creative writers

YA Inspiration (Female Protagonists)

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

When I was a teen and young adult I found, I was attracted to pretty emotionally intense books with female protagonists.

Some of these books included:

download
The Girl Who Knew Tomorrow by Zoa Sherburne

download
The Girl in the Box by Ouida Sebestyen

People Might Hear You by Robin Klein
People Might Hear You by Robin Klein

As a “grown up” I find that I still love to read YA books featuring strong female protagonists, here are some I have loved:

download
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

harper connelly
Harper Connelly Series by Charlaine Harris

download
Immortal Beloved Trilogy by Cate Tiernan 

Do you love YA with strong female protagonists? If so what are your favorites?

2016 Reading Challenge

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

download

Taken from the Modern Mrs Darcy website I took up the following challenge for 2016 and here is my completed list:

A book published this year:
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child by JK Rowling

A book you can finish in a day:
Alone by Beverley Farmer

A book you’ve been meaning to read:
The Hollow of the Hand by PJ Harvey

A book recommended by your local librarian or book seller:
Girl in the Dark by Anna Lyndsey

A book you should have read in school:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A book chosen for you by your spouse, partner, sibling, child, or BFF:
Imajica by Clive Barker

A book published before your were born:
Aesop’s Fables by Aesop

A book that was banned at some point:
The Flowers of Evil by Charles Boudelaire

A book you previously abandoned:
The Unruly Passions of Eugenie R by Carole De Santi

A book you own but have never read:
Ordeal by Linda Lovelace

A book that intimidates you:
When the Wattles Bloom Again by Shirley W Wencke

A book you’ve already read at least once:
The Complete Words of Edgar Allan Poe

Just Write

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

stack-letters-447579_1920

I have met so many writers of late who don’t write.

Some are too worried about criticism, whilst others feel that they are not good enough to write.

My advice: Ignore what people think and just write!

Write for the pleasure, write for the practice and most importantly just write for yourself…whether it be fiction or non-fiction, regardless of the subject matter – just do it!

You don’t have to show anyone if you don’t want to…BUT:

To be a writer you must actually write!

See You Next Tuesday

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

leo-350690_1280

See You Next Tuesday 

Never-mind untruths meaning why

Actuality a passive aggressive error

Spit upon your venomous sly

Cult of the abhorrent phrenic wearer

—

Reaking of uneducated contempt

Willingly forgotten and buried en-mass

Bad behavior you aren’t exempt

Carnivorous bark justified lack of class

—

Unrepentant as coffin bearer

Bride to the death throws

Always siding with internal terror

Backhanded lamb skinned clothes

—

Image-less facade will fade and crack

Cackling before compassionless mask

Aberrated head placed upon the rack

Stolen lips and forged task

—

Guilt trips heavily taxed

Resent razor blade tongue

Heart fence wrapped and waxed

The dance is done we’re stung

—

The song, the verse, the key

Gemini spilled lies granted

I am free – but you will never be

Your place with me transplanted

(C) T. Georgitsis 2016

Quotes on Poetry

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

nib-153747_1280

My favorite quotes on poetry by a poet and teacher:

“you enjoy language without knowing what it means”

“poetry has to resist finite meaning”

“poetry has to be a little obscene and honest”

“I want to be bewitched when I read poetry”

– Dr Ali Alizadeh, 2016

 

Melbourne Writers Festival 2016

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

download

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

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.

 

The Festival invites thought-provoking discussion at events exploring the hottest topical issues. For those who prefer to focus on life’s pleasures, there’ll be events for foodies, travelers and connoisseurs of culture. We’ll also invite adventurous readers to join like-minded lovers of literature for a range of relaxed social activities in unexpected places.

For all sessions and workshops check out their website here:

Melbourne Writers Festival

 

 

Weirdo Writer

~ tinaaltman ~ 1 Comment

I’ve been called a weirdo a lot during my life because I have a twisted sense of humor, have eclectic tastes and don’t fall in line with what is considered “normal” by societal standards.

When people say this to me its not meant as a compliment but I take it as one because truth be told, I’d rather be a weirdo than a dullard.

Think about and consider who tends to do extraordinary things in this world, whether they are known to you or not – people who are considered normal or those who are labelled weirdos?

Lastly, like someone I respect who teaches children says to their students “it would be boring if we were all the same”‪.‬

fb39e019f62c1226128c0118ee9ee0c2

What Inspires Me: Old Photos

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

photo-256888_1920

Have you ever looked through your family’s old photo albums or gone to a market or antique store and seen old photos for sale?

These photos can be very useful for character development or inspiration in your fictional stories.

You can use them for historical fiction as well as flashbacks within your contemporary story.

So next time you come across some old photos – look again as they might inspire you to write something which never crossed your mind.

 

 

A Poem: Dropping Anchor

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment

anchor-1400515_1920

Dropping Anchor

Shifting seas
Drifting aimlessly
Uncontrolled rudder
Moving where taken
Monsters subdued below in darkness
Quiet whilst dreaming of disobedience
Spotting the shore
Commanding the wheel
Steering towards safety
Monsters wake and cause a storm
Keep going or drop anchor

(C) T. Altman 2016

 

 

 

What Inspires Me: Gloria Steinem

~ tinaaltman ~ Leave a comment
13256008_10155004641479762_5445005361616120898_nI went and saw Gloria Steinem speak last month about her autobiographical new book “My Life on the Road” and she was phenomenally inspirational!

13178843_10155004641859762_6472522223601915558_n

Gloria is someone I aspire to live my life like (speaking up and living her life according to her own rules) and these were some of her quotes which resonated with me that night:

“WE are the women our parents warned us about.”

“Not everyone has to live the same way. Imagine that.”

“We are not crazy. The system is crazy.”

“Racism and sexism might both be supremacist crimes, because you get nothing out of it but dominance.”

“The single greatest failing of feminism is that we’ve been too nice.”

Gloria Steinem – May 16th 2016, Melbourne Australia