Recent writing news, an $18 wonder-bag, and building your to-don’t list
The giveaway this week is Grace Kelly by Megan Hess
Hi folks,
Thanks for sticking around after last week’s non-starter of a newsletter. We had a distressing family situation to attend to and rather than fight through some of my obligations, I decided to be kind to myself and jettison some of them. I don’t regret that decision. At times, putting yourself first is necessary, not selfish.
Among the bad stuff in the past fortnight, there’s been a mixed bag, with some shiny, hopeful happenings as well.
First off, I’ve had a crime short story shortlisted in the Scarlet Stiletto Awards, which has long been on my wish list of writing competitions. If you win the top prize, you get a trophy of a red stiletto. Very Carrie-esque, I feel. I’m super-excited to be in the running, and am hoping to jet over to Melbourne and be there on the night to hang out with my fellow crime-writing homies. The dress code is scarlet and pearls, so I might have to shop for a new outfit while I’m at it. Thrilling stuff!
Another slice of good news I received yesterday is that my flash fiction piece ‘Dauntless’ has been selected to be published in the 2023 London Independent Story Prize anthology. It’s a tiny story I believed in, so I’m happy it’s found such a cool home. I’ll let you know when the anthology comes out (it’s in paperback, so likely not for many months).
Until next time…
xx
Becks
News
1. Australia’s referendum to give Indigenous people a constitutional voice to parliament didn’t go the way I’d hoped on the weekend. If you’re bummed about this outcome as well, here’s a small ray of light in that regard: Julia Cornwell McKean elected Berrigan Shire Council's first Indigenous mayor. When she was younger, she dreamed of being prime minister one day and wrote to Bob Hawke about her ambitions. She no longer eyes off the top job, but she’s keen to make changes for the better on the local scene in regional New South Wales. Love it!
2. Personally, I think easing the laws against renting out granny flats to anyone other than immediate family members is probably the quickest, best way to help ease Australia’s current rental crisis. I know there could be a few hiccups, but the potential downsides look to be worth it from where I’m sitting. So, I’m pleased to hear we’re moving in this direction, with my home state passing legislation in this direction earlier in October.
Reviews
3. Slumped out on the couch this week, I came across a late-night rerun of the opening episode of this year’s SAS Australia. The show has never really appealed to me – various celebs enduring terrifying challenges and brutal conditions while being screamed at and sworn at – not my idea of uplifting viewing. On the other hand, I do enjoy analysing people’s personalities and a good redemption arc on occasion. So, I took a casual interest as it was playing on my telly – that is, until I clocked Craig McLachlan on the program and wondered whether he deserved a chance to rehabilitate his image. I found this article and couldn’t agree more with its author, Chelsea McLaughlin: It's time for SAS Australia to rethink some of its most dangerous redemption arcs. There’s a fine line between helping a well-known person regain their formerly positive image after they’ve slipped up and allowing toxic people to retraumatise their victims. Worth thinking about.
4. At $79 for 50ml, Go-To’s Very Luxe Face Cream sure ain’t cheap, but it is cruelty-free and does, as its name indicates, feel luxe (thick and puffy on your fingertips, but light when you glide it on your face). It smells like a dream too – a light, lemon myrtle scent. I only tried one sachet, so I can’t attest to its longer lasting effects, but my skin was smooth, lacking in grease, and ready for sunscreen after application. I’d consider buying this in future as a night cream, as I’m constantly on the lookout for a new one that doesn’t cause pimples when you apply it near your nose. This could be the one.
5. Run, don’t walk! I came across this $18 K-Mart bag on my Facebook feed and couldn’t resist: the ‘Urban Multi Converter Bag’. It can act as a tote, backpack, and a cross-body bag, and also has outside and inside zippered compartments and a drink bottle pouch either side. I bought the dove beige and it has more than lived up to the hype. I am utterly in love.
6. If you, like me, are in the habit of writing lists and ‘shoulding’ all over yourself, you might fancy this ABC Everyday article as much as I did: ‘I thought better habits would boost my wellbeing. Instead, a to-don't list was key.’ Essentially, the piece advocates for ‘to-don’t’ lists. As someone who has been super-stressed and burnt out in the past (haven’t we all?), this idea appealed to me enormously. We’re so accustomed to being guilted into packing more and more into our schedules, sometimes we might be due for a clean-out. What can we eliminate without losing too much? So I’ll be focusing on rectifying my life-long tendency to people-please and practising saying no. Maybe join me?
What I’m Feelin’ Right Now
A more-is-more approach to blush
Green goddess salad dressing
Wearing white to the beach
Pink shirts in linen and beyond
Mi-kaisha’s ‘Seen’
Black-and-white photography
Bronze lipstick
Creating goodie bags as gifts
Giveaway
This week’s giveaway is an extra-exciting one! It’s Grace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon by Megan Hess. Fill your name and email address in here to enter.
Playlist of the Week
Flying away with the birds: