One for the East Christchurch crew. We're asking which route people want for a 12-month trial of an Aranui bus service: New Brighton-Aranui-Eastgate, or NB-Aranui-Avondale-The Palms. If you'd use one of these services, please fill in this very quick survey 😀
haveyoursay.ecan.govt.nz/aranui-bus-t...
there’s no “l” in team but there is “tea” in team so everyone who’s part of a team better put on their cutest outfit every week and have a tea party together
In the wise words of Jake the Dog: suckin' at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.
You've gotta just start or you won't get anywhere. Let it suck. Let it be terrible, horrible garbage that doesn't deserve to see the light of day. Then fix it and make it good.
Just wanted to pop in a reminder for those who may have missed it that my writing guide Red Pens 101 is available to buy on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/s/f857da79b7
PLUS
You can be in the draw to win a free copy of it if you sign up to the blog this month! https://red-pens-and-playwriting.ghost.io/
I really enjoyed writing this series, and I have some Things to say about authorial intent...
I have to say, chances are looking pretty darn good if you want a free ebook... 👀
We're stoked to announce the return of the Matariki Short Short Story Celebration for 2026!✨✨✨
Nine selected stories receive editorial feedback and publication in the August issue (#117) of takahē, along with NZ$150.
www.takahe.org.nz/competitionn...
I dunno, I feel like it's more like "yeah, ok, you can leave if you want". Holding people's citizenship effectively for ransom just doesn't sit well with me. 😅
Speaking as someone whose whole immediate family relocated to and became citizens of a different country, it's absurd that it was ever that expensive to begin with. After the exchange rate and travel costs to get to the consulate, I had to spend more than half my savings to renounce!
![[pic of woman sleeping on bus] chronically ill woman rests before activity, during activity, and extensively after activity
mybodyistryingtokillme.com](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dbzmdmsaz6lkhb4tv3culzme/bafkreic4on2w4tae6xrj55a6esfgony3mimb54limoxwpsdqt62mftsvlm)
[pic of woman sleeping on bus] chronically ill woman rests before activity, during activity, and extensively after activity mybodyistryingtokillme.com
Since I'll be busy tonight, I'm sneaking this week's #WordHistoryWednesday in a little early with the word party. Originally used to mean a share or division, it wasn't used to describe a fun gathering for about 400 years!
Read more: red-pens-and-playwriting.ghost.io/whats-in-a-word-part-2/
Ōtautahi peeps! Lots of covid and RSV doing the rounds at the moment.
Woof, just had my highest writing wordcount day for the whole year so far! @.@
Also -finally- remembered to post about Red Pens 101 on LinkedIn. Not a site I use much, but it might be a good place to find people who might appreciate a wee writing guide!
So, a wannabe monarch is warring with the Pope over Persia, effectively declaring themselves as divorced from the Vatican, and wanting to situate themselves as their own religious figure and direct representative of God?
Just wondering if someone could check what century it is?
Just finished a new post about killing your darlings to come out in June!
I should probably get together all the posts where I discuss misunderstood writing advice and put all the discourse in one handy place, eh?
Sooooo pretty!! 💖
The Power of a Homophone “Sometimes the power of a homophone will just come out of nowhere and hit you – like being struck by a ten ton truck,” articulated Laurie. Brian Bilston
Today’s poem is called ‘The Power of a Homophone’.
A great example of this etymology in action is that m/m romance is also sometimes referred to as Apollonian romance.
Because it’s chickless.
Just a little bit of fun this week! 😁
Don't forget, if you sign up for a (free!) membership in April, you go in to win a copy of my new writing guide!
Illustration of six capybaras and an orange cat. The cat is cheesing while all the capybaras except for the largest one, who has an orange on his head and looks happy, glare at the viewer as of to say, “don’t mess with our cat.”
Just put up a new print/stickers inspired by the orange cat that got adopted by a herd of capybaras during the pandemic! 🍊🍊Thank you so much for the weekly boost!!
Link: www.inprnt.com/gallery/jmor...
On a bit of an 80s/New Romantics kick this week for my working soundtrack. B) It's nice and peppy for days where I've been battling insomnia!
What's your soundtrack at the moment?
a shelf that says 'i'm fresh out, too' and below it is a drawer that is labeled 'spoons'
Every effective tool for reducing fuel demand right now (free PT, cycling, EVs, lower speed limits) is a policy the NZ coalition government has spent two years dismantling.
My new piece in The Conversation on why they've gone quiet and how they get out of it.
theconversation.com/the-governme...
After a break to focus on Red Pens 101, we're back to our usual #WordHistoryWednesday schedule. This week's word is debunk, which is based on the name of a place--a toponym!
Read more: red-pens-and-playwriting.ghost.io/whats-in-a-word-part-2/
Moon & space oriented reading in a display of some of Tauranga’s collection near the Cathedral Square entrance.
📚 If #Christchurch #NZ people want more space-y reading, there’s a display of some of @christchurchlib.bsky.social Tauranga’s collection near the Cathedral Square entrance -
In search of a life sized horse mannequin/ex carousel horse that can bear the weight of a person. Anyone in Ao/NZ got any ideas on procuring one?
What gorgeous designs! 😍
Had a lovely long (birthday) weekend, but now it's back to work. And by "work", I mean writing up a new blog post about archetypes! And reminding everyone that you can go into the draw for a free copy of my new writing guide, Red Pens 101, if you sign up for the blog in April. Do it, I dare you!
FINALLY. My time to shine.
I bet!!