to be or not to be continued...

So I went to the beach to kill some time today and got a bit carried away with people watching. It made my imagination do something really wack! And this is what I came up with...

A small child, maybe 3 or so years old running towards the crashing waves then squealing and running back as soon as the chill of the water touches skin. But that stupid child keeps running back and forth, squealing each and ever time that water gets too close.

Is that really what humans are like? They're so stupid; they experience a bad feeling and yet they go back for more. They make the same mistakes over and over again. I've been told that the human race has the most potential. They evolved the fastest; their technology is second to ours and they're catching up fast. That's why I'm here - I had to see for myself.

I don't know how they stand to live like this. I don't know how they live like this at all, let alone having to stand it. They shouldn't have to really. If I agree to what they want me to do, it would all change. There would be no need for the human child to run squealing from a small crashing wave it knows it's going to come in contact with anyway. Did I mention how stupid that is?

They might be the race who has developed the fastest and who have the most potential but I really feel for their stupidity.
"It's because they don't know any different," a voice said from beside me. I knew Natika would come here even though I asked her not to. I wanted her to stay behind. I wanted to experience this on my own; make up my own mind.

I didn't say anything at first. I considered ignoring her; pretending I didn't see or hear her, but instead I sighed.
"What are you doing here?"
"They don't just create thechnology; they've go one up on us Lotta; they have evolving emotions, feelings. Balance. That's why the Mother wants you to do it," she said, ignoring my question.

Finally I looked at her. She smiled encouragingly. She wanted me to do it, but I couldn't help but be unsure about it.

I may or may not continue with this...

From HP to TW: How to write for Young Adults

As promised, I'm here to tell you how the workshop at the Brisbane Writers Festival was. I attended the "From Harry Potter to Tim Winton: How to write for Young Adults" today and it was out of this world! well... not literally, it was held at the Queensland State Library. Belinda Jeffrey was the speaker and I was very impressed; she did a fantastic job.

The material of the workshop itself was very useful to me. We covered many different topics from how many words a YA novel should be to good (and bad) opening sentences and pages. We were given handouts that I will no doubt refer back to regularly.

There were people there from all different writing backgrounds. Some just starting out with absolutely no experience (Welcome!); some people like myself who've done a bit of writing and aren't afraid to admit we need some guidance; creative writing university students; and people who've actually been published! So there was definitely a variety of people who attended.

During some of the writing exercises I think I've come up with an idea for my next story. On my train ride home I even started plotting out how that idea might come to life! It's only a little spark so far, but it has the potential to turn into fireworks!

Happy Reading, Happy Writing!

It's where the air is clear

I wanna start out by saying that we live in a very beautiful country. I've just been on a bit of a road trip to the out back, to a small town called Yuleba. It's where the air is clear (except from smoke - it's back burn season) and there sometimes isn't another person in sight. It's where the dirt is real red, not fake. It's where people wave and say hello to you no matter who you are; and it's where the pace is slower. (Maybe because there isn't any phone reception? - Just saying)

The drive out took about five and a half hours of me screaming along to the music crackling out of my broken speakers. And I didn't see a kangaroo at all... the whole way! I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. However, I DID see some pretty amazing sites: a sign saying "Amaze yourself, visit...", paddocks and paddocks of farming land and lots and lots of trees. And did I mention that the air is clear out there? Consider it mentioned.

The reason for my trip to the middle of nowhere you might ask? I went out to see a friend who has been living it up in the fresh air. I can't believe it's taken me eight months to actually go out and see her! It definately wont be that long before my next visit.

I'll let you in on a little secret... even though they're small towns out there, double check for servos... I stopped at a town on my way home to fill up and I thought to myself "This is a small town, this is probably the only servo so I better fill up here." So I did at $1.55 a litre! Still thinking that this is the only servo in town I watched as the price went past $60 and then pass $70, and then past $80. I grudgingly went inside and payed the nice people and told them to have a good day. But as I drive out of the drive way and around the corner... what do I find? Not just another servo, but 3 more servos who all had their petrol price a whole ELEVEN cents cheaper than where I actually filled up!

Other than that little hiccup, my road trip to the great outback was great!