Writer in Residence

Like the Scottish castle from which it takes its name Duncraig Senior High School is full of stories.

During Term 2 the students in Years 8, 9 and 10 have a rare chance to become published authors and illustrators. The anthology, Tales from the Castle will be published again this year and will contain short stories and illustrations produced by the most talented students.

I am very excited to be involved in this project again this year. Last week I delivered introductory workshops to all the Lower School students who began to write stories. Between now and Week Eight each student will send a draft of their story to me by email. I will act as editor, reading and commenting on their stories before sending them back to the students. In Week Eight I will go into the school again and deliver a series of ‘trouble shooting’ workshops based on the most common problems I have encountered in their work. Their finished copies will go first to their English teacher as part of their Term assessment. Then the best of the stories will go to a publication committee for a decision about whether or not they will be included in the anthology. Art students will then read the stories and produce illustrations, including a cover for this years very professionally published anthology.

The two previous anthologies has been well worth reading and have sold out. I am sure that this one will be just as good, if not better.

1st complete map of Australia - Louis de Freycinet 1811

In June 2011 it will be two hundred years since the first complete map of Australia was published.

Why is this significant? Because although we all know that Matthew Flinders sailed all the way around Australia in 1802, he never made it back to England and so never published his maps. It was not until 1811 that Louis de Freycinet published the first complete map of Australia using a combination of his own and Flinder’s charts.

Flinders had done a swap with the French explorer Baudin when they met in Encounter Bay in the Great Australian Bight. But Baudin also died before his ship reached France. The task of writing up the report of Baudin’s voyage, including the compilation of the map, fell to Louis de Freycinet. And, as you will know if you were reading this page in January/February, I am at present writing the story of Rose de Freycinet who stowed away aboard her husband’s ship in 1817.

No prize for guessing who Rose was married to. More about her very soon …

Working with young writers

It’s competition time again!

Entering competitions is always a good way to improve your writing. There are no losers in writing competitions. Just getting your entry finished – that is redrafted, polished, proof read, typed up and well presented – then sent off to the relevant address by the closing date is an achievement in itself.

There are three major competitions for Young Writers running in Western Australia at the moment.

The Tim Winton Award for Young Writers is run by the Subiaco Library and is open to all students aged between five and eighteen years. This is the first year the competition has been opened up to include country students. Entries must be received by the Subiaco Library no later than 5pm Sunday 22nd May. http://www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/library

The West Australian Newspapers Competition for Young Writers is also a State wide competition that closes at the end of May. It differs from the Tim Winton Awards in that poetry sections are included for all age groups. Entry forms and information at http://www.wanews.com

And the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch (Inc) Make Your Own Storybook Competition is open to all students from Year 1 to Year 8. YOu can enter picture books or story books with or without pictures. There is no minimum word limit, but the upper limit is 5000 words. Entries must arrive at Westbooks by 5pm on Friday 3rd June. http://www.wa.cbca.org.au

There are big prizes and lots of kudos to be won and the same entry can be submitted to more than one competition. Great opportunities for all you keen writers our there.