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For the Aussies! Miscellaneous Monday writing prompt

1/31/2011

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REMINDER:  Wired Monk Writers meet at Chris' this Thursday at 7 pm!!

Using the photographs as a springboard:

Prompt 1:  Use the following words in a story:  Kangaroo, diplomat, jacket, balloon

Prompt 2:  Pack paper & pen & go for a walk to the nearest art gallery (the walk is part of the experience, but if you're in a remote village with no gallery & it's -15, I'd do some prompt-adjusting).  Once in the gallery, go stand in front of a painting and take it in, slowwwwwly...every detail; close your eyes and trace it out in your mind, pay attention to the emotions it evokes.  Now, go sit somewhere, preferably with your back to the painting, and write all about it...repeat as needed!

Happy scribing!
TartanFrog



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Grrrrrrr...first provincial cuts to education, now municipal talk of cutting cultural awards. My response to a comment made about Sue Carter Flinn\'s article: UPDATE: HRM Cultural Awards under review

1/29/2011

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And personally, I'd like the conversation to keep its high beams on whether this is a city, a council and a mayor that values culture and art as more than a showcase for opening ceremonies.

I have two reading recommendations for anyone on city council who requires economic justification for supporting the arts: Richard Florida books like THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS or WHO'S YOUR CITY?, or for shorter bathroom visits 2007 Business Week article "Bohemian Today, High-Rent Tomorrow".

"Openness to experience is the only personality type that plays a consistent role in regional economic development. It is highly correlated with jobs in computing, science, arts, design, and entertainment; with overall human capital levels, high-tech industry, income, and housing values."  - Quote from WHO'S YOUR CITY? by Florida.

Since Florida made the leap over the border and moved from the US to head the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, I was thinking of buying several copies of his book and distributing them to city council...but then, the financial snag:
I'm an artist!

Maybe that's what our city needs. A creative leader with a vision!! I hear the pay's better than the average artist salary. Any takers?!

Dina
(aka)
TartanFrog

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Get the cool photo inspire you & submit to this next round of writing competitions...

1/27/2011

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Here are some of the writing competition deadlines for next week:

1.  February 1st (short fiction)
Danuta Gleed Literary Award - part of the Writers' Union of Canada.  No entry fee and prizes of $10,000, $5000, & $500.
click here for more info.


2.  February 1st (poetry)
Poem of the Year Contest
Entry fee:  $32/first poem entry & $5/subsequent poems (includes a one-year subscription to ARC; Prizes $1500 + publication; 2nd Prize $1000 + publication; 3rd prize: $750 + publication.  For more information, click here.

3.  February 1st (poetry).  The Malahat Review Long Poem Prize.   Entry fee: $35 (includes a one-year subscription to the Malahat Review; Two prizes of $500 + publication (and $40/page).  For more information, click here.


Good luck everyone & happy scribing!
TartanFrog

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One LOL video + One new Call for Submissions

1/26/2011

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Before you check the Call for Submission, please listen to this on YouTube.
It's SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!  ++ Laughing is good for your health!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

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This may be of special interest to Simon from Halifax Wired Monk Writers:

Call for Submissions - Do you write short stories?  Spencer Hill just green-lighted a new project:

Call for Submissions for the anthology UnCONventional

We're looking for stories that take place at fantasy/sci-fi conventions or other gatherings in which the convention/conference itself is just the cover for something supernatural or fantastic. Imagine time travelers using a steampunk con to cover their attempt to open a portal to return to their own times, werewolves holding a beauty pageant at a dog show, or vampires holding a treaty summit at Dragon*Con.

Suggested Length: 3,000-7,000 words. Up to 10,000 words is possible, but it will be a HARD sell.

Due Date: July 1st, 2011

For more information go to Kate Kaynak's blog (Simon, she's the editor who sent me the feedback for my Amazon/Penguin Books pitch)

http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com/2011/01/call-for-submissions.html

Happy Scribing Writerlies!
TartanFrog

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Which of the two is must-read: 'The Sentimentalists' or ' Freedom'?

1/16/2011

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Look at the photo on the left.  If the wrought-iron railing is what appeals to you most, then go for Jonathan Franzen's epic 'Freedom'.  If, on the other hand, you are attracted to the beauty of an unmade bed and it makes you want to lounge there, then start by reading 'The Sentimentalists'.

In my case, I love both.  And read both.  The verdict:  Amongst the lauding of Skibsrud's debut novels are the remarks about it being a 'stumbling colt', true; that it could have benefited from more rigorous editing, also true; and that it felt unpolished, somewhat true.  HOWEVER, despite its flaws, I was lured by its raw lack of pretension.  One might say that it felt Canadian in contrast to Franzen's 'Freedom' which is rife with power and structure. 

Mind you, Franzen is a brilliant architect of tragic realism.  He shamelessly exposes the flaws of his characters whose comprehensively realized psychologies are compelling, but whose dialogue lapses (too often for my liking) into social commentary.  I felt that both novels lacked narrative drive and whereas Jonathan blew me away with his first 160 pages, I was disappointed with the section that went back to 2004.  Skibsrud, on the other hand, almost lost me in her first 40 pages or so, but as soon as I read page 47, like the theme of her book, I felt I'd come home.  Her prose is absolutely beautiful whereas Franzen comes of lazy in comparison.  Still, when Franzen is on, he's ON! 

No matter the accolades & awards, these  are two truly inspired writers. 
Enjoy them.

TartanFrog

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Writing Competitions & Deadlines

1/8/2011

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Calling all writerlies!!
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I know I promised.  Just got back from PEI yesterday & so here they are in order of deadline:

1.  January 15th (short fiction)
Geist Literary Postcard Story Contest (maximum word length - 500 words)
click here for more info.

2.  January 15th (poetry)
Hibernating With Words Poetry Contest
Adult category:  $5/poem entry; First Prize $100 + publication; 2nd Prize $50 + publication; 3rd prize: publication.  For more information, click here.

3.  January 24, 2011 (novel).  Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for unpublished or self-published novels.  Grand prize is a publishing contract with Penguin + $15,000 advance.  For more information, click here.

4.  February 1, 2011 (novel).  Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature for unpublished novels.  Grand prize is an offer of publication with Roseway Publishing + $1000.  Two $500 runner-up prizes also.  For more informationm, click here.

Good luck everyone & happy scribing!
TartanFrog

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I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2011: Are you ready to let go of your little cages?

1/1/2011

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Some mornings, I look up at the sky & my view of possibilities & dreams is obstructed by these little cages I've created or 'inherited'.
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Floating Cages by ~missdanger Photography / Street

I know that letting those damn cages go is the greatest gift we can all give the world.  And yet, so far all I've managed is to identify a few key cage-dwellers and keep track of them as they float around.   What I need is a good old Cheticamp suete!!

Imagine 2011 as a world where everyone let go of their old baggage, the limiting beliefs, childhood conditioning,  judgments & resentments.  Imagine the connections & synergies between people & communities.

Letting go involves  starting fresh in the present moment.   Innocent little line!!  That sentence could  scare the pants off anyone.  I'll be the first to admit that I've held onto problems, unhealthy situations, and outworn roles and relationships because I felt safe in their familiarity.

Here's what I'm thinking.  I'm gonna start this thing bit by bit.  
So it's not the most ORIGINAL resolution conjured, so what?  It's mine!
I'm gonna start paying more attention to where I resist & where I struggle, and then I'm gonna try to nudge those cages away...I'll start with three particularly pesky cages:

♦ The cage of habits that interfere with writing.
♦ The cage of obsessive thinking & analysing.  [Now this should be a good one for me!!]
♦ The cage of old stories & roles & beliefs.  [Everyone knows how much I love stories, but...] What I'm referring to here are the stories that limit the depth and expansiveness of who we are past roles and stories.   I read somewhere that you could imagine taking the old stories and roles off like pieces of clothing & then  stepping away from them & leaving the room. 

My wish to each of you - May you tune into who you are without your stories.  Dig deep to find those core limiting beliefs that are not your highest truth and release them.

May 2011 be the year you share your true self with the world!!
TartanFrog


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    Welcome to my Blog!

    My name is Dina 
    (aka TartanFrog)
    I'm a writer & educator.


    More about me

    More about the book I just finished

    Why blog? Why write?
    My dream: To see all children grow up with dignity, self-esteem and a passion for their dreams.

    I've met many children and adults whose dreams and innocence were stolen. 


    I write for them; I write as one of them.


    I try to blog weekly. 
    Blog topics:
    Writing & publishing-related tips for my writerly friends;
     social justice issues that touch children, adults, trees or threaten our world of future wholesome communities; my experiences navigating the process of living & writing. 

    Spoiler Alert:
    Some days, these may be rants:)

    Why TartanFrog?  
    TartanFrog--a celebratory tip of the hat to the interweaving of my French Acadian roots with the Celtic culture  of Cape Breton. 


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