Blog Archives - DinaDesveaux.com

Reminds me of Dr. Zhivago

11/30/2010

Isn't this photograph, by Helena Normark, stunning?!

And this, by someone who can't stand winter...

It ALMOST makes me want to start one of those long sagas set in Russia or Finland, but I probably won't, so I'll let it inspire someone else instead:)

Btw, if you happen to be on my 'best person' list - you might receive a card by late January (if you're lucky) that looks like a botched up version of the very cool card below! I saw it on etsy.com and considered buying it, but why make life easy? I'm a writer! Torture is just part of the process...groan.

Tonight, the old gang gets together for writers' group!! Can't wait to hear all of Chris Benjamin's tales of his book release (see archived post of November 23 for a review).

Cheers,
TartanFrog

Win a Residential Writing Course in Cornwall!!!!

11/30/2010

I read in a blog I follow that Jane Smith, the editor of Words With Jam magazine, made an announcement about a free writing contest they're running with a particularly attractive prize - a place on a four-day residential writing course in the lovely English county of Cornwall. (Photo credit: Polperro Harbour by Alan Caissie, BBC UK)

The prize, generously donated by author Ruth Saberton, is a four day residential place on one of her Writers' Courses Cornwall (UK) retreats - http://www.writerscoursescornwall.co.uk. Included is all tuition, 5 star accommodation in Polperro, food at a local inn, drinks and a car parking permit.

Note: As far as I know, this contest is open world-wide, but you'll have to make your own way to Cornwall if you win.

"All you have to send us is the last couple of lines of a story. That's it. Obviously, you have to have written it yourself and not lifted it from some famous piece of work. The lines can be from something you've already written or just made up for the competition, we don't mind. As ever, it can be funny, or clever, or moving, or just bloody good. 40 words max, in the body of an email, and no more than three goes per entrant. Get to it."

Entries should be emailed to danny-AT-wordswithjam.co.uk by no later than 14th January 2011. The winner will be announced in the February 2011 issue, where we will print the shortlist of ten, together with the overall winning entry.

For more information on the course and competition, visit www.wordswithjam.co.uk/writersretreat.

Good luck Writerlies!
TartanFrog

If you get through the YouTube on my blog without laughing, please send me a message, I need to talk to you!!!

11/29/2010

I know the bad rep...writers................uhh, boring..............bombastic know-it-alls....

WELL, WE NEED TO LAUGH TOO!!!!

And at this time of year, we especially need a good laugh...as everyone tries to get a piece of us for the holidays and writing is relegated to oblivion. That's who New Year's resolutions are really for, all the writers secretly pining for the smell of--no, not gift-wrapping paper, but--real paper, fresh out of the typewriter (err, I mean printer)...

Anyway MY BELOVED WRITERLIES, this one's for you! If you get past the guy in minute 1:01ish without laughing, you are in need of serious writerly intervention -- Good thing we have writers' group this Wednesday (with the old gang)!!!

Here's to laughing,
TartanFrog

Prairie Fire Writing Competition Deadline looming....+ cool painting!

11/26/2010

I know I've been slack on the contests...here's one for all you short story writers: Deadline is November 30th.

The bonus is that your entry fee goes for their mag!
The cool painting to the left is by Irish painter, Richard Hearns.

He made me cry for the second time!!! He also inspired me to rise early to work on my novel ...

11/26/2010

The photo below is of Jan Lisiecki, the 15-year old piano prodigy who was featured at last night's Symphony Nova Scotia concert...

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent" - Victor Hugo

In September this year, I was so fortunate to sit in a room with my UNICEF colleagues for a solo recital Jan performed as part of our annual conference. That was the first time he made me cry (with Chopin's Nocturne)...
So yes, he's talented AND he generously gives his time to help children who don't have his privilege...

About his future, Jan says:
"My goal for sure is not a quick career but life with music."

About music he says:
"Music is an expression of humanity; it is something that we are all touched by. Music is a language, it can communicate with people internationally, without any barriers."

About the mounting fame around him, he says:
"As Jerry Garcia said, "fame is an illusion." In a way, what I am doing is against all odds. I am from Calgary. I am not studying in a prestigious, famous school, I don't have a powerful "heavy-weight" teacher. My parents aren't musicians. By saying this, I am trying to emphasize that anybody, anywhere, not only musicians, can be successful with a love for what they are doing. Of course, it requires dedication and a lot of luck. I have been very privileged to meet many people willing to help me. I am also working hard."

This TartanFrog is a fan!!!

My top 5 reason's to take your husband's name.

11/25/2010

And the top 5 reasons are:

1. You're a History Buff:

Fitting, since the current practice is the result of centuries of patriarchic control of men over women. And, while I have no evidence to point to, it seems reasonable to believe that assuming someone's name indicates his/her dominance in the relationship, which could lead to long-lasting psychological effects about power in the relationship. [i.e. Not an especially helpful tradition to foster an equal relationship.]

2. You plan to have children:

"Although we know from modern biology the equal contributions both parents make to the genetic identity of a child, it is still true to say that the mother is the "more natural" parent, that is, the parent by birth. A woman can give up a child for adoption or, thanks to modern reproductive technologies, can even bear a child not genetically her own. But there is no way to deny out of whose body the new life sprung, whose substance it fed on, who labored to produce it, who wondrously bore it forth."

Hmmm...all that and not even a name. Does that seem fair to you?

3. It's a Gift

Yes, as were the smallpox-infested blankets provided to the North American indigenous population by Europeans who (for the history buff), incidentally invented this practice, namely the British.

4. To Show Commitment to Tradition

Ah yes, the commitment card, thus gratifying male vanity. There are a LOT of traditions and customs that could stand to be "tampered with." And calling it feminist crap? I happen to be a woman who believes the fight to be EQUAL is my choice!

5. It's Expected of Me

Was there ever a time in my life when I wanted to take a future husband's surname? Hmmm, maybe in the second grade. But after high school the idea never entered my mind. I had career goals and saw myself as a valuable and unique individual.

Besides, women had equality, or at least in terms of names we did, right? Then I got engaged and "IT" began. For some reason, even though it was perfectly legal for me to keep my name upon marriage, everyone expected me to take my husband's surname.

I was and still am bewildered weekly by such assumptions. These people obviously don't know me.

Surnames are one of the most powerful tools used by patriarchy to deny women not only equal rights but even personhood. Not only that, but I happen to be proud of the fact that my name denotes the struggle of my Acadian ancestors who despite repeated attempts to annihilate them, survived.

So, for those of you still insisting on sending mail to me with Mrs. so-and-so, could you please stop??

My name is Dina Desveaux, or for the colonization that is this blog --

TartanFrog

UPDATE:
Since posting this blob, I've heard back from readers with one credible reason & I came up with another one.

The most practical reason (from reader) is that you've never liked your own last name. In that case, all the POWER to ya! In fact I did consider changing my name when I got married to take my Mom's...

One I came up with: capitalism. There is evidence that by taking a spouse's name, a woman will lose her edge professionally due to the loss of name recognition. So less money, less to buy useless crap I guess...

Buy Nothing Season. Nada. Zilch. Zip.

11/23/2010

That's right how about just saying no "to the patterns of over-consumption of middle-class North Americans".

If you must gift, how about supporting a local artist or charity that gives back!

Here are my top five options:

1. Tap into your creative juices.
Make a gift (if you're a writer you can even stuff that stocking with a poem), or invite those you love for a feast of local-source foods.

2. Buy a book to support a local writer (like Chris Benjamin - to read one of the latest reviews of the book check out JonTattrie's blog.)

3. Support a local artist like Tracy.

4. Give someone the gift of health or creativity. There are several recreation options where you can purchase a pass or go for the creative juices, a painting class or writing class.

5. If you must gift (cuz you're gonna be made to feel like a heel if you don't), you can also purchase gifts to support children here and around the world through UNICEF's Gifts of Magic or Cards & Gifts. You can either shop on-line or we provide a map that tells you what stores in Halifax stock our 'stuffers'.

Most of all, rediscover your 'inner child' over this holiday season. Go play!!

Seasons Greetings,
TartanFrog

More competitions & planning for 2011!

11/22/2010

Last night at our weekly Sunday dinner, Simon (who is in my writers' group) mentioned the Fish competition. I looked it up and the details are below. Meanwhile, I've ordered a copy of 'The Canadian Writers' Contest Calendar 2011'. I will keep posting the competitions, but it's a great tool...Finally, I finished 'The Sentimentalists', the Giller Winner that seems to be racking up controversy! I threw in my two cents at the bottom. Happy scribing, TartanFrog!

The Fish Competition!
Deadline: November 30, 2010
Entry Fee: $26
Web site: www.fishpublishing.com
E-mail address: info@fishpublishing.com
A prize of 3,000 euros (approximately $3,850) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. Using the online submission system, submit a story of up to 5,000 words with an entry fee of 20 euros (approximately $26) by November 30. Visit the Web site for complete guidelines.

ABOUT 'THE SENTIMENTALISTS':

Yes, I finished it last night. I picked out two reviewers that I think nailed my own impressions.

Ian McGillis, National Post, writes:

"Fans of conventional pacing will be tested especially by The Sentimentalists’ first half, which often finds the narrator musing things like “It is only from a distance that abstractions are, after all, desirable, or even possible” and how “there comes that one instant, that impetus, whatever it will be, by which we are one day blown, finally, from our own furthest extremity.”

Read more: http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/11/13/book-review-the-sentimentalists-by-johanna-skibsrud/#ixzz161ZZjqqy

And, Zoe Whittall, Globe and Mail, writes:

"Like a lot of debut novels, The Sentimentalists can sometimes feel like a stumbling colt, with moments of astounding raw beauty and original wordplay."

Can you guess the name of the next writing contest?

11/20/2010

That's right! December 1st is the deadline for the FIDDLEHEAD writing competition...and in honour of their 20th anniversary the prizes are substantial $2010 for the best poem and $2010 for the best story! See details and link below.

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" - Anais Nin

This is a quote that deserves to be repeated as a mantra - may it guide you in your contest entry...

http://www.thefiddlehead.ca/contest.html

Happy Scribing!
TartanFrog

Call For Submissions!! Do you have a story about your favourite furry beast?

11/19/2010

Reminder to everyone to celebrate National Child Day tomorrow!! (if you have no children you can celebrate your pet/s as I plan to...)

Ontario Veterinary College 150th Anniversary Book Deadline Nov 30, 2010

Call for submissions towards the commission of a Veterinary Medicine and Literature Book. To mark its 150th anniversary in 2012, the Ontario Veterinary College is producing a collection of poems, stories, essays and personal remembrances about the myriad ways companion animals enrich our lives and our imaginations, as well as about the veterinary professionals who sustain and are part of our life-long relationship with our animals. PDF Guidelines available from the website.

Have fun with it!!
TartanFrog

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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