Well, tomorrow is the big day. It’s the annual Bronze Quill Luncheon and Awards for the Society of Women Writers and whilst I don’t expect to win anything, as President I do have to present them. Besides let’s face it, how often do the presenters get presented to?

So with all the engraving and certificate printing going on around me, as you might expect, today’s writing exercise is based entirely on that.

Writing Exercise

Write a story or poem that is based on receiving or not receiving a trophy.

It’s official! The Writing From The Heart e-course is due to run again 4th October 2007.

It’s a 4 week, e-course that focus’ on writing autobiographical, publishable stories. Click here to read reviews from previous students or to find out more about the course.

Book early

At the beginning of last week I was discussing with ‘the man’ the possibility of running a selection of e-courses. At the time I wasn’t sure if there was a sufficient call for any.

However, in the days since the discussion I have had two totally unprompted requests to re-run the ‘Writing From The Heart’ e-course. (Don’t you just love the way life works?)

So I am now proud to announce that I will be running another, Writing From The Heart’ e-course. Details as yet aren’t confirmed but it looks like the 4 week course will be starting on 5th October 2007. If you’re interested the fee is $120, but includes $80 of critiquing in the price.

More details soon, just wanted to give you the heads up.

I made it! I’m still sane, I think. Although I don’t know that I was on Saturday, and I probably drove the family nuts, but I made it through the 40 hour famine technology free.

Between the family we have raised enough money to feed 8 children in Laos for one month, which sounds a lot better than the total sponsored amount in dollars, I assure you. But like they say, every bit helps. It’s also left us, or at least me, contemplating a few things as well, which can’t be a bad thing.

Well here I go, I’m logging off now for 40 hours. The question, is will I still be sane by Sunday morning? Who knows. (I guess some would even dare to say that I’m not sane now so it doesn’t matter. Hmm?)

Anyway, my support goes out to everybody else doing the 40 hour famine, good luck.

And for those who were interested in a final tally of our house:

• 2 technology ‘famines’
• 1 furniture ‘famine’
• 1 furniture and food ‘famine’

Have a great weekend

So it’s not just us poor, unknown writers who sneak into bookstores to see if our books are on the shelf.

Of course, unlike Stephen King in this article, I expect very few of us travel to foreign countries to do it or are so apologised to after being called a book vandal.

I had hoped to write a post here saying, ‘I’m going without technology for the 40 hour famine, so don’t worry that there will be no posts for the weekend.’

But then it occurred to me, chances are that my blog entries (or lack of) would be no different from many other weekends - oops.

I had always thought that the concept of raising money through the 40hr famine focused around going without food (something I had considered doing but believed would cause more than health concerns for me than just a light head and grumbling stomach). Only this year was I told that I could go without anything that the children in Laos went without - hence the choice of technology.

I had mentioned to the teenage daughter that perhaps she would like to do the same. But as you might expect the thought of no computer, playstation, mobile phone, etc. didn’t rate particularly highly in her estimation. Food also seemed unacceptable since her school ‘formal’ is this weekend and that she had a pre-arranged day out with friends. So what was the other option? Furniture.

Which means this weekend we have: 2 on a technology ‘famine’, 1 on a furniture ‘famine’ and as yet, 1 undecided (it all depends on what the diabetic clinic say). All of which has me thinking about our true understanding of life in a third world country and our ability to give up those ‘luxuries’ that we are so familiar with, even for a short time. But then, maybe that is the point of the 40 hr famine, equally as important as raising money is the raising of awareness and contemplation.

Isn’t it funny how at one moment your calendar can be completely empty and the next day you’re left wondering when you’ll be able to find time for cuppas with friends?

Maybe it’s something about the weather and the approach of Spring (not that it’s reflected in the current weather) that spurs people into booking speakers and arranging events. Anyway whatever it is, if you’re in Perth and hoping to get to one of my talks on writing or a writing workshops you’ll be pleased to know that there are now a few to pick from. Click here to go to the newly updated Events page. 

Of course, if you can’t find a prearranged event that suits what you’re after, don’t forget that it’s really quite easy to arrange for me to come and talk at your local group or business.

For anybody interested in improving the way their writing touches others, don’t forget that today is the last day for booking in for the ‘Writing From The Heart’ e-course.

To find out more about the course (which of course you can do no matter where you live) CLICK HERE.

Well, it’s official, according to Melissa Markham of Yesterday’s Hopes, I rock!

Melissa has very generously awarded me (okay, me and 4 of her other favourite blogs) the Rockin’ Girl Blogs award. Click here to find out what she has to say.

The timing is pretty awesome, not only have a just finished a liver cleansing diet that I have been trying to avoid doing for 12 months (round of applause please. It was a definite challenge!) but I have just returned from the end of semester High School assembly where my eldest received an Excellence Award. I’m getting really good at these assemblies now, haven’t cried at the last two.

But it does make me realise that, whilst I would like to think that more awards are handed out at school these days, I do have to conceded that my family are decidedly smarter (or more motivated) than I was at their age.

 I think I received 3 awards during my whole school life, yet my little darlings exceded that in certificates and books before the end of grade 3. Hence my delight in being a Rockin’ Girl Blogger. Thanks heaps, Melissa.

Stay tuned to find out the five Rockin’ Girl Bloggers I pass the award on to.