Zena Shapter's Blog, page 36

Read A Little Story That Achieved So Much

Do you get inspiration from travelling to new places? I do! I love new experiences and seeking out unusual sights and stories. Now that I’m a mum, I don’t get out as much as I used to, so have to draw on my memories and notes about places for inspiration – which is exactly what I did for my recent award-winning short story Darker.

My dark fantasy story Darker won me the 2013 Australian Horror Writers’ Association short story competition; it also ranked me as a semi-finalist in the internationally prestigious Writers of the Future competition; and a few days ago it was published in Midnight Echo – so now you can finally read it! Yippee! What better start do you need to the year??!

Here’s what the competition judge said about Darker, and beneath that is its first paragraph and hook:

“Zena Shapter’s “Darker” is dark fantasy at its blood-soaked finest. Its setting is evocative and sharply drawn, its storyline emotionally gruelling and possessing a surprising sting in the tale. Highly recommended.”

– Guy Salvidge

“Sipping apple tea under the dappled shade of our palm tree grove, I cannot imagine a better life. On the carpets beside me, my wife is nibbling dates, her black beaded hair caressed by a desert breeze so dense with heat it drapes its intensity over us before passing. My son, Gimaal, lies on his stomach, elbows propped on a floor cushion, gazing at the five strangers who have stopped at our farm in search of respite and a drink from our well. Beyond us, the irrigation canals I finished digging this morning quench my fields. Green shoots spring from moist soil and an earthy aroma fills the air with promise. Kharak birds chirp in the branches above us, palm fronds rustle as if talking, and the cerulean sky arches wide above us. I have everything I could want…”

– Kelek loves his life. His small farm is sheltered from the desert by a grassy ridge. He could gaze into the eyes of his wife Yaxeem forever. And although his son Gimaal pines for the city of Darquesh, Kelek is teaching him to value wide arching skies. But when a cavalcade of traders stop at his farm one day for respite from the heat, Kelek must make a decision that will change his life forever…

Sounds good, right? I love my story! But not only because it’s set in a fantasy land of deserts, sultans and spells, but because it’s written from a father’s perspective (so I get to be a parent in it) and it draws on much of my travel around the Middle East, particularly Jordan.

I travelled to Jordan while three-months pregnant with my son and loved the caring and welcoming nature of the people. Jordan is one of those countries packed full of history and amazing cultural and architectural feats. In that way it reminds me of Peru, where there’s a famous landmark on almost every corner. Here are some of the things to experience in Jordan: Petra and The Siq (featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Bethany and the Holy Land, Wadi Rum (the desert which captured Lawrence of Arabia’s heart), a whole host of desert castles and ruins, and the Dead Sea…

Petra – me standing in the Siq, beyond which is the famous Treasury

The isolating sands of Wadi Rum, Jordon.
Image courtesy of BillShapter.com Photography
Thanks, Hubbie!

Wadi Rum, Jordon

A local risks his jeep to let me drive through the deserts of Disi, Jordan.

Sipping tea, giving baby a shady rest, and chatting with locals in a Bedouin tent in the desert.

Kerek Castle, Jordon

More chatting with locals, in the oval plaza of Jerash, Jordan.

More chatting, this time in the theatre of Jerash.
It’s research – honest!

Me floating in the Dead Sea, Jordon.

Petra, climbing the path to The Monastery – it got a bit tiring while pregnant, so I sat in the shade for a while!

The deserts of Jordon’s Wadi Rum were especially inspirational for me, with their sandy expanses that dwarf you into insignificance and roar with isolation… *Sighs* I wish I could go again!

Anyway, if you’d like to see how I wove all that inspiration into a little story that achieved so much, then I suggest you grab a copy of Midnight Echo 10.

There’s an interview with me too, over on the Midnight Echo Magazine website. Read that here.

Let me know what you think of Darker once you’ve read it. And, if you’d like to see some more photos of Jordan, you can find plenty of inspirational images on my Hubbie’s website. With images like his, and stories like mine to set your imagination free – do you even need to travel?

Thanks For Your Support in 2013!!

‘Tis the season to be jolly!

My kids are on holidays. I won’t be starting my next major writing project (novel number three!) until they’re back at school in February. I still have some editing work to do and some collaborative writing projects to maintain, but otherwise that’s it for 2013…

So I just wanted to say a big festive thank you for reading my stories, my blog, and for all your comments, tweets, messages and encouragement.

Every time I hear from you, it reminds me why I write – to connect with others. I truly appreciate every time you read my words, tweet me, browse my Facebook page, or hang out with me here. I love knowing you’re there!

So cheers to another great year in 2014!

Look after yourselves over the holidays, and I look forward to the next time I hear from you. Soon, I hope…

Thank you for your support!!

What *Were* Writers’ Goals In 2013?

In January this year, I asked a bunch of writers what their writing goals were for 2013. Was their focus going to be novels, short stories, non-fiction… what? I was interested to see what everyone was planning to achieve, so conducted a poll on my Facebook page. Here are the results I collected:

As at January 2013

As you can see from these results, novels/novellas and short stories were highest among the votes. But I never expected the ‘work/life/writing balance’ option to get so much attention that it scored third place! Over finding a publisher! Over finding an agent! I only threw that option in because my personal priority this year was going to be looking after my health more.

Of course, I should have known better. Most writers today have to balance writing against work, family, relationships, etc. The irrepressible passion for writing that fills us writers up, also strains us – and as we get older, that strain takes its toll.

So I made a deal with those writers who answered my poll – that we should all put our health first this year. I asked them to take a minute to make a list (in their heads or on paper) of all the health issues they felt creeping up on them – whether that was because of old age, genetics, writing, or simple bad luck. Would your writing suffer, I asked them, if those issues escalated? Of course it would! So I told them to look after themselves.

Did they do as I asked?

To find out, a few weeks ago I contacted as many of those original writers as I could track down, and asked them: What Was Your Writing Focus for 2013? I gave them the same set of options. Here are the results:

As at 19 December 2013

Thanks to Kate Forsyth, Sophie Masson, Kirsten Tranter, Ian Andrew Irvine, Jason Fischer, Andrew J McKiernan, Margo Lanagan, Martin Livings, Nansi Kunze, Imelda Evans, Alan Baxter, Kirsten Krauth, Kirstyn McDermott, Laura E. Goodin, Leife Shallcross, Leigh Blackmore, Deb Kalin, Catriona Sparks, Chris Andrews, Catharina Sheely, Graham Storrs, Geoff Brown, Elizabeth Ottosson, Füzzy Mijmark, Anne Swan, Robert Michael Easterbrook, Bridie Leetch, and Rowena Specht-Whyte for answering my poll – again!

Now, although this survey involved fewer writers (since Facebook recently disabled Pages from asking questions), what’s immediately clear is that ‘networking’ and ‘online interactivity’ have both increased in importance for writers throughout this year. So this time, I’m not surprised to find that ‘perfecting a work/life/writing balance’ is still up in writers’ top three priorities… after all, the internet can drain what little time a writer’s has for writing, let alone time for family, friends or work! And with all the noise on the internet these days, time spent networking or increasing your online interactivity is only going to become more and more important.

So, as we sail into 2014, I feel that asking writers to take care of themselves is a nice but ultimately sentimental gesture. Instead, I think I’ll simply recommend my Health Tips for Writers, and wish everyone luck. We may never find the balance we’re seeking, we may always have to lean a little to one side then a little to the other, but at least we’re all in the same boat!! Happy sailing, everyone – these writery waters can sometimes get a bit choppy but at least the horizon looks beautiful

“Champions” award-winning story FREE to read!

Yay – I won the Glen Miles Short Story prize!

What could be better??

Being able to read my winning story for free, of course!

Here’s the opening paragraph of “Champions”, the story that just won me my seventh national writing competition (squee!)…

“Can you believe it? Twenty-four years ago today, our sons were playing soccer on a damp field in Manly Vale. I remember because of the date. I remember the odd raindrop thwacking onto my windscreen as I drove down from Allambie Heights, in that old Holden Gemini of mine. When I saw you on the sidelines, you looked over the sky and said it would pass. I laughed and called you too optimistic for your own good. The clouds bulged dark, thick with it. The air had that dampness that always makes me sneeze. But you, in your faded ripped jeans and shoulder-padded jacket, said a bit of rain never hurt anyone…”

Want to discover how watching their two boys play soccer impacts these two mothers for a lifetime? Well you can! But first, here are the judge’s comments on my story…

“The author, uniquely, uses a Gonzo-esque stream of consciousness as a literary device, reminding me very much of the works of Hunter S. Thompson. Without a linear narrative, unsure if this is a letter, a conversation, a phone call or just the jumbled thoughts of a broken heart, the reader is compelled to simply hang in there and question. Beautifully crafted and well told, this important story deserves to be read many times… It’s an excellent story which I read many times, and which never failed to move me.”

– Judges’ comments

Now, enjoy the rest of my awesome story, for free, here:

– first place, Glen Miles Short Story Prize 2013.

– epublished, Bass Coast Post 2013

– (to be) published (in 2014 print anthology)

5-Step Book Fair Survival Guide For Kids

Last weekend, I took my two kids to a book fair. In the interests of book-loving parents everywhere, I thought I’d share with you what made this particular book fair so very wonderful!

1. Stock plenty of kids’ books!

Kids love looking at and buying books! If you’ve got a plethora of authors chatting to kids too, showing them their books and telling them how they wrote them – even better!! For the absolute best experience, buy your kid a book!

The lovely Kate Forsyth chatting with my son & daughter.
Kate’s website: http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/

 

Libby Hathorn talks about her most recent children’s books.

2. Present kids with a lolly bag on arrival

There’s no quicker way to please a kid than to give them free sweeties!

Thank you to the lovely author who presented my kids with lolly bags as soon as we arrived!

3. Feed them

If both kids and big kids get fed at the book fair, you’re onto a winner! Sausage sandwiches go down well.

4. Hugs & hands

Although kids love meeting their favourite authors, it can also be intimidating. Holding hands and hugging helps.

So many books to chose between!!

5. Free book paraphernalia

My kids love free bookmarks. Not only can they use those bookmarks as they read their books, but they get a keepsafe from the day, and the lovely author who gave it to them. Postcards work well too, as does adding a personal signature to the book!

Jan Latta signing my daughter’s purchase for the day: “Lennie the Leopard”.
Jan’s website: http://www.truetolifebooks.com.au/

 

Dawn Meredith signing my son’s purchase for the day: “Twelve Annoying Monsters”
Dawn’s website: http://dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com.au/

Thanks Susanne Gervay for organising a great book fair!

Free: Author Writing Toolkit!!

As regular readers will know, there’s a lot of practical writing advice, secrets and encouragement on this blog. So today I thought I’d open the vault and create a free ‘Author Writing Toolkit’ from some of fantastic posts I’ve collated over the years. Even regular writer-readers should find something useful here – because whether you’re a writer starting out, or you’ve been writing a while, these posts can help you progress to the next level, to polish what you already know…

Beginnings

On getting started as a writer:

Should You Plan Your Writing or Just Let It Flow? With Kate Forsyth and Rowena Cory Daniells.

What Most Writers Fear Most About Being A Writer.

On Being A Sensitive Soul: “I have a secret. A confession for my friends…”

Middles

Getting on with the business of being a writer:

How Writers Use Social Media

Health Tips for Writers

Are Writing Rules Made To Be Broken?

Swearing In Fiction … Is It Realistic Without?

Ends

Finishing off your writing project:

How Do You Know When A Story Is ‘Done’?

Essential Synopsis-Writing & Querying Tips From 20 Amazing Australian Authors.

How to Handle #Rejection – 20 Tips!

Industry Insights

Insights into the publishing industry:

How Editors Select Short Stories For Their Collections.

How Editors Read Short Story Anthologies.

What Publishing A Short Story Collection is Like… with David D Levine Tim Lebbon &  Jo Anderton

What It’s Like Being A Debut Novelist At Pan Macmillan / Harper Collins / Momentum Books / Indie Publishing.

I hope you enjoy those posts! Let me know which you find the most helpful in the comments below!

Need more help?

Tomorrow I’m taking writers on a Writing Safari through all the major aspects of writing craft – from first ideas, through brainstorming and structuring, to polishing off your writing. You can book onto my Writing Safari until 5pm tonight. It’s $100 for 5½ hours of exercises and secret tips at Mosman Community College in Sydney. Come along if you’re free!

Northern Beaches Writers’ Group – In The News – Twice!!

I’m so proud of *my* writers – the members of the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group.

I’m proud of them because they come from many different backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience to their stories. Some of them write crime, romance or speculative fiction, some write children’s, young-adult or teen fiction, while others write biographies, histories, non-fiction books or manuals – it’s a real range and you wouldn’t think there’d be any common ground. Yet there is – a passion for writing and using it to bring smiles to readers’ faces (sometimes tension or horror too!).

I’m also proud of them when I see them in the news, and today our WABIAD members are in it twice – both in the Manly Daily and The Daily Telegraph. Go team!

The Manly Daily:

Writers (left to right): Liz Michell, Kirsten Taylor, Kristin Prescott, Tony McFadden, Leah Boonthanom and (in the centre): me!

The Daily Telegraph:

NBWG WABIAD members missing from the photo: Zoya Nojin, Fi Michell, Tracey Jackson & Mijmark.

 

To read this article in full, just click here.

If you’d like to read more about the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, you can read a selection of our bios here.

And yes, Mum and Dad – I’ve saved you a copy of the newspaper

How The World Needs The Insides of Writers

It often amazes me how similar we writers are to one another. Whether we’re confident and smiling on the outside or visibly nervous, on the inside most of us are the same – we’re full of self-doubt, sensitive and highly analytical. We have to be these things in order to write well. So why then does it still surprise writers when they find out I’m the same, and why does it still surprise me when authors of internationally bestselling books admit they’re the same too?!

Listening to Di Yerbury.

Yesterday, I attended the monthly literary luncheon of the Society of Women Writers NSW and shared in the joy of other writers receiving awards in the society’s biennial book awards. I was particularly chuffed that one of *my* writers, NBWG member Sue Steggall, won best non-fiction book, with her biography of Joan Kerr: A Most Generous Scholar. Yay Sue! One of *my* lovely social media clients Clio Calodoukas came third too, with her memoir All Roads Led To Shanghai. Well done, Clio!

Here’s a photo of me (see that empty chair – I’m just to the right of that) and Sue sitting on the ‘top table’  alongside creative writing lecturer Dr Wendy Michaels, famous author Pamela Freeman, acclaimed poet Judith Beveridge, SSW President Dr Maria Hill (out of shot presenting awards), and upcoming author / fellow NBWG member Kristin Prescott (taking the photo). We’re listening to Professor Di Yerbury announce the awards.

Felicity Pulman – whose writing space you can peek at here – won the junior fiction prize with her YA novel A Ring Through Time. The gorgeous Susanne Gervay was hanging out at the winner’s table too because she won second place in the junior fiction section with her book Ships in the Field. Congratulations Felicity and Susanne!

After the awards, Pamela Freeman – whose writing space you can peek at here – then gave a fabulous talk about The Evolution of a Story and how she recently reinvented one of her old favourites into a fresh new story for children. Kristin has blogged about Pamela’s talk in detail here (thanks for calling me a writing guru, Kris!).

Pamela Freeman talking to a captive audience.

It was a wonderful afternoon, but what struck me most was the humility with which all these fabulous women were sharing their experience and knowledge – humble because most of them, at one time or another, have felt like a fake. They have felt lucky to be published / in print / read by readers / winning awards. They shouldn’t – we shouldn’t – feel this way because hard work deserves recognition.

Yet as writers, we’re often grateful to be writing at all. Silly, aren’t we? The world will always need stories. People need stories about life, disappointment, love, adventure, hardship, and everything in between just to make sense of living. And that’s what I, as a writer, feel I give to the world – I am a narrative-maker and I work hard at being the best I can be because, as Pamela said, readers deserve our absolute best. All these writers work hard at what they do too, so they deserve every success that comes.

Writers play a vital role in our society and I, for one, have learnt over the years to be proud of my self-doubt, sensitive and highly-analytical nature, because the world needs that in me – because the world needs writers. Yay for writers!

Big Plaque Mojo

When I was a little girl, I always thought I had the same chance as everyone else to win a prize, the lottery, votes, competitions, etc.

When I was a gloomy teenager, I still hoped this was true, yet felt it wasn’t… Every time I entered a competition and lost, I’d acknowledge that loss as expected. I knew it wouldn’t happen for me. My wishes never come true. I’m not the lucky type, etc

Now, however, I do sometimes win competitions and, each time, I wish I could go back and tell teenager-me not to be so cynical. Just wait, I want to tell her, one day you’ll find your mojo and success will follow – just like it did yesterday.

Yesterday, the team of writers I put together to attempt the 2013 Write-a-Book-in-a-Day challenge drove out to Westmead Children’s Hospital to collect our awards:

National Best Book

National Best Illustrations

Most National Sponsorship

We scooped the lot and it felt fantastic. Across Australia in 2013, 279 books were written in this competition and there were children and teenagers from so many New South Wales schools attending the ceremony, all in their best clothes and all so happy to be winning certificates and awards too. The judge JC Burke said “The standard of writing was awe-inspiring.”

When my team got up for the third time to collect our third award, some kid behind us even said, with a smile “Not Again!”. That felt good too because everyone was so chuffed for us. Yes, we were getting up again, because wishes sometimes do come true… especially once you’ve found your mojo, he he

Here are some photos from the ceremony:

The presentation begins in the garden amphitheatre!

 

Five of us in the audience waiting to be called up (left to right): Kristin Prescott, Me, Leah Boonthanom, Zoya Nojin & Tracey Jackson.

 

Thank you crew: Fiona Howland-Rose, Zoya Nojin, Tony McFadden, Liz Michell, Kristin Prescott, Leah Boonthanom, Tracey Jackson, Mijmark and Kirsten Taylor – otherwise known as the NBWG WABIAD team.

Getting our third award (left to right): Fiona Howland-Rose, Zoya Nojin, Tony McFadden, Me, WABIAD Judge JC Burke, Liz Michell, Kristin Prescott, Leah Boonthanom & Tracey Jackson (there in spirit: Mijmark & Kirsten Taylor)

 

Presenting a big cheque to the hospital along with representatives from all the schools who attended:

I’m in the middle, back row.

In total, the competition raised $42,956.65 for Westmead Children’s Hospital!

Me with the three plaques

In conclusion…

May we all find our mojo and one day win a big plaque!!

On Readability, Writing and Consulting with Others…

Today, I’m over on the fabulous blog by travel author extraordinaire Walter Mason, talking about readability, writing and consulting with others.

Thanks for letting me visit your blog again, Walter – I love chatting with readers and writers online! As a reader myself, I’m always interested in the insights that come with authors’ blogs. As a writer, I’m often after tips and advice. So today I thought I’d chat about one of the biggest mistakes I think an author can make
…

Enjoy the rest of that article here!