Presidents News – January 2012
By Julie Boyd · Comments
Welcome to 2012, the Year of the Dragon, everyone. It only seems like yesterday that we were all preparing for Christmas and already we are well into January of a new year. I trust you all had a wonderful time over the break with whatever you were doing. News of great excitement, family dramas, hatches and despatches and fabulous trips seem set to provide everyone with terrific writing fodder this year. I’m looking forward to speakers, workshops – including some electronic experiences, and creating further publishing opportunities for members.
I’ve just been given some tickets to a literary dinner with Penny Vincenzi which I’m looking forward to very much and will share with you next month.
A few things I’ve found recently that may be of interest to you as well.
Quote of the Month
Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. – Gene Fowler
Tips of the Month
12 Secrets To Being A Super-Prolific Short-Story Writer
http://io9.com/5457388/12-secrets-to-being-a-super+prolific-short+story-writer
Want to get literary agents excited about your book? Publish an excerpt first. This article will tell you how: bit.ly/gj1Tmk
Don’t believe the hype. There are debut authors getting published in every genre. Why persistence pays: bit.ly/tjWqNj
Challenge of the Month
http://www.australianwomenwriters.com/p/australian-women-writers-book-challenge_25.html
Finally as we approach a new year, a letter written in 1933 by renowned author F. Scott Fitzgerald to his 11-year-old daughter, Scottie, reminds us of a list of things to worry about, not worry about, and simply think about.
http://www.listsofnote.com/2012/01/things-to-worry-about.html
Enjoy the January meeting and Angelika’s stories of her travels. Please feel free as always to contact me with information to share, thoughts, suggestions, ideas and feedback. I’m still in Victoria due to my own ongoing family drama so will look forward to seeing you all at the February meeting.
Cheers
Julie
Gold Coast Writers’ Association Meeting
By · CommentsSpeaker – Michael Yacoub
Michael is the CEO and Founder of Advantex International and widely known as the Success Coach. He is an international speaker, NLP Practitioner, Telstra Business Award winner, ASX Enterprise Market Award winner and Author. He has Over 25 years experience in business & leadership development, sales, marketing, real estate and turn-key retail operations.
Michael is the author of over 35 Books & Publications including; The Strategic Zone Program ®. The Rites Of Passage to the Top, The Business Mastery Protocol, Creation & Invention Modus Operandi, Foot in the Door, Who is Counting? Failure is the First Step Towards Success, Who wants to be an Entrepreneur. He also authored books in Building, Architecture and Real Estate.
Book Launch – TBA
Mini Book Promo – TBA
Fees
- $4 official GCWA members
- $7 visitors
Gold Coast Writers’ Association Meeting
By · CommentsGuest Speaker – Angelika Heurich
Fresh from her cruise with Hay House Publishing and the seminar entitled “Speak, Write & Promote - Become a Mover & Shaker”, Angelika will share her experiences on how to enter the international market place, become a best selling published author and a world recognised speaker. Mentors on this journey include CEO and President of Hay House, Reid Tracy, as well as internationally renowned authors and speakers Dr Wayne Dyer and Cheryl Richardson. Angelika will endeavour to encapsulate 13 days at sea with these truly inspirational authors and share with you the highlights of her experience.
Happy Christmas Everyone
By Julie Boyd · Comments‘Twas the night before Christmas; there wasn’t a sound.
Not a possum was stirring; no-one around.
We’d left on the table some tucker and beer,
Hoping that Santa would soon be here;
We children were snuggled up safe in our beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced ‘in our heads;
Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.
When outside the house a mad ruckus arose;
Loud creaking and banging shattered our doze.
We ran to the screen door, peeked cautiously out,
Snuck onto the deck, then let out a shout.
Guess what had woken us up from our snooze,
- a rusty old Ute pulled by eight mighty ‘roos.
The cheerful man driving was giggling with glee,
And we both knew at once who this plump bloke must be.
Now, I’m telling the truth it’s all dinki-di,
Those eight kangaroos fairly soared through the sky.
Santa leaned out to pull at the reins,
And encourage the ‘roos, by calling their names.
‘Now, Kylie! Now, Kirsty! Now, Shazza and Shane!
On Kipper! On, Skipper! On, Bazza and Wayne!
Park on that water tank. Grab a quick drink,
I’ll scoot down the gum tree. Be back in a wink!’
So up to the tank the eight roos flew,
With the Ute full of toys, and Santa Claus too.
He slid down the gum tree and jumped to the ground,
Then in through the window he leapt with a bound.
With bright sunburned cheeks and a milky white beard.
A jolly old joker was how he appeared.
He wore red stubby shorts and thongs on his feet,
And a hat of deep crimson as shade from the heat.
His eyes – bright as opals – Oh! How they twinkled!
And, like a goanna, his skin was quite wrinkled!
His shirt was stretched over a round bulging belly
Which shook when he moved, like a plate full of jelly.
A fat stack of prezzies he flung from his back,
He looked like a swaggie unfastening his pack.
He spoke not a word, but bent down on one knee,
To position our goodies under the tree.
Surfboard and footy shapes for us two.
And for Dad, tongs to use on the new barbeque.
A mysterious package he left for our Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb;
He strolled on the deck and his ‘roos came on cue;
He flung his sack in the ute and prepared to shoot through.
He bellowed out loud as they swooped past the gates-
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
and don’t forget to check out the Christmas EBook of member’s stories on our home page http://www.goldcoastwriters.org
DECEMBER 2011 – YOUNG ADULT & TEEN FICTION
LAST DAYS FOR SUBMISSIONS
December 2011 Competition ends on the 31st December 2011 23:59 BST
Would you please make this known to members of your writing circle?
UNPUBLISHED FICTION AUTHORS PRINT READY COMPETITION
This competition starts December 2011.
The closing date for this competition is the 31st December 2011 23:59 BST.
DECEMBER 2011 – YOUNG ADULT & TEEN FICTION
This is a genuine, no fee competition that stretches over 12 months.
Each month a different genre; each month a winner. Winners are offered a
contract, paid royalties, and receive full promotion and marketing strategies.
This is not a competition with prizes. There is no entry fee.
Only Print Ready novels of genuine merit will be chosen.
Your book could be a winner.
Full details of rules, genres and how to submit,
on our website, http://www.creativeprintpublishing.com/publishing/competitions.php
Christmas Writing Competition eBook
By webmaster · Comments
Varun and Paddy by Caroline Glen
By Julie Boyd · CommentsAfter the Writers’ Meeting quiet footsteps,
and two tall men stand by me, inked paper
in their hands.
No words; just pairs of eyes circling light
and time, flicking down to mine
in brown marbles of uncertainty.
Then the arm, the poem to my hand:
stillness in collision with tension.
Head down, I read brusque lines of bandaged flesh,
white cubicles, tiled corridors,
dressing gowns on chairs,
the bloody smell of hope and fear.
A medical student he explains.
Intensive word care, I say. May I take it,
reread and get back? I fold it to my bag.
I study Paddy’s gift.
His lines ramble and scratch like rows
of thorny bush, stop, square to the sky
then wander in circles of forest pathways.
They carry stars beneath the wings of birds.
Paddy, a child of clouds in wedges of wind.
Nature well communicated I say. May I take it,
get back to you?
I fold it to my bag.
I look at the apple-smooth skins, one dark, one fair,
the devotion, the commitment, thrilling silent
behind the flesh.
What can I, an older woman, sheathed, tied,
knotted with experiences of love and loss,
give them?
If I could, I would burn the moment
for their success.
Great, read plenty I say, and smile goodbyes.
I will study the poems tonight, at home,
and in argument with me, the classics and modernism,
email praise and small suggestions.
I leave to tread once more, the grey footpath
of commerce.
Step on step, I wonder if Varun and Paddy,
year competing with year, will moisten, ripen,
more poems;
roll them with, and around, the stubborn spit of river stones
that sit hard-lipped, muddy-bottomed with problems
of recognition……….
and dislodge them.
Caroline Glen © 3/12/11
Presidents News – December 2011
By Julie Boyd · CommentsCongratulations to our patron, Kay Danes, who was honoured with the Paul Harris medal, the highest Rotary Distinction, this month. Also thank you to Jeannie for presiding over the meeting in my absence.
For those interested in learning more about the publication of ebooks, this might be a useful set of questions for you to consider bit.ly/sI5vGF (*1) Griffith University is currently offering the Josephine Ulrick Prizes http://tinyurl.com/3lov4fk (*2) (thanks Joan Songaila).
As Christmas rushes towards us with all the associated festive joy and stress, December provides an opportunity to reflect and plan, both personally and at an organisational level, to celebrate successes, and consider opportunities, and to remember to enter and vote in the Christmas competition! It can be a time to think about our families, friends and acquaintances, and those who find the Christmas season a particularly lonely time. We may also ponder the concepts of giving and receiving, what really matters in our lives, and how all of these elements impact our writing. Language has great power, and as writers our words are gifts both to ourselves and our readers.
For me personally, the fragility of life was reinforced by a very difficult entry to the world of my new (now healthy) grandbaby. At the same time I was able to experience the great joy of watching her big sister discover the wonder of words in books written in both Japanese and English, her two home languages, and to see her continue loving her books to death. Introducing babies to reading is one of the most pleasant responsibilities we have as adults.
To you all I hope the holiday season brings an opportunity for you to relax, to absorb a favourite book, to take time with those you most care about, to secretly do something kind for a stranger, and, of course, to enjoy the Christmas party.
Cheers,
Julie
My Son by Mary May Simpson
By webmaster · CommentsLet’s celebrate together
The beauty of your birth
When God performed a miracle
And gave you to this earth
He gave you life and form
And personality
And breathed success into the plans
That only He could see.
You were not made to fit those plans
The plans were made for you
And He was there to guide your steps
As only He could do
No matter what, the straying steps
Ambitions to fulfil
People to please and places to go
Those plans remain until…….
The sun grows dark as sackcloth
And the moon becomes like blood
When time no longer tarries
But ends…..just like a flood
Of memories and passions
And ambitions unfulfilled
When perfect plans are laid aside
And God begins to say…….
What did you do with all those plans
I clearly sent your way?
I gave you gifts aplenty
Return, I wanted none
Except your heart be given
To my One Begotten Son
For He held all the answers
The One to help you see
The plans I had to fit the man
That only you could be.
You see, you are so special
So perfect in My sight
My gift to you, this birthday son
Is power to see the light
To guide you in the pathways
To fulfil those perfect plans
That we might be together
You, forever in My hands.
So let’s celebrate together
The beauty of your birth
When I performed the miracle
That gave you to this earth
So filled with love and joy and peace
That you might overflow
And fill the hearts of dying men
That they My Son might know
I am your loving Father
You are my special son
So ask of me what e’er you will
And I will see it done!
Presidents News – November 2011
By webmaster · CommentsHello everyone.
As this is my first newsletter post I’d like to begin by thanking Jeannie and the team from last year for all of their work. You will still see Jeannie taking a prominent role, particularly over the next couple of months as I attend to my new grandbaby down south. I am looking forward very much to working with the new committee and investigating some exciting new initiatives.
Thanks also to Diana Hockley for a very entertaining description, at our last meeting, of her book ‘The Celibate Mouse’ and how her next novel, After Ariel, is in the process of procrastination. We always look forward to celebrating the achievements of all of our members so please remember to share them with us.
You might recall that I conducted a small, informal survey at the last meeting where I asked members three questions. The responses were very interesting, and I’d like to share them with you.
1. In response to the question of why people are members of the GCWA, we had comments such as
- to mix with others who share the same interests
- to glean stimulating ideas from speakers and other members
- to improve my writing skills
- to hear other’s experiences of life and writing
- to find people who will be honest with me about my writing
- to gain information about publishing, editing, agents etc
- to learn how to become published
- to feel supported in my writing
- to meet people who have both passion for, and knowledge about writing
2. The question of what else you would like to see improved, included suggestions such as
- More information about new technologies and how they are impacting publishing
- More interest by the monthly meeting in the support groups
- Maybe think about seating arrangements as meetings are sometimes very formal
- Have more members able to speak each month about what they are currently writing
- More workshops
- A mentor program
- More information for people who are just getting started
- Advice on contacting agents, local editors, publishers etc
- I liked having the opportunity to talk to the person next to me about the guest speaker
- Free publication set up by the GCWA
Perhaps we can all give some thought to these ideas and what might be possible for next year.
I’d also like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the recent Festival for Independent Writers and Publishers. Just on $1000 worth of books were sold, with all money going to the authors. We’ve had some terrific feedback and tentative plans are already afoot for a larger event next year (last weekend in October) which it is hoped the GCWA will have some greater involvement in.
November is National Novel Writing Month. Sign up for NaNoWriMo at www.nanowrimo.org
Until next time keep writing. In the words of the inimitable Mark Twain, whose life is about to be immortalised in a movie, “Write without pay until somebody offers to pay.”
Cheers
Julie
