Focus, I scolded myself, focus, or you’ll screw it up. In my imagination, I saw two books floating towards me, the author’s names flashing like neon lights, bright and impossible to miss, Enid Blyton and D. H. Laurence, Enid Blyton and D. H. Laurence, Enid Blyton and D. H. Laurence…

When plotting a story, a writer needs to have a clear idea of what the inciting moment in their narrative is. The incident from which point everything changes. I have personally experienced such an event in my own life. It was the summer holidays. I had come home to Sydney…

A writer’s personal story — What to do when your writing dreams go up in smoke Do you scream and shout? Do you smash your computer up against the wall, vowing never to type another word? Or do you pick yourself up and carry on? My Writing Story In an attempt to write the perfect manuscript, I spent years tip, tapping and click, click, clacking, on my keyboard. Sadly…

A short story It was my foster mother, Irene, who told me Betty Barker was dead. Midway through applying my night time moisturizer, she appeared in my bedroom, stopping smack bang beside my chest of draws. I swiveled in my vanity chair to observe her better. Her complexion, I noticed…

The man’s blue eyes focused on my face, how cold they were. I suppose it was to be expected. He wasn’t Santa Claus after all, no, he was more like the grim reaper. For a moment, I considered begging for mercy, but it was futile. Death was inevitable. Oh, how…

S. E. Hinton When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I only had two things on my mind, Paul Newman and a ride home. As a teenager, The Outsiders was one of my favourite books. The story is about fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis. It is a narrative about boys growing up in a cruel world that keeps shoving them back down. Ponyboy is portrayed as a daydreamer who enjoys reading. Odd characteristics…

Recently I wrote a short story titled Heart Attack, which I published in Storymaker. I mentioned it to a colleague at work, and she asked about the genre. I replied it’s a thriller — with a what goes around, comes around story-line. Even to my ears, that sounded dull, what…

A short story Hi, I am an Australian writer. The idea for my story ‘Heart Attack’ came about because of a happening in my neighbourhood. Although the heart attack scenario is completely fictitious the part about the teenagers knocking on people’s front doors and harassing the occupants inside is based on truth. Leon was the first to go, heart attack. Died in his sleep. He was only eighteen. I knew Leon from school, both primary and high school. We were friends. He lived up the street from me, only a one-minute bike ride away. It was my buddy Max…

Who of you has ever found themselves having to do something they don’t want? All of you, is my guess. Sadly, that’s life, but don’t fret for I am here to help. Below I have shared a personal story that highlights the do’s and don’ts of coping with unpleasant events. The Toothach: …