Author Archives: davidmckwrites

I’ve figured out I’m more productive when I’m alone; now I’m figuring out if I write better during the day or at night. Why? I here you ask. Well, it’s 1.36am and I can’t sleep. So I did what many of us do in such a situation – I checked Twitter. Lo and behold, whatContinue reading “Day-writer? Or night-scriber?”

As I previously stated, I find being alone to be more conducive to productivity. As I am currently in two weeks solitary confinement for the crime of traveling to Bali, I wondered if this would make me more productive? Or if I would slip into a stupor of procrastination, fueled by Netflix, books and chocolate?Continue reading “Production? or Procrastination?”

Please check out Amanda’s book on smoking with funny anecdotes, which has been published, from my collaborative website https://www.worldwriterscollective.com/amanda-burchell I Like Everything Smoked by Amanda Burchell. Available by request, (please enquire via email). Languages: English. Published 26 – May – 2010. Research on taxes from tobacco and comparisons with other pollutants were used amidst funnyContinue reading “Promoting Amanda Burchell”

Alone, alas, alone is the call from above – Travel from afar? Then for all the one’s you love Stay indoors, you moron! Keep of the beach And out of cafes and beyond an arm’s reach.   Is that your grandma, behind the safety-glass? Celebrating her birthday all alone, alas! Alone, like a country fullContinue reading “Isolation Poesy”

After my previous post, where I concluded I was more productive when alone and the environment did not necessarily have any relevance, I find myself in another situation where I can put this theory to the test. I returned yesterday from a week in Bali, to enter the two week self-isolation phase introduced by theContinue reading “More time to be productive!”

Over the last few weeks I’ve posted about the beautiful environments I’ve been in, and the hope that being ensconced in those surroundings would inspire me to write more and be more creative. So, as I come to my last couple of days in Bali, has it panned out that way? Basically, yes. And no.Continue reading “Does a beautiful environment promote productivity?”

Please check out Angelique’s stories on my collaborative website “https://www.worldwriterscollective.com/angelique-fawns Planet Nine by Angelique Fawns A Journal of Magical Realism Anthology by The Gateway Review: gatewayreview.wordpress.com The story is Planet Nine, actually written under her own name. It will be in the Fall/Winter LGBT issue. It is set in the same futuristic society as “LiveContinue reading “Promoting Angelique Fawns”

Beautiful Bali. From relaxing in the pool with my book, to writing on the patio as a thunderstorm rages. Awesome! I arrived yesterday (11/3), a brave solo traveller in these uncertain times of a world pandemic. So far there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Bali – fingers crossed this continues! It’s veryContinue reading “How’s this for an office?”

Please check out Jacqueline’s two books on transforming your life, which have been published, from my collaborative website, where there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read. //www.worldwriterscollective.com/jacqueline-cripps Jacqueline Cripps | free-stories – Read Great StoriesJacqueline holds degrees in Social Sciences and Psychology and has a genuine love ofContinue reading “Promoting Jacqueline Cripps”

Please check out Louise’s children’s stories, of which several have been published, from my collaborative website https://www.louisecrossley.com, there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read: https://www.worldwriterscollective.com Great news!  Ella’s Handbag, Lollipop Whistle’s Woes and A Birthday Boy Named Jesus, already published in Oz, are contracted to an off shoreContinue reading “Promoting Louise Crossley”

Here I am in beautiful Inverloch, in the south of Victoria (between Phillip Island and Wilson’s Promontory) for a two week vacation. I’m swimming as much as the weather permits, taking lots of walks, and trying to get my writing mojo flowing. It takes practice to balance being relaxed and being inspired. It’s easy toContinue reading “Inspiration vacation”

Please check out Peter’s short stories, of which some have been published, from my collaborative website “https://peterstales.home.blog“, there are also many great authors to chat to and other stories to read:  https://www.worldwriterscollective.com ‘I established this blog in order to publish the many short, pithy stories I have written,’ Peter says. ‘These vary greatly in lengthContinue reading “Promoting Peter Wigg”

Virginia Woolf – she had an incredibly unique insight into the human condition, and way of exploring the conflict between identity and the world. She was also one of the few people who could string a single sentence across three pages, using only a few commas and semi-colons, and still keep me engaged! My favouriteContinue reading “Writers I enjoy reading”

I thought I would share a list of writers who interest me, and who’s blogs I follow. I am interested in these writers as they discuss the art of writing, how writing impacts on their lives, and provide useful insights from their personal experiences of being a writer. They also provide some of their writingContinue reading “Who am I following?”

Often we hear ‘write what you know’ when talking about writing stories. But what if ‘what you know’ is so raw that writing about it will cause a significant amount of pain? Writing about experiences, trauma, and thoughts can be a useful way of processing those events that have caused us pain. The process ofContinue reading “A story? Or therapy?”

Please check out Tessie’s illustrations from my collaborative website “https://www.instagram.com/tessiesdoodles“, there are also many great authors to chat to and stories to read: https://www.worldwriterscollective.com Tessie is one of the members of our collaborative World Writers Collective where we writers share resources, ideas and inspiration. Check out Tessie’s work! I will be promoting a different writer fromContinue reading “Promoting Tessie Dowling”

I thought I had done it. I thought I had written a decent story to enter in this competition. Over the remaining two months before entries close I could hone the story, rewriting over and over to ensure it was the best version possible. First step, give it to a friend to read. He hatedContinue reading “Limnisa Short Story Competition 2020 – update”

Who put this plank in my eye?I could see quite fineIMHO before this thing, thiscatastrophe?, happened to me;I could see the faults inthe world, in others -(too many immigrants, I heard);I could see where to correct thedirection of my life -(get a better paid job, I heard);My eyes were open to injustice,the downtrodden, the oppressorsContinue reading “Fair Dinkum”

I finished the first draft of my short story for the Limnisa Short Story Competition 2020. Great work (if I do say so myself), good story, interesting plot twist. Only problem was when I rechecked the entry requirements on the Limnisa site I discovered my story was 1600 words. over the allowed word limit. IContinue reading “Short, but not quite short enough”

Jan Brady! Yes folks, the middle child of my creative mind, my current novel, won the round in my mind gymnastics. It was purely out of guilt that I gave in, but who cares the motivation, the writing is what counts. So in the end I did one chapter, thirteen pages, and an outline forContinue reading “And the winner is…”

Where to start? What to write? Do I work on the next chapter of my novel, sadly neglected over the last few weeks as I focus on setting up this site and finishing some short stories? Do I work on Turn, Ugly Truth – part 2? Do I begin the new story that has begunContinue reading “There’s too much in my head!”

This is one of the submissions I am currently working on (yes, the one inspired during a massage!). If you’re interested in the competition, or their writers’ retreats and services, check out their website – limnisa.com FYI – full disclosure, it is a condition of entry of this competition that I promote Limnisa on myContinue reading “Limnisa Short Story Competition 2020”

Fantastic 90 minute massage at Body Freedom in South Melbourne (cashing in a birthday gift). Spent the time thinking about a short story I wanted to write for a competition, using a photo and the words ‘Stay rude’ for inspiration. After the massage, a slow walk to Docklands, and a pale ale at The WharfContinue reading “Man, can those creative juices flow!”