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Short Stories
I have had many short stories published in journals and anthologies, but the stories that launched my writing career were the ones published in the School Journal. They are:
I reviewed children's books for Jo Noble's Well Read magazine for many years.
I have been reviewing books for Magpies since 1999.
Recently I started reviewing for the KidsBooksNZ blog.
Judging
I was a judge for the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
For the last three years I have judged the Junior category of the annual Rodney Writes Competition.
Supporting Member of:
Kiwi Write4Kidz
Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust
New Zealand Society of Authors
New Zealand Book Council
Work in Progress
I am currently working on my third teenage novel which is set in the remote coalmining communities on the West Coast of New Zealand. Like Cross Tides, it will combine a historical story with a contemporary one. The working title is Touchstone.
I have had many short stories published in journals and anthologies, but the stories that launched my writing career were the ones published in the School Journal. They are:
The Budgie Man - Pt 4, no. 2, 1982
Sisters - Pt 4, no. 2, 1983
Second Wedding - Pt 3, no. 3, 1984
The Puzzle Box - Pt 3, no. 1, 1986
Ethel's Expedition - Pt 1, no. 4, 1987
An Unfashionable Vote - Pt 4, no. 2, 1987
Honeysuckle - Pt 3, no. 3, 1992
Reviewing BooksSisters - Pt 4, no. 2, 1983
Second Wedding - Pt 3, no. 3, 1984
The Puzzle Box - Pt 3, no. 1, 1986
Ethel's Expedition - Pt 1, no. 4, 1987
An Unfashionable Vote - Pt 4, no. 2, 1987
Honeysuckle - Pt 3, no. 3, 1992
I reviewed children's books for Jo Noble's Well Read magazine for many years.
I have been reviewing books for Magpies since 1999.
Recently I started reviewing for the KidsBooksNZ blog.
Judging
I was a judge for the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults
For the last three years I have judged the Junior category of the annual Rodney Writes Competition.
Supporting Member of:
Kiwi Write4Kidz
Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust
New Zealand Society of Authors
New Zealand Book Council
Work in Progress
I am currently working on my third teenage novel which is set in the remote coalmining communities on the West Coast of New Zealand. Like Cross Tides, it will combine a historical story with a contemporary one. The working title is Touchstone.
I began my writing career with short stories. Producing short stories is good training for aspiring writers because the format forces you to make every word count. There is no room in a short story for over-writing or flights of fancy. Usually short stories have to be a specified word length - my favourite technique is to write a longer first draft, and then go over it again and again, cutting out superfluous words and even sentences until the required length is reached.
It's good to hone your basic writing skills with short stories. When you turn to novels you have to learn a whole new set of skills – such as in-depth character development, clever use of setting and description, and multi-strand plot invention.
I still like to write short stories. Working on a short story makes a refreshing and productive change from the long-term demands of writing a novel. Writing short stories is not easier than writing novels - far from it - but the skills are different.
Aspiring children's writers should check out the Random House anthologies of short stories edited by Barbara Else. These will provide a good idea of what is required in a good children’s short story.
It's good to hone your basic writing skills with short stories. When you turn to novels you have to learn a whole new set of skills – such as in-depth character development, clever use of setting and description, and multi-strand plot invention.
I still like to write short stories. Working on a short story makes a refreshing and productive change from the long-term demands of writing a novel. Writing short stories is not easier than writing novels - far from it - but the skills are different.
Aspiring children's writers should check out the Random House anthologies of short stories edited by Barbara Else. These will provide a good idea of what is required in a good children’s short story.
