OOTA Newsletter October 28th, 2014
OOTA NEWS We are proud to publish the new OOTA Management Committee for 2014-2015 President – Julie Watts Vice President – Carolyn Abbs Secretary – Liz Hearnden Treasurer/Membership Coordinator – Leanne Searle Ordinary members: Renée Pettit-Schipp Ross Jackson Josephine Clarke Barry Cassidy
WRITING AT THE CENTRE Friday, 31st October is Prose with Helen Hagemann @ the Fremantle Arts Centre: Helen’s start will be directly after lunch in Room 3 1.00pm-3.00pm Class to read excerpts from The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. Writing Exercises and the workshop will look at “sub-texts” in the novel and short story that create intrigue.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Alison Davis who has been highly commended in The 2014 Now and Then Literature Prize, (Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove and Mosman Park) for her short story “Shed”. Congratulations also to Alison for getting her prize winning stories 'Flat-packed' and 'Vanish' published in the 2014 Award Winning Australian Writing Anthology. Gail Willems has 2 poems “Simplicity of You” and “I Am The Eye” accepted for publication in Idiom23 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education” Central Queensland University), forthcoming in December. Carolyn Abbs has her poem ‘Miss Philipou’s Class’ selected for the annual "Best Australian Poems”. Besides Carolyn (YAY!) other WA contributors are Lucy Dougan, Dennis Haskell, John Kinsella, Rod Moran and Andrew Taylor. Vivienne Glance advises that although published, she is no longer part of the production at The Blue Room Theatre called ‘Joey the Mechanical Boy’. The show runs for one week only (18-22 Nov) with a different cast member. If you have any questions about refunds or date changes, etc. please contact the Blue Room directly – Tel: 9227 7005 – (sounds like an intriguing short story, Viv! Ed)
Ω A NEW LITERARY MAGAZINE FROM ROLAND LEACH A new literary magazine, Cuttlefish, produced by Sunline Press, will be released in the March, 2015. The magazine will feature one artist’s work, and will include poetry, flash fiction and other short fiction up to 1200 words. Writers should send poetry, up to 40 lines, flash fiction (250 words and less), and longer pieces up to 1200 words. There will be a payment of $40 for all works. Submissions selected anonymously so writers should send a hard copy to Sunline Press, 21 Jarrad Street, Cottesloe, 6011, with no name on the work. These should arrive by December 5th. Writers should then email to rleach@plc.wa.edu.au with their names and the titles of their work after January 7 and before January 14. Those selected will be notified by late January. All submissions should be typed in 12 point Times Roman, with 1.5 spacing.
Inkerman & Blunt and New Edition Bookshop invite you to celebrate Australian Love Stories, ed. Cate Kennedy, when William Yeoman, books editor of The West Australian, asks probing questions on Love, Life and Writing. In this freewheeling conversation, Yeoman will be joined by contributors Susan Midalia, Natasha Lester, Sally-Ann Jones and Daniele McGee. 7pm Wednesday 19th November The Orient Hotel 39 High St Fremantle Books will be available on the night. Drinks and nibbles from the bar CALENDAR OCTOBER 30 – Varuna Publisher Introduction Program 2015, click here 31 - Odyssey House Victoria 4th Annual Short Story: here 31 - The Best of Times short story competition #18. Details. 31- 2 Nov: Disrupted Festival of Ideas: more info NOVEMBER, 01 - Perth Poetry Club: Tineke van Der Eecken: Details 15 – 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize: Submit here 26 – NaNoWriMo Write Night: Website 30 - Five Islands Press Ron Pretty Poetry Prize: Details 30 – 2014/15 Fish Short Story Prize. See Alumni. DECEMBER 01 – Leaf Press Publishing Opportunity for Poets: Details 05 – Cuttlefish for poetry, flash/ short fiction. Send to Roland 15 – Tom Collins Poetry Prize: www.fawwa.org 15 – Peter Porter Poetry Prize : Details 19- Somerset National Poetry Prize: details Somerset 24 – Nature Writing Prize 2014 : Website 31- 2014 Aurealis Awards Calling for Entries: Details here. The 2015 Somerset National Poetry Prize The Somerset National Poetry Prize is open to all current secondary students who are Australian citizens or permanent residents attending school in Australia. Students receiving home schooling are eligible to enter. Entrants must be under 19 years old at close of entries on 19 December. There are two categories: Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9) and Senior Secondary (Years 10 to 12). Category winners receive $300 plus flights to attend the Somerset Celebration of Literature festival. Entries must be unpublished, original work up to 50 lines. $15 entry fee per poem. For guidelines and to enter online, click here.
Perth-based historical/fantasy author Michelle Diener will speak about writing at Stories on Stage on Wednesday, November 19. Stories on Stage starts at 7pm and costs $15, which includes supper. Books will be available to buy on the night and one copy of Diener's book will be given as a door prize. Bookings are essential on 9467 7118. This is the final event in the 2014 program. The 2015 line up will include Brooke Davis, Joan London, Felicity Young and Mark Greenwood. To go on the mailing list for Stories on Stage, email the centre on admin@koorliny.com.au http://koorliny.com.au/whats-on/stories-on-stage-2014.html
The Peter Porter Poetry Prize Australian Book Review welcomes entries in the eleventh Peter Porter Poetry Prize, which is now worth a total of $7,500. All poets writing in English are eligible. Poems must not exceed 75 lines and must be written in English. First Prize: $5000; Shortlisted Poets: $500. Deadline for entries is 15 December. For guidelines, click here.
POEM OF THE WEEK Getting Pregnant “You can’t get pregnant if it’s your first time. You can’t get pregnant if you do it standing up, if you don’t French kiss, if you pretend you won’t let him but just can’t stop. You can’t get pregnant if you go to the bathroom right after, if you ride a horse bareback, if you jump up and down on one leg, if you lie in the snow til your bum feels numb, if you do it in the shower, if you eat garlic, if you wear a girdle, if it’s only your second time. You can’t get pregnant if he keeps his socks on, if he’s captain of the football team, if he says he loves you, if he comes quickly, if you don’t come at all, if it’s only your third time. You can’t get pregnant if he tells you you won’t.” –
Lorna Crozier
Read more of Crozier’s work on her website @ http://www.lornacrozier.ca/ ootawriters@gmail.com http://ootawriters.blogspot.com.au https://www.facebook.com/groups/435245393226549/