Tag: Tasmania

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

May 2023: Some recent work

DorkyMum

Just a very quick post from me today to share some recent pieces I’ve had published.

These three links say more than I ever could about the diversity of work that comes my way as a freelancer!

Firstly, I was so pleased to have an essay published in Guardian Australia, reflecting on the ten years that have passed since we first visited Tasmania, and everything that has happened in that time. I’ve had a lovely response to the piece, which I was initially just going to pop on my own DorkyMum blog, so I’m very grateful to the Guardian team for giving it a home and helping it find a bigger audience.

You can read that here: I was told to live like a tourist after my 18,000km move. But I owe Tasmania more than that. Continue reading “May 2023: Some recent work” →

Copywriting

Inspiring Tasmanian Stories

DorkyMum

Brand Tasmania have been showcasing the inspiring stories of women across the state, and I’ve been lucky enough to work on a few of those pieces.

For an incredible overview of the industries and communities across Tassie that women are involved with, check out the video that was commissioned for International Women’s Day... and then maybe take some time to dig deeper into the individual profiles.

Two of the profiles that I wrote are up on the Tasmanian website now. First is Andi Lucas, founder and managing director of X-Hemp, and second is Rebecca Kissling, owner and curator of An Artistic Affair in Oatlands.

I’ll look forward to sharing a few more Tasmanian stories with you soon!

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Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

Writing

Lonely Planet: Experience Tasmania

DorkyMum

I was lucky enough to spend a weekend in Melbourne recently: catching up with friends, eating and drinking my way around the city, and enjoying a few quiet nights in a hotel. What a treat!

I was only away for three days, but I ran out of books and had to make my way to Dymocks on Chapel Street to pick up something new… and guess what I found?

A copy of Lonely Planet Experience Tasmania! Written in part by yours truly! Continue reading “Lonely Planet: Experience Tasmania” →

Copywriting

From graphite to hemp: my latest writing subjects

DorkyMum

I’ve been lucky enough to work on a real diversity of writing projects recently, and I thought I’d share a few of them here.

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Photo by Remedy Pics on Unsplash

Reading

2021: a year in books

DorkyMum

Photo shows a woman standing in front of a brick wall, a book held in front of her face. Caption reads: 2021 a year in books ruthdawkins.net

I love reaching the end of a year and taking a moment to look back through the books I’ve read.

Starting my @ruthreadsbooks Instagram account that I use as a reading diary has been a bit of a game changer. I still keep a notebook to record everything I read each year, but having the visual prompts of the front covers is a great way to jog my memory about the books I’ve enjoyed the most. Continue reading “2021: a year in books” →

freelance life

Notes from two small islands

DorkyMum

Back in September I was invited to take part in a Hobart Pecha Kucha event.

Pecha Kucha originated in Japan but now takes places in cities all over the world. It’s an event format in which invited speakers prepare 20 slides – images only, no text – and have 20 seconds to speak about each one. Continue reading “Notes from two small islands” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing

An interview with an Olympian

DorkyMum

A screenshot of a blog post on Hydro Tasmania's website showing Olympic canoe slalom athlete Daniel Watkins

Working as a freelance writer means that life is always interesting – the pieces I’m commissioned to write are so varied and I often learn a lot during the research.

A recent commission for Hydro Tasmania was particularly exciting, because it led to an interview with not just one, but two Tasmanian Olympians! Daniel Watkins is currently in Tokyo, and did an incredible job to make it into the final of the men’s canoe slalom event. Peter Eckhardt is a former competitor in the same sport, and now Commodore of the Derwent Canoe Club.

I spoke to Dan and Peter for this piece on The Splash, Hydro Tasmania’s blog, and discovered how Hydro Tasmania co-ordinate water releases for recreational users, as well as the qualities that make Tasmanian canoeists unique on the international circuit.

Copywriting, Writing

Celebrating World Water Day

DorkyMum

A screenshot from the Hydro Tasmania website showing a blog post titled 'It takes a village'

 

Monday 22nd March was World Water Day – a valuable opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are here in Tasmania to enjoy an abundance of water, and also a time to acknowledge that not everyone in the world is so fortunate. Continue reading “Celebrating World Water Day” →

Feature Writing, Writing

An essay on Caught by the River

DorkyMum

an image of a sunset on the Isle of Harris, with a quote from an Iain Crichton Smith poem that reads "It’s the island that goes away, not we who leave it.”

Caught by the River has long been one of my favourite websites. The self-described ‘arts/culture/nature clash’ publishes beautiful and thought-provoking essays, music and photography.

It’s one of the sites that I recommended in my Women’s Nature Writing post a couple of years ago, and I’ve been thrilled by the number of people who have let me know that they’ve become regular readers since that recommendation. Continue reading “An essay on Caught by the River” →

Copywriting, Writing

Huon Valley Council: Stories from the Valley

DorkyMum

Sailboats on the Huon River in the Huon Valley

Earlier in the year, I shared a couple of posts with you that I’d written for Huon Valley Council’s new website.

I cut down on my freelance writing work a lot over the winter, while I focused on family and caring duties (more on that over on my personal blog DorkyMum), but I’ve really enjoyed being back at my desk during November and December and one of the jobs I’ve been enjoying has been writing more Huon Valley blog posts.

We normally just visit the Huon as a day trip, and if I’m honest we usually don’t get any further than a slice of pie and a flight of cider at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, but all the research I’ve done for these posts has made me realise what a great long weekend or extended break you could have down the Valley and Far South. It seems like an especially good place for families, with plenty to do and see. Continue reading “Huon Valley Council: Stories from the Valley” →