Blogger in Residence, Rosalind Moran, explores this enigmatic archetype and its enduring presence in writing today. The concept of the ‘Byronic hero’, named after Romantic poet Lord Byron, has existed for over 200 years. With his square jaw, tortured soul, and propensity to loiter on desolate hillsides, the Byronic hero’s enduring presence in storytelling across many mediums … Continue reading
Penny O’Hara’s poem, Ode to a Papermate Inkjoy 100, won the 2015 Michael Thwaites Poetry Award, as part of our ACT Publishing and Writing Awards announced last year. The judge, Melinda Smith, described it as “a fabulous tight piece of metaphyics with lots of clever witty angles, none of them overdone.” Read it for yourself below. Who can say who picked up whom? … Continue reading
This week we ask workshop tutor, Dr Pippa Carron, five questions about writing and editing. Pippa is teaching two upcoming workshops at the Writers Centre: Grammar and Punctuation Primer for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers and Focus on Stylistics. Check our website for more information and to get involved. Can you briefly describe your writing and editing career? … Continue reading
A big welcome to our newest Capital Letter’s Bloggers in Residence: Penny Hanley, Rosalind Moran, Nalini Haynes and Sophie Constable. We had so many wonderful applications this round, that we’ve opened the position up to four bloggers, who will bring you a whole bunch of wonderful articles over the next six months. Have a peruse below … Continue reading
Matthew C Lamb reflects on his place in the world as a writer, and what the future holds in his final post as Blogger in Residence. I want to be a writer. For the longest time I found this difficult to admit. I guess I thought it an unrealistic aspiration, or that I would be … Continue reading
Sarah Rice’s poem, Action (Bus Route 2) was Highly Commended for the 2015 Michael Thwaites Poetry Award. This poem was described by judge, Melinda Smith as “A personable, compassionate meditation on having and not-having with some sharply observed moments”. Action (Bus Route 2) There’s someone living in my bus stop two bikes three bags and … Continue reading
We asked two wonderful Canberran book retailers what their top 3 books to read this year were. This post supplements a bunch of articles found in the May edition of ACTWrite magazine themed around booksellers. ACTWrite is the ACT Writers Centre’s monthly magazine for members. Become a member to get your copy in either your mailbox or … Continue reading
C.H. Pearce’s short story, Torvald’s Year, won the 2015 Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award.
“This account of how poor Torvald struggles to escape his wretched life below ground is a superb example of speculative fiction. It plunges the reader straight into a dystopian world of ‘suffering’ without any of those explanations and technological details which would detract from the story.” (Judge, Maureen Bettle). Continue reading
Blogger at Writer of Oz, Sophie Mannix, outlines why rejection of your writing shouldn’t get you down; there are so many reasons that are not related to your writing talents that play a part in the decision to publish. Writers are always told that to avoid rejection, they need to proofread, proofread, proofread. Follow the submission … Continue reading
We hit the fabulous Jenny Bond with five questions about her writing life, gaining inspiration and her upcoming workshop at the ACT Writers Centre. What has your writing career involved so far? I began my professional career as a high school teacher of English, History and Drama. In need of a change after ten years … Continue reading
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