Allowing yourself to write sloppy sentences, or draw an imperfect picture, or to keep playing a song with gusto when you miss a chord is great way to invite your timid, self-conscious creativity out into the open. When you allow…

Professional writer, designer, and blogger. When she’s not publishing eBooks, designing embroidery patterns, or blogging — Mel’s out in the sunshine finding new stories.
Allowing yourself to write sloppy sentences, or draw an imperfect picture, or to keep playing a song with gusto when you miss a chord is great way to invite your timid, self-conscious creativity out into the open. When you allow…
A few months ago I disabled the ‘show likes’ facility on all my blog posts. Like many of us, the yardstick for measuring the ‘success’ of my writing had been reduced to how many people had ‘liked’ or shared something.…
Imagine finding an award winning book (signed by the author) -- that teaches you how to awaken the extraordinary in your life -- in a second hand book bin for less than $3. ‘The Everyday Work of Art’ by Eric Booth is…
Read More Book Review: The Everyday Work of Art by Eric Booth
This post honours 5 bestselling authors who've taken the time to give back to the writing community by putting clear, useful and free advice about writing and publishing on their websites. Let's go. Judy Blume Judy Blume is an award…
It's wonderful to be finally living my art life. The one I've read about, planned, danced around, grasped, rejected, lost, realised. It isn't a medium like ... I'm a writer, I'm a poet, I'm a painter, I'm a dancer. No.…
How do you keep both sides of the creative fire burning and still have time to play 'What's the time Mr Wolf' with your 9 year old?
My mother is a talented artist and has experimented in many different mediums over the years. One of my favourites is paper and only yesterday I was thumbing through some paper marbling she did for me last year. At the…
Sharing this lovely Poetry and Illustration workshop presented by my friend June Perkins: it's for kids and it's free. From a very young age I loved poetry and it's so wonderful that June is inspiring kids into poetry. I only…
Tomorrow I faithfully promise to bring my photo taking device, a lots-of-empty-space notepad and a pen to some new places. And, if at all possible, not post anything that resembles my new parenting obsession.
"Write your name." I instruct the ten ladies at our weekly activity. "Like you are writing yourself a letter, Dear [your name]." I repeat after they look at me a little uncertain. "Done? Now write 'I love you'." They look at…
© 2016 Melinda Irvine
Saturday (yeah the next one coming) is the beginning of a series of art and creative activities for the children of Botongon, Estancia. Twister tournaments, giant puzzles, painting and poetry. I really can't wait. For the last few weeks I…