I posted a motivational blurb on the SCBWI Canada East website today, about slogging it through the last days of November's novel-writing challenge. I have never actually made the NaNoWriMo journey, meaning I've never done a start-to-finish draft in the month of November. I've started books, and I've finished books, but never both in November.… Continue reading NaNoWriMo on the Slow Track
This Tuesday, I had the pleasure of calling the names of twelve young writers whose short fiction won places in the Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors Contest. What a pleasure to be one of this year's judges and to read excerpts from the fantastic mix of winning stories: humour, drama, sci-fi, horror, and sad, sad… Continue reading Immersed in Student Writing
The interview I did in Prince Edward County last month (last post) airs at noon today on 99.3 County FM. Lynn Pickering, host of "The County Writes...The County Reads" asks me about my background, my books, and my advice for young writers. Check it out. (It's on in 45 minutes. Just enough time to hide some… Continue reading Radio Interview at Noon
I like to stay grounded in the present in my writing (with an eye on future deadlines), but every now and then I try to look back on the work I've done. Or walk back to it, in this case. My first children's novel, Walking Backward, was published by Orca Book Publishers in 2009, which feels like quite a while ago.… Continue reading Laurel Leaves
My writing blahs were blown away last week at the Quebec Writers' Federation Gala in Montreal. It was even bigger and better than I'd expected - definitely worth the drive. Mingling with other writers, celebrating local literature, consuming free wine and hors d'oeuvres... it was just what I needed to renew my interest in the written word. After the food… Continue reading QWF Gala
Catherine Austen 