toearlyretirement
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So I’m project managing an art competition!
I’m sure you’re all aware that one of my jobs is modelling for art classes and drawing groups. I’m also heavily involved in the running of an organisation called the Life Models’ Society – a collective of models who advocate for better pay and condition for life models. The LMS has been around for thirty…
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Auckland Airport
I sit, headphones on, but no music playing I can listen to things around me without attracting attention The woman next to me on a phone call, the two men across the way watching some code of football. Rugby I’d guess based on the city I’m in. Slow revelation of meaning through poetry has never…
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NaPoWriMo Wrap-up
I made it through the challenge of NaPoWriMo again for April 2019! It is always a struggle to feel that my poems are any good when I do this challenge, I seem to churn out so much rubbish, but as with NaNoWriMo, the point is quantity over quality. I will have to set aside some…
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The Painter
‘I have done five layers of background I want to make it twenty,’ she says. ‘What’s the background of?’ I ask. ‘Just colours, like everything I do.’ ‘I spent hours on this one making the background. I was really pleased with it – a rich matte black but then I got drunk when I did…
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NaPoWriMo 2019 WIP
So far I have written eighteen poem as part of NaPoWriMo this year. I wouldn’t necessarily say that they’re all good, but they’re not all bad either. I will probably go back to them later in the year and review them, There’s sure to be a couple that are worth working on. I had be…
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And now for some poetry
It turns out I work best when I’m working on a deadline, and a month-long challenge is like a deadline every day. In April I usually participate in National Poetry Writing Month. Modelled on the popular National Novel Writing Month, which I do in November, NaPoWriMo provides prompts and encouragement to help you come up…
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The month that was, the month to come
Phew! February was the month of book launches. I had my own launch on 17 February, you can read about that here. I also attended three others: a novel, Small Blessings, by Emily Brewin, on 13 February; a poetry collection, Palmistry, by Chris Ringrose, on 23 February; and a collection of poems and photographs, Blue Milonga, by Edward Caruso…
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It’s launched!
On Sunday I released my second novel. I decided to throw a small launch party for it. Here are a couple of photos from the day courtesy of Stuart. I would like to thank everyone who came along, and everyone who bought a copy of the book. I was very nervous about it, but I…
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Pre-order ‘Discovering the Franklins’
I’m super excited to announce that my second novel, Discovering the Franklins, is now available to pre-order on Amazon and all other relevant sales channels! Over the Christmas break away from my day job I finished the very last edits and I’m ready to show my new baby to the world. I am also having a…
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Goals for 2019
Last Friday I went to a workshop that I found through Meetup.com. I frequently attend Meetup events that have highly variable outcomes – some have been really great and positive, like one group for artists which was really positive and motivating for several months. Other times, like a board game night I went to recently…
Fleur Blüm 