Writing is an art

I have often been told that unless you write the most creative opening few lines in a book and grab the reader by the throat that they will not read further as you will have failed to capture the readers attention and as importantly, imagination.

There is a great new website I have discovered called http://www.webook.com/911writersblock it follows that if you are stuck for a writing topic, this will give you some ideas and inspiration, here's some examples of opening lines:

• A quiet suburban cul-de-sac. A child's bicycle lies on its side, one wheel slowly turning.
• A wedding chapel in Las Vegas at 8 a.m. on a Sunday. An old man is asleep in the rear pew, a blood-soaked bandage on his left hand.
• A woman stands on the side of the highway, slowly walking, her used-to-be white wedding gown in tatters.

I just love the fact that imagination, creativity and storytelling  are alive and well and that these and many other ideas can capture that imagination from which could stem a compelling new storyline/novel.

However, on asking several avid and prolific readers far great than me on whether they potentially thought they could write a novel, most came back with 'no, I'll leave that to the writers, I just like reading them."

I suppose not everyone is born to write and even to become a successful writer, but then again, unless we try, we'll never know. 

Consider J K Rowlings first Harry Potter novel was taken on by the prestigious Christopher Little agency but still rejected by a dozen publishers, including Penguin, Transworld and HarperCollins. The small London publishers Bloomsbury eventually took it on, apparently on the advice of the CEO’s eight-year-old daughter. She read the book and lent it to her friend who also thought it was fantastic.

And another in Stephen King’s first novel was rejected by Doubleday, prompting him to take a teaching job. He began a short story called Carrie but threw the manuscript in the bin. His wife retrieved it. Doubleday bought the hardback rights for $2,400 (1,200), and New American Library paid $400,000 for the paperback rights.

So I suppose like them and many others before them I am starting my writing career and seeing where it takes me. I have a few ideas and creative stories I want to tell, but my imagination seems to run wild at the most craziest of times when walking the dog, driving or just day-dreaming.

The latter being a school past-time when advised by my teacher on whether I wanted to become a window-cleaner as I spent many hours staring out of the window.

Mentoring young people

The New Year 2012 brings with it so many new possiblities and opportunities. When asked just before midnight what my New Years resolution was I have a few goals whilst leaving others to formulate as the year moves on.
My original and first thoughts are always 'to ensure that I don't waste the year'. Fairly broad in the concept of resolutions, but most of my life I want to feel some sort of personal and professional goal(s) have been acheived, otherwise, what's the point!
This also includes my time in giving back to society in whatever form I can beit volunteering, mentoring or my role as a lecurer in instilling and giving back confidence and self-awareness to young people.
The latter role is one I am very passionate about as I see a number of young people come through my door that have been told they are worthless, disrespectful, have no voice and are not listened to. Having stumbled on this career a few years ago, I now believe my journey has reached its pinnacle in this is what I am meant to do, teach and mentor young people.

The fact is, I enjoy it.

Do we need to build professional relationships?

Public relations practitioners are not the best advocates of building professional relationships within their own industry. Why, I can only guess, but have heard many times, I am too busy, not enough time, on a needs only basis...when I need to contact someone for some advice then I know where to go.
This leads me to wonder whether we have gone passed building personal, yet professional relationships and that such online professional sites like LinkedIn have surpassed just catching up for a coffee.
However, as I am now a board member of the PRIA WA Council, I was surprised to find that the LinkedIn site has 177 members. Wow! on seeing this I thought there was a great opportunity to connect with people who act and think like I do. This also includes the sharing of knowledge, case studies and having more opportunities present themselves.
Well, I was and am still surprised that with so many members there were several entries from one or two people over a two year period. Maybe this isn't the right forum for connecting with like minded people. Then what is the answer.
Another online site if people are busy; actually catching up for a coffee or more industry led presentations. I am not sure, but this is one key area I aim to explore during the period on the WA Council.
I don't have the answers, but if you have any idea as to how we provide a place of connection, let me know.

A new season

A new season begins for the diploma of public relations and a new shift from what has been a successful run of students changing to a more blended-delivery.
I believe the world of PR is slowly dissolving into a more blended approach to communication between marketing, social media and PR itself.
The edge of a defining role as a PR practitioner are slowly blurring whereby a communications person has to be able to have a much broader spectrum of capabilities than before.
They have to be across many new and demanding digital enterprises such as Facebook, Twitter, etc without excluding the ability to embrace pictures, images and video. Ahh! the power of the moving image...
So where does this leave the new PR student? ensuring they stay abreast of the new dimensions and expectations of a much wider industry than they first thought they were moving into.
The depth and breadth of communications requires a qualification coupled with hands-on experience will stand the student in good stead for future employment.

But what does this take...passion, tenacity and integrity.

have my current cohort of students have what it takes! Watch this space.

Working with unprofessionals...

I have a real issue when I have to work with people who do not work with the same passion, enthusiasm and work ethic as I do.
However, I wonder if I set the bar to high, and have unrealistic expectations or I just don't like working with people and prefer to do it myself.
Difficult, as we cannot work alone and have to understand that in order to get a project completed on time and within budget, the sole worker cannot undertake everything by them-self.
So, how to overcome this problem. Planning, guiding, nurturing, motivating, pleading and whatever else it takes to get a job underway.
There is no right or wrong answer, the choices are not to whether to get involved in group work or not, just that its better to be able to choose your team before you start.
Can be very frustrating though. Just letting off some steam as having the same problem as students currently undertaking group projects throughout the college.
And the answer is...

Moments in time...

I have a personal goal for capturing personal moments in time that I hold dearly to myself that I am able to recall and thank that I can feel them at any given moment.
Sounds a bit philosophical, but let me explain. I was recently in Yallingup celebrating my wife's cousins 50th birthday with a lunch at Lancers, having travelled down with my son, his wife and my grandson, Hamish.
On Sunday morning, Hamey had just been fed, bathed and was a little unhappy with life...crying for reasons that no adult can understand, but looking for something. I took him off his parents and went outside from the beach front chalet we were staying in and stood watching the ocean. Just me and my grandson.
The wind was blowing, cool, but not cold. The sun was up and warming his back. The sound of the sea one can listen to forever. And then I started to speak to him. Just a comforting grandfather speaking to his grandson and within an instant he had not only settled, but was looking over my shoulder at the ocean, watching a seagull and for a short period of time, we were connected in no other way that anyone can describe.
For that special moment in time, we bonded. We looked at each other, a smile came onto his lips, I smiled back, and it was done, moment captured to last the rest of my life.

The smile, however, was a front for Hamish throwing up on my jumper... but it was my moment only shared by us.
Then out of the blue we..., I like that, 'we' saw a whale swim past with her calf about 200 metres offshore. Both coming up for a breath simultaneously, and I felt connected to nature. Perhaps it also was a grandfather looking after his grandson! who knows, but it was my special moment in time.
I have many special moments in time and can recall them all.
Whats yours!

What was she thinking

I have no idea why someone who was supposed to sue David Jones for $37 million for sexual harassment would even consider hiring a publicist. Kristy Fraser-Kirk has been offered less than $1m to settle the issue.
Will she, won't she. Lose and she'll have a multi-million dollar fee to pay lawers. Win and she'll get no more than about $500k. Accept the milion, she'll be seen to have sold out for money and be seen to have been in it for the money.
She will be tarnished either way for the person who decided to sue DJ for $37 m and who would want to hire her. A Women's group, book club or other.
She did the right thing by saying NO. She did the wrong thing by demanding money as compensation, and a great deal more than has been paid anywhere in the world.
Why did she do it. Young, naive, given the wrong advice, watched too many American movies, who knows.
But her future is clear. She'll be the person who will end up the victim.
Will she be able to get a job after this or go on to the speaking circuit as a womens right activist, her life will change.
What should she have done then...