Nick Earls in our neck of the woods.

The Big Book Club with Nick Earls

Each month The Big Book Club selects a book and this month it is Nick Earls' latest release,

The True Story of Butterfish.

When: 7pm, Monday 20 JulyWhere: Thuringowa Library, 86 Thringowa Drive, Thuringowa Cost: Free. Call the library to make a booking .

writing competition and it's local.

PORT DOUGLAS & MOSSMAN

GAZETTE&REEF WRITERS2009

Short Story and Poetry COMPETITION

PO BOX 917, PORT DOUGLAS,QLD ,4877

reefwriters@gmail.com

Open to all writers resident in Australia

Conditions
1. Open theme short story no longer than 1000 words. Poetry Max 60 lines
2. Stories and Poetry must be original, unpublished and must not have won a monetary prize in any other competition.
3. Entries must be typed, double-spaced on one side of A4 paper, with pages numbered.
4. Author’s name must NOT appear on manuscript; name, contact details and title of work to appear on a separate page. Only the title should appear on the manuscript.
5. Maximum of three entries per person.
5. Categories in both Short Stories and Poetry: Junior: Age 10 to 16
:Open:
6. Keep a copy of work. Entries will be destroyed after judging. Judge’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
7. Results will be announced in The Gazette on 3rd September 2009 and winners will be notified. Prize-winning stories and winning Poem will be published in the Gazette.
8. Entries close on Friday 14th August 2009.
9. Email entries to: reefwriters@gmail.com or post to:
The Gazette Reef Writers Writing Competition,
PO Box 917, Port Douglas, Queensland, 4877.
Or deliver to: The Gazette Office, at Saltwater Building Macrossan St, Port Douglas

THE SHACK: 10/07/09

What you musn't do when someone gives your work a bad review
http://gawker.com/5303534/alice-hoffman-trashes-literary-critic-on-twitter

Masterclass with Tobias Wolff
http://www.salon.com/dec96/interview2961216.html
http://fora.tv/2008/04/01/Tobias_Wolff_in_Conversation#fullprogram

Here's a fine sample of how merciless Gordon Lish was when it came to editing Raymond Carver
http://www.newyorker.com/online/2007/12/24/071224on_onlineonly_carver

For more visit www.nikeshmurali.net

don't give the cold shoulder and vote now

Hi All My Wittie Friends! I have a favour to ask of you if I may be so bold?
I have entered a writing competition to win a Quark Expedition cruise to The Antarctic and all I need is the most votes. So if you can click on this site

http://www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com/blogs/view/285

and register and then vote for me. It’s easy! Thank you...

I also don’t mind if you feed me back some editing. I did it last night in a hurry with excitement and thinking who else can I ask to vote!! I have friends but not as many as a couple of the entrants already up around 500 mark so I have some work to do. Going to Antarctica has been a full on dream of mine since before I started tripping around on those other cruises. Expedition...that’s the key word. Adventure and amazement others...all before I kick the bucket! (And while I can still KICK a bucket too!)CheersKerry

THE SHACK: 19/06/09

Laurell is a true battler
http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/laurell.html

Read this one carefully (especially good for people who nurture fantasies of becoming writers without spending too much time hunched over a keyboard and who also believe they need to go through an initial phase were none of the basic tenets of the craft apply to them)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jun/20/jenny-diski-author-author

Penguin T.V. one suspects
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/publishersoffice/index.html

Harry Potter and dumbing down of literature. (What do you think? Let us know using the comment link)
http://wrt-brooke.syr.edu/courses/205.03/bloom.html

More at www.nikeshmurali.net

TED: Showcasing creative ideas from around the world

Link submitted by member Michelle Clark

To submit links to writing related videos/podcasts/articles/posts email the editor witsnq@gmail.com

You gotta laugh.

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't you say? These are doing the rounds of the email.

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter

This one was found in the SGV Tribune the other day. They put in a correction the next day.

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

No crap, really? Ya think?

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers

Now that's taking things a bit far!

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

What a guy!

Miners Refuse to Work after Death

those good for nothing, lazy so-and-so's!

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendent

See if that works any better than a fair trial!

War Dims Hope for Peace

I can see where it might have that effect!

If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

Ya think?!

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Who would have thought!

Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide

They may be on to something!

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

Weren't they fat enough?!

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

That's what he gets for eating those beans!

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Do they taste like chicken?

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

Chainsaw Massacre all over again!

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

Boy, are they tall!

And the winner is...

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Did I read that right?