ootawriters

Penguin (Aust) in now accepting unsolicited manuscripts

2012-01-25T15:16:00.000+08:00

The Monthly Catch
Penguin Group (Australia) is keen and excited to read new work from Australian authors, and as such we’ve developed the Monthly Catch. For the first week of every month, we throw our doors open to unsolicited manuscripts. In this time period (the 1^st to the 7^th of every month), please send through submissions based on our GUIDELINES. Click here for further info @ Penguin

Castaways Poetry Competition

2012-01-21T13:25:00.001+08:00

The City of Rockingham is pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the 2012 Castaways Poetry Prize, with almost $500 in prizes. Submissions are open until March 13th, 2012.

Guidelines
The body of your email must include your name, address, phone/mobile number, email address, and the title & line counts of your poems. To ensure anonymity, do not include your details on your entered poems themselves.
Do not post entries. Only entries received via email will be accepted.
Each poem must be no longer than 24 lines.
Poems must be original, unpublished, not have received an award in another competition, and not be under consideration elsewhere from the time of entry in the awards until the official announcement of the winners.
To ensure anonymity no writers names to appear on MS. Winners able to attend will be invited to read their poem at the Castaways 2012 Opening Night Awards presentation on Saturday 12 May 2012.
Employees of the City of Rockingham and their family members are ineligible to enter.
The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Any attempt to lobby judges or City of Rockingham employees, or influence decisions, may result in disqualification.
Entries close 13 March 2012, and winners will be contacted by phone or email prior to the public announcement at the Castaways 2012 Awards night presentation.

The 1st prize winning entry will be published in the Castaways 2012 catalogue.

1st PRIZE: $250 + 2 copies of the Castaways 2012 catalogue
2 COMMENDED PRIZES: $100

For further information contact Lee Battersby, Community Development Officer (Culture & Arts) on 9528 0386 or lee.battersby@rockingham.wa.gov.au
City of Rockingham not listed yet!

Sandfire Launch Video

2012-01-15T12:43:00.001+08:00

Over 120 people joined poets, Flora Smith, Rose van Son, and Chris Konrad to help celebrate the launch of their poetry collection Sandfire. It was a great day with plenty of food, good wine/champagne and plenty of heat...from the sun...! Still, plenty of smiles all around. OOTA wishes our three poets who are members much success with this very attractive collection. Published by Sunline Press, books will be available in all good book stores (where we don't want them to remain!). Video produced by Out of the Asylum Writers Group. Enjoy!

Sandfire from H2 Design on Vimeo.

Our Own Cafe Poet!

2012-01-09T14:15:00.001+08:00

Trish Gearman has been chosen as a "Cafe Poet" at the Fremantle Arts Centre
Congratulations to our class member @ WAC & OOTA writer Trish Gearman (aka Gardner) who will be a Cafe Poet at the Fremantle Arts Centre in 2012. Trish will spend her time as "Poet in Residence" in the courtyard cafe for a period of six months. We wish her many hours of happy writing!
Visit Australian Poetry here..

Farewell Pocket Theatre

2012-01-06T19:35:00.001+08:00

OOTA/Writing at the Centre extend their best wishes to Helen & Gordon of Pocket Theatre. Thank you for past fun, for supporting OOTA writers. We all loved No Insalata (written by Josephine Clarke) & the Christmas Parrot Play!

Dear Friends and Supporters of Pocket Theatre

It is with real sadness that we (Directors Helen Brett and Gordon Mac Nish) have decided to turn off the stage lights and bring down the final curtain on Pocket Theatre.

When Pocket Theatre commenced in 2004, we, plus Geoff Pearson, aimed to provide a local live theatre where new and emerging playwrights could have their plays performed before a live audience. Since that time we have had ten seasons of one act plays and assisted 13 playwrights to have one or more of their plays staged.

We feel it is time for us to move on to other pursuits both in and out of the theatre scene. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support. We have really appreciated your attendance at our shows and thank you for the feed-back you have given us over the years. We would especially like to thank the directors and actors who brought the Pocket plays to life on the stage.

Best wishes

Helen Brett and Gordon Mac Nish
Directors of Pocket Theatre

Launch of Sandfire by Sunline Press: Poets Flora Smith, Rose van Son & Chris Konrad

2011-12-29T15:38:00.002+08:00

Dear Members, Poets, Friends!

Now that the plum pudding has settled and the turkey is allgone, here’s an invitation for you to the 14^th January book launchof Sandfire, published by SunlinePress. Sandfire is a poetrycollection by FloraSmith, Rose van Son and Christopher Konrad. We would love to see all our OOTA members there, and of course if you would kindly RSVP to Roland atSunline Press (or Flora @ florabl@iinet.net.au)they would be better able to judge numbers at the launch.

Event: Launch of Sandfire – a poetry collection.

Saturday 14^th January 2012 @ 2.30pm

Gallows Gallery

53 Glyde Street,

Mosman Park.

RSVP: Roland Leach - rleach@plc.wa.edu.au

OOTA Christmas Party Slide Show

2011-12-18T00:31:00.001+08:00

On Friday, 16th December 2011 we celebrated Christmas under a shady gazebo and the towering plane trees at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Julie Watts our Vice-President welcomed members to the Christmas Party and thanked them for attending. All in all it was a great day with food, wine and readings by our members. Steve Finch from dotdotdash also spoke about their latest promotion called Subscribeathon as well as the idea of subscribers becoming gold members to receive other benefits. Over 40 writers attended, each taking home their first copy of dotdotdash #8, and plenty of Christmas wishes from OOTA.

Merry Christmas from the OOTA Team - Christmas Party Update

2011-12-10T07:58:00.000+08:00

Wishing a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all our members. We hope you can make it to our last function for the year!

OOTA will celebrate Christmas this year on Friday, 16th December at noon in the leafy grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre. Amongst the festivities there will be readings by Gail Willems, Renee Schipp, Helen Trengrove, Carol Milner, Carolyn Abbs and Julie Watts.

Bring a plate, a bottle of your choice of poison and your good Christmas cheer!

The committee decided that as the16th is the last class/meeting day at the FAC, it was a perfect time to hand out our membership journal dotdotdash. Members are to see Carolyn Abbs to obtain a copy of the publication. We hope you can assist us by coming along and collecting your copy, even if you can't stay. This saves OOTA postage handling time & money.

We also advise that classes for prose & poetry will resume early in 2012, Shane's poetry is starting back on Friday 13th January and prose with Helen Hagemann on 20th. Saturday poetry commences on 4th February at 1.30 at the Grove. This notice is also up on our two blogs. writingatthecentre.blogspot.com & on our Classes page.

We hope that you can come along and join us for our Christmas celebration!

See You in the Courtyard

Fremantle Arts Centre

1 Finnerty Street,

Fremantle.

Last Prose Writing Class at the FAC for 2011

2011-12-09T09:09:00.000+08:00

Our last prose workshop for the year on Friday, 16th December, 2011 is ‘Writing Exercises & Readings of your work'. The first hour will focus on the sensory elements of sight/sound, esp. in Edgar Allan Poe’s story The Tell Tale Heart. 2nd Hour is readings of your work. Anyone who has written during the year in any of the “series” based classes is welcome to come along. Depending on numbers writers are given 5-8 minutes each in the readings. If you want comments from other writers please print out enough copies to hand out. Not really for “Poets” but you are welcome to come along and read a prose poem.

Peter Bishop visits OOTA at the FAC

2011-12-08T12:38:00.001+08:00

Mohammed comes to the mountain: Peter Bishop comes to lunch at OOTA.With only two weeks of the OOTA year to go, there is still a great deal happening. This Friday, 9th December, we will be joined at lunch by Peter Bishop, who is currently in residence at Mattie Furphy House. Peter Bishop was Creative Director of Varuna for 17 years, and is about to launch an independent program, The Writer Conversation, which will work with writers at keeping focused on projects and looking for opportunities for their work. Come along for a round table conversation about writing and getting published.

Congratulations to Susan Siddall!

2011-12-01T07:58:00.001+08:00

Congratulations to Susan Siddall for the recent publication of the first of her memoirs, Is the Chimney Really Burning? Susan is an OOTA member and has been an attendee at Friday's Prose Class & also Bruce Russell's Master Classes. We sincerely wish her well!

Six Essentials for a Great Writing Masterclass

2011-11-30T10:42:00.000+08:00

What you should get from a Masterclass
or in other words *beware of Windbags!*

There are murmurings in the Perth writing community that the oft-touted "Masterclasses" - especially during the Perth Writers Festival - fail to live up to their espoused title. Marsha Durham, author, academic and linguist, has an excellent article on her blog 'Writing Companion' where she details exactly what writers should expect to get from a "Masterclass". If you don't receive all of the quantifiable benefits, then you are wasting your time, and your money. See her article here Six Essentials for a Great Writing Masterclass

Helen Hagemann is back at the Fremantle Arts Centre with a class on "Australian Short Fiction".

2011-11-26T08:59:00.001+08:00

Writing at the Centre

Helen is back at the FAC for the final two classes in 2011 [2/12 & 16/12/11]

The upcoming Friday Prose class on 2nd December will look at "Australian Short Fiction".

Texts used to stimulate writing exercises will be Peter Cowan's The Red-backed Spiders, Patrick White's Clay, Barbara Baynton's The Chosen Vessel and Cate Kennedy's short story Sleepers.

10.00am til noon, Room 9, Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle.

$20 OOTA : $25 NON-OOTA member. All welcome!

The First Facebook Short Story Writing Competition

2011-11-22T12:31:00.000+08:00

The Writing Lab is proud to announce that they are hosting Australia’s first Facebook Short Story Competition.With a super-tight word count, public votes deciding the winner, and everyone’s favourite object of desire as 1st prize, this should be lots of fun.So get scribbling, get your friends to like your story – and good luck!

Find out more here...

2012 Saturday Poetry Classes at the Grove, Cottesloe

2011-11-19T10:40:00.001+08:00

Saturday Poetry Workshops were successful at the Grove Library in 2011 and OOTA will again offer this after-hours course in 2012. Tutor, Helen Hagemann.

It will consist of fortnightly Saturday Poetry Workshops for casual participants. Each Workshop will introduce contemporary poetry for those poets wanting to write contemporary poetry.

Participation in the Workshops will cover the study of poems, discussion and several writing exercises. In a recent survey the consensus was that most writers wanted to continue with the same 2011 format, with a minor introduction of the classics and traditional poetry and its forms. Poets wishing to attend can view the times and dates here on this blog (under "Classes") and also on the Writing at the Centre blog. Classes are earmarked to start in 2012 on Saturday 4th February. 1.30pm-3.30pm.

The Grove Library now has a coffee shop and we will continue to incorporate this social side of our poetry group after class.

Venue: The Grove Library 1 Leake Street (Corner Stirling Highway) Peppermint Grove

The venue is also close to the Cottesloe station with just a short walk along Napolean Street.

Writing at the Centre Classes

Biography of Helen Hagemann

Helen Hagemann's poetryis published in major Australian literary journals, including Westerly,Blue Dog, Famous Reporter, Southerly, Island and Overland.In 2008, she won a Varuna Macquarie/ Longlines Poetry workshop in Katoomba,NSW. In association with the Australian Poetry Centre's New Poets Program hercollection Evangelyne & Other Poems was published in 2009. Helen hasan MA in Creative Writing, and teaches prose each Friday fortnight at the Fremantle Arts Centre. She also runs a poetry class at the Grove Library, Peppermint Grove (2012). Recently, Helen spent time in Ireland at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Annaghmakerrig, completing a new poetry collection.

Creative Writing at the Fremantle Arts Centre

2011-11-14T16:54:00.005+08:00

Final Prose Class in Creative Non-Fiction, this Friday 18th November with Rosemary Stevens. Learn ‘Creative Non-Fiction’ by using such fictional devices as scene setting, dialogue and the use of sensuous detail. 10.00am – noon. Casual class, no booking required. Cost $20/$25 (non-OOTA). For more details click here...

Videos of the Australian Poetry Symposium

2011-11-13T10:22:00.004+08:00

Take a look at the videos of the Australian Poetry Symposium, Newcastle October 2011. Papers read by Lucy Dougan, Jaya Savage, Martin Langford. Some insightful and controversial discussions from Peter Minter and Michael Sharkey!

Novel Manuscript Development Opportunity

2011-11-11T09:14:00.004+08:00

The Australian Literature Review is seeking expressions of interest for a 20 week novel manuscript development program beginning mid Feb 2012. (If there is enough demand for the program by mid Jan the program will go ahead in one or several Australian locations.)
More here...

Liana Christensen's Book Launch Pics

2011-11-07T07:51:00.013+08:00

A large crowd enjoyed Liana Christensen's book launch of Deadly Beautiful on Saturday 5th November at Mattie Furphy House, Swanbourne. You can also go to Flickr to view larger slide show. Photography by Meredi Ortega

Amanda Curtin's Judge's report for Spilt Ink Competiton

2011-11-03T15:54:00.005+08:00

Creative non-fiction is sometimes thought to be a ‘new’ genre of writing, but it’s been around for a while in the form of travel writing, memoir, some feature journalism and the kind of biography in which the biographer steps into the story and inhabits that space between the objective and the subjective. Think Helen Garner, Inga Clendinnen. Go even further back and think Truman Capote with In Cold Blood. Two of my favourite examples of the genre, Janet Malcolm’s The Silent Woman and Hanifa Deen’s Broken Bangles, both date back to the 1990s. What’s ‘new’ about the genre now, other than the shiny new term ‘creative non-fiction’, is its popularity. Perhaps, in some measure, this has been fuelled by the reading public’s interest in true stories told with the use of fictional techniques, their interest in writers as players in the stories they tell, and a growing acceptance that boundaries between genres can be blurred and nobody will get hurt—although Kate Grenville might beg to differ there. Read more here ..

Our AGM & Results of the Spilt Ink Competition

2011-10-30T17:23:00.016+08:00

Our sincere thanks to all standing members on the committee who were voted in for 2012. Helen Hagemann: President, Julie Watts: Vice-President, Leanne Searle: Treasurer, Lucas North: Secretary, Carolyn Abbs: Membership Coordinator, Rose van Son: Agenda Coordinator - Shoma Mitra: Network Tuesday Editor, Committee members: Josephine Clarke, Lucy Czerwiec and Helen Trengrove.
Thanks also to Lucy for photographs and a special thank-you to all the members who attended. You can read the President's report here...
RESULTS OF THE SPILT INK COMPETITION: 1st Prize: Liana Christensen for Before They Fall, 2nd Prize: Helena Kadmos for Fruit Box and 3rd Prize: Laura Tanja King for Utopian Desire and an Earthly Paradise. Thanks to all those who entered.

All welcome to Liana Christensen's book launch of Deadly Beautiful

2011-10-22T09:12:00.002+08:00

You are warmly invited to the celebration of Deadly Beautiful by Liana Joy Christensen.
To be launched by renowned wildlife photographer Jiri Lochman. Join us at 4.00 pm on Saturday November 5th 2011, Mattie Furphy Centre for Creative Imagining, Adjacent to FAWWA, Tom Collins House
88 Wood Street, Swanbourne. RSVP by November 1st to Liana.Christensen@uwa.edu.au

Helen is Back from the Land of the Leprechauns!

2011-10-14T09:50:00.009+08:00

Return of Saturday Poetry for 2012

The Grove Library has offered its support to OOTA writers for our fortnightly Saturday Poetry Class for 2012. Once again this class will be held in the Flax room from 1.30pm to 3.30pm each Saturday fortnight. The class is a drop-in-style, no booking required. Saturday Poetry is suitable for community writers/ OOTA regulars, part-timers and casual attendees. So you can go off on holidays when you choose and we will still be there when you get back!

For those of you who are interested in attending I would be pleased if you would take the time to answer a poll which outlines further details of the coming 2012 workshops on my personal blog @ Evangelyne

Many thanks

Helen Hagemann

Publishing Opportunity for S/F/Fantasy, Horror Writers

2011-10-10T16:07:00.003+08:00

Twelfth Planet Press Novel Manuscript Submission Month – January 2012

Twelfth Planet Press is looking to develop a new line of dynamic, original genre novels. Twelfth Planet Press novels will push boundaries to question, inspire, engage and challenge. We are specifically looking to acquire material outside that which is typically considered by mainstream publishers.

We are looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime. We will consider borderline literary, new weird, steampunk, space opera, hard science fiction, soft science fiction, urban fantasy, cyberpunk, military science fiction, young adult, paranormal romance and everything in between.
Please note we are not looking for epic fantasy, splatterpunk, novellas, nonfiction, previously published material (where published includes electronic or audio ie on your blog, as a podcast, ebook etc) and unfinished work. We will not consider multiple or simultaneous submissions. Please take some time to familarise yourself with the kind of content we publish. We are not interested in gratuitous violence, misogyny and gore or sex scenes for shock value.We are looking to acquire all English language territory rights and ebook rights. We are offering advances and royalties.

How to Submit:
The manuscript submissions period will commence January 1, 2012 and end January 31, 2012.

Email the first 3 chapters of your finished manuscript and a brief (1-2 page) synopsis to manuscripts@twelfthplanetpress.com in rtf file format. Title your subject heading with the genre/subgenre for our email management. You will receive an automated email receipt of your submission.
Your synopsis should include a summary of all the characters and plot (including the ending) and a brief discussion of your intended audience, your likely sales market, what other books are like yours and why your book is better or why your book is needed.
Include your full contact details, including email address, manuscript title, word count and a brief biography. Full manuscripts will be requested from those submissions which make it to the second round.All submissions will be considered by our team of readers. Manuscripts will be read in the order of their receipt. The team will pass up manuscripts for the second round and submission of full manuscripts will be on request at that time. Depending on volume, we are intending to respond to all submissions by June 30, 2012. There will be subsequent submissions periods after January 2012.

Checklist:
Submissions period: January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2012.
Email address: manuscripts@twelfthplanetpress.com
First 3 chapters and a 1-2 page synopsis of your book with marketing and sales outline in rtf file.
Include your full contact details, word count and brief biography.

http://www.twelfthplanetpress.com/news/twelfth-planet-press-novel-manuscript-submission-month-january-2012

Manuscript Monday: An Opportunity to Pitch Your Book

2011-09-15T09:12:00.004+08:00

Manuscript Monday is a new initiative which is part of Pan Macmillan Australia's manuscript submission process. If you’ve ever dreamed of getting published, and have a story you’d like to pitch, here’s your chance to have it read by a publisher. No more navigating the slush pile! Every Monday we will accept submissions between 10am and 4pm that are sent electronically and comply with the guidelines. Check it out here...

Launch of Roland Leach's New Poetry Collection

2011-09-09T11:35:00.005+08:00

OOTA members are invited to the launch of My Father's Pigs by Roland Leach.
The collection will be launched by Professor Dennis Haskell, Chair of the Australia
Council Literature Board, On Friday, 23rd September 2011, 6pm Drama Foyer -
Presbyterian Ladies' College Please RSVP by Friday 9th September*
Phone Roland on 93833256 or Email rleach@plc.wa.edu.au

An Opportunity for our Members

2011-09-01T09:04:00.006+08:00

Do you need help with your writing? Often attending class or sending work off to various markets or competitions can be a daunting thing.

OUR MEMBER KATHRYN LEE is prepared to help. Kathryn would like your response, so no matter what the circumstance please send her a quick email or your thoughts on the idea of this supportive group.

OOTA writers sought for a regular Saturday writing group: Seeking OOTA members interested in forming a writing group to do a writing exercise together and provide one another with feedback on writing under development. If interested in joining the group, contact Kathryn at kathryn_mry@yahoo.com.au (note the underscore in the address!) or 0409 089 829. Further details to be determined pending expressions of interest.

OOTA Writers read at Spring Poetry Festival

2011-08-26T09:24:00.008+08:00

2011 Sunline Press Poets Muster at The Bodhi Tree
Sunday August 28th, 1.30–3.00pm, features Andrew Burke, Vivienne Glance, Jennifer Kornberger, Roland Leach, Shane McCauley and Annamaria Weldon reading new and published poems, and introducing the latest Sunline Press Poet, Mags Webster reading from her new collection The Weather of Tongues. This event is part of the 2011 WA Poetry Festival. Sunday August 28th -1.30–3.00pm @ The Bodhi Tree Bookstore 416-418 Oxford Street Mt Hawthorn 6016 Tel: 9444 9884

OTHER SPRING POETRY GIGS
The Fringe Gallery, Sunday 28th August. John Mateer, Michelle Cahill, Miriam Lo, John Daniel UK, Jane Spiro UK. The Fringe Gallery Willagee, 94 Bawdan Street Willagee (opposite Webber Reserve): 7.30 - 10 pm.

Poets Aloud, Monday 29th August. Janet Jackson and many others. Murray St, Mall

Voicebox on Monday 29th August: SPRING POETRY FESTIVAL SPECIAL featuring national and international poets - Geoff Lemon, Michelle Cahill, Jennifer Compton, John Daniel and Zachary Cotler. Mc'd by our fabulous OOTA gals, Jo Clarke & Liana Christensen.

Check out the Spring Festival program here...

OOTA & DOT DOT DASH LAUNCH PHOTOS

2011-08-23T08:57:00.003+08:00

What a great day. Steve Finch is AMAZING! Our thanks go to the Fremantle Arts Centre for providing an excellent and professional venue. Big hugs to Susan O'Brien for her photography on the day. Thanks also to our OOTA gang who supplied the food! And to everyone who came along, read, mingled and --- did you join OOTA?

OOTA invites members/writers to dotdotdash launch

2011-08-11T11:07:00.012+08:00

OOTA is hosting a launch of the latest volume of dotdotdash #7 on Saturday, August 20th, 2pm in Room 15 of the Fremantle Arts Centre
dotdotdash is the new membership journal for OOTA members. As a part of your membership, you will receive 3 issues a year. Join us for a very special celebration on Saturday week, where you can meet the dotdotdash team and hear work from the August issue. Readers include: Clayton Lin, Kath Greville, Michael Collins, Pat Johnson, and OOTA members Josephine Clarke and Annamaria Weldon. Please RSVP to editor@dotdotdash.org - Details on FACEBOOK

Launch of The Weather of Tongues by Mags Webster

2011-08-07T22:15:00.007+08:00

The Weather of Tongues by Mags Webster from H2 Design on Vimeo.

"Photographs by Meredi Ortega (OOTA) and Music by www.pacdv.com/sounds/"

Caitlyn's Farewell

2011-08-07T10:30:00.002+08:00

You are invited to Mags Webster's Book Launch

2011-07-24T19:01:00.006+08:00

OOTA proudly announces the release of Mags Webster's first collection of poetry, The Weather of Tongues. Mags is a long standing member of OOTA, a regular at poetry & prose classes and has served on committee. We congratulate Mags on her publication by Sunline Press. All OOTA members are invited to help celebrate her latest success! Join us at the Gallows Gallery, 53 Glyde Street, Mosman Park. Saturday 6th August at 2.30pm.

Click on image for larger view.

Mags Webster's new collection: The Weather of Tongues

2011-07-09T07:26:00.007+08:00

THE WEATHER OF TONGUES

by Mags Webster

‘… you’ve scoped me like landscape and I await/ the brushstrokes of your breath, the weather of tongues …’
‘Strange Vernacular’, The Weather of Tongues

Land, language, distance, the music of love, its darkness and its mystery – all these themes are woven into a new poetry collection called The Weather of Tongues, by Perth-based writer and OOTA member, Mags Webster.

The Weather of Tongues is published by Sunline Press, and will be launched by poet Kevin Gillam at the Gallows Gallery, 53 Glyde Street, Mosman Park on Saturday 6 August at 2.30pm. Thereafter it will be available at Planet Books and other independent bookstores in the metropolitan area.

As its title suggests, The Weather of Tongues invokes the metaphorical realm of words and language, and investigates the power of poetry to create mood and feeling, its own kind of 'weather system'. Some of these poems might make you feel the warmth of sunlight, or the humid breath of a tropical storm; others may leave you feeling a bit windswept, or chilled. We think we cannot touch the weather, but weather, like words, has a way of touching us.

Mags was born and raised in England, moving to Western Australia in 2003, where she worked in the performing arts industry and the not-for-profit sector before moving into freelance work and returning to university. Her poems and short stories have won prizes in competitions in Australia and the UK, and her poems have been published in a range of anthologies and journals including The Weighing of the Heart (Sunline Press), indigo, dotdotdash and Kurungabaa. She lives in the Perth Hills, and has been a member of OOTA since 2003.

About The Weather of Tongues:

‘Webster writes in an elegant and seamless voice, sewing wish to wonder, here to hope. Her poems work the parameters of the universal - "the stars have given up their game", nature - "I understand the magpie's enquiring eye", and deep thought - "armfuls of her absence". This is a beautifully crafted volume of work.’ Kevin Gillam

‘The Weather of Tongues is mature and brilliant, a languid and dangerous collection of poems. It’s a book marked by a deep intelligence, a stirring sensuality and a deftness of poetic touch across a wide array of forms…These poems traffic a rich vernacular contraband of heart and place: longing, exile, love, sex, shorelines, grief, fear, hope and the medicine of the enormous present moment … [This] is a book of linguistic fire.’ Mark Tredinnick

For more information, contact Mags on webstermv@arach.net.au

New Prose Series with Nandi Chinna at the FAC

2011-06-26T11:57:00.009+08:00

Four Hills and a Cloud - Writing on Walking

Poet Wallace Stevens writes:

‘In my room, the world is beyond my understanding;

But when I walk I see that it consists of three or four

hills and a cloud’ (Stevens, 1955, p. 57).

In these workshops, writers will investigate the practice of walking as a creative tool. From Basho to Wordsworth, Janet Cardiff to Richard Long, many artists and writers have used the practice of walking to inform their creativity. Participants will undertake short walks and will be instructed in the practice of ‘reading’ the environment with the senses. Writers will then do a series of writing exercises using our walking experiences as raw material for creating prose pieces.
Classes do not require a prior booking. Cost per class: OOTA $20, NON-OOTA $25, $20 Conc. Classes commence (each Friday fortnight) at 10.00am-noon. All welcome!

1st Workshop is Friday, 1st July

2nd Workshop is Friday, 15th July

3rd Workshop is Friday, 29th July

FREMANTLE PRESS POETRY MONTH

2011-06-21T08:17:00.009+08:00

Celebrate the launch of three new poetry collections with an evening of live music and performance poetry, featuring: TRACY RYAN – MICHAEL HEALD – KEVIN GILLAM – ANDREW LANSDOWN – LIANA JOY CHRISTENSEN – AMANDA JOY – JOHN CHARLES RYAN – CAITLYN MALING

Thursday 7 July, 6pm for a 6.30pm start

Fremantle Arts Centre

1 Finnerty Street Fremantle

RSVP: admin@fremantlepress.com.au OR ring: 08 94306331

Our congratulations to Mary on the publication of 'Beyond Borders'

2011-06-06T09:10:00.008+08:00

Beyond Borders by Mary Nakashiba (aka Jarzabkowski) is a major achievement by one of our members. This is a memoir of cultural significance. It is a story of the personal struggle of a multicultural family (Australian/Japanese), and the punitive actions of a government during the war years in Australia. Mary's story is worth knowing and worth reading. Factually written in beautiful prose, she portrays the harsh reality of the times with stoicism and humour. The reader will not be disappointed. Mary's memoir can be purchased at BookPal or purchased through major bookstores.
Our thanks to Josephine Clarke for the pic above showing Mary and the Friday OOTA writers celebrating her success with a bottle of champagne!

Announcing our Creative Non-Fiction Competition for WA Writers!

2011-05-31T14:06:00.013+08:00

2011 SPILT INK COMPETITION - Submissions now open!

Each year OOTA conducts a writing competition for its sole membership. In alternate years we have run a Poetry, then a Prose Competition. However, this year our competition is "Creative Non-Fiction."

Note: Guidelines are to be strictly observed otherwise your entry will not be accepted.

Download our pdf (in landscape) entry form here or our .doc entry form (in landscape) here or simply click on image, then print.

What is Creative Non-fiction?

by Rose van Son

Creative non-fiction is the writing of a personal essay. The word non-fiction is the clue: prose that is not fictional but of an event in the writer’s life, told creatively.

Often these events are memorable, even life-changing for the writer and therefore the need to put pen to paper, to tell the story in a creative way. The power of creative non-fiction is in the telling; whether the story is life-changing or whether it is simply a moment of everyday life, the telling is important. Creative non-fiction writing frees the writer from the constraints of the formal or academic essay; the telling can be a journey, or a new way of seeing or developing an issue important to the writer.

If research is used in the creative non-fiction essay, it must be acknowledged in the essay, as in the academic essay, to avoid plagiarism. The story-telling must be smooth and can include dialogue or analysis but the reader must feel that this is the ‘telling’ of something that has happened to the writer; an event that may have changed the writer in some way or has influenced the writer sufficiently to pick up a pen. As the story unfolds, the reader may be influenced by both the story and the telling. The writer may use the first person ‘I’ to share his or her personal story with the reader. A good piece of creative non-fiction will leave the reader thinking.

e-launch of Par écrit: poetry of the feminine & The Joyous Lake by Helen Hagemann

2011-05-30T11:01:00.012+08:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More australian

Helen Hagemann announces the publication of her 2 new e-books Par écrit: poetry of the feminine and The Joyous Lake. Helen's poetry will take you down a nature trail to rivers, lakes, ponds and more. Par écrit: poetry of the feminine is poetry concerned with life's journey and all things female. You can read her work leisurely on Helen's website or check out ISSUU - a great way to publish - for free!
http://members.iinet.net.au/~helen.hagemann
http://issuu.com/evangelyne/docs/par_ecrit

http://issuu.com/evangelyne/docs/joyous_lake

Annamaria Weldon announces an artistic collaboration: Bush Journal

2011-05-26T09:06:00.004+08:00

Bush Journal - words, drawings, sound; a collaborative installation by writer Annamaria Weldon and Carolyn Marks, artist & sculptor.
Opens this weekend Saturday 28th May 2011 at INQB8. Mandurah's inaugural exhibition. Details of the exhibition, venue, dates, etc. here ...

Exciting New Creative Writing Classes at the Fremantle Arts Centre

2011-05-14T11:08:00.010+08:00

WRITING AT THE CENTRE

Friday's Prose class brings you five new series of creative writing with new tutors.
Our 1st Series "Releasing the Writer Within" was a huge success and so it's a big thank you to writers who attended who made it so. We now offer the
2nd Series - sui generis with Lucas North
3rd Series - Four Hills & a Cloud with Nandi Chinna
4th Series - Writing Children's Literature with Andrew Lansdown
5th Series - Writing Longer Fiction with Bruce Russell
6th Series - Creative Non-Fiction with Rosemary Stevens

We hope you will continue to participate in the Friday class. You can read more at http://www.writingatthecentre.blogspot.com or download the two page brochure here...

Interesting Article in the West & Some Opportunities for You!

2011-05-12T08:17:00.000+08:00

Never Judge an Essay by its Cover

by DONNA WARD - The West Australian May 10, 2011

"My vision takes into account the great sweep of the country from all points of the compass. What events happened in 2011 that made our essayists set forth on their journey to understanding? How do our essayists help us think about our lives," says ABC Radio personality, Ramona Koval when I asked her what she was looking for as the selecting editor for Best Australian Essays 2011.

Award winning author Cate Kennedy says what is thoughtfully crafted catches her attention when choosing pieces for Best Australian Stories 2011. She adds, "If I had to be quoted offering words of encouragement to WA writers (or any writers, come to that) I'd say, send me the stories you really love, stories that have been a joy to create rather than an onerous task to write. That's the energy that will come off the page."

Read more here...

Speculative Fiction Opportunity

2011-05-08T14:42:00.008+08:00

2011 Eureka Street/Reader's Feast Award

The 2011 Eureka Street/Reader's Feast Award has the theme 'Australia
2031', inviting speculative fiction or non-fiction that imagines what life will
be like in Australia, 20 years into the future.
Entries should be no longer than 2000 words and first prize is $5000,
sponsored by Reader's Feast Bookstores in Melbourne as part of its Crime
and Justice Festival.
The Margaret Dooley Young Writers Award for ethical writing (under-30s age
category) is also open. Full submission details for both awards are available @ Eureka Street.

Opportunity from the Melbourne Poets Union

2011-04-12T08:50:00.006+08:00

The Melbourne Poets Union is inviting

POETRY SUBMISSIONS for

TEA, WINE AND COFFEE... ANTHOLOGY

edited by Sue Stanford

Tea, wine and coffee are widely enjoyed forms of stimulation, comfort and perhaps addiction. The three occupy slightly different but extremely interesting positions in Australian culture.

The anthology will be a book of 46+ pages. It is open to submissions from MPU members and non-members.

All poems touching on the three beverages will be considered, but selection criteria include:

1) the poems should be of high standard that ask to be read and re-read
2) the more centrally the poems deal with one of the beverages the better
3) it would be ideal if there was a range of mood including humour,
celebration, reflection and passion
4) shorter poems (20 -60 lines) will be more likely to be selected
5) it is unlikely that more than one poem per poet will be selected

Considerations:
- MPU is not looking for first rights. Submitting poets are welcome to look for publication elsewhere while their work is under consideration
- The editor is happy to work with poets to polish promising poems
- At present we cannot offer payment other than a copy of the anthology
- Notification of consideration of acceptance mid-year 2011
- Publication planned after Dec 2011

Email Submissions: mpuinc@yahoo.com
Place ‘Attention Sue Stanford’ in the subject heading of the email.

Melbourne Poets Union

An Advanced Easter Notice

2011-03-27T18:06:00.001+08:00

The Friday Prose Class and Saturday Poetry at the Grove Library will be cancelled due to the Easter Holidays. Please make a note in your diary - Friday 22nd April - no class at the Fremantle Arts Centre. And Saturday 23rd April - no Saturday Poetry at the Grove Library, (both venues are closed). These classes will resume again on Friday 6th May and Saturday 7th May. Many thanks, Helen Hagemann.

Indigo's Last Hurrah Saturday 5th March 2011

2011-03-06T15:47:00.016+08:00

It was certainly a praiseworthy night at the launch of indigo's final volume #6. Our special thanks to Meredi Ortega for her excellent photos.

OOTA's Farewell Lunch for Donna Ward

2011-02-28T16:06:00.012+08:00

Over thirty members attended Donna Ward's farewell on Friday, 25th February in the leafy (but warm) cafe courtyard at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Many writers have been published in indigo due to the efforts of Donna and they attended her luncheon to show their appreciation and support.

Bruce and Donna say au revoir

OOTA takes this opportunity to wish her well in a return trip to her hometown, Melbourne, and hopes that she has many more successes in her future endeavours be they personal, writing or publishing (at least some success with funding!)

CONGRATULATIONS! to

Liana Joy Christensen, Miranda Aitken, Julie Watts, Leanne Searle, Rosie Barter, Sally Clarke, Dick Alderson, Cecily Scutt, Sue Clennell, Josephine Clarke, Lucas North, Meredi Ortega, Roland Leach and Bruce Russell for getting published in the last hurrah of indigo #6.

An OOTA Luncheon with Donna Ward

2011-02-10T12:36:00.004+08:00

Donna Ward is leaving WA to live in Melbourne.

To wish her luck in her new life Over East, and to acknowledge all that she has done for OOTA and West Australian writers, OOTA invites all members to join us in an informal farewell lunch in the Fremantle Arts Centre Café at 12 noon, on Friday 25th of February.

We will order our lunch as per usual, but please RSVP by Monday, 21st February, to Josephine Clarke, j.sephine.c@gmail.com so that we can reserve you a seat.

New Series of Writing Workshops at the FAC

2011-02-04T10:55:00.009+08:00

RELEASING THE WRITER WITHIN

Helen Hagemann introduces Releasing the Writer Within into her prose classes. Six workshops commencing 11th February – 6th May (fortnightly) will cover the teachings & philosophy of Natalie Goldberg - author of Writing Down the Bones & Wild Mind.
Workshop #1 – 11th February
An introduction into Natalie Goldberg’s Philosophy on Writing Practice/ Enlightenment/Releasing the Imagination/ Making that kamikaze leap.
Workshop #2 – 25th February
Dredging stuff from your mind, and being the judge of your own private knowledge.
Workshop #3 – 11th March
Some thoughts on Zen Meditation & how to discover original detail. Class looks at ways of tapping into ORIGINAL DETAIL/ releasing your wild mind.
Workshop #4 – 25th March
Introducing the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics.
Workshop #5 – 8th April
By-passing your internal editor.

NO CLASS 22nd April – Easter Good Friday

Workshop #6 – 6th May
Developing your craft. Writing beyond your comfort zone. Hemingway once wrote, “Write hard and clear about what hurts.”

Perth Writers Festival - 5th Mar-7th Mar

2011-01-31T09:04:00.003+08:00

Perth’s favourite celebration of the written word starts on Saturday 5th March to Monday 7th March. There will be over 100 events for lovers of debate and discussion, poetry and storytelling. The Perth Writers Festival will create a literary hub in the idyllic setting of the UWA campus. Join conversations with literary luminaries including Andrew O’Hagan (Scotland), Annie Proulx (The Shipping News), Armistead Maupin (USA), Jon Bauer, Carmel Bird, Robert Drewe, David Whish-Wilson and many more. For more info go to
http://perthfestival.com.au/events/pwf/

Saturday Poetry at the Grove Library

2011-01-22T10:13:00.010+08:00

Helen Hagemann advises that her Saturday (fortnightly) Poetry Classes will continue in 2011 at the Grove Library. We are fortunate once again to have the Flax Room for quiet writing, reading and discussion. Term 1 commences on Saturday, 12th February and finishes on Saturday, 2nd July. It will be great to see many of you return and also new members trying this informal, yet instructive class.

The first class is called “Epistolary Poetry”. Through study & writing exercises we will look at the various styles of “verse letters” by such poets as Ezra Pound, Rainer Maria Rilke, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Donald Hall, Mary Oliver and many more. Check out the blog for costs, time and directions to The Grove @ http://www.writingatthecentre.blogspot.com
Tell your friends, all welcome!

Start Back the Year with New Goals

2011-01-18T17:40:00.006+08:00

Creative Writing Classes resume for 2011 at the Fremantle Arts Centre

Poetry this week with Shane McCauley. Friday 21st January, 10.00am - noon, upstairs Room 9 in the North Wing at the Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty St. Fremantle. No booking required.

Saturday Poetry

Join Helen Hagemann for her after hours Saturday Poetry Class (fortnightly) at the Grove Library. 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Term 1 commences on Saturday, 12th February and finishes on Saturday, 2nd July 2011. The class will again meet in the Flax Room of the Grove - 1 Leake St (cnr Leake St & Stirling Hwy), Peppermint Grove. Under-croft parking is also available off Leake Street. All welcome!

Prose & Poetry Classes for 2011

2010-12-22T08:21:00.013+08:00

Writing at the Centre - at the Fremantle Arts Centre

Advance Notice:

The Function Room is unavailable for classes next year, and we will be in Room 9 in the North Wing, upstairs in the Fremantle Arts Centre. The tables and chairs we normally use will be in that room. More information next year. Poetry commences on Friday, 21st January and Prose the following week, 28th January, 10.00am - midday.
We hope to see you in the New Year for more writing inspiration! Best wishes for Xmas, Shane & Helen.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas & a Healthy, Prosperous, & Published New Year!

2010-12-13T13:48:00.002+08:00

COME & KICK UP YOUR HEELS AT OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY!

2010-11-23T09:57:00.022+08:00

MEMBERS! JOIN US at our big, big,

OOTA Christmas Party,

on Friday evening, 10th December, from 6.30pm

at the Fringe Gallery, 94 Bawdan Sreet, Willagee.

Please bring a small plate of yummy finger food to share.

OOTA will provide champagne and orange juice;

please BYO if you prefer something else.

At 7pm Horst Kornberger will launch

Nandi Chinna’s latest chapbook,

How to Measure Land

which won the Picaro Poetry Prize, Byron Bay Writers’ Festival 2010.

This will be followed by festivities (including drawing the famous OOTA RAFFLE)

and open mike:

(TEN x 5-minute slots ONLY, poetry or prose;

put your name on Carrie’s list early to be sure of a spot.)

DONATIONS needed for the OOTA RAFFLE

anything festive and christmassy for the theme CHRISTMAS.

Please bring contributions to the Fremantle Arts Centre on Fridays for Flora, Rachael and Jo!

Sue Clennell teaching at the FAC & Grove Library

2010-10-26T08:39:00.003+08:00

Sue Clennell will be teaching at the FAC & Grove Library during Helen's absence.

Saturday 6 November at the Grove Library will be: Spicing up your poetry, writing sensually.

Friday 19th November the Prose Class at the Fremantle Arts Centre is called: "Creating Interesting Characters". We will be looking at the techniques of Peter Carey and E. Annie-Proulx.

Saturday 20 November at the Grove Library will be: Looking at Prose Poetry. We will be examining the style of Chris Fontana, a past winner of The Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize, and other prose poets.

Sue Clennell has had short stories published by The West Australian, Imago, Idiom 23 and in various anthologies. Her poetry has been published by The Weekend Australian, The West Australian, Quadrant, Studio, Southern Review, Creatrix, Speedpoets and the school text books Appreciating Poetry and Secondary English. Sue's prose poems 'The Moon is an Ice Cream' was runner-up in the 2006 Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize, and 'Loquats Must be Ripe' commended in the 2007 Josephine Ulrick Poetry Prize. She has published a poetry book The Ink Drinkers and has recently released a poetry CD titled 'The Van Gogh Cafe.'

Members Invited to OOTA's AGM 22nd October midday for food and light refreshments, start 1pm

2010-10-20T09:03:00.006+08:00

22nd October 2010

Dear Members,

You are cordially invited to the OOTA AGM. This important meeting will be held on Friday, October 22nd in

the Function room of the Arts Centre at 1pm. You are invited at midday for food & light refreshments. We will have prose and poets reading on the day.

All welcome!

Congratulations! to our Winners of the Spilt Ink Competition

2010-09-26T09:48:00.008+08:00

1st Prize to Sarah Evans for "Burying the Button" Read her story here

2nd Prize to Carol Milner for "The Fairytale Cut"

3rd Prize to Leanne Searle for "The Trouble with Bali"

Our judge Andrew Lansdown also chose two extra prizes

- a Highly Commended to Mardi May for "Waiting"

- a Commended to Liana Christensen for "The Two Week Doll"

OOTA sincerely thanks Andrew Lansdown for his time and discerning judgement in this year's competition. You can read his report here...

Also stay tuned for posting of the winning stories. Sarah's story will also shortly appear in the pages of the Fremantle Herald. Acknowledgement: Photographs by Meredi Ortega

Spilt Ink Short Story Competition 2010

2010-09-21T10:05:00.002+08:00

Spilt Ink Short Story Competition 2010

Join us for theannouncementthis Friday,

24th Septin the Greater Courtyard of the Fremantle Arts Centre.

Competition judge Andrew Lansdownwill discuss his choicesover lunch,

which you can purchase from the cafe.

OOTA SCOOPS!

2010-09-08T17:27:00.008+08:00

CONGRATULATIONS! to our writers once again.

Here's a favourable letter from Kevin Gillam
Thanks for the Network Tuesday updates...always very fresh and useful. For your OOTA members news, I have had poems accepted for the next editions of Wet Ink, Etchings and Westerly. Also, I was awarded 2nd Prize in the National Jazz Song Competition.
Cheers, Kevin Gillam

Graham Nowland's short story Chomsky & The Kultigator has been accepted for publication by Fremantle Press in a forthcoming anthology in 2011.

OOTA WRITERS ARE HIGH-PROFILE WRITERS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2010-09-07T16:09:00.004+08:00

OOTA congratulates:

- Sue Clennell whose poem 'Mosman Park Meditations' was commended in the Cottesloe/Peppermint Grove/Mosman Park Literature Poetry Prize and 'Latona' has been accepted by Westerly.
- Rose Van Son who got 2nd prize in the City of Perth Haiku competition.
- Nandi Chinna, the only WA poet to be chosen for the Picaro single author collections with her short poetry collection How to Measure Land.
- Meredi Ortega, Flora Smith, Annamaria Weldon, Vivienne Glance and Josephine Clarke (Yey!) who have also had poems accepted for Westerly.
- Helen Hagemann, Mardi May, Sally Clarke, Josephine Clarke, Liana Christensen and Paula Jones who had poems selected for ECU Winter volume of Landscapes Journal.

Post Newspapers article on Saturday Poets and OOTA

2010-09-06T16:15:00.005+08:00

PHOTO SHOOT FOR POST NEWSPAPERS

OOTA would be very grateful if poets might be involved in a photo shoot on Friday, 10th September at midday at the Fremantle Arts Centre. We would be very pleased if you came along to join in with many of the Friday writers for a big, big, OOTA picture in the paper. Your support for OOTA would be greatly appreciated. All welcome to lunch/coffee afterward and a reading by Renee Schipp!

OOTA POETS READ AT CITIPLACE COMMUNITY CENTRE

2010-08-31T08:13:00.005+08:00

Spring Poetry Festival and Words Alive Poetry Readings

Join Rachael Petridis and the New Poets 2010 for Readings and Book Presentation at Citiplace Community Centre, Perth Train Station.

Wednesday 1st September, 7.00pm – 9.30 pm
MC: Tomas Ford
Music :Alex Bainbridge

Readings and Book presentation by Rachel Petridis, Chloe Wilson, Ann de Hugard. These poets have come a long way from Melbourne to give you a night of poetic delight!
Invited Readers: Elio Novello and Josephine Clarke, plus open mike and book sales.

Bruce Russell now offers Writers a "One-on-One"

2010-08-26T08:42:00.002+08:00

Bruce Russell is now mentoring prose writers one-on-one. If you are working on a full-length manuscript—a novel, a memoir, creative non-fiction, a short-story collection, family history— why not give him a call on 9339 2131 or email brucer@iinet.net.au? Meeting times are flexible and by setting up a regular schedule of sessions, you will move towards your goal with greater clarity and purpose than working alone. Email discussion and editing (track changes optional) is included in the very reasonable hourly rate.
Check our Bruce's Website here

Rachael Petridis's Book Launch of "Sundecked"

2010-08-11T08:29:00.012+08:00

SPILT INK SHORT STORY COMPETITION DEADLINE EXTENSION!

2010-08-02T16:36:00.016+08:00

The Deadline has been extended to Friday, 13th August, and the winner will be published in the Fremantle Herald! Why not give it a shot! Why should the poets have all the fun!
Download Entry Form here...

Join OOTA today at Gallows Gallery, Glyde St. Mosman Park @ 2.30pm

2010-07-31T09:46:00.004+08:00

Shane McCauley will launch Rachael Petridis' first collection of Poetry - Sundecked.
Join OOTA for a gala event. Poetry from Rachael, book sales & signing. Refreshments of finger food, mulled wine and champagne! This is a day to celebrate a poet who has risen up from the ranks and who is finally seeing her work in print. Copies of the book, published by the Australian Poetry Centre, Melbourne are For Sale @ $10.00
Congratulations to a well deserving writer!

Rachael Petridis at her Melbourne Launch of "Sundecked"

2010-07-19T11:26:00.003+08:00

New Poets Series 2010 // Launch Event from Australian Poetry Centre on Vimeo.

'JULY TEN' Pocket Theatre Review by Caroline Abbs

2010-07-13T07:51:00.004+08:00

Pocket Theatre presents ‘JULY TEN’, a night of one act plays – two comedies and a drama. The new venue at Camelot Theatre, in Mosman Park, is warm inside, has comfortable seating and good acoustics. On Friday night, I overheard someone say, ‘It’s better than His Majesty’s because they let you take your drinks in!’ And they do.
Plumber’s Delight, by John Lewington, is a hilarious comedy about a couple who have sought the assistance of a sex therapist to spice up their marriage. This play is full of wit and bawdy humour that would have made Shakespeare proud. The audience was shrieking with laughter throughout.
Pursuit, by Liz Hoffman, is an intriguing drama about an aging muso and her daughter who have an unexpected visitor and what ensues. The play is well written and thought provoking; the acting is excellent and the singing impressive.
No Insalata, a comedy by Gordon MacNish, is an adaptation of the short story ‘Tomatoes’ by Josephine Clarke; an Italian story in a domestic setting. It is scattered with delightful Italian mannerisms and the acting and props are just right! It is a must see for everyone who is Italian, or has a soft spot for our wonderful Freo Italian community. This play has the potential to go much further than local theatre.
‘JULY TEN’ runs for just three more nights, July 15, 16, 17 at 8pm, and matinee July 18 at 2pm. Bring your friends along to support this writers’ theatre company. It is run by some of the founding members of OOTA. Don’t miss out!
Tickets at door or book on 9319 3303 or mac.nish@iinet.net.au

Launch of Rachael Petridis' New Collection "Sundecked"

2010-07-09T15:44:00.002+08:00

Fremantle Press Promotes Poets!

2010-07-03T15:44:00.011+08:00

OOTA writers are invited to the launch of Fremantle Poetry Month, Thursday 8 July 2010, 6.30pm at the Fremantle Arts Centre.
The evening will feature music by Xave Brown, Amber Fresh and Lil Leonie Lionheart plus poetry performances by Nandi Chinna, Kevin Gillam and Janet Jackson. It will also celebrate the launch of the 2010 Fremantle Press poetry list of Burning Bright by Caroline Caddy, The West by John Mateer and Fremantle Poets 1: New Poets by Scott-Patrick Mitchell, J.P. Quinton and Emma Rooksby.
Thursday 15 July at 6:00pm: Head on down to the Fremantle Library for an evening with internationally acclaimed poet John Mateer, and emerging poets Scott-Patrick Mitchell and J.P. Quinton. The evening includes both readings and the opportunity to discuss in a Q&A session. Admission is free. RSVP to Fremantle Library on 08 9432 9766.

Congratulations to Rachael Petridis for her collection of poems - "Sundecked"

2010-06-02T08:02:00.019+08:00

Rachael Petridis, a member of OOTA , one of the New Poets 2009 is pictured reading from her collection Sundecked (APC 2010). This was a pre-launch reading promoted as THE FOUR MUSES, introduced by Ron Pretty AM.
“The audience will reach into a Grecian urn to announce poems to be read during this performance. Listen to each poet’s work based on one of the muses’ Nine Domains— love poetry, sacred poetry, history, music, tragedy, dance, comedy, epic and astronomy.”

The four New Poets, Ann de Hugard, Michelle Leber, Rachael Petridis, Chloe Wilson from the Varuna New Poets Program, were invited to participate in the Goolwa Poetry festival. This is a major poetry festival held biannually under the auspices of the APC. This year it was held 23-26th of April. The festival was a huge success with 150 poets participating, over 400 attendees and 82 different events.

The formal launch of Sundecked (and the other three New Poets' collections) will be hosted by the APC on July 1st , 2010 at The Wheeler Centre, Little Lonsdale St. Melbourne.
The Western Australian launch by Shane McCauley will be on July 31st, at Gallows Gallery, Glyde St. Mosman Park, 2.30-4.30pm.

OOTA'S AUTUMNAL LUNCH - KEVIN GILLAM'S CHAPBOOK

2010-05-28T07:09:00.007+08:00

Thank you everyone who attended the Autumnal Lunch on Friday, 21st May. It was great to have Poets and Prose writers together. We were delighted to hear Ralph Sedgley read some of his poems to us. Ralph and his wife are moving to Canberra soon, and he will be missed by the Friday poets. It was also great to see Trish Saggers who travelled from York to join us. Watch out for the Winter Lunch (with the promise of mulled wine!). Thank you too to Kevin Gillam (Closer to Now Chapbook) for another wonderful symphony of words and thoughts. Josephine Clarke N/T Editor.

5 Congratultions for CD "22" - (20 poets/ 22 poems)

2010-05-22T08:17:00.009+08:00

Congratulations to 5 OOTA poets who have been published on the CD titled "22". 20 poets were chosen to record their work for the Department of Education/ writingWA's initiative to take the old oral art to Upper Primary & High School Students. Our congratulations go to Nandi Chinna, Kevin Gillam, Vivienne Glance, Helen Hagemann & Annamaria Weldon.
"22" was launched at the State Library of WA on 21st May by Dennis Haskell who is also on the CD. Accompanying the CD is an anthology of the poems, together with study notes. To download the Lesson Plans click here

“22” has been produced by writingWA with investment from the Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts, and developed in collaboration with Western Australian Department of Education.

OOTA SOBRIETY AT THE DRUNKEN ELK

2010-05-10T19:54:00.007+08:00

On Saturday April 24th, Sunline Press hosted the launch of Shane McCauley's latest collection of poetry The Drunken Elk. Annamaria Weldon launched the book with a speech that was in itself a piece of poetry, and which gave the audience glimpses of the many exotic and yet familiar worlds the poet reveals to the reader. It was a celebratory afternoon where the well-loved tutor was honoured by his peers and fellow OOTA poets.
Pictured above with Shane McCauley is Annamaria Weldon (book launcher), and troop of well-wishers at the end of the day, including Shane's Mum & Dad. Last but not least is the inimitable Roland Leach, poetry publisher of Sunline Press.

VARUNA OPPORTUNITY FOR SHORT STORY WRITERS!

2010-04-30T09:53:00.009+08:00

Two New Opportunities for Short Story Writers

Varuna is proud to partner Scribe Publications in two new programs aimed at presenting, exploring and extending the range of short story writing in Australia.
The programs are open to writers resident in Australia. Writers are invited to apply for one or both programs:
* The Varuna/NAS National Short Story Competition
* The Varuna/Scribe Masterclass: Exploring the Short Story, with Cate Kennedy and Robin Hemley
The Varuna/NAS National Short Story Competition seeks short stories for possible inclusion in Scribe’s short story anthology. The anthology, to be published in 2011, is the second in Scribe’s New Australian Stories series. New Australian Stories 2.0 will showcase a rich diversity of short stories by contemporary Australian writers.
The Varuna/Scribe Masterclass is an intensive six-day residential program to help writers extend their knowledge of this perennially novel and vital medium. Activities include discussions, readings and practical work, with participants editing one of their short stories and starting a new one. The masterclass will be led by two respected short story writers. Robin Hemley, writing professor with the University of Iowa’s renowned writing program, has written stories and essays that have appeared in many anthologies and literary journals. Cate Kennedy is an award-winning short story writer, with an acclaimed short story collection, Dark Roots. More info here...

THE RHYTHM OF THE WILD

2010-04-19T07:00:00.004+08:00

indigo journal presents...

A one day nature writing symposium with distinguished guests Nicolas Rothwell and Gina Mercer. Following a public address titled 'A Landscape Meditation' on Friday 7th May at 7:30pm in the Christ Church Grammar School Chapel, Nicolas Rothwell (The Australian) and Gina Mercer (Island Magazine) will be leading a one day nature writing symposium on Saturday 8th May. From 9am, they will participate in panel discussions with local nature writers Nandi Chinna, Liana Christensen and Annamaria Weldon exploring the importance of nature writing as we confront the environmental and economic issues of our times. In the afternoon, two concurrent masterclasses will be run for 15 participants each, with Rothwell and Mercer to facilitate. Full registration is $200 ($180 if paid before Friday 23rd April), and includes the Public Address, Morning Panel Discussion and afternoon masterclass. To simply participate in the afternoon masterclass is $100, with the Morning Panel and Public Address costing $60 and $20 respectively. For more information contact Birute on 0422 255 865 or info@indigojournal.org.au to get a registration form. Hurry, places for the afternoon masterclass are filling up fast and seats are extremely limited!

The Place and Experience Poetry Prize 2010

2010-04-12T16:37:00.007+08:00

Place and Experience Poetry Prize

Fullers Bookshop is proud to partner with Island Magazine, The Tasmanian Writers' Centre and the UTAS Schools of Philosophy and Geography & Environmental Studies to present a new national poetry award with a prize pool of $2000. Entries close Monday 5th July 2010.
Download entry form and guidelines here...

Wet Ink Short Story Prize

2010-04-05T07:58:00.023+08:00

Wet Ink Short Story Prize
First prize is $3000. One year’s subscription to Wet Ink, and publication in Wet Ink.Two highly commended entries each receive $100, a year’s subscription to Wet Ink, and publication in Wet Ink.
Closing date for entries is 31 August 2010,
so start writing, and good luck! Download entry form here...

Our Member Molly Hall featured at the Arts Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival

2010-03-30T17:33:00.004+08:00

Head towards Margaret River this year for the Arts Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival. 14th – 19th May 2010. Come listen to Robert Drewe, Tony Wheeler, Liz Bryski, Alice Nelson, Bill Bunbury, Jim Leavesley, Melva Stone, & Stephen Scourfield and local authors at the Margaret River Cultural Centre, Wallcliffe Road. Molly Hall is a featured reader at The Must – the venue with a night of poetry for all, including Miriam Lo, Miranda Aitken, & Anya Seaborne.
For full details visit www.artsmargaretriver.com

The Australian Poetry Centre - Competition 'Making Sense of It'

2010-03-26T18:17:00.006+08:00

We all have our own perception of life, our own way of engaging with it or experiencing it. We depend on our senses to help us form an impression, understand our surroundings and act accordingly. But no two people experience the same thing. We are all individual. We all have our own unique way of perceiving the world. How do you perceive yours?
The Australian Poetry Centre is running a poetry competition, seeking poems which show us life from a totally unique perspective, from your own sensory experience, allowing others an insight into your distinctive view of the world - how you feel, observe and encounter it.

The top five poems selected will be (with the poets permission) recorded, performed and released on our poetry podcast (in partnership radio station 3RRR), Nothing Rhymes with RRR, and be published on the Australian Poetry Centre’s website. The poet who wins first prize will also receive one free Australian Poetry Centre Membership and the opportunity to read his/her poem at our public event on the night of May 7th, Dreaming in Auslan, at the Wheeler Centre (176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne), 7:30pm, where all winners will be announced. If you cannot attend the evening, we can provide a speaker or established poet to read or present your work for you. Read how to enter here...

Launch of indigo #5 at Perth Writers Festival

2010-03-14T21:22:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to all our OOTA Poets!

2010-02-27T09:44:00.005+08:00

Results of the Tom Collins Poetry Prize 2009
First prize: "The Thaumaturge" by Christopher Konrad (WA)
Second prize: "Halfway Across the Desert" by Karen Dixon (WA)
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Highly Commended:
"Worship" by Mags Webster (WA)
"The Crescent and the Cross" by Paula Jones (WA)
"China Landscapes" by Glen Phillips (WA)
"The Balinese Sonnets" by Roland Leach (WA)
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Commended:
"Dispersion of Seed" by John C. Ryan (WA)
"From Lighthouse Hill" by Dick Alderson (WA)
"My Grandmothers" by Julie Watts (WA)
"Change" by Kathryn Lomer (TAS)

View judge's report by Les Wicks here ...

OOTA MEMBERS' CREDITS

2010-02-24T11:15:00.006+08:00

OOTA WRITERS' SUCCESSES

Congratulations to the following members who have been recently published. Flora Smith & Rachael Petridis in Famous Reporter #41, Cecily Scutt, Meredi Ortega & Dick Alderson in indigo #5, Sue Clennell has had poems accepted in Poetry NZ, Studio and Unusual Work. We must give a special mention to Jo Clarke who has been longlisted in the Fish Publishing Competition (go Jo!). Well done!
If you have recently had writing success why not tell us about it. NO CREDIT TOO SMALL!

INDIGO NEWS

2010-02-15T11:48:00.007+08:00

Free Event at the New Fortune, UWA - Perth Writers Festival
6.15–7.30pm
Launch of indigo journal volume 5 by Alex Miller

Join the publishers for a champagne celebration as Alex Miller launches indigo volume 5, WA's newest journal of creative writing and ideas. Then stay on for a very special Festival themed edition of everyone's favourite wordsmith gathering, Cottonmouth.

DON’T FORGET TO SUBMIT to indigo #6
There’s been an important change to the submission deadline for indigo volume 6. It’s been extended to May 28th. Submissions are already coming in great hoards, so be sure to get your short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction in to indigo journal, PO Box 43, Floreat 6014.

For full submission guidelines and eligibility criteria, go to indigo submissions

The WA Premier’s Book Awards Revamped

2010-02-05T17:35:00.007+08:00

The Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards will receive an additional $80,000 a year in State Government funding, following a comprehensive external review of two literary awards.
Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said he made the decision to strengthen the successful and popular WA Premier’s Book Awards (PBA), while the Australia-Asia Literary Award (AALA) would be discontinued.
More ...

Janet Jackson invites OOTA poets to her classes

2010-01-30T09:22:00.007+08:00

CONTEMPORARY POETRY WORKSHOPS with JANET JACKSON

2-5pm, Sunday 14 February 2010
2-5pm, Sunday 14 March 2010
Mt Lawley Neighbourhood Learning Centre
715 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley

Limited places: book now. Email Janet @

lostpoetjj(at)gmail(dot)com

0406 624 578

Launch of indigo #5 at Perth Writers Festival

2010-01-29T23:47:00.003+08:00

Tactile Books invites you to the celebration of indigo journal 5
Saturday 27th February 2010
6:15pm – 7:15pm
New Fortune Theatre
University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway, Crawley

Launched by Alex Miller, with guest appearance from Dr Carmen Lawrence and performance readings by Kate Hall and Murray Dowsett

RSVP 18th February 2010 to:
info@indigojournal.org.au
indigo journal will be on sale for $25

Download invitation...

Shore Lines Writing for Performance Competition 2009/2010

2010-01-28T11:10:00.007+08:00

Shore Lines is both a competition and a festival in Bunbury, providing a unique opportunity for writers to present their work to a live audience.
The 2009/2010 Shore Lines Sponsors are:

There are two parts to this exciting event.
Part one is the highly important writing competition, entrants are encouraged to submit any style of writing but need to consider how their work will fit the performance day, where performers entertain audiences throughout non traditional venues in the CBD.
More …

Fremantle Saturday Poetry Class

2010-01-22T16:34:00.004+08:00

Helen Hagemann announces the new Saturday Poetry Class
The new class will begin on Saturday 13th February, 1.00-3.00pm and thereafter each fortnight.
Venue: The Fremantle Library, (at the back area of the library). This venue may change in future months if not entirely suitable. OOTA members $15.00, non-members $20.00. Email Helen at hagemann.helen@gmail for further information. Hope to see you all there!

Writing at the Centre has its own blog!

2010-01-21T11:25:00.005+08:00

The tutors at Writing at the Centre have set up a new blog for the specific purpose of promoting their various classes. The OOTA site will retain class information, but will mainly focus on OOTA's programs, events and members' credits. We hope that you will bookmark these two sites and please let us know your successes. Please visit Writing at the Centre

POETRY ON PRIME TIME TELEVISION

2010-01-11T08:06:00.003+08:00

Absence of Verse Disrupts our Rhythm (The Australian 9 Jan)

It is a welcome if rare event to see poetry on prime time television. The ABC's Bush Slam is an attempt to put poetry front and centre in the national consciousness.
If we believe that 19th-century bush poets such as Henry Lawson and A.B. (Banjo) Paterson were representative of a golden age of wordsmiths, then Bush Slam at least gives word nerds an opportunity to enter our living rooms. And don't we need it?

Publishers see poetry as poison as their lists continue to shrink. Schools neglect it. There is an assumption that poetry is difficult not just among booksellers, but teachers. We have no national poet in the way that Don Bradman is the national sporting icon.

More than a decade ago, the so-called Angry Penguin himself, Max Harris, wrote in this newspaper that, so far as respecting the place of poetry is concerned, "We are inhabitants of Limbo-land, cultural and intellectual paupers, with little sense of the formative factors that made us what we are."

More …

OOTA wishes all our members a Merry Xmas & a Happy, Safe and Successful 2010

2009-12-19T10:47:00.002+08:00

Myspace Graphics, Christmas Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Key Readers at King's including Kevin

2009-12-12T09:59:00.006+08:00

Jo Clarke (Past President) welcomed the OOTA poets under the rhizome of branch & leaf at King's Square on Thursday, 10th December
Many thanks to everyone who came to the poetry reading, including Anna Maria Weldon, Vivienne Glance, Jo Clarke, Annie Otness, Julie Watts, Sue Clennell, Helen Hagemann and Kevin Gillam (who made a dash from his Xmas party!) Many thanks to everyone who came to the poetry reading today at King's Square. I really enjoyed listening to your poems.
Meredi Ortega (Convenor/Photographer)

Things to Do Over the Holidays

2009-12-07T08:58:00.010+08:00

Markets/ Journals
We have an update of journals (left-hand side). This list will be edited from time to time. Check out Mascara they are now accepting submissions of poetry. Famous Reporter is also accepting work for their June 2010 Issue #41. If you know of any new, current markets you wish to add to this list for convenience, drop us a line!
Perth Writers Festival
26 February –1 March 2010 long weekend
Full Program Released 28 Jan. Register now to receive your copy.
Some of the writers you can expect to see are, Alex Miller, Amanda Lohrey, Andrea Goldsmith, Craig Silvey, Dianne Wolfer, Garth Nix, Kalinda Ashton, Morris Gleitzman, Linda Jaivin and many more. Check out the Perth Writers Festival

OOTA Spilt Ink Poetry Winners

2009-11-15T10:33:00.026+08:00

Andrew Burke judged a top array of OOTA poets in the Spilt Ink Competition.

1st Prize went to Flora Smith for Fifth Generation (to be published in indigo #5)

2nd Prize went to Kevin Gillam, What the Living Do and 3rd Prize Mags Webster Prognosis. Highly Commended - Molly Hall Orange, Cecily Scutt Laboratory Class & Flora Smith Midnight House. The Commendeds were Jo Clarke Snake, Annamaria Weldon Light and Dark, Rose van Son Dinner after the Synagogue, Janice Withers A Fat, Lying Thief, Dick Alderson Old Spoon & Kevin Gillam Gliss. Congratulations to all! Special thanks must go to our MC Bruce Russell and to Josephine Clarke for her wonderful effort and great choice of venue at the X-Way Cafe. We also thank Meredi Ortega and Coral Carter for the photographs. You can read Andrew Burke's judge's report here at his wonderful poetry resource High Spirits

A Win for Australian Authors!!

2009-11-11T16:40:00.011+08:00

THE BIG CHAINS LOSE

At the National Press Club today, Melbourne University Press publisher Louise Adler lauded the government's decision to keep import restrictions as a great move that would protect local publishers and authors.
She described the price of books as a “non issue”.
“This is an important win. This is a historic win,” she told the National Press Club.
Read the true facts here...

OOTA's New Committee 09-10

2009-11-01T11:46:00.015+08:00

Our Proud 2010 Committee

OOTA writers at the AGM

Our sincere thanks to Helen Brett for the photographs!

This year's AGM was a bright and breezy occasion with those in attendance pictured. Members of the new committee, Flora Smith, Bruce Russell, Jean Hudson, Sue Siddall, Julie Watts and Rose Van Son read their work to an appreciative audience, while Josephine Clarke officiated the AGM. Thanks were shown with a gift of flowers and book voucher for the wonderful effort Jo Clarke has given to OOTA in her 3 year tenure as President. She has worked tirelessly at the steerage, stating that OOTA is a vibrant machine, always moving forward in strength, success and tenacity. It is thanks to her, all the hard work & to the 08-09 committee that we are a strong force in the writing community. New committee for 09-10 is Helen Hagemann (President), Flora Smith (Vice-President), Leanne Searle (Treasurer), Jean Hudson (Secretary), Carolyn Abbs (Membership Administrator). Committee members, Annie Otness, Bruce Russell, Josephine Clarke (Network Tuesday), Julie Watts, Lucas North, Rose Van Son and Sue Siddall.

Writers' Work to Sway on High Seas

2009-10-27T07:24:00.022+08:00

Annamaria Weldon and Year 9 Perth Modern Students at the A sheds (photo by David Dare Parker)

On Monday 19th October, OOTA poet Annamaria Weldon read at The Red Room's Fremantle launch of 'Sea Things'. As pictured, talented year 9 students from Perth Modern also read their poems that will contribute to the program. These poems about the sea are being collected from all around Australia and carried from port to port on various ships to be opened and read onboard at their final destination (see posting 6/10). Anna's poem My lover, the sea is now travelling on the high seas in the duffle bag and also in the cloud via The Red Room Company's website, where she's linked with other poets and their poems. Here...

Indigo #4 Launched!

2009-10-23T17:16:00.007+08:00

Plenty of OOTA writers in this edition of indigo #4. The journal was launched on Thursday 22nd October by Jon Doust. There's a colourful panache of creative non-fiction/ short stories, poetry and reviews for you to indulge in. Congratulations to Rosie Barter, Helen Hagemann, Paula Jones, Chris Konrad, Lucas North, Shane McCauley, Meredi Ortega, Rachel Robertson, Bruce Russell, Cecily Scutt, Rosemary Stevens, and Annamaria Weldon. Thanks go to our photographer Meredi Ortega.