Nicola Alter

I was a bit worried I was going to accidentally run face first into it at some point since it was across our pathway, but last night the spider deconstructed it all and rebuilt it in a better spot nearby. I looked it up and apparently some species relocate their nets every day.

Spiderweb in the rain yesterday with some pretty pearlescent necklace vibes 🕸️

Continuing my library crawl with a visit to the Gosford Library, which has apparently only recently been completed. They’ve done a great job of it - nice sitting spots, greenery, views.

Also they had some Hindi picture books at about my reading level so I was tempted to get stuck into those 😅

here is a foundational problem with AI art that AI cannot solve: anyone using it to make art cannot identify bad art. you learn how to recognize bad art (and improve as an artist) via MAKING art, which they have already fully rejected. the sets do not intersect.

I decided to continue doing a bit of a tour of local Aussie libraries, this time by spending an afternoon at the small but sweet Woy Woy Library. I met a friend and we both sat there writing away on our laptops for a few hours.

Always nice to have company, and the extra accountability it provides!

Graphic saying: "Give Away!" in gold on green, showing the three book covers, all by GR Matthews: A Good Day to Die, The Silencing of the North, Corin Hayes Omnibus (audiobook)

The long awaited Silencing of the North, sequel to Seven Deaths of an Empire, releases tomorrow!

We're running a give away to celebrate 🥳🎉

Win an ebook of books 1 or 2, or an audiobook of the Corin Hayes series!

Look here, or in comments below 👇
fantasy-faction.com/2026/silenci...

💙📚🪐 #Giveaway

Some otherworldly, glibbery sea foam on the beach today. Love the way it jiggles in the wind!

Burger Urge poster reads “bazza’s big bogan burger - get this lot intaya” and shows a giant burger with multiple meat patties, lots of cheese, egg, beetroot and salad, and an Australian flag in the background.

The sheer number of Aussie clichés in one sign rather overwhelmed me…

Love that the iconic Brisbane “City Cats” now have a Bluey-themed “City Dog” in the fleet 😄
#Bluey #Brisbane

… It definitely shows how important it is to support and take advantage of your local writing organisations, events and libraries.

And I can confirm - it’s still a lovely place to sit and write!

I spent the day yesterday editing in one of my old haunts, the State Library of Queensland. It reminded me how many friends I met at various events there over the years and how much I learned - festivals, Genrecon, the QWC/Hachette retreat, writing workshops…

I decided to print a manuscript I haven’t looked at in a while and do some edits by hand, hoping that might give me a fresh perspective. It did, and was also just way more satisfying physically reading & scribbling instead of always working on screen. I think I’ll edit this way more often in future!

Rip it up and start again A bold strategy for second drafts—plus, MITZ on Sunday

Not sure I’d be bold enough to do the throw-it-out-entirely method for a first draft, but I can see how it might help “distill” the story down to the most essential, memorable elements open.substack.com/pub/masoncur...

(Source: I originally found this article link via austinkleon.substack.com)

Found a rhinoceros beetle outside on the driveway today! He didn’t seem in the best of heath but we transported him to somewhere safer.

I just love all the colours and shapes on this beach. So many rockpools, shells, pieces of driftwood and eroded sandstone.

We went on a morning kayak up a mangrove-filled river on the high tide. Even though there was a town nearby, it felt very much like venturing into deep untouched wilderness.

The local gang of rainbow lorikeets stopped by ☺️🌈

I’m back in Australia for Christmas and the cicadas are definitely making themselves heard at the moment 😅

Reflections on World Fantasy Con 2025 Highlights from my October visit to World Fantasy Convention in Brighton — plus some thoughts on how it compares to other major conventions.

Some thoughts on the World Fantasy Convention, a con I attended for the first time this year.

#WorldFantasyConvention2025 #FantasyCon #Fantasy #Brighton

Surely spotting a crooked street lamp is good luck?

It might seem strange to go up a tower on a cloudy day when there’s no “view” but I really enjoy the moody winter vibes and being surrounded by a constantly shifting sea of white - and this one was at times almost blindingly bright!

Fortunately I only fell down the last 3 steps and didn’t break anything, but I can feel the bruises forming…

Lessons I should have learned long ago but was reminded of yesterday:
- Don’t walk down the stairs in socks.
- Don’t carry things in both hands while walking down the stairs in socks.
- Don’t chat to someone distractedly while carrying things in both hands and walking down the stairs in socks. 😬

Reflections on Bristolcon 2025 My highlights from the Bristolcon science fiction and fantasy convention 2025, along with reflections on what it was like to participate as a panellist for the first time.

Some reflections and highlights from #Bristolcon2025. This was my first year participating in the convention as a panellist, which added some newness (and nerves!) to the experience 😀

thoughtsonfantasy.com/2025/11/21/r...

Sleet on the upstairs window making for a moody autumnal backdrop to the afternoon’s writing session ❄️🖋️

And for what it’s worth, I was happy that you were one of the people I did get to chat to! Also, good on you for sharing your deeper feelings on the con experience and the anxieties/ups & downs that go with it, I’m usually not brave enough to 🙂

Sorry to hear you had such a mixed experience. I had my highs & lows emotionally at this con too, even if it wasn’t outwardly obvious, & didnt feel like I caught up with as many people as I’d have liked. I guess that’s always a danger at large cons. But I hope you have a better time at future ones ❤️

My haul from Bristolcon & World Fantasy Con 😀📚 Lots of books I’m looking forward to reading, plus an unseen hoard of good memories: great chats, panels, author meetings and bookstore crawls (I can confirm I’m a sucker for spredges…) plus chances to catch up with old friends and meet new ones ☺️

Good news! Pinterest is giving users an option to turn off AI recommendations! 😃 😃 😃 May ALL the other sites also take the hint!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-T...

Stumbled into a unique exhibit at the Truro Cathedral - a spinning model of Mars created using NASA imagery. Quite moving to marvel at a “heavenly body” in a space designed to magnify that feeling of awe, and of the kind where humans have contemplated things greater than themselves for centuries.