigh is an artist, author and The Australian Children’s Laureate for 2016/2017. He has written 21 books featuring his characters Old Tom, Mr Chicken, Fiona the Pig, The FREAKS in 4F, Mr Badger and Horrible Harriet. Adapted for television and the stage here and overseas, Leigh’s family of somewhat subversive characters have now a life of their own.
April is National Poetry Writing Month, which challenges emerging and established poets to write 30 poems in 30 days.
