28 Sep
Hey Team Wordsmith,
Have been quite sick over the last few days, and it’s going to be a little while till I am up and at it again. Will get back to posting asap, so please be patient with me until I am all good and ready – I’d rather have some quality blog posts as opposed to ones with no wordsmith value just for the sake of regular posting…
24 Sep
I’ve never had a problem with big projects, or academic writing. Then again, my last stint doing an academic project was when I was 21, doing my Masters and writing a thesis that I could pay attention to because I didn’t work full-time worrying about paying a mortgage.
This time around, things are different. This thesis is significantly bigger. Where I spent that 21st year finishing the project in a year with plenty of time for editing and formatting and relaxing after, I have spent the 9 months of this year no where near finished with the primary, existing research with this one. And by primary, existing research, I mean reading and musing on literature that is already there, not the kind of research I actually have to go out and do – like field work and analysis and interviews.
22 Sep
1. Back from Canberra, though my plate seems to have gotten bigger and I have a lot to catch up on. That’s not to say I didn’t have a good time, because I most certianly did. In fact, I had a ten second conversation with a very important VIP – Mr K-Rudd himself, and then I took a pic with him and two Canberra-met mates. Can you see how excited I am? I mean, please, could I get any nerdier?
2. Don’t know what you guys are doing at the moment, but I am too busy scanning my near-empty wallet for spare notes (yeah, right) so that I can invest in the latest issues of two very cool magazines that just hit the stand at the newsagent. Although I am not a regular purchaser of Instyle, I must say that I found Kerrie Alcorn’s influence bringing me back to it in recent times, and the current issue, with all its thickness and its pretty cover, just makes me covet it more. Of course, the latest, new-look issue of CLEO has got its cool factor in overdrive, and I can’t help but be mesmerised by the nylon/frankie/yen influences throughout the magazine. Loving the spread on food consumed over a few days - a picture (or few) surely tells a thousand words. That said, I might have to forfit and go for the Vogue, with its pretty pink and spring-influenced cover, mainly because it houses my favourite ever features – Comment and Upfront. What will you guys choose? Or, can you help me justify the purchase of more than one?
3. Am MADLY in love with this red jacket at Topshop. I’m really thinking Australia needs to get a Bring Topshop Down Under petition going, to add to its Bring Zara one. It might be a bit much, but I
reckon its got Style, Smarts and Savoir-Faire written all over it.
4. Speaking of Style, Smarts and Savoir-Faire, one of the women I think really epitomised it beyond measure was none other than Audrey Hepburn. If you’re a fan like me, I’d contemplate investing in the newly-released Audrey Hepburn Muse Collection of boxed-set DVDs. Slightly steep at around $80, but this is where scanning your junkmail for DVD sales at Target and the like will definitely come in handy.
5. Sydney siders are revelling in Mother Nature’s recent dose of sun and warmth, which means they’re heading for the outdoors. If you’re not a sporty type, but still like to pass time while you’re soaking up your much needed vitamin D (while still slip, slop, slapping of course), make time pass a lot more nicely with a book that’ll get you caught up in its web of drama and mystery. I’ll be checking out Audrey Niffenegger’s (of the best-selling The Time Traveller’s Wife) latest book, Her Fearful Symmetry (Jonathan Cape/Random House, $32.95) – a tale of two American teenagers who inherit an aunt’s flat that overlooks a cemetry, and with an interesting array of characters weaving in and out of it in an air of tragedy and magic. Ofcourse, you don’t need to be lounging about in Sydney to enjoy, curling up in front of a fire on the otherside of the world works wonders for the reading mind, too!
6. Musication is coming up soon, guys, so I hope you’re all rallying to get behind Sydney’s great, untapped musical talent – including Ranger Spacey, The Affairs, Sierra Montana and WIM. Buy your tickets here, and come say hi on the night.
7. I’m going to exercise my right as the editor here to nag a little bit: I have six weddings in November. If anyone has any savoir-faire tips for surving that load of celebrations, please write in.
8. Going to fulfill my wordsmith lane duty and share some wordsmith wealth that will surely help you on your writing journey. If you have not registered for Australian Writing Opportunities Updates, I thoroughly recommend you do. You’ll be notified of opps and prizes, some of which are monetary, so if you win, you’re one step closer to surviving off your labour of love. Get in on the updates here.
9. Motivation Marketplace this week will see me finish off with some very nice words from Mother Teresa (RIP), which were printed on a tee I purchased in Canberra and which I am now proudly wearing. “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin”. I think you can apply this to whatever work you do in life, whether its humanitarian or not. So go forth, work hard and be fruitful in all that you do. Don’t regret wasting time, when you could be sowing the seeds of your future.
Have a fantastic week 
21 Sep
Hey Hey Wordsmith Laners,
Back from Canberra and back into the busy scheme of things, even though I am absolutely exhausted. Due to a whole host of unforeseen circumstances like issues at work and a grandfather in hospital that have spun my schedule upside down, I have had to push Wordsmith Weekly to Tuesday for this week.
In the mean time, I suggest you all enter a great social media competition run by the amazing Rachel Hills on her blog. Hills says:
“The event I’m most excited about though is Media140, the latest in a series of over the past couple of years that have dealt with the thorny – but exciting – question of what lies ahead for future of journalism. Named after the 140-character limit imposed by Twitter and the old-school SMS, it’s part of an international collaboration – think London, New York, Bangalore, Dubai and Rome – that sets out to answer the question: “What is the future of journalism in the social media age?”
The event will feature writers such as Caroline Overington, Mia Freedman, Jonathan Green and many many more. Rachel Hills is giving away a two-day pass valued at $250, and the comp closes at 8pm EST tonight (Monday 21st September). I’ll be trying to get there myself, so you can be assured it will be worth it. Enter here, and good luck!
14 Sep
As mentioned earlier today, I feel it will be just as beneficial for us to follow the tales of aspiring writers who are just starting out in the game as it is to learn from those who are well-established. This week, Wordsmith Lane regular Sarah Hannah Fisher takes us on her little journey. Don’t you just love her picture here? I feel there’s a lot more than wordsmith to this lady! Check out her blog at www.deathwearsdiamondjewellery.wordpress.com
Tell us (in a nutshell) about your wordsmith career path so far:
I’ve been writing my whole life: journaling, poetry, short stories & novellas… So I knew that I wanted to make a career out of the written word from a young age.
I did a BA Media & Communications degree at Sydney Uni majoring in English. However, life got in the way and I ended up taking a fairly long time to finish my degree- I only graduated last year. I’m a bit of a free spirit and at the moment, working 9-5 stuck behind a desk sounds so unappealing to me! I started doing a small bit of freelance work last year, but this year I’ve worked really hard to feel like I deserve to call myself a ‘freelance writer.’
Who are you writing for at the moment? / What are some of your current projects?
I’m currently working on two articles: one for Australia’s premier eco fashion magazine Peppermint and another for Urban Animal.
I am constantly sending pitches to editors and negotiating possible upcoming commissions so tomorrow morning I may get an email back from Marie Claire with the good news that they want to publish my story, so check back with me!
I’m also working with another freelance journalist to set up a new online portal for writers, which is set to launch on November 1st.
Have you ever attended or been a part of any writer’s festivals? If so, how do you think they aid your career?
Sadly, no I haven’t! I planned on attending this years Sydney’s Writer’s Festival, but I ended up interstate the whole time. Next year…
What are your favourite topics to write about?
There are so many!!! I like writing about issues that I can personally relate to or are interested in. Things like animal rights, body image and mental health are all topics I am passionate about. That said, I also love fashion & beauty writing and I love analysing pop culture too.
Are you looking to concentrate on a certain niche, or do you want to continue to vary up your topics at this stage?
I like keeping things varied. I would love to one day end up writing on topics that are relevant to teenage girls. I had such a hard time as a teenager and just out of high school but now I am on the other end of it all… The idea that something I have written could help a girl cope with serious issues such as depression, body image, self harm etc would be amazing.
You are currently interning at Dumbo Feather Magazine. How did that come about, and what does it do for you to intern?
It’s actually a fairly new gig for me! I’d heard about the mag for a while but for some reason never got around to buying an issue until a few months ago. I fell in love with it- it was just such a refreshing change from all the usual celebrity saturated magazines. I basically just emailed the editor to tell her how much I admired her for creating Dumbo Feather and straight out asked to intern one day a week with her!
Kate Bezar (editor) is an amazing woman and I am learning so much from her already. It is a fantastic experience.
What are some other avenues that you are taking to further your career? Have you ever utilised networking opportunities or writer’s groups, or are you more reliant on your blog and mediums like Twitter to make a connection?
So far I’ve just been relying on things like my personal blog and twitter as well as recommendations from other writers and friends.
I’m looking into joining some writer’s groups and things, but I’m still a little lost as to where to start searching! Wordsmith Lane post idea maybe?
You have had work published in Cleo and Girlfriend. How did it feel to get published in the mainstream publications and how did this come about for you?
The first time I saw my name printed in a magazine I was so excited! I bought multiple copies and gave it to pretty much everyone I knew!
What are some of the difficulties you encounter when trying to establish yourself as a freelance journalist? Are you reliant on any tools, mentors, groups or writers centres/courses for help?
The main difficulty I have is having my proposal’s approved by editors! My portfolio is still fairly skeletal and a lot of the mainstream publications, especially in the current economic climate, find it risky to commission such an unknown writer.
I find that when I get stuck with something I am unclear on, I tend to ask for advice from a couple of freelance writer’s that I admire such as Katrina Fox and Rachel Hills. Both women have been extremely generous in unofficially mentoring me!
Great writers read a lot. What are some of your must-reads?
Oh god, I am a huge book nerd!! Unfortunately my apartment is so small that 90% of my collection lives with my mother as there is just no space to put them all!
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Dracula by Bram Stroker, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and The Chronicles of Narnia are a few of my all time favourite books.
Works by Anais Nin, Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Kurt Vonnegut, Jeffery Engines, Henry Miller, Scott F. Fitzgerald, Hunter S. Thompson, Johnathan Safran Foer… I could go on!
Writers that work from home (part-time or full-time) tend to comment about the merits of being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?
It definitely appeals to me; I have a slight issue with authority and being told what to do and when to do it!
I generally keep a pretty loose schedule that I like to stick to every day, but it changes depending on my motivation and my social life! I make a ‘to-do-list’ and as long as I complete it each day, I am happy.
I do need to be a little more strict on myself thou. I have slight issues with the fact that a 25year old should be a grown up already and having a live in boyfriend who works nights is hard sometimes as I’m often tempted to just leave the laptop and spend the day mucking about.
What are some of your current writing projects, and what are some of your writing goals?
The biggest goal I have is to complete my book. I am currently writing a sort of loose memoir on some of the hardships I’ve experienced in my very early 20s- mental illness and psychiatric hospitalisations and such.
I want to keep it in a diary-like format, so I’m in the middle of transcribing entries from my original diaries and writing journals.
Tell us about your blog ‘Death wears diamond jewellery’.
I basically just write about whatever pops into my head! Some posts are inspired by current topics in the media and other’s are just random thoughts I might have on something like Disney songs.
What are your primary reasons for blogging? Does it get your ‘juices flowing’ in a sense?
I started blogging earlier this year when I became serious about freelance writing. It definitely keeps me in the habit of writing regularly and gets my brain moving.
I also just got sick of reading the same old blogs by people my age- photos of what they are wearing or what they ate etc. I thought having a blog with a more insightful edge to it and that was written less formally than a news site or something, would be appealing.
What is a typical day in the life of Sarah Hannah Fisher, freelance writer?
Every day is different! One day a week I am interning and once a week I volunteer at the Cat Protection Society. I’m trying to put roughly 2hours a day aside for working on my book, but I’m not very good at it yet!
Most other days I get up when my body clock does, around 10am. Late I know, but I am a big believer in sleep! I start the day with a coffee and checking emails, new twitter updates, reading & replying to new blog comments and browsing some newspapers and blogs. The rest of the day I usually spend replying to emails, planning new blog posts, doing research for new proposal ideas and writing and editing whatever articles I am currently working on.
That said, some days I don’t really do anything but play with friends!
What are some of the perks associated with your job?
Writing what I want to write, whenever I want to. I am lucky that it’s not my main source of income, so I do have the freedom to take on projects that I am passionate about.
What advice would you offer to aspiring freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?
That it’s never to late to start! Also, I think having faith in yourself plays a huge element in perusing freelance work; there is a lot of rejections!
Ten in the Hot Seat:
Describe yourself in one word: Vampiric
Biggest accomplishment to date: Finally finishing my degree! I hated university with a passion. My respect goes out to writers like you who tackle thesis’s!
You wish you wrote: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Can’t leave home without: Saying goodbye to my cat
One thing you are currently writing: A proposal to Girlfriend magazine
First thing you wrote: A story about visiting the zoo
Addicted to reading: Mags that combine quality content with gorgeous photography like RUSSH, Oyster, Lula
Top spot on your goals list: To stay happy
If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Some one from Alice in Wonderland. Probably the Cheshire Cat
The best thing about being a wordsmith: Playing around with words to paint an image in the reader’s head.
14 Sep
Good Morning Wordsmith Laners, and welcome to another week of wordy, girly wonderland here at Wordsmith Lane. Here is my monday mix of style, smarts and savoir-faire for the week ahead:
1. Of the mags that tickly my fancy, Shop Til You Drop, Marie-Claire, Vogue and Yen have all been released over the past week, though I’m going to admit that Vogue and Yen are my picks of the four.
2. Get your travel savoir-faire in check with the fabulous Ciao Bella Travel Kits, pretty red tins of miniature products that keep you looking great and stylish without weighing your bags down or occupying room that might be better left to shopping. Available in ‘Face Mask’ (with eight shots of nine grams) and ‘Hair + Face’ (with four shots each of cleanser, toner and moisturiser and one hydrating mask shot), they are the perfect addition for that glamorous getaway. For more Ciao Bella goodies, check out their website
3. On the topic of getaways, the lovely Catherine Manuell Collection will be hitting Myer stores nationally this month, making it a hell of a lot easier to get our hands on her girly range of travel gear – including classic collector trolley sets, medium suitcases, self-handle laptop cases, and for this season only, the laptop wheely. To have a peek at her collection, visit www.catherinemanuelldesign.com
4. My DVD of choice this week is none other than 17 Again, which hits video stores on September 17th. I must admit that although I did not watch it for Zac Efron, he was a mighty good perve. I actually loved the movie for the tale behind it though, and found it to be quite funny. Must also confess that I wished I could return to my 17 year old self, and do things like ask my crush out or stop being such a goody-two-shoes.
5. Aspiring to be the next big investigative journo? You can’t go by ‘Release the Hounds’ by Christine Fogg (Allen & Unwin). This has been a monumentally beneficial addition to my bookshelf, and has proved to be a great help when researching a lot of my big features. It covers everything from sourcing documents, finding contacts, sifting through databases (and what ones to sift through at that), doing the legal bits and more.
6. Have been getting a few emails about when you should follow up on a story. I tend to do this about two to three weeks after I send it off, and I send it as a forward so that the original pitch is still in the email, in case the ed never got to it. You never know. That said, following up is not usually successful for me – I guess if the story really stands out, they’ll email straight after they’ve read it.
7. Don’t forget to tune in this afternoon for an interview with the lovely Sarah Hannah Fisher – Wordsmith Lane loyal, and aspiring writer! I figure it’s good to have interviews with a mix of people in the game, no matter what stage they are at. Sadly, I will be on Wordsmith Lane hiatus for the rest of the week, as I’ll be heading down to Canberra until Sunday for a youth leadership forum. It’s going to be so weird not being able to do work for the rest of the week, but at least I have email on my phone. I have a pretty big week and weekend with the conference though, so I will probably be buggered by the time monday rolls around! That said, I want you all to use your non-Wordsmith Lane reading time wisely – by furthering yourself with a little writing task, no matter how teeny. Have a great week xx
11 Sep
Hey hey Wordsmith Laners,
So sorry but Interview will be post-poned till Monday this week. I am stuck at a temping job that goes for hours (have been doing 11 hour days all this week) and won’t be able to format it until the weekend.
Have a fab weekend though, and don’t forget to tune in on Monday xx
9 Sep
Heart & Craft, by Valerie Parv (Allen & Unwin) $24.95
There is no doubt that romance writing is one of the biggest forms of writing around. It’s earned itself a genre in a genre (take a bow Mills and Boon) and many a best-selling author (take a bow Danielle Steele) and, suffice to say, it’s also earned itself a cult following.
In light of this, there are many writers, who fascinated by love and strife and devotion, would love to (pardon the pun) venture into the art of romance writing. And now, despite all the competition out there, it might not be too hard, especially when you have the likes of Heart & Craft guiding you through.
The book, which sets to help you ‘turn your writing dreams into reality’ is a compilation of advice and secrets about the craft courtesy of a team of best-selling writers, including Lillian Darcy, Robyn Donald, Helen Bianchin, Meredith Webber, Elizabeth Rolls, Daphne Clair, Jenny Adams and more.
It covers all facets of romance too – the historical to the cultured to the risque, and provides the tips you need to get it published. It also looks at:
Edited by Australia’s Queen of Romance Fiction Valerie Parv, who has 60 titles to her name and has sold 25 million copies internationally, the book’s various scope and advice could be beneficial to general fiction writers just as much as it will to the most romantic of wordsmiths. And when it comes from a woman who is the founding member of Romance Writers of Australia Foundation and someone with an award for romance writing named in her honour, you know it’s going to be a good thing worth loving.
8 Sep
Hey y’all! Considering Motivation Marketplace for this week was all about loving our mates because they’re oh-so-great, I figured I could exercise my right to support mine in an open space.
Especially because some wordsmith laner mates out there have been getting a hell of a lot more creative than I! Said freinds have put together an amazing collection of live acts on Friday 9th October at the Gaelic on Sydney’s Devonshire St.
See below poster and please support some amazing local bands in what promises to be a great night. Aussie talent rocks, and those who support it do too!
8 Sep
I always complain that I hardly get any work done at home. I still live with my parents and three siblings, and a few them have not gotten around to the fact that when my door is closed between the hours of 9am and 5pm (bar my 1pm lunch break and my two mini-breaks) I am actually doing work. Or trying to get work done. That poses a little bit of a problem for me. My bedroom is my office space, so, as my mother describes it, it often looks like a $2 shop strewn with books to read and review, magazines to reference, folders with files and past work in, business cards, stationary, bits of paper and a dictionary and thesaurus. My bedroom is also my study space too, which means there’s usually 20 library books laying about as well, and when you add this to general bedroom objects, it does look kind of cluttered and serve many a purpose.
But recently, I discovered that my university had set aside a special research centre for its research students in my faculty. Under the library, and accessible via special swipe access, the centre features lockers for my many books and uni thinfs, desks (complete with computers), couches and a common room area, photocopier, paper and supplies, and a little kitchenette. I was in student heaven, and it was the kind of space I had been craving for for so long. Ok, so I had to share it, but considering eve ryone else was quite and proactive, it was not going to hinder my concentration at all.
See, the thing is, writing can often be very difficult if you don’t have the opportunity or time to collect and write your thoughts – which is why it is very important that you have a room to do it in. Considering this is often the home, I thought I’d run through a few different tips for creating that perfect working space. Of course, these would be even better if there was a spare room you would work out of, but you could still utilise them for the bedroom/study if need be.
Hope this makes you all the more productive! Don’t forget to comment if you have any tips of your own.
