Today, 211 years ago, a storyteller was born in Odense, Denmark. Hans Christian Andersen became a prolific writer – of poems, travelogues, novels and plays … but it is for his fairy tales that he is most remembered and treasured. Sad, clever, joyous and poignant, … Continue reading What I learned from Hans Christian Andersen
BANG! KAPOW! The visiting author punched her way through the dreaded Sizzling Start. ‘Who will rid me of this bothersome writing term,’ she screamed, valiantly, desperately. Sorry, no offence meant to all those teachers (valiantly) trying to teach kids short story writing to fulfill the … Continue reading Off to a SIZZLING START … or not!
I’ve had a ‘multi-skilled’ work career … the fault of a constant need to be challenged, and possibly a rebellious streak that makes me, in perfect Leo-like logic bend the rules – to do it ‘my way’. My way or the highway, sort of thing. … Continue reading The Death of Childhood?
Ahhh, Science! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I became a scientist at the age of four when curiosity reared its head. It was the day my mother killed a chook. My father reckoned its head was still attached by invisible threads. Mum, … Continue reading Curiosity, dead chooks, science and the S.T.E.M. push
That’s like asking how long is a piece of string. There are endless articles written on this genre – most provide very useful hints in your quest to write the genre, and most as useful as a ball of string. Imagine the uses for a ball of string! … Continue reading What makes a winning short story?
