australia

Wordfest 2018

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

Rosalie Ham the author of The Dressmaker taught at *Wordfest2018.

I was lucky enough to be able to attend her creative writing workshop and sheepishly asked her to sign my book at the end of the class, which she was only too happy to do!  She commented it was lovely to sign a real life physical book and wished me luck with my writing.

I received some good productive tips to tighten my work and made a few new fellow writer friends .  Overall I am glad I attended it was one of the best workshops I have attended at a writing festival.

*WordFest is the annual literature festival of the Monash Public Library Service. The festival brings readers and writers together for a series of author talks, writing workshops and competitions.

 

 

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Women Who Write Anthology

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A New Beginning_cover.jpg

Women Who Write Anthology which I have contributing to has created a fundraising campaign on Pozible to raise funds to have our first anthology published.

We are offering pre-sale copies of our anthology, writing services (copy, web content, blog and memoir), and a coaching service from a professional life coach.

Our goal is to raise $3000AU to enable us to break-even with publishing costs. Any funds raised above this amount will go towards costs such as our group events, our Writers Victoria membership fee, our book launch party and next year’s anthology.

Please spread the word about our campaign.

Thank you to everyone in advance and please click the link below to donate:

Women Who Write Anthology Support

Love Your Bookshop Day – 12th of August

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This year bookshops across Australia are throwing a party and you are invited! Love Your Bookshop Day is a chance to celebrate what makes your local bookshop great. Whether it’s for their amazing staff, their carefully curated range or specialisation or a must-see events program, we encourage you to visit your favourite bookshop on Saturday 12 August and join in with the celebrations.

Don’t forget to tag using #loveyourbookshopday and share why your bookshop is special using the hash tag #whyIlovemybookshop

 

 

 

Melbourne Writers Festival 2017

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The Melbourne Writers Festival is happening in Melbourne, Australia from 25 August till 3 September.

Victoria’s premier annual literary event. The Festival connects writers and stories to celebrate a world of literature, explore universal ideas, and inspire a global community of readers.

This year’s Festival theme is exploring the theme of revolutions past, present and future, it’s revolutionary ideas and fresh new voices that will power this year’s Festival – and invigorate everyone who reads.

For all sessions and workshops check out their website here:

Melbourne Writers Festival

 

 

Emerging Writers Festival

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The Emerging Writers Festival is happening in Melbourne, Australia next month.

The Emerging Writers’ Festival is a not-for-profit organisation whose foundations are built on supporting emerging writers. They are a place where creativity and innovation is celebrated, where new talent is nurtured and where diverse voices from across Australia are represented.

For all sessions and workshops check out their website here:

Emerging Writers Festival

 

 

Flaneusing In Another City

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In December, I went on a trip to Brisbane for a conference and took some extra days off either side, to be able to further acquaint myself with the city.

Even though I’d been to Brisbane a few times before, it had been years and the city has changed into a sprawling modern metropolis with more things to do and see.

I found my time being spent walking around the city most mornings before the mercury got too high.   I would then retreat to the comfort of my hotel room in the afternoon to read and write.

During one of my daily flaneusing trips, I came across the “Literary Trail” scattered throughout Brisbane which I thought was quite beautiful and a great tribute to the city’s poets:

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These walks were just what I needed to reinvigorate me with my passion for poetry and short story writing.

(c) T. Altman 2017

The Flaneuse (Female Walker Writer)

~ tinaaltman ~ 2 Comments

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Up until recent years, I used to walk around the city, alone – all the time.

I used to work in the CBD (Central Business District) and other than walking to and from my office building, I would spend lunchtimes and after business hours walking around the streets of Melbourne.

I was engaged in the city whilst observing it – two polarities joined.

Sometimes I felt like the untethered explorer, whilst other times I felt a foreboding danger and retreated to the safety of a heavy populated cafe or shopping district.

During these times I would sometimes jump on and off trams and trains to see what I could find.  Sometimes, I would discover some well known artist’s graffiti on a brick wall or an independent retailer selling exotic homemade wares and even a budding musician busking in a underground train-station.

Now, I make an effort to go into the city and visit certain landmarks with purpose.   I am more aware of my surroundings as I take precaution whilst observing as much as I can take in, for inspiration.  I never knew how important it was for me to walk, observe and use that to fuel my imagination until I stopped and then went back to it.  I didn’t realise that like some of my favourite authors, I am a Flaneuse and my hometown is my muse.

(c) T. Altman 2016