Last month my second cousin, Eliza, died unexpectedly. I hadn’t known her well, but I cried at her funeral. My tears were not for her entirely, although she was too young to leave this earth and had lived a full and loving life. Photographs of Eliza, her husband, her children and grandchildren filled the middle … Continue reading The Tricks of Memory
The Synchronicity of Submissions
I’ve sent off quite a few submissions in my time. At least it feels that way. If there was a low strike rate during lockdown, I blame it on the growing number of people with more writing time on their hands, and them doing so. My preference for submitting is to non-fiction magazines whose work … Continue reading The Synchronicity of Submissions
Our Stories in 20 Artists
Early in 2023 (remember that year?) the Elwood Writers were invited to submit stories and poems to 20 Artists, a Port Phillip based magazine. The first literary edition of the visual arts/lit mag was published and launched in December and is now available on the 20 Artists' website. Read about 'Handwritten Issue One' in the … Continue reading Our Stories in 20 Artists
A Literary Soiree
It's summer in Melbourne, but you might not know it. Rain poured down during our Elwood Writers' summer soiree this December. If you can imagine, it was a bit like inviting our guests to a literary Key Largo. No Lauren Bacall or Humphrey Bogart to hand, but we battened down the hatches nevertheless, and enjoyed … Continue reading A Literary Soiree
Reading your Work – Aloud
I'm preparing for a late afternoon soiree. In my own home. The household might have questions about it, I may feel nervous to give a public reading, invited guests might feel 'iffy' about what is required of them. Who knows. But, nevertheless, we proceed. The reason? I want to develop certain memoir pieces to the … Continue reading Reading your Work – Aloud
Memoir at Adelaide Writers Week
Vicky Laveau Harvie won the 2019 Stella Prize for her memoir, The Erratics. The following year I heard her speak at the closing night of Adelaide Writers' Week. The Erratics is the story of the author's return to her native Canada where her mother has been hospitalized with a broken hip. As an inveterate liar, … Continue reading Memoir at Adelaide Writers Week
Celebrating a Life
Tonight, we at Elwood Writers feel privileged to honour the life and writings of our colleague and friend Jennifer Bryce, who died earlier this year. Tune in to Cover to Cover on Vision Australia Radio (see information below) to hear a variety of Jenny's stories read by members of the group. Enjoy the tribute which … Continue reading Celebrating a Life
Writing Friendship
Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) says that ‘life only makes sense in retrospect’. My story ‘For Jane’ began some years ago when I wanted to write about the endurance - or otherwise - of friendships. Author JG Ballard maintains that friends only become so when they have a secondary experience in common. We six friends shared our … Continue reading Writing Friendship
Anzac Day for Writers
Poet and novelist, Ocean Vuong, whose mother was a child of the Vietnam War, says that all literature is the history of war*. He need not be taken literally, although I tend to do so myself. More broadly, we may agree that literature relies on conflict or inner tension for its existence. Sometimes with resolution, … Continue reading Anzac Day for Writers
A Tribute to Jennifer Bryce
On 27 April, our friend and colleague Jennifer Bryce from my writing group died peacefully in Melbourne, farewelled by family and friends. Jenny and Barry Lee Thompson co-founded Elwood Writers in 2007. Helen McDonald and I both joined two years later. I have written previously, both on my blog and for the online US newsletter … Continue reading A Tribute to Jennifer Bryce
