Aspiring Writers

"As a writer, you live more intensively, using participant-observation. You do things, using all senses, knowing you will write about them afterwards."

Hazel's three hints to aspiring writers are: "Write regularly. Persist. And always consider your reader - who are you writing for?"

Lockdown Writing During Pandemic
Hazel's Articles on 'How to Write'
Videos for Aspiring Writers
Books and Workshops for Aspiring Writers
Useful links -Literary links & professional organisations

1. 'Lockdown' Writing During Pandemic

Many at-home families are seeking reading and writing activities.

Try downloadable, free activities here.

1. Hazel's 10 Minute Writing Challenge.pdf Time limits.

2. Write a Birthday Story as a Gift for a Child in Your_Family.pdf

3. Compliments Jar.pdf Cheer up with home-made compliments.

4. J' Accuse.pdf In Court. Water is on trial, accused of destroying people and property. Fun script to act/record.

5. Embarrassing Moments.pdf Luckily/Unluckily easy story to share on Skype or Zoom.

6. Hazel's Ideas for Stories_.pdf 'What if?' story starters.

7. River Snag Role-Playing Script.pdf problem-solving, scripting & acting could take a week.

8. T for Title Story.pdf Link your favourite author's titles into YOUR new story.

9. Swap 'Snail Mail' Word Games: During Lockdown of older family, drop home-made word games on doorstep.

10.Scrabble Dog Cartoon Strip.pdf: design 3 frames about funny stuff during the Lockdown.

e.g. Dog poo with a difference when letters are eaten and dropped.

Scrabble Dog Cartoon Strip

11. Pandemic Pet.pdf : Make up a pretend pet friend. Draw it. Picture book links.

12. Vegetable Garden of Guesses.pdf, Sample Clue: A sneaker near the beans = runner beans. Families are making veggie gardens, but this is VERY different. Give clues. Make guesses. Story provided.Illustrate it.

13. Lockdown Log: Each day write ONE GOOD THING which happened around your place. Draw it. e.g. Go on an Alphabet Walk and identify an object for each letter a-z.

14. Family (10 minute) Gallery: Self-portrait in 10 minutes. Turn one wall into an art gallery. Each day, add 10 minute sketch of a family member or a gift drawing for them.Add date.

Family Art Gallery

15. Dance-Song: Exercise to your own dance song. Try Larrikin Puppets simple moves with catchy lyrics in 'Dance Like a Unicorn' Make puppets from 'stuff' around your place.

Larrikin Puppeteer

16. Recording Picture Books: Audio record ( with sound effects) or film your own stories.Special copyright permission has been given during the Pandemic, to record published picture books for schools and library use by at-home students.Browse Hazel's website for others.

17. Making your own e-book series. Read one as a family serial (sitting outside in fresh air). Then write your own 'What happens next?'

Check here for activity sheets and Alchemy links to Hazel's e-books. Start with 'Astrid the Mind Reading Chook' a sleuth who rides a Harley.

Astrid the Mind Reading Sleuth

Or 'Project Spy Kids' series, or the 'Frequent Flyer Twins' series even if nobody can fly at present.

Books help you travel anywhere.

Project Spy Kids

18. Simple Orienteering (STEM activity) Map your house or garden. Mark 10 places with numbers. Jot numbered clues on list.

Suggest activity at each place e.g. Throw ball into bucket 3 times, with 'other' hand.

Re-use map with different clues. Easy reading , junior mysteries Gang O Kids were written when our family used to orienteer.

The 'tech' has dated, now we have GPS etc ,but the stories work. Make up new mysteries using these characters.

19. Young Brothers Jack and Harry published their own picture book 'The Little Green Frog' about resilience.

The frog keeps trying.

the Little Green Frog

20. Designer Book Mask

My kind neighbours Mary & Angus designed me Hippo book masks for the Pandemic.

Design your own.

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Check the following articles and videos for strategies on how to craft your ideas and words.

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2. Hazel's Articles on How To Write

Writing for Different Purposes, Diverse Audiences and Getting Published

Hints for Choosing Your Book Title.pdf
Will You Self Publish?.pdf.hints for family history or memoir projects.
How to Self-Edit .pdf
Antarctic Vehicles Characters Viewpoint.pdf : Writing for animation and for pre-schoolers
Hints for Getting Published
Choosing Non Boring Titles A checklist for making your title work
Overcoming Writer's Block Interviewing your Fictional Characters
Literary Tourism Being a Reader-Traveller

Writing History

Different Writing Techniques

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3. Videos for Aspiring Writers

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From Seven Steps with thanks

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4. Books and Workshops for Aspiring Writers

Anthologies give a taste of different stories and writers: 'Trust Me Too',anthology contains Hazel's satirical 'Tag' story about tattoos, graffiti and copyright. W.I.P.article about writing'Tag' (60.41 KB) is a useful student or teacher resource. Third anthology 'Rich and Rare' , listed for CBCA Awards, includes Hazel's 'Scam' story.

Hazel offers a range of workshops, tutorials and publications to help aspiring writers.

Books & Workshops

Writing a Non Boring Family History Workshop
Book Consultancy Session - Guidance, Advice and Suggestions for your Project
Complete Your Book in a Year mentoring: Online and face to face.

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5. Useful links -Literary links & professional organisations

Australian Society Of Authors
www.asaauthors.org

ASA logo

National organisation for authors which provides contract advice, the stylefile showcase for illustrators ( www.thestylefile.com) and professional support. Suggested fees for author speaking, and information about rights such as ELR and PLR (Educational Lending Rights and Public Lending Right) and CA payments (Copyright Agency Licensing) which are important income sources for writers.

PO Box 1566 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Australia

Australian Society of Authors

Suite C1.06 22-36 Mountain St Ultimo NSW 2007 Australia

T: (02) 9211 1004 | F: (02) 9211 0125 |

CA- The Australian Copyright Management Company
www.copyright.com.au

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
www.scbwi.org

International organisation of authors and illustrators which offers marketing and conferences.

The Australian Chapter www.scbwiaustralia.org

Society of Women Writers (Vic) https://www.swwvic.org.au/

Encourages the enjoyment of writing whether beginners or published.