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How to get out of a reading slump
Much has already been said about our waning attention spans. I won’t get into that here. Instead, I simply offer some tips, tricks and thoughts about being the reader you want to be: Someone who wants to read long things like books, but struggles with it. Although I’ve been writing this book blog for more […]
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What to watch if you LOVE Breaking Bad
Loved Breaking Bad? Fingers crossed you haven’t seen all of these recommendations already. The following descriptions are spoiler free.
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Narrating Faulty Memory in Fiction
Today I’m taking a close look at examples of fictional narrators who know their memory may not be accurate.
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Why writing does not get any easier with practice
Does writing get easier the more you do it? Yes and no. The mechanics get easier but each project presents its own new problems.
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Heat Makes You Mad: Going Troppo & Mango Madness
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and are experiencing extreme heat for the first time, I have some Australian phrases you might find unpleasantly useful.
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Minorities always know more
Who doesn’t love a grand unifying theory? Today I present a unifying theory which describes infantilising discrimination towards minorities in all domains of human hierarchy:
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Journey by Patricia MacLachlan (1991)
Journey is a middle grade novel by American author Patricia MacLachlan (1938-2022). MacLachlan was a prolific author and published over 60 novels, eventually collaborating with her daughter. People may know her best for Sarah, Plain and Tall which won the 1986 Newbery Medal. She won it again for Journey, a slim paperback of just 80 […]
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Why is the Australian Women’s Soccer Team Called The Matildas?
Many people are wondering for the first time in 2023, why are The Matildas called The Matildas? Is it sexist or fine, actually?
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Away With The Fairies: A Short Story
If you head down to your local shopping precinct on a Saturday you might catch sight of a boy slouching in an alleyway – that shadowy gap between the bookstore and where your mum buys her skirts. The boy might be on the scrawny side but he’s older than he looks. That’s why bouncers won’t […]
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After the Asteroid: A Science Fiction Short Story
Excuse me Mister, can I pat your horse? Is this a horse, or just a big donkey? I’ve got a donkey at home. Yup. He’s nine. Same as me. He eats verge-grass. That’s his favourite. And clover, when he can get it.
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Survival of the Thickest: Favourite One-liners and Words
Survival of the Thickest is a comedy-drama television series co-created by Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez Witzel for Netflix.
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Large Blocks of Colour in Book Cover Design
The two-tone fashion we’ve seen recently in clothing extends to book covers. Here are examples of large blocks of colour in graphic design.
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Breaking Bad Discussion Questions
Love Breaking Bad? Love to talk about it? Try these discussion questions, aimed at people who love critique.
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What is empowerment?
Until we treat all people — regardless of appearance — equally, none of us is truly free, and our “choices” are not true choices.
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Winter Rose: A Fractured Fairytale (Beauty and the Beast)
A merchant wanted to go to a fair. He asked his three daughters what he should bring back for them. This time, none of the daughters replied.