About Me
- Satima Flavell
- Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- I am based in Perth, Western Australia. You might enjoy my books - The Dagger of Dresnia, the first book of the Talismans Trilogy, is available at all good online book shops as is Book two, The Cloak of Challiver. Book three, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation. I trained in piano and singing at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. I also trained in dance (Scully-Borovansky, WAAPA) and drama (NIDA). Since 1987 I have been writing reviews of performances in all genres for a variety of publications, including Music Maker, ArtsWest, Dance Australia, The Australian and others. Now semi-retired, I still write occasionally for the ArtsHub website.
My books
The first two books of my trilogy, The Talismans, (The Dagger of Dresnia, and book two, The Cloak of Challiver) are available in e-book format from Smashwords, Amazon and other online sellers. Book three of the trilogy, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation.I also have a short story, 'La Belle Dame', in print - see Mythic Resonance below - as well as well as a few poems in various places.
The best way to contact me is via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/satimaflavell
Buy The Talismans
The first two books of The Talismans trilogy were published by Satalyte Publications, which, sadly, has gone out of business. However, The Dagger of Dresnia and The Cloak of Challiver are available as ebooks on the usual book-selling websites, and book three, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation.
The easiest way to contact me is via Facebook.
The Dagger of Dresnia
The Cloak of Challiver, Book two of The Talismans
Mythic Resonance
Mythic Resonance is an excellent anthology that includes my short story 'La Belle Dame', together with great stories from Alan Baxter, Donna Maree Hanson, Sue Burstynski, Nike Sulway and nine more fantastic authors! Just $US3.99 from Amazon.
Got a Kindle? Check out Mythic Resonance.
Follow me on Twitter
Share a link on Twitter
For Readers, Writers & Editors
- A dilemma about characters
- Adelaide Writers Week, 2009
- Adjectives, commas and confusion
- An artist's conflict
- An editor's role
- Authorial voice, passive writing and the passive voice
- Common misuses: common expressions
- Common misuses: confusing words
- Common misuses: pronouns - subject and object
- Conversations with a character
- Critiquing Groups
- Does length matter?
- Dont sweat the small stuff: formatting
- Free help for writers
- How much magic is too much?
- Know your characters via astrology
- Like to be an editor?
- Modern Writing Techniques
- My best reads of 2007
- My best reads of 2008
- My favourite dead authors
- My favourite modern authors
- My influential authors
- Planning and Flimmering
- Planning vs Flimmering again
- Psychological Spec-Fic
- Readers' pet hates
- Reading, 2009
- Reality check: so you want to be a writer?
- Sensory detail is important!
- Speculative Fiction - what is it?
- Spelling reform?
- Substantive or linking verbs
- The creative cycle
- The promiscuous artist
- The revenge of omni rampant
- The value of "how-to" lists for writers
- Write a decent synopsis
- Write a review worth reading
- Writers block 1
- Writers block 2
- Writers block 3
- Writers need editors!
- Writers, Depression and Addiction
- Writing in dialect, accent or register
- Writing it Right: notes for apprentice authors
Interviews with authors
My Blog List
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How do you solve a problem like gender inequality? - How do you solve a problem like gender inequality? How do you solve a problem like gender inequality? For most women’s rights advocates, the answer is ob...1 hour ago
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A To Z Blogging Challenge 2024 - Villains ! - Q Is For Quirrell - Professor Quirinus Quirrell, teacher of Defence Against The Dark Arts in Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, is the first teacher Harry Potter m...5 hours ago
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611. Romantic Times Rewind: April 2005 Ads & Features - Y’all, the April 2005 issue of Romantic Times is a treasure of truly amazing fun. So many of you told me that episode 609, where we looked at the reviews, ...5 hours ago
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Ada Lovelace - by Sue Purkiss - On a recent stay on Exmoor, I came across an article about someone called Ada Lovelace. I had vaguely heard of her, but if you'd asked me why, I wouldn'...5 hours ago
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Happy Birthday, Krissy - She’s fabulous and I just think she’s neat. And it’s also her birthday! If you are so inclined, wish her a happy one. — JS9 hours ago
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Estelle Pinney books… - Here’s another author I’ve met at a Gold Coast Writers meeting. She talked about her book ‘A Net Full of Honey’ which I purchased on the day. Her character...18 hours ago
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5 Common Problems With Beginnings - *By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy* *If your beginning isn't working, no one will get to the ending.* A novel’s beginning is under a lot of pressure. It has...23 hours ago
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Vikings! ‘Tis But A Scratch: Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages - In this episode of the podcast "'Tis But A Scratch": Fact & Fiction About the Middle Ages, co-hosts Richard Abels and his wife Ellen Abels explain who and ...23 hours ago
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Flog a Pro: Would You Turn the First Page of this Bestseller? - Trained by reading hundreds of submissions, editors and agents often make their read/not-read decision on *the first page*. In a customarily formatted bo...1 day ago
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I promised photos from the trip - I feel like a slacker but I have been busy. There’s so much going on, so much to write about. We’ve been back six weeks. It feels like a short time and a l...1 day ago
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I promised photos from the trip - I feel like a slacker but I have been busy. There’s so much going on, so much to write about. We’ve been back six weeks. It feels like a short time and a l...1 day ago
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Mastering Blog Post Creation: 10 Essential Steps to Enhance Your Writing Process - The post Mastering Blog Post Creation: 10 Essential Steps to Enhance Your Writing Process appeared first on ProBlogger. It hits you like a TON of BRICKS!...1 day ago
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Edward Ashton - Edward Ashton is the author of the novels Mal Goes to War, Antimatter Blues, Mickey7 (now a motion picture directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Robert Pat...2 days ago
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Newsletter 16th April 2024 - Here’s a copy of my newsletter from April 16th, 2024. Sign up via my website to get newsletters directly to your inbox (and remember to check your Spam f...3 days ago
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Are You Schrödinger’s Writer? Here’s How To Break Out Of This Destructive Mindset - Schrödinger’s Cat Versus Writers Schrödinger’s Cat is a thought experiment devised by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, which he designed to illu...4 days ago
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The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 13: Small Gods - There’s a phenomenon known as “capturing lightning in a bottle” that describes the sensation of being in a particular place at precisely the right time to ...1 week ago
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'The Tic-Toc Boy of Constantinople' in the revered The Conversation as one of five "Australian literary works of particular relevance to national conversations about AI" - I've always respected and admired *The Conversation, *so it is a humbling privilege to have 'The Tic-Toc Boy of Constantinople' written about in *The Con...1 week ago
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Ourselves: 100 Micro Memoirs - I am lucky enough to have a non-fiction piece, ‘Helicopter Parents’, in this new release from Night Parrot Press, Ourselves: 100 Micro Memoirs. This is the...1 week ago
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The Dead Boys Detective Agency. It is a very silly name. But accurate. - April 25th. DEAD BOY DETECTIVES. It's really good -- it's funny, it's smart, it's scary, and it even has a few familiar faces... (And no, you won...2 weeks ago
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#3 WEP GET TOGETHER - APRIL 2024 - IT'S THE A - Z CHALLENGE! - Hi WEPpers and friends! Already time for out third Get Together. Life is flashing by! Hit us with your news, writerly or personal. We'd love to hear fro...2 weeks ago
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Henry of Lancaster and His Children - The close bonds which Edward II's cousin Henry of Lancaster, earl of Lancaster and Leicester, forged with his children have fascinated me for a long time...2 weeks ago
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Urbenville Adventure - Wow, Urbenville, what an adventure! An approach so tough I nearly threw up. Climbs so hard I’m still hurting. Plants so vicious, one grass-spike tore my co...2 weeks ago
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Researching the birth of the first domestic violence refuge - Read a researcher's journey exploring the first few years of Chiswick Women's Aid. The post Researching the birth of the first domestic violence refuge ...4 weeks ago
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Trip to Brazil 2024 - Landing in the Megalopolis of Sao Paulo On February 7th I flew to Sao Paulo, Brazil to start a 17 day teachi...1 month ago
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Photo Parade 2023 - A bit of fun at the beginning of the new year. I’m following several German travel blogs, and that way came across the annual Photo Parade (Fotoparade) on ...3 months ago
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Happy Public Domain Day 2024, the end of copyright for 1928 works - My annual reminder that January 1st is Public Domain Day, and this year copyright has ended for books, movies, and music first published in the U.S. in 192...3 months ago
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The White Horse Band - Live Blues/Rock - 31 March 2023 Hi All, Time for some LIVE Video Music from me… (as opposed to my original stuff)…. I got into a blues/rock band for a one off gig at ...4 months ago
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Konrath Thanksgiving - Black Friday - Cyber Monday Kindle Bundle Sale - *Get all of my ebook box sets on Amazon Kindle for 99 cents each, November 23 - 28.* *THAT'S 33¢ PER BOOK!* Almost my entire backlist of fifty-four ebooks...5 months ago
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Questions from year 9 students - Recently – actually, not very recently but I somehow forgot to write this sooner – I did what has become an annual online Q&A with the Year 9 girls at Bedf...5 months ago
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On Ohio, and the novels, and the new class - Just small news here. The new class is finished in first draft, and I’m now (and for the first time ever) doing the complete course bug-hunt and clean-up B...6 months ago
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Big disruption hit book publishing before AI showed up - Publishers Weekly recently hosted a stimulating and smart online session about AI and publishing, thanks to the organizing and moderating skills of Peter...6 months ago
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Flogometer 1180 for Christian—will you be moved to turn the page? - Submissions sought. Get fresh eyes on your opening page. Submission directions below. The Flogometer challenge: can you craft a first page that compels me ...8 months ago
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Storny Weather - I've just been out fixing up the damage from last night's storm. This is pretty much the first time I've been able to spend much time outside and do any...8 months ago
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#347 - I've been querying agents for the last 6-months and have over 50 rejections. I'm not sure if my novel isn't very interesting/sellable or if my query let...8 months ago
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Parody - The other day, for the first time in a very long time, I heard the Barbie Song. So, being me, I decided to parody it, in hour of Alianore Audley and *The...8 months ago
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Parody - The other day, for the first time in a very long time, I heard the Barbie Song. So, being me, I decided to write a parody. Hope you like it! *Hiya, Ali...8 months ago
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To Live and Love - To live and love for the both of us Ten years ago today I made that vow I've struggled in the decade since Not always knowing exactly how Ten years you've...9 months ago
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“It’s Random” – a random scribble - “Why am I even here? It’s random. No Divine Thing. No actual “purpose” except what we make of it. I haven’t made anything of it except to be restless, to a...9 months ago
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#MemorialDay, remembering a female patriot ancestor - *© 2022 Christy K Robinson* We are taught stories about heroic men who gave their lives to bring independence and liberty to their families, friends--and...10 months ago
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A tale of two titles - I have done something notably foolish. Which is perhaps nothing new, though the circumstances on this occasion are unusual. To whit, I am publishing two bo...1 year ago
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Poem: If Wishes were horses - A team of horses racing toward me Brown like the uniforms of soldiers fortressing me around Speckled like a found family, salt of the earth Whit...1 year ago
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another review for the Christmas Maze - *The Christmas Maze by Danny Fahey – a Review by David Collis* Why do we seek to be good, to make the world a better place? Why do we seek to be ethi...1 year ago
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Children’s Rights QLD Ambassador - Children’s Rights QLD appointed Karen Tyrrell (me) Ambassador for Logan City, ahead of Children’s Week, 24-29 Oct 2022. I’m an award-winning child-empowe...1 year ago
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ANWERING THE CALL: LESSONS FROM THE THRESHOLD - NEXT STORY SANCTUARY "Anwering the Call: Lessons from the Threshold" Sept. 20, 7 pm eastern $30 Online Whether you're starting a project, a school year, ...1 year ago
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The Green House, Chapters 1-4 (Revised) - [Dear Reader: Having refined my intentions for this novel based on a lot of recent thinking about life and art, I have restructured and revised the first f...1 year ago
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Publishing Contracts 101: Beware Internal Contradications - It should probably go without saying that you don't want your publishing contract to include clauses that contradict one another. Beyond any potential l...1 year ago
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Tara Sharp is back and in audio book - SHARP IS BACK! Marianne Delacourt and Twelfth Planet Press are delighted to announce the fifth Tara Sharp story, a novella entitled RAZOR SHARP, will be ...1 year ago
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Website Update - My website www.stephendedman.com has been updated, with details of my latest books; please check it out!2 years ago
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Non-Binary Authors To Read: July 2021 - Non-Binary Authors To Read is a regular column from A.C. Wise highlighting non-binary authors of speculative fiction and recommending a starting place fo...2 years ago
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ATTENTION: YOU CAN’T LOG IN HERE - Hey YOU! This isn’t the forum. You’re trying to login to the Web site. THE FORUMS ARE HERE: CLICK THIS The post ATTENTION: YOU CAN’T LOG IN HERE a...2 years ago
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I'M INSIDE A SHORT STORY!! - Ok everyone, you have to read this very short short story. Firstly because it is good, (check out the Bligh story within it too), but also because I'm ...2 years ago
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Grandmother Dragon Forever - It feels like centuries since the last time I wrote something for the Dragon Cave. Only something of great importance would drag me out of my retirement...3 years ago
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What communicates power? - Well, I have to say, I wasn't expecting to get this far behind on my reports on the show, but the launch month was very busy, and then the next month turne...4 years ago
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The Legendary Game Pac-Man Has No Meaning. - [image: The Legendary Game Pac-Man Has No Meaning.] The Legendary Game Pac-Man Has No Meaning. Let's take a look at how this word came about. Actually, P...4 years ago
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Readers Notice and They Care - Readers care about story details and they care about characters. Both last night and this afternoon I had conversations with readers upset about the way au...4 years ago
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Review of Verdi's MacBeth (WA Opera) - *Our president, Frances Dharmalingham, has written a critique of a recent visit to the opera: Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’.* At Christmas 2018, my family’s gift to ...4 years ago
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Breakout 3: tips for engaging your audience - Tips for engaging your audience: how to improve presentation, public speaking confidence and presence on stage, no matter how small the stage is. Present...4 years ago
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The Trains Don't Stop Here - It's been a long, long time since my last blog post. One of the main reasons for this – apart from life being way too busy in general – is that, in my dwin...4 years ago
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Portrait of a first generation freed African American family - Sanford Huggins (c.1844–1889) and Mary Ellen Pryor (c.1851–1889), his wife, passed the early years of their lives in Woodford County, Kentucky, and later...4 years ago
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Revisiting the Comma Splice - One of the difficulties as an editor, particularly when working with fiction, is to know when to be a stickler for the rules. For some people this is not a...4 years ago
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New releases - SFFBookBonanza - StoryOrigin - SciFi and Fantasy Book Sale - New Releases – Jul 2019 The latest and greatest new releases in Science Fiction and Fantasy books! New releases July 2019 99 cent sale - July 22nd - 28t...4 years ago
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Assassin’s Apprentice Read Along - This month, in preparation for the October release of the Illustrated 25th Anniversary edition of Assassin’s Apprentice, with interior art by Magali Villan...4 years ago
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STOLEN PICTURE OPTIONS TELEVISION RIGHTS TO BEN AARONOVITCH’S RIVERS OF LONDON - *STOLEN PICTURE OPTIONS TELEVISION RIGHTS TO BEN AARONOVITCH’S * *RIVERS OF LONDON* *London, UK: 29April 2019*: Nick Frost and Simon Pegg’s UK-based ...4 years ago
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A Movie That No Writer Should See Alone - Really. REALLY. Trust me on this. particularly since this film, ‘Can you ever forgive me?’, is based on a ‘True story’ – and too many writers will see too...5 years ago
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Review: Trace: who killed Maria James? - [image: Trace: who killed Maria James?] Trace: who killed Maria James? by Rachael Brown My rating: 5 of 5 stars Absolutely jaw-dropping, compelling readin...5 years ago
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Dance Photo Shoots - Photo Session Planning & Preparation Have you ever wanted to do a photo shoot for dance but have been a little unsure about how and what really happens? ...5 years ago
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On Indefinite Hiatus - (Which I pretty much have been from this site for a while already, but for real now.) You can find most archive content through the On Writing page, and li...6 years ago
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2017 Ditmar Winners Announced - Over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, spec fic fans gathered for Continuum 13: Triskaidekaphilia. Continuum is always a great convention, and this year it was...6 years ago
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Writing about the Crusades and talking about a "meddlesome priest" - The Middle Ages are in the news again, so here is a roundup of recent news articles. We start with three good reads from historians talking about the crusa...6 years ago
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The One and the Many – every Sunday - My first serious girlfriend came from good Roman Catholic stock. Having tried (and failed) to be raised as a Christian child and finding nothing but lifele...6 years ago
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A Shameless Plug Ian Likes: Bibliorati.com - A little-known fact is that I once had a gig reviewing books for five years. It was for a now-defunct website known as The Specusphere. It was awesome fun:...7 years ago
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Book Review - Nobody by Threasa Meads - Available from BooktopiaThe subtitle for this work is *A Liminal Autobiography*. Liminal: 1. relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process. 2...7 years ago
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A whole 'nother year-and-a-bit - Well, we have let this blog slip, haven't we? I guess Facebook has taken over from blogs to a very large degree, but I think there is still a need for blo...7 years ago
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2017 Potential Bee Calendar – & ladybirds and butterflies - Bees on flowers – all sorts of flowers (& bees) – and lady birds and butterflies. There were hundreds (literally) of photos to choose from. This is a small...7 years ago
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What is dyslexia? - *" **The bottob line it thit it doet exitt, no bitter whit nibe teottle give it(i.e ttecific lierning ditibility, etc) iccording to Thilly Thiywitz ( 2003)...8 years ago
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Rai stones - *(Paraphrased from Wikipedia)*: Rai stones were, and in some cases are still, the currency of the island once called Yap. *They are stone coins which at th...10 years ago
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Cherries In The Snow - This recipe is delicious and can also be made as a diet dessert by using fat and/or sugar free ingredients. It’s delicious and guests will think it took ...11 years ago
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Al Milgrom’s connection to “Iron Man” - Via the Ann Arbor online newspaper - I felt it was worth repeating as a great example of Marvel doing the right thing by a former employee and without the ...13 years ago
Favourite Sites
- Alan Baxter
- Andrew McKiernan
- Bren McDibble
- Celestine Lyons
- Guy Gavriel Kay
- Hal Spacejock (Simon Haynes)
- Inventing Reality
- Jacqueline Carey
- Jennifer Fallon
- Jessica Rydill
- Jessica Vivien
- Joel Fagin
- Juliet Marillier
- KA Bedford
- Karen Miller
- KSP Writers Centre
- Lynn Flewelling
- Marianne de Pierres
- Phill Berrie
- Ryan Flavell
- Satima's Professional Editing Services
- SF Novelists' Blog
- SF Signal
- Shane Jiraiya Cummings
- Society of Editors, WA
- Stephen Thompson
- Yellow wallpaper
Blog Archive
Places I've lived: Manchester, UK
Places I've lived: Gippsland, Australia
Places I've lived: Geelong, Australia
Places I've lived: Tamworth, NSW
Places I've Lived - Sydney
Places I've lived: Auckland, NZ
Places I've Lived: Mount Gambier
Places I've lived: Adelaide, SA
Places I've Lived: Perth by Day
Places I've lived: High View, WV
Places I've lived: Lynton, Devon, UK
Places I've lived: Braemar, Scotland
Places I've lived: Barre, MA, USA
Places I've Lived: Perth by Night
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Tuesday 28 November 2006
Critiquing Groups
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
Writers love to write. When we're not slogging away at the WIP, we're running around the blogsphere writing notes to each other:-) And why not? Blogging, it seems to me, is an eminently sensible way to keep in touch.
It's especially good to see so many friends from mailing lists and critiquing groups dropping by. I have formed many friendships through such groups and boy, have I learnt a lot! In the right group, the aspiring writer can receive help, encouragement and instruction all in one place. Of course, there are extremes: some groups (or at least, individuals within them) can be horribly destructive: bad enough in some cases to discourage beginners completely. Others have been known to turn into cosy little enclaves where no one ever says a harsh word about anyone else's work - and no one ever gets published, either. A happy medium is necessary if the group's going to fulfill its purpose. Members need to feel comfortable enough to express their opinions honestly and safe enough to know that criticisms of their work are directed at the WIP, not the writer. A certain measure of trust and affection is essential, and I've been lucky enough to find this in several different writing groups.
If a group has a few published authors among its members, so much the better. I have learnt a great deal from reading the WIPs of people whose work will appear on the shelves a year or so later. Watching a work being crafted, week by week, and seeing that the process, while never easy, does become smoother in time, is very encouraging. And, of course, one learns about the process itself both by example and by considering the critiques offered by writers who have been through the trials of learning to write. The criticisms of other learners are just as valuable, for newbies are closer to the learning coal face than their published friends and sometimes offer basic advice on matters that more experienced scribes take for granted. One also learns from giving criticism - at least as much as receiving it. In fact, some writers say they do most of their learning that way.
Writers who live in the country need not despair. The Internet offers many options, ranging from paid tuition (shop carefully!) and formal groups such as the Online Writers Workshop to casual critiquing among peers, conducted by e-mail. Now that I live in the country this is my main form of contact and I treasure it. But I do hope to be able to make trips to the Big Smoke from time to time. Personal contact, coffee and chat all have a place in the learning process too: in fact, they are important factors in building the necessary trust among those who give and receive criticism. I value the trust and affection of my colleagues just as highly as the professional development aspect of critiquing in a group.
It's especially good to see so many friends from mailing lists and critiquing groups dropping by. I have formed many friendships through such groups and boy, have I learnt a lot! In the right group, the aspiring writer can receive help, encouragement and instruction all in one place. Of course, there are extremes: some groups (or at least, individuals within them) can be horribly destructive: bad enough in some cases to discourage beginners completely. Others have been known to turn into cosy little enclaves where no one ever says a harsh word about anyone else's work - and no one ever gets published, either. A happy medium is necessary if the group's going to fulfill its purpose. Members need to feel comfortable enough to express their opinions honestly and safe enough to know that criticisms of their work are directed at the WIP, not the writer. A certain measure of trust and affection is essential, and I've been lucky enough to find this in several different writing groups.
If a group has a few published authors among its members, so much the better. I have learnt a great deal from reading the WIPs of people whose work will appear on the shelves a year or so later. Watching a work being crafted, week by week, and seeing that the process, while never easy, does become smoother in time, is very encouraging. And, of course, one learns about the process itself both by example and by considering the critiques offered by writers who have been through the trials of learning to write. The criticisms of other learners are just as valuable, for newbies are closer to the learning coal face than their published friends and sometimes offer basic advice on matters that more experienced scribes take for granted. One also learns from giving criticism - at least as much as receiving it. In fact, some writers say they do most of their learning that way.
Writers who live in the country need not despair. The Internet offers many options, ranging from paid tuition (shop carefully!) and formal groups such as the Online Writers Workshop to casual critiquing among peers, conducted by e-mail. Now that I live in the country this is my main form of contact and I treasure it. But I do hope to be able to make trips to the Big Smoke from time to time. Personal contact, coffee and chat all have a place in the learning process too: in fact, they are important factors in building the necessary trust among those who give and receive criticism. I value the trust and affection of my colleagues just as highly as the professional development aspect of critiquing in a group.
Tuesday 21 November 2006
Blogging along
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
Hot, changeable weather here at present. I had the air cooler on for the first time yesterday. Climate change is alive and well - and quite capricious in its manifestation.
I've had useful crits from friends who've read my short story, so time to return the favour - a day of critiquing lies ahead.
Thanks to everyone who's dropped by to comment so far. Be sure to leave your blog or web address or maybe your street name initials so I can say g'day, especially if I don't know you by your handle.
I've had useful crits from friends who've read my short story, so time to return the favour - a day of critiquing lies ahead.
Thanks to everyone who's dropped by to comment so far. Be sure to leave your blog or web address or maybe your street name initials so I can say g'day, especially if I don't know you by your handle.
Sunday 19 November 2006
Antipodean SF
Sunday, November 19, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
The new Antipodean SF edition is out and my friend and colleague Joan Malpass has a neat little story in it. You can read Joan's story here Anti-SF is always worth checking out each month. You will almost always find one or two gems and get a couple of laughs.
Saturday 18 November 2006
Settling in
Saturday, November 18, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
A few weeks ago, I moved house. It was a Big Move, all the way from Perth, Western Australia, to Mount Gambier, South Australia - about 2,000 miles or nearly 3,000km. I've lived in Mount Gambier before and I have siblings here so it's not as much of a shock as it might have been, but it will take me a while to get used to living in a country town again.
With all the angst of leaving Perth, the trials of settling in and the constant socialising I haven't been writing much. Normally, I'm one of those writers that needs days of seclusion to get anything on paper, but I've managed to pen a short story that had been gestating for weeks and there are a couple more on the simmer. However, I haven't touched the new book I'd hoped to have drafted before I go overseas in February. I have Good Intentions - you know, those things that pave the road to Hades - of getting started within the next couple of weeks. Now I've blogged it I shall have to do it, right?
Like the rest of the country, the south-east of South Australia is in the grip of drought. Yet in the last week we have had not just rain, but hail stones! The temperature has swung from a minimum of almost zero on one of the coldest November days on record to a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius, which is a bit more reasonable, given the time of year. Today should be lovely - 27 degrees and balmy. That's good, because today Mount Gambier residents and a horde of visitors will turn out in force to view the annual Christmas Parade, complete with brass bands and The Man Himself. He's going to feel pretty warm in that red suit.
That reminds me of a silly thing I did when flying over from Perth. My friend Ellen had given me a beautiful pair of red leather ugg boots and I couldn't wait to wear them. When I arrived in Adelaide en route to the Mount it was 35 degrees! Oh boy, did I get some strange looks!
But I'm settling in OK and have already had some visitors. My son Bruce and his family are over from Perth at the moment and on Thursday night I had my friend Tracey Spark and her new fiancé Gary to stay over. They are just starting the last leg of what has been a wonderful trip around the country; all the way up to Broome, Darwin, Katherine Gorge, Cairns, Sydney, Canberra, Victoria and Tasmania, camping in many wonderful wild places. Tracey, a colleague from the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth, is a film-maker and performance artist. She will have so much new material to process when she gets home that she will no doubt have inspiration for months, if not years, to come.
Travel is one of the best sources of inspiration, I think. And one of the best ways to learn about ourselves and other people. I congratulated Tracey and Gary on still being engaged - and very happily so:-) - after nearly four months on the road. I've heard of some relationships crashing after less than a fortnight when subjected to the stress of travel!
Last night I went with Bruce and his family to visit the Umpherston Sink Hole, a local beauty spot. (My sister Anne, a keen local historian, has recently published a book about its history.) It has become home to myriads of brush-tailed possums, who have learnt to beg their food from tourists and locals. There must have been upwards of thirty people there at dusk, all armed with food for the furry little scavengers. While I question the desirability of feeding possums, and especially feeding them white bread, where else are our children going to get close to wildlife? At one time, any country drive would bring a sighting of kangaroos or wallabies together with plenty of birds and reptiles, but alas, no longer! The ones we haven't killed seem to have become shy and nocturnal, and who can blame them? My grandchildren were delighted at their close encounters.
With all the angst of leaving Perth, the trials of settling in and the constant socialising I haven't been writing much. Normally, I'm one of those writers that needs days of seclusion to get anything on paper, but I've managed to pen a short story that had been gestating for weeks and there are a couple more on the simmer. However, I haven't touched the new book I'd hoped to have drafted before I go overseas in February. I have Good Intentions - you know, those things that pave the road to Hades - of getting started within the next couple of weeks. Now I've blogged it I shall have to do it, right?
Like the rest of the country, the south-east of South Australia is in the grip of drought. Yet in the last week we have had not just rain, but hail stones! The temperature has swung from a minimum of almost zero on one of the coldest November days on record to a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius, which is a bit more reasonable, given the time of year. Today should be lovely - 27 degrees and balmy. That's good, because today Mount Gambier residents and a horde of visitors will turn out in force to view the annual Christmas Parade, complete with brass bands and The Man Himself. He's going to feel pretty warm in that red suit.
That reminds me of a silly thing I did when flying over from Perth. My friend Ellen had given me a beautiful pair of red leather ugg boots and I couldn't wait to wear them. When I arrived in Adelaide en route to the Mount it was 35 degrees! Oh boy, did I get some strange looks!
But I'm settling in OK and have already had some visitors. My son Bruce and his family are over from Perth at the moment and on Thursday night I had my friend Tracey Spark and her new fiancé Gary to stay over. They are just starting the last leg of what has been a wonderful trip around the country; all the way up to Broome, Darwin, Katherine Gorge, Cairns, Sydney, Canberra, Victoria and Tasmania, camping in many wonderful wild places. Tracey, a colleague from the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth, is a film-maker and performance artist. She will have so much new material to process when she gets home that she will no doubt have inspiration for months, if not years, to come.
Travel is one of the best sources of inspiration, I think. And one of the best ways to learn about ourselves and other people. I congratulated Tracey and Gary on still being engaged - and very happily so:-) - after nearly four months on the road. I've heard of some relationships crashing after less than a fortnight when subjected to the stress of travel!
Last night I went with Bruce and his family to visit the Umpherston Sink Hole, a local beauty spot. (My sister Anne, a keen local historian, has recently published a book about its history.) It has become home to myriads of brush-tailed possums, who have learnt to beg their food from tourists and locals. There must have been upwards of thirty people there at dusk, all armed with food for the furry little scavengers. While I question the desirability of feeding possums, and especially feeding them white bread, where else are our children going to get close to wildlife? At one time, any country drive would bring a sighting of kangaroos or wallabies together with plenty of birds and reptiles, but alas, no longer! The ones we haven't killed seem to have become shy and nocturnal, and who can blame them? My grandchildren were delighted at their close encounters.
Friday 17 November 2006
Open for business
Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
Hey, I'm ready to read posts from friends, rellies and colleagues - and you don't even have to lend me any ears! Just click where it says 0 (or however many) comments at the end of this post. Use the comment box to link to your blog or web-page if you have one and tell us all what you've been up to lately!
It worked!
Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
Yes, it worked. I now have a Blogspot profile and posts. Whee-ee-ee!
Virgin Blogger
Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Posted by
Satima Flavell
I've been meaning to try blogging for ages and this is my first attempt. Well, second, actually, since I set up a profile and blog on MySpace earlier in the week. Over there, however, people have to be members to post to blogs, and I really want one where my friends can post, too. I want to know about people's writing, editing, holidays, hobbies, life events and anything else they want to share with me and others. MySpace does have the advantage of sharing Bulletins with friends, however. You can see my MySpace page Here
Now to see if this has worked...
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