Mockingbird Writers group have moved to the cafe at Living Choice, 123 Fisher Street, Fullarton as we are growing and want to be more inclusive. We recently had a launch there with Caroline Reid as our guest speaker who spoke about the importance of community and how joining a writers groups is one of the … Continue reading Our new home
Bonzer, the life and times of Thomas Kermode, compiled and edited by Edward “Adrian” Kermode
https://www.amazon.com.au/Bonzer-life-times-Thomas-Kermode/dp/B0CRL3V18M/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rjP2kd8PbdAaAKtp6Ijckg.4MCDK3OAI-HhqdRs6RLBVTgFDBlzRCve1aH7RCAU0Y8&dib_tag=se&qid=1713069752&refinements=p_27%3AMr+Edward+Adrian+Kermode&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Mr+Edward+Adrian+Kermode Seventy four original letters written by Thomas Kermode between 1936 and 1947 to his son Jim. A great resource for researching original voices from Australia's pre-war to post-war eras and 1940s South Australian social history. Thomas's commentary on WW2, and universal issues at play within and between the various members of this middle-class family. Some … Continue reading Bonzer, the life and times of Thomas Kermode, compiled and edited by Edward “Adrian” Kermode
STAYING MOTIVATED
HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED - TIPS AND TRICKS (part 1) If you’ve started your novel, then you are an author! Maybe not published but still YOU ARE AN AUTHOR. It’s hard to start writing, to think up a plot, characters, to start writing. So pat yourself on the back….you’ve made a start and that’s the … Continue reading STAYING MOTIVATED
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
I am often inspired by the simplicity of Neil Gaiman’s commencement speech of 2012. His message is this: Make Good Art Whenever I get stuck, and I get stuck often, I remember that maxim. Make Good Art. When I think about the quagmire that is ethics in fiction writing, I ask myself why can’t we … Continue reading Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?
Heart of the Grass Tree
Author: Molly Murn Genre: Literary Fiction Length of novel: 80,000 words This is a braided novel with three separate but interwoven storylines that converge at the climax of the book. Each line has its own story building elements: Inciting incident: 1st strand: Fifteen-year-old, pregnant Nell is sent away from Kangaroo Island to give birth. … Continue reading Heart of the Grass Tree
On Chesil Beach
Author: Ian McEwan Genre: Literary Fiction Length of novel: 40,000 words (novella) Beginning hook: Edward and Florence, a couple on their wedding night, struggle with their private fears about the consummation of their marriage. Edward knows that Florence is shy and he is anxious about his own performance. We become more acutely aware of Florence’s … Continue reading On Chesil Beach
The Hero’s Journey or The Monomyth
The hero’s journey is a storytelling framework which draws your character out of their ordinary world. It puts them in emotional or physical peril. It makes your protagonist uncomfortable; they are inspired to move towards change. There are three essential stages to the hero’s journey model: The hero leaves the familiar world behind.The hero learns … Continue reading The Hero’s Journey or The Monomyth
DAYS IN ISOLATION
excerpt from a short story I wrote in lock down last year. Oh I am so bored, so very bored. Locked down, isolated, lonely and bored. There is nowhere to run anymore. I can’t even run away from myself. This is my two hundred and thirteenth day in lock down. Yes, I know the whole … Continue reading DAYS IN ISOLATION
My love affair with suspense
"This suspense is killing me—I hope it will last" Tension, uncertainty, doubt, doubtfulness, anticipation, expectation, expectancy, excitement, anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, strain — what do these words have in common? They are all synonyms of the word SUSPENSE. When we think of suspense in novels we immediately think of Thrillers, and Gothic stories, such as … Continue reading My love affair with suspense
Biofiction – a story of a story thief
I consider myself an honest person. I might have reappropriated a few lonely books from hotel rooms, waiting spaces or houseboats but I always put them back into circulation after I’ve read them. Almost always. Reading No Malleable Stuff, an essay published in Overland by Jeanine Leane, caused me to question my assumptions about honesty … Continue reading Biofiction – a story of a story thief
Mockingbird Writers 