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The Better Essays program

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25.01.2022 If you know someone who feels like this about English exams, it's not too late to make a difference. I specialise in essay-writing and English study and can help them to feel better prepared for their examinations. For more information, visit my website at: www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

25.01.2022 Anne Lamott is one of those authors with a gift for writing straight into the heart of a reader. Picking at the corners of our insecurities, she peels away our flimsy little screen protectors until we stand in our birthday suits, celebrating the fact that (a) it’s a party, and that (b) we are not alone. I love Anne. When she describes the piddling puppy, she is talking about thinking, writing, and all the other really hard things we have to work at in order to improve. So, next time you want to kick your truly awful essay/report/love poem over the fence, be patient. Lead it back to your computer gently, and rub its nose in the keyboard. Your next draft will be better. Visit www.thelifewritingproject.com.au to find out more about how to improve your writing for school, work, and pleasure.

22.01.2022 You know that vision of a perfect world, the one where there is no illness, or war, or pollution, or poverty, or crime, or home renovation shows? Thats a utopia (my utopia, actually). A dystopia is nothing like that. A dystopia is a writers vision of an imperfect, broken world. On the outside, it is often rendered as a decaying urban wasteland, or a barren desert landscape. On the inside, dystopia describes the breakdown of society, both physically and morally. It is a pict...ure of Mother Earthdyingand its usually all our fault. Well, sometimes its the fault of a rogue meteor, but those dystopias are no fun. Think of Orwells 1984, or McCarthys The Road or, more recently, Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games. All unhappy. All repressive. And yet, we love them. So, what is it about this miserable genre of storytelling that has us clapping our hands with glee? Sure, they entertain us with their dark and imaginative visions, and they act as a warning to society (watch out for bio-engineering, technology, extreme class structures, zombies, etc), but dystopias do more than this. They also tend to reflect our worst fears about ourselves, and our collective future. In a good dystopia (is that an oxymoron?), we often feel theres a hint of truth within the story. So, the next time you find yourself watching a post-apocalyptic nightmare about a laboratory virus gone, well, viral, consider the genetically-modified canola oil in your popcorn, and think about why you feel so twitchy. See more

20.01.2022 Writing can be hard. There are so many elements to a great essay and, while a few of them do come from a 'magical' place (practice and reading), many more are simple, practical techniques you can learn on Earth. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with essay-writing and English, find out how I can help (or share this post) by visiting the Better Essays program at www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

20.01.2022 Kind words from Hale School's Head of Philosophy and Ethics, Matthew Wills. Thank you for your support, Matthew.

16.01.2022 This is a photo of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Let's say it represents the infinite number of questions you could conceivably be asked in an English examination anywhere in the universe. That includes questions like, "Explore the codes and conventions of colour, juxtaposition, and dialogue in My Kitchen Rules, and how they contribute to the formation of food identity and notions of class." It's possible. You could get that question. After all, English exa...m questions can be about anything in the universe. So, how do you prepare for an infinite universe full of possible exam questions? Well, you don't. But that doesn't mean that you don't prepare AT ALL. Now look at Jupiter's tiny moon. In my tortured Maths/English/Astronomy analogy, it represents all of the questions you are likely to be asked in YOUR English exam. This little chunk of universe is much more manageable. It's made up of questions that you can relate to the themes in the books, short stories, and plays that you've read, and the films and documentaries you've watched. So, make sure that you've noticed what those big, important, intensely human experiences...like social divisions, justice, revenge, redemption, freedom...are. Identifying them will help you to prepare for the universe (also known as studying for English exams). It's not rocket science. See more

16.01.2022 I love Anne Lamott. When she describes the piddling puppy, she is talking about thinking, writing, and all the other really hard things we have to work at in order to improve. She reminds us that, next time we want to kick our truly awful essay/report/love poem over the fence, to be patient. Lead it back to the computer gently, and rub its nose in the keyboard. The next draft will be better. If you know someone who struggles with writing for school, university, or work, share this post with them. If that person happens to be you, visit my website at www.thelifewritingproject.com.au.

16.01.2022 Do you know someone whose memories and stories should gathered, written, and celebrated? Perhaps someone who has lived a life of mischief and adventure? Or, maybe a gentle soul with a legacy of small kindnesses behind them? The Life Writing Project is a six-week program that guides you through the organisation, writing, and production of your, or a loved ones, personal life story. Find out how to capture a chapter of your life experiencea childhood, a career, a journey, or a significant eventand preserve it in print for generations to come. Visit www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

14.01.2022 Yes, sometimes you need to break the rules. Just make sure you understand what you're breaking. And don't get me started on split infinitives.

13.01.2022 Remember 'Jurassic Park', that fun-filled dinosaur theme park filled with flying carnivores, pack-hunting velociraptors, towering tyrannosaurs, and those poison-spitting chicken things that looked cute right up till the moment they blinded, then ate, the idiot who left his car? I do. I loved almost every moment of it. Except the ending. That was a big disappointment. Why? Because, for 127 minutes I was happily prepared to accept anything, as long as the writer explained why I... should believe it. So, in the final scene, when four deliciously meaty survivors are cornered by a pair of hungry raptors, there is really no reason why a T-rex the size of a three storey building should suddenly (and absolutely silently) 'beam' into the lobby, kill the raptors, and save the day. I mean, those things weighed around 8000 kilograms. You'd definitely hear one coming. The Latin phrase, deus ex machina means 'god from the machine'. In ancient Greek and Roman plays, an actor representing a god was literally lowered from a contraption suspended above the stage. The 'god' would intervene in the hopeless affairs of men and fix everything. Today, deus ex machina is used to describe any plot device that conveniently, but completely improbably, fixes a hopeless situation. Just like the T-rex. See more

12.01.2022 A woman I knew once described a row of crumbling flats as "decapitated". She was not a poet. Her description was not a metaphor. The buildings did not resemble headless people. They were old and, as she meant to say, dilapidated. Using the wrong word in speech is a bit embarrassing, and then the moment passes. Using the wrong word in an English essay undermines your credibility, and tends to 'smell' right up until the moment you are given a mark. In English, it's important to find a balance between using the sophisticated language of literary criticism, and writing plainly and clearly. Explore new words. Take a chance. Try not to lose your head.

08.01.2022 Lets use some synaesthesia here. A good sentence should taste like a classic chocolate Easter egg. An Easter egg can be dark, or milk, or white. It can be flavoured with alcohol, or sprinkled with nuts, or filled with M&Ms, or maybe stuffed with rocky road. An egg that combines ALL of these ingredients is just plain confusinga little like this metaphor. My point is that short, simple sentences are clearer, and easier to understand. Dont over-stuff them. If your reader has to go back and re-read, its too long. If there is any chance of ambiguity, its too long. If its studded with commas and makes you feel tired before you reach the end, its too long. So, choose a flavour, and snap that over-length baby in two.

08.01.2022 I blame Santa Claus for the false dichotomy. Sure, other historical figures have been guilty of dividing the world conveniently into black or white, but it was Santa who really got things going with his infamous 'Naughty or Nice' list. If you leave the toilet seat up once in 365 days does that make you 'naughty'? And how about the guy who steals his neighbour's newspaper every second weekend? Does he qualify as 'nice' just because he puts a twenty dollar note in the Salvo's t...in at Christmas? Human beings love a simple choice. That's why the sneaky false dichotomy works so well. A false dichotomy is when someone argues that his option is one of only two available, when other possibilities exist. Here are some examples. Support gun control, or support murder. If you eat meat, you don't love animals. Cycle to work, or destroy the planet. So, give people just two possible solutions, make yours more attractive and...BOOM...guess who wins? But, if you want your point of view to be respected because your arguments are strong (rather than relying on the mental laziness of your audience) then you had better convince us of WHY you qualify as 'nice', while simultaneously leaving the toilet seat up. See more

08.01.2022 Not every student has a fiery passion for words. If you just happen to be a natural 'reading machine' then English is probably easy for you. Vocabulary, grammar, essay structure, and a familiarity with the ideas and concepts that underpin western literature seem to hitch a ride with every good book you consume. However, if this description sounds nothing like you, then essay-writing is probably a struggle. The Better Essays program can help. Visit www.thelifewritingproject.com.au to find out more.

08.01.2022 Anne Lamott is one of those authors with a gift for writing straight into the heart of a reader. Picking at the corners of our insecurities, she peels away our flimsy little screen protectors until we stand in our birthday suits, celebrating the fact that (a) its a party, and that (b) we are not alone. I love Anne. When she describes the piddling puppy, she is talking about thinking, writing, and all the other really hard things we have to work at in order to improve. So, next time you want to kick your truly awful essay/report/love poem over the fence, be patient. Lead it back to your computer gently, and rub its nose in the keyboard. Your next draft will be better. Visit www.thelifewritingproject.com.au to find out more about how to improve your writing for school, work, and pleasure.

07.01.2022 My book. Not a bedtime read, but out of my desk drawer at last!

05.01.2022 Writing can be hard. There are so many elements to a great essay and, while a few of them do come from a 'magical' place (practice and reading), many more are simple, practical techniques you can learn on Earth. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with essay-writing and English, find out how I can help (or share this post) by visiting the Better Essays program at www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

04.01.2022 Taylor Mali is a slam poet and, if you shudder at the experience (or memory) of high school poetry, then this is the man for you. Mali always delivers his message with searing focus and conviction. Gritty. Modern. Uncompromising. In his poem, "Totally like whatever, you know?", Mali exposes the way that so many people are reluctant to speak with conviction. He encourages us to be bold and to say what we want to say with clarity and self-belief. So, set aside your old poetry prejudices and listen. Then ask yourself, "Am I guilty of, like, doing it too?"

03.01.2022 Launched at long last. Check out my new website for The Life Writing Project. http://www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

03.01.2022 Hi all, I am holding a WACE English Examination seminar on Wednesday, October 14th for Year 12 students who need help preparing for their exam. I will answer the age-old question, "What should I study for English that's worth my time and going to help me pass?" This three-hour seminar will run from 10:00am to 1:00pm, including a short break. The cost is $120. I have twelve places only at the Beach Boardroom in Flora Terrace, North Beach. If you would like to reserve a place, you can message me on Facebook, or send me an email at [email protected], or contact me via my website at www.thelifewritingproject.com.au

03.01.2022 Not every student has a fiery passion for words. If you just happen to be a natural 'reading machine' then English is probably easy for you. Vocabulary, grammar, essay structure, and a familiarity with the ideas and concepts that underpin western literature seem to hitch a ride with every good book you consume. However, if this description sounds nothing like you, then essay-writing is probably a struggle. The Better Essays program can help. Visit www.thelifewritingproject.com.au to find out more.

03.01.2022 The man who wrote this poem was a big guy. Fiftyish and balding, he always sat at the back of my poetry class. He was a farmer and, perched on a chair that was clearly too small for him, he struck me as someone who had made a wrong turn somewhere and found himself on Pluto. He rarely spoke. One day, my lecturer asked us all to write a haiku. A haiku is a tiny form of Japanese poetry that consists of only three short lines to capture a single image or feeling. When I think a...bout it now, it seems ironic that such a large man should be asked to produce such a wee piece of writinglike trying to hold a soap bubble in a pair of firemans gloves. However, of all the haikus written that morning, his was the only one to receive cheers from his classmates. It wasnt perfect. It didnt adhere to all the rules of haiku, but it said what needed to be said without a single wasted word. He captured the absolute simplicity of a cows existence, and now I cant look at one without thinking of his words. Strive to be concise. Sometimes, it pays to say less. See more

03.01.2022 If you are feeling a bit like this, then join me for my WACE English Examination seminar on Wednesday, October 14th. This three-hour seminar is for Year 12 stud...ents who need help preparing for their upcoming WACE exam. I will answer the age-old question, "What should I study for English that's worth my time and going to help me pass?" I have twelve places only at the Beach Boardroom in Flora Terrace, North Beach. If you would like to reserve a place ($120) , you can message me on Facebook, or send me an email at [email protected], or contact me via my website at www.thelifewritingproject.com.au See more

03.01.2022 Did I catch your attention? Okay, so in the middle of the usual Facebook deluge of inspirational quotes and all round happy thoughts, this message probably seems a little out of place. Sometimes, if you have something really important to say, you need to appeal to human emotions. That means getting personal. You need to put a tiny face on a broad topic. Like war. Sure, war is big, with troops and tanks and soldiers. But it is also small, like scars and tears and burnt socks.

01.01.2022 or car chases, or fire drills, or zombies. Ignore it all. Why? Because, its the job of an English student to see past all of those things-that-happen in a story, and get to the important themes. Who decides what is important? We do. As humans, we make it our business to care about some things more than others, regardless of where (or when) we live. Love, family, prejudice, beauty, isolationits a big list. Long after our fascination with Jamie Olivers next cooking show is over, or the next Transformers movie is released, the themes of humanity will still be important to us. Writers will write about them. Directors will produce films about them. Clever students will continue to search for them amid all the noisy distractions of a great story. So, behind every explosion is a theme. Even if that theme is simply revenge.