Well, I think I can confidently say that the Sydney trip was a success. That is even discounting my 3 new handbags, 3 new watches, purse, and numerous other ‘faux’ designer accessories acquired during the squeezed in shopping jaunts.

The Sydney launch of Caring Moments followed by the Alzheimer’s Australia Open Day went wonderfully, with the Hon. John Watkins saying some extremely flattering things about our book. The event also gave us the opportunity to meet and chat with carers, aged care workers and those in the book industry, which is always a good and fun thing.

Not that the day started quite as smoothly as I had planned. Most people who know me, accept that I am more of a ‘word person’ than a ‘number person’, but even I surprised

Sydney from my room

myself when setting my morning alarm. I accidentally (but then who would do it on purpose?) changed the time on my phone two hours backwards, when I should have added two hours. So it’s a good job Pam phoned me, or else I would have turned up at the launch four hours late! Very unprofessional, but who knows maybe that is why I was so drawn to buying watches while I was away.

And certainly being prompt was an advantage with regards to our flight back to WA. In fact, we were so early arriving at the airport that we were transferred from the evening flight to the afternoon flight. A definite bonus for me since it allowed me to see my family when I arrived home as opposed to having to sneak in without waking them.

Hmm, I’m sure this blog is supposed to be about writing and not punctuality. Although it has taught me one important thing – always have a reliable watch when you are spending a week flitting from one important meeting to another (especially if you want to find some time for shopping).

Tags: Alzheimer's Australia, Caring Moments, Elizabeth Bezant, Sydney book tour

Well, the exciting news is that Pamela Eaves and I are off to Sydney tonight for a flying visit to launch and promote Caring Moments. I think (hope) I am finally over my last minute nerves: Am I taking the right shoes? Will the family eat properly while I’m away? How am I going to survive 5 days without a computer?

Alzheimer’s Australia have kindly offered to launch our book at their Open Day on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday we are being interviewed on Canberra ABC radio by Genevieve Jacobs at 2pm and then by Tony Delroy for his Night Life show for Sydney ABC. Other than that, who knows what else might happened between our other meetings (probably way too much shopping and stops at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe).

So, if you feel like finding out more about the book or buying your copy please tune in to your local radio stations or pop down to the Alzheimer’s Australia building for the Open Day.

Tags: Alzheimer's Australia, book launch, Caring Moments, Elizabeth Bezant, Pamela Eaves

I was recently reading a curry restaurant menu that included a typo (‘till’ instead of ‘til or until, I think). Instinctively I wanted to reach for a pencil to mark it or change it. In fact, its mere existence so totally distracted me that I found it hard to make my food selection.

Not that this is a new thing for me. In the past my pedantic nature has seen perfectly good stories and articles, written by other people, discarded purely because I can’t get past typos and inconsistencies. Now, I know my writing isn’t perfect, and I certainly make more than my fair share of mistakes, but there is something about reading words printed on a page that brings out the perfectionist side of me.

It has taken many years to consciously turn off this instinct as far as reading books for fun is concerned. A skill that was motivated after I tried to read a library book that a previous reader had felt compelled to correct with red pen.

I guess what I am trying to say here is, just because we can see a mistake doesn’t mean that we have to correct it. It’s like the old saying, ‘Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.’

Tags: editing, Elizabeth Bezant, writers, writing advice, Writing Tips

It’s not very often that we hear of a writing competition that is free to enter and that gives actual monetary prizes. However, that is exactly what the 2010 Unity Bryan Kelleher Literary Award offers.

They are asking for up to 3 entries of Australian bush poetry by June 30th 2010. So if you want to enter you’ll need to move fast. Even if you don’t usually enter competitions or write poetry, why not have a go? It could be fun.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term ‘Australian bush poetry’, it means rhyming poetry with a predictable syllable count written about some aspect of Australia.

Tags: 2010 Unity Bryan Kelleher Literary Award, bush poetry, writing competition

After the last few days, I have once again realised the importance of deadlines. These days writers, of any kind, are rarely just writers; they are also parents, career people, committee members, team players, and so on. As such, juggling all the daily responsibilities can add an extra challenge to meeting writing deadlines.

I don’t think my desk can be the only one in the world where ‘that which cries loudest receives attention first’. In fact, some days it feels like I am simply reacting to what is going on around me, rather than planning what needs doing.

To overcome this I have found one simple rule that (usually) works – set your personal deadline for finishing a task a week before the official deadline.

Obviously, not everything allows us a week of ‘buffer-time’. But if you can find it, or even a few extra days, I promise it can definitely lift the pressure. After all, some days even the ability to catch a five minute breather can make all the difference.

Tags: Elizabeth Bezant, goals, writers, writing, writing advice, writing coach, writing deadline, writing tip

Information and ideas have to be a central focus to any writer. After all, a whole book (fact, fiction or otherwise) can be written around one single idea or fact, as can any other kind of writing. It stands to reason, then, that writers have to be constantly aware of new thoughts and possibilities.

For example, without searching, I have learned over the last few days that:

• An official study has been done in the US that states mothers (of all ages) have at least 30 hours of leisure. ~ In my opinion their definition of leisure needs reconsidering.
• One out of every three watchers of porn and erotica are women. ~ Worth considering if you’re thinking of writing for this market.
• A lack of zinc can cause acne and other skin conditions. ~ Did I hear somebody say, ‘Give me back my chocolate, I’ll take the zinc supplements’?
• You don’t need a ticket to travel on the last train out of Perth each night or should that be early morning. ~ I think this is such a great idea, on many levels.

And that is just off the top of my head.

But where would you use these ideas? I hear you ask.

The list of ways you, as a writer, can use snippets of information is endless. But just to get you started:

• journal writing themes
• ‘what if’ questions
• adding extra depth to your story
• a current article topic
• a new angle on an old topic
• a thread to weave through a story
• a hidden component to a character

The piece of information may not be of use now, but you never know when it may be the vital part of your plotting jigsaw. So don’t rely on your memory; make sure you write each idea down, even if it only seems like useless information now.

If you have a few moments now:

Consider the top list and the ‘possible uses’ list.  When you combine them, do they spark any ideas for writing projects?

Tags: A Writer's Life, writers, writing, writing exercise, Writing Tips

If you’re in Perth and looking for something writing related to do this weekend why not pop down to the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre Open Day for a few hours this Sunday. There’s a selection of free sessions, local writers and illustrators to sign your books, and books and artwork on sale.

Click here for more info.

Tags: children's writing, Fremantle, men writing, picture books, writers, writing for children

Just had some great news, I am officially doing a Book Tour in Sydney in June.

Pamela Eaves and I co-authored Caring Moments and launched it in Perth earlier this year and now we are heading to Sydney to launch it at  Alzheimer’s Australia during the week of June 21st – 24th. So exciting.

We will also be giving a few radio interviews while we are there, and a television one if Pamela can wangle it. Like I said, so exciting.

Anyway if you would like to be at the launch, please contact Alzheimer’s Australia NSW direct. But, if you would like to see if there is a possibility of us giving your group a workshop/talk or anything else, please contact me through this blog.

Off now to buy new clothes for the trip

Tags: Alzheimer's Australia, Caring Moments, Pamela Eaves

As most people who have self-published their book will tell you, getting the words on the page is the easy bit, selling the book is where the fun really begins. After all, there are only so many people you can personally promote your book to. Thankfully, a new Australian business has seen our struggle and decided to help.

Those people who are great at promotion and thinking outside the box, often do well, as do those who are able to find a distributor to represent them. But what if you haven’t done so well in either of these areas?

I recently came across First Edition, an Australian company that focus’ on getting self-published books out into the world. They have an online store, but also sell direct to the public via party plan. What’s more the percentage they take from the sale of your book is acceptable and they are nice people to do with business with.

In passing on this information about First Edition, I’m not saying that this method of selling your book will make you rich and famous, or even that it will work for you. When it comes to selling and promoting your work you have to decide which areas you are willing to try. But neither am I receiving any reimbursement for talking about this business on my blog. I simply want to bring your attention to anything that may help your writing career.

However, having said all that, I have chosen submit my books to them for consideration and been lucky enough to have them all taken on. I have also received cheques for those copies that have sold in the past few months.

So, if you have self-published a book or two, why not click on this link and spend the time it takes to drink your coffee reading and deciding if they are for you?

Tags: autobiography, self publishing, selfpublish, writers, writing

It’s been a hectic weekend here in my writing world, but productive none the less.

At the Sunday morning Autobiography Class at Peter Cowan Writers Centre, I was once again reminded of how different each person’s life can be – even if they lived during the same time and in the same place.

Each biography, memoir or autobiography is a social history, a characterisation, a glimpse into another person’s take on life, but above all it’s a legacy left for those to come.

No two people ever live the same life or look at it the same way, and while many think their life is not worth recording on paper I am tempted to disagree. We are all unique with a unique story to tell, even if it’s only written on half a dozen scraps of paper stored in an old manilla envelope.

Ask any grandchild or great-grandchild if they would like to have known more about their predecessors and you can almost guarantee they would say, ‘yes.’

A familiar story to you, is not the same to others. Just remember to write it from your point of view, with your thoughts and impressions, and don’t just make it a list of dates.

For a weekly question to help you write about your life visit the Writing Information and Tips blog each Sunday.

Tags: autobiography, writers, writing