I've just reposted the awesome tips from @bluepit.bsky.social, but marketing & pitching also requires that you believe in your work. To quote NZ writer Witi Ihimaera: "You have to stand in front of your work, and you have to stand up for your work." #BluePitHype #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #NZWrites

A reminder: this kicks off next week, Saturday 14th June. Queer writers in Tāmaki Makaurau, it would be great to see you there ✌️💖 #nzwrites #queerwriters

a cartoon house with a wooden fence and the words " whatya doin " Alt: a cartoon house with a wooden fence and the words " whatya doin "

It's a public holiday in #NewZealand. It's #KingsBirthday Weekend. So, I'm curious how many #writers are taking advantage of the long weekend and writing. Whatya doing?
#WritingCommunity #NZWrites

Auckland Queer Writers Anthology Auckland Queer Writers Anthology Guidelines “A true flag is not something you can really design. A true flag is torn from the soul of the people. A flag is something that everyone owns, and that's why...

Excellent news! Jade du Preez, @jamiedsands.bsky.social and I are putting together a queer writers' anthology. Are you a queer writer from Tāmaki Makaurau? Come along!

Main info page shorturl.at/vMcW0
FB event www.facebook.com/events/69446...
Raising funds for outline.org.nz
#nzwrites #queerwriters

The furthest I've ever traveled for a conference was from NZ to Wales. That was back in 2008. But that was back in the days when I had funding and a scholarship. Haven't had funding that pays for those international trips since. #PretendPanel #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #NZWrites

'Book banning is a very real thing' - Kiwi writer Graci Kim talks to Guyon Espiner about getting cancelled Graci Kim writes fantasy books for kids, but the real world forces sometimes working against her aren't imaginary.

Something is very wrong with the world when a Kiwi author receives death threats just because she suggested that adults should read more books. And to have her US book tour canceled because of her name? This is just crazy! #BookSky #AmReading #NZWrites www.rnz.co.nz/life/books/b...

#NZwrites we should all write our short story of this lady and then make an anthology about her.

I'm just doing a check-in on all NZ-based writers, particularly those in Wellington and Canterbury. Did we all come through the recent weather okay? Are we all currently safe, warm, and dry? #NZWrites

FYI, I'm dry in Christchurch, but the cat is NOT happy with the very wet weather.

I'm currently in an online write-in with a writing buddy in Wellington, New Zealand. They are getting hammered with strong winds. 130kph. And looking at the wind radar... Yeah, I can see why Wellington is getting those high winds. If you live in the area, stay safe! #NZWrites #NewZealand

Other than finishing my manuscript (sending it to beta readers today), I also recorded a SINC UP video with Sisters in Crime. It's that tip on saying "No" that all writers can benefit from. In case you missed it, here's the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgSa...

#WritingCommunity #NZWrites

#NZwrites on the last day of the month means a quick look back. Ages of Pages sparked lots of ideas for me, and promoted one of my WIPs up to first priority.

#booktok #indieauthor #kiwiauthor #nzauthor

#NZWrites April 30: Share something good that happen to me this month! (No video again, as cold still not gone 😤)

I won a Sir Julius Vogel Award for my sci-fi horror novella "We Who Remain"!

And I also found out I was shortlisted four times in the Australian Aurealis Awards 🤯

April was a difficult month for me with my health issues and lack of writing mojo, but over the past few days I've started to want to write again. It's small steady steps for now and turning up each day to harass words around the page until they start to make sense. #NZWrites

#NZWrites
My romantisci-fi short story came out in Headland a couple of days ago. There's something good 😊🌷

See you next month!

#NZWrites Apr 30:

One of my Horror Sci-fi short stories has been picked up by a Horror magazine and will be published later this year.

It had a hard time finding a publisher. A few thought the story was "too dark."
Lucky for me someone liked it, and I am very glad it will be out into the world.

#NZWrites April 30: Share something good that happened to you this month!

#NZWrites April 30: Share something good that happened to you this month!

#NZwrites wants to know about an inspiring book, and the answer is astounding obvious. The only choice is Small Gods by Pratchett.

📚💙
#Discworld

Some books take a while to take in. Others just feel right. A book I read years ago but I'm still taking it in, because it feels right, is "The Four Tendencies" by Gretchen Rubin. It changed how I approach people who seem to have no direction in their actions. They're "rebels". #NZWrites #BookSky

Jeff VanderMeer's WONDERBOOK, full of writers' essays & amazing art, inspired me to keep writing at a time when I felt like giving up. It helped me look past writing as a commercial venture and remember that it can be an art form and an expression of self.

@jeffvandermeer.bsky.social
#NZWrites
💙📚

#NZWrites Apr 28:

This is hard, books have inspired me to different things.

Helen Keller's book helped me to be better with my sister and started my career.

Sophie's World inspired me to learn to be good without religion.

Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams taught me its ok to be a weird writer.

Surprisingly I'm not going to say 'Lord of the Rings', - i'm going to say 'A Wizard of Earthsea' instead. Ursula Le Guin was my favourite author when I was much younger than I am now. I tried to find the other Earthsea books, but had no luck at all in those pre-internet days in NZ. #NZWrites

#NZWrites

Just one? 😂

OK I'll choose one I don't think I've mentioned in a while. Rumo by Walter Moers. Omg, what a wild romp. Another one of those 'wish I could write like this' books.

#NZWrites April 28: What is a book that inspired you?

#NZWrites April 28: What is a book that inspired you?

#NZWrites
For structure: Save the Cat, Take Off Your Pants, MICE quotient, the 6 Narrative Arcs

For prose: Elements of Style, Steering the Craft

For drafting: 4theWords, Ellipsus

For planning: Google sheets (though getting away from them for fear of being scraped, that's the plan...)

#NZwrites wants to know about writing resources and all I can think of is the program I put words into. I'm sure other writers have better things to mention!

📚💙

My main writing tool is LibreOffice, though I have sometimes used OnlyOffice for its simplicity of use. No Windows for me I run Debian Linux. I tend to use online dictionaries and references when writing, but anything powered by an AI Bot is definitely out. #NZWrites

#NZWrites Apr 26:

I use Google docs for writing. I like being able to get down ideas quickly on my phone and then clean them up later on my laptop or computer.

I use my own medieval history books.

Oxford dictionary/thesaurus.

#Writing tools/resources is a popular question. So... A tool I use often... To help with copyediting, I use ProWritingAid. Think of Grammarly, but better! And it's specific for fiction (not business). There are too many grammar rules that I can't remember them all. #NZWrites #WriteTip

#NZWrites April 26: What's your favourite writing tool/resource?

#NZWrites April 26: What's your favourite writing tool/resource?

#NZWrites April 24: Do I reread books?

I have recently discovered the wonders of relistening to audiobooks at bedtime. It's great!