Back in the Driver’s Seat
In a recent exchange with a writer friend – a poet – I mentioned that writing had taken a backseat. She replied that she hoped it would be back in the driver’s seat soon, so here’s to a renewed journey starting with news of my poem, Without the Boys, being published in the next Romanian-Australian Anthology Contemporary Poetry and Prose– Seasons. Here’s the introduction to the poem. I will share the poem when it’s published: Without the Boys – Summer 1973 - North Coast NSW. Travels from Lismore to Ballina on the [...]
Sense-ational Writing – Hyphen Wodonga 10am – 3pm Saturday 2 March 2024
Want to have your writing sparkle with life? Evoke emotions in your readers (even if it’s your most important reader - you) by considering the five senses – sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch – in your writing. In this Sense-ational Writing workshop, writer Robyne Young will, through examples and writing, introduce you to techniques you can use to make your writing more descriptive and bring the reader into the world you’re creating, whether you’re writing short or long fiction, poetry or non-fiction e.g., memoir, articles or blog posts. Robyne recently won [...]
A Pitch Win, a Poem in fourW thirty-four New Writing and looking ahead to 2024.
As the silly season is upon us, I wanted to take a breath and catch you up on some happenings from October and November. In October I attended the Historical Novel Society Australasia conference where I was an entrant in the At First Glance First Pages Pitch Competition. The competition called for a two-sentence elevator pitch and anonymous submission of the first 500 words of the manuscript. I won a prize of $250 sponsored by TCW and an Associate Membership of the Australian Society of Authors. Judges for the contest were Meredith [...]
Poetry Month and Displacement Exhibition
Poetry Month and Displacement Exhibition August is Poetry Month – a national celebration of Australian Poetry! An initiative of Red Room Poetry launched in 2021, Poetry Month aims to increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. To celebrate the month here’s my poem, The Universal Orchestra, published in the Romanian-Australian anthology – Street Musician. The Universal Orchestra When the streets of their towns closed and audiences ordered to stay home, the musicians lay their instruments aside and asked – Is this the day [...]
The Uncashed Cheques in Castro’s Drawer
Ahead of my workshop on Sense-ational Writing on Saturday, 25 February here’s a free story for you. This story was published in First published fourW thirty-three New Writing, fourW press, 2022.You can book for my workshop here.The idea came to me when I discovered that when Fidel Castro became Cuba’s leader, he refused to cash the US’s cheques for the Guantanamo naval base. It brought to mind the transactions we have in our lives that we don’t complete.Happy reading!The fountain pen’s nib hovers above the cheque book placed perfectly in the centre of [...]
Making Decisions to Make Things Happen – some reflections with the Hybrid Author, Joanne Morell
It’s customary at this time of year to reflect on the year that’s been, but this year I’ve had the chance to reflect not just on 2022 but back to the beginnings of my writing journey at the age of seven. Also, the decisions I’ve made to make things happen both in my professional and personal life thanks to the generous Hybrid Author, Joanne Morell on her podcast. Joanne and I ‘met’ on Twitter where we shared our experience of preparing for Virtual Literary Speed Dating – a program where authors can pitch [...]
Write Freely Workshops Are Back!
Thursdays 10am – 1pm September 29, October 6, 13 and 20 I am very excited to announce Write Freely Workshops are returning! The first series of Write Freely Workshops will be held at Hyphen Wodonga, 10am to 1pm on four Thursdays – September 29, October 6, 13 and 20. Cost is $150 for the four weeks. Bring your own laptop or other writing materials and be ready to write! (Please note – these workshops are designed for people aged 18 and over.) About the program In these workshops I will explore with [...]
Single Shots launched
What a celebration it was at Birddog Albury for the launch of my new anthology, Single Shots! I was joined by family including my sons, Hayden and Mitch and grandsons Archer and Oscar, artist and friend Vernon Bartlett who created the cover artwork and many friends – long time and new. Thanks again to Create NSW for the Restart microgrant and Booranga Writers for their promoting of the grant to their members. Fabulous friend and fellow journalist-communications specialist (and law graduate) Di Fraser’s launch speech generously wrapped around me like a beautiful warm [...]
Welcome to my new website
Welcome to my new website. I’m really excited to share my love of writing and reading, news of publications for sale, successful submissions, writing workshops and the services Promotions from the Pen can offer through my new site. Single Shots at Albury Dymocks Book Club I’m looking forward to the first promotional event for my new anthology Single Shots at Albury Dymocks Book Club this Wednesday, 13 April at 5.30pm at Public House. Partly funded by Create NSW through Booranga Writers Centre, Single Shots is a slim but potent volume with five [...]
Where did the time go? Exciting happenings are on the horizon!
It’s been a long while since I posted here … an embarrassingly long time. A new website was in development but with COVID-19, completing the manuscript for the novel, opportunities for work outside of my writing sphere, work on the new website has been in a holding pattern. Then, I recently learned the company I engaged has new owners and the developer I was working with might not be available, so I am making decisions as to which way to go in terms of the site and I need to do this soon [...]