Becks and the City

Fabulous Fridays: 12 April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 07:18:00 +0000

A miniscule one week to go until our trip to London/ Paris/ Brussels/ Singapore! Here's some home-based frantic and fabulous in the meantime...

Ha! A bag for shopaholics in denial (and I count myself in that category).
For those writing days when it's just you, the keyboard and the cat.
Become fresh to death and keep those zombies at bay. Erm...
If you're like me and order your groceries in a Tetris-like grid on the supermarket checkout (while humming the theme song!), watch this.
And speaking of Tetris, here's a reason to play with your food.
Paris will look exactly like this when we visit, right?
Nana-nana-nana-nana-nana-nana-nana-nana, CAT CAVE! : )
Okay, I understand that many people suffered greatly under Maggie Thatcher's leadership, but a death party sounds unseemly.
Jelly flats!!! Love.
I want a hamburger bed so bad...
A blog about the outfits of style icon, Jessica Fletcher. Wait... what?

Becks

Fabulous Fridays: 5 April 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:33:00 +0000

Mr Big and I are now deep into the countdown to our Europe trip (less than a fortnight!), so I've been distracting myself with...

This week we gasped at the demise of Madison. One of my faves for years. Say sayonara on Facebook to the team. : (
I'm not so hot on crunchy honeycomb, but I can't get enough in ice-cream form. Yum!
Ripley is one of my heroes, but the Alien movies are pretty rubbish after the second one. Here's what would have happened if William Gibson had written #3.
Like gelati on a string... Bellissimo!
The Happy Loves Rosie blog is gorgeous, and Happy's Pinterest is similarly chic and cheerful.
Is it me, or is this swimsuit scorching hot? Wouldn't want to jiggle yourself around in the pool much, though.
Avril's music is kind of the solo female equivalent of The Offspring -- simple melodies, but darn catchy. Like this one to push her perfume. Love.
For the flock fluttering down your hallway.
Weird, there seems to be a formula for writing blockbusters, at least for these three stories.
Happiness? Yep, sign me up for that. A handy how-to.
Oh HELL no! In their heyday, yes, but could do without a revival, thanks.

Wishing you a rip-roaring good time! xx

"Girlfriend" Query

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:24:00 +0000

I bought every issue of Girlfriend magazine (as well as Dolly) for several of my teenage years. And now I'm published in it! My article, '#Winning', is on page 44 of the April issue. Here's the email I sent to editor, Sarah Tarca, to make it happen (PS who are those long-haired louts on the cover?)...

Dear Ms Tarca (aka editor dude!),

I'm a freelance writer who's written for magazines including Women's Health & Fitness and Cosmo Bride. Samples of my work are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Girlfriend is famous for (among other a-MAZ-ing things) giveaways like the Rimmel Model Search and Girlfriend of the Year. I'd like to write an article, "#Winning", helping readers win competitions like these and have one of those "ERMAHGERD, I've won!" moments.

As a competition addict, I've won everything from a trip to Japan to a year's supply of toilet paper, magazine subscriptions and $1,000 Westfield shopping spree. The article would include tips on how to find Twitter, Facebook, blog and website comps, opportunities to score freebies and mystery shopping gigs and how to compose those tricky "25 words or less" entries.

Coming to 800 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Douglas

Fabulous Fridays: 29 March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:49:00 +0000

Happy chocolate bunny weekend! Have an ogle of these while you recover from your sugar coma...

Three tiny days to go until Game of Thrones season 3 begins. Winter is coming.
Prettiest floral photo EVER.
Mr Big and I are jetting off to London in exactly three weeks. These tweets have slightly harshed my buzz about it.
The Dior display in Harrods makes me feel decidedly better though.
Will there even be any department stores in Australia in a year's time? Here's why they're losing out to online.
Part retro, part tuxedo, all awesome. Want.
I'm so freaking hungry I could eat a whole one of these.
Papier mache your own giant food sculptures/haemorrhoid rings.
Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but whoever tweets as Leslie Chow from The Hangover is a total LOL-fest.
Is there really a Carrie Bradshaw effect?
I'll be watching Rush Hour tonight, a fave I'd forgotten about. Worth the purchase price for the blooper reel alone. Bahahaha, "show your ass!".
When I set foot in New York one day (hopefully soon), I'm SO wearing this. Eff yeah.

Wishing you bountiful chocolate supplies and a gay old time. xx

Fabulous Fridays: 22 March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 07:55:00 +0000

I'm feeling the girly, retro vibe on this Fabulous Friday. Let's kick-off the cute and quirky of the week...

After umming and ahhing for quite a while, I've finally bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with a sleek white case. How awesome is this one, though?
We saw the fifth Die Hard last night (not too shabby, just remember to switch your brain off). This sums it up neatly. : )
I don't like the sound of this "fake it 'til you make it" blogging tactic!
Marilyn Manson on being blamed for the corruption of children.
I've been playing Ice Cream Jump obsessively on the Note. So darn cute!
You're usually hard pressed to find me touching salad, but I reckon I'd eat this... with a pasty.
Miranda Kerr is no longer ambassador for department store David Jones after making too many demands. I though she was supposed to be so down-to-earth? *Cough* bollocks *cough*.
An eco-licious wedding bouquet made out of pastel maps.
I'm actually a traditionalist when it comes to hot cross buns. I'm not much for the new-fangled chocolate ones. Willing to make an exception for these, however. : )
This desktop background speaks the truth.
So, Aussie politics kinda imploded yesterday. Here's how. Not a good look.

Happy Friday, folks!

Fabulous Fridays: 15 March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:45:00 +0000

After having a not-so-dandy time last week (and therefore skipping Fabulous Friday), it's back! Welcome in the weekend with...

The Big Bang Theory flash mob. Too funny! : )
If you're like me and hoard old nail polishes from 1987, put them to good use.
For the food w*nker in all of us: My Darling Lemon Thyme.
For writers sick of all the knock backs, it's rejection letter bingo. I reckon I could fill just about the whole card already!
Bought this phablet, or rather, fablet, today. I'm in love!
I live in the great and powerful Aus, but keen to see the other version. They've created such a rich and beautiful world.
The lavender hair, pastel outfit, floral shoes... One of the best Aussie blogs out there: Esme and the Laneway.
So, ordinary movie-goers are financing movies these days. Not sure what to make of this.
Am trying to resist the evil temptation of these cute-as flats. I can't hold out much longer...
My newest pole dancing idol, Michelle Stanek. This bird is truly amazing.
Have you entered your little patch of the internet in the Best Australian Blogs Competition? I'll be entering for sure.
Awesome song, awesome movie ending... + Sarah Michelle Gellar. Win!

Now I'm off to try the aqua-eyes-and-pink-lips look! xx

Fabulous Fridays: 1 March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:06:00 +0000

Hope you've had a pop art end of February, full of colour and contrast (I'd love to rock that makeup above!). Here's what this week...

I've just signed up to receive free samples from PINCHme when the site launches. Sweet!
Love. This. Sweater.
Mamamia post recently: 'Choosing only 'quality' friends for your kid'. Um, excuse me?
Calling all Star Wars geeks: ZOMFG, remote-controlled inflatable R2D2!!!
My Mad, Fat Teenage Diary -- Bridget Jones for kids of the '80s. Wanna read this so bad -- it's apparently brilliant.
If Gala Darling were Japanese, she'd write this blog. Love.
Dido's back with a brand new album. Eeeeee!!! This older song of hers gets quite a few replays in my car.
Extreme blush: hot or not? I'm going with smokin'. I would over-blush myself in a heartbeat!
The new Peppermint magazine came out today, with my travel article in it! : )
Rainbow lollipop earrings. My life is complete!
Okay, so this was spooky -- I dreamt of this pole trick I've failed at for yonks, then nailed it that same night in my lesson. Bizarre!

Hope that provided some welcome comic relief. xx

Are You Ass-kicking Your Goals in 2013?

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:09:00 +0000

The dust has well-and-truly settled since I kicked up my heels at New Year's, but how am I going with my goals for 2013? Completely forgotten, guilty memory, or notched up into achievements already? Let's take a look...

In my blog post, "Hello 2013!", I set my annual writing goals, including 10 magazines I'm fixing to write for:

In these first two months (in fact, by the end of January!), I'd written for two of these mags, Peppermint and Girlfriend. I've also attended a social media course in Melbourne (run by NET:101's Tim Martin) and am currently writing an article 'on spec' for The Big Issue.

I'm feeling like I'm making real progress. I attribute this to:

switching back to 3 days a week in my 9-5 mediator job and having more time to write
being more established as a writer so it's easier to get further writing gigs and, well...
luck.

Long may it continue!

I'll share my articles from Peppermint and Girlfriend as they're published (fingers crossed!), along with my latest query letters to editors, successful and not-so-much.

So, over to you. How are your goals going?

If they're of the writerly persuasion (dreaming of a career in magazines, writing, blogging or similar), I'm here to help!

Here's how:

Magazine Interns and Freelance Writers: I'd love to interview you on this-a-here blog (see examples here and here). And I'll link to your Twitter, Facebook, blog 'n' all as part of the deal. : )
Beginner Writers and Bloggers: Contact me with your best questions about writing and I'll do my darnedest to answer them on the blog, or if you're shy, by email back atcha!
Everyone: Happy to hear from you with any questions, comments, suggestions etc you may have or if there's anything you'd like me to blog about.

Just email me at beckemail@gmail.com or tweet right at me @becksandthecity. Easy!

Fabulous Fridays: 22 February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:34:00 +0000

Happy sunshine-y day (I hope)! Here's what's groovy and graceful this week...

Prime Minister or CLEO Bachelor of the Year? Tough choice! Congrats to Jessica Rudd on becoming a CLEO columnist though.
Want Becks and the City delivered straight to your inbox? There's a new email signup box under my picture to the right. Neat! : )
Love Everything Etsy and love the look of these Easter craft ideas.
A nerd shopper? That sounds exactly like me!
Itching to unleash my inner shopper on the cute workout tank in the Ruffles with Love Etsy store. : )
If you don't know what all The Hoopla is about, get onto it. I especially love this salute to teachers.
ZOMFG, Scrabble rug! Now how do you get the giant letter tiles to match?
I love it: the writer of Juno, Diablo Cody, was once a stripper and phone sex operator!
You may walk into a stobie pole, but hey, at least you'll do it in style. Pretty.
There's been a few changes around Becks and the City lately. Here's some top tips for sprucing up your author/creative website.
Fancy seeing oversized cowboy boots and a teapot petrol station in the US? Me too.

Enjoy! xx

Fabulous Fridays: 15 February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:29:00 +0000

Happy Friday! We'll have you clutching-and-heaving flowers out of your bosoms in no time...

These lipstick biscuits are seriously tempting.
I'm eyeing off this pink polka dot creation as my new pole dancing shorts. Love.
Wow, if only I had the $$ to buy this for a pole costume! Eye-exploding colours.
I definitely wore the Body Shop lip balm and, embarrassingly, Impulse in the '90s. How many do you recognise?
I want to be a giant pretzel!
We booked our trip to London and Paris on Valentine's Day. Hampton Court Palace, here we come!
And in other news, Canadians are awesome and zombie-ready.
What a happy little raincloud!
All I can say is "OWWWW!". These contortions are just insane.
If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, make sure you get your daily dose.

Have a floaty, floral, frivolous Friday! xx

Fabulous Fridays: 8 February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:33:00 +0000

Happy week-before-Valentine's! In the lead-up, you'll be loving these finds...

I'm tossing up whether to buy this funky-but-classic Country Road silver skirt. What do ya reckon, should I pull the trigger?
Rainbow heart ring.
Bruce Willis, I'm a huge fan, but what the hell? How about you stick to yelling yippie-ki-yay on-screen?
How to earn more as a freelance writer. Yes, thanks.
For those feeling like a nice serve of porridge, have a naughty night at a prison hotel.
Vigorous defence of your client or shaming and accusing a rape victim? Such a sad story.
I searched for "weird baby hat" on Etsy for a baby shower present. I found this. EEP!!!
Saw Les Miserables last weekend with Mr Big. Gonna call it: Samantha Barks as Eponine was even better than Anne Hathaway!
I'm on the lookout for a fabulously bizarre pie recipe. How about apple bacon?
New York, PHEW York, a scratch-n-sniff adventure. Wicked!
If you wanna swap random stuff in the mail with other people, join Swap-bot. Cute!

Have an fanciful, mysterious and mystical week, all. xx

Fabulous Fridays: 1 February 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 06:07:00 +0000

It's that time again! Here's a few sites and sounds I've lusted over on the web this week...

I have a long-held fascination with icecream vans, so you can see how I might like the soft serve here.
How to paint strawberry nails. Cute! : )
Okay, I'm kinda in love with this OMG Fact -- Stevie Wonder found music because of a mouse.
Food fanciers' wet dream: Bake It in a Cake.
Speaking of cake, I'm intrigued by cheesecake you can enjoy absolutely anywhere, but suspect it may taste like a**hole.
For your viewing pleasure: the path to hotness of Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter. HAWT.
Step 1: play this on your iPod or phone. Step 2: sleep. : )
Apple sandwiches. YES!
Brings a whole new meaning to 'getting dolled up'.
A slightly clingy Valentine's Day present for your resident LEGO-lover.
Fleur Ferris's tips on how to find an agent. This is next on my writer wish list, so I found Fleur's insights incredibly helpful.
And to take us into the weekend, I'm feeling a little retro...

Hope you love them as much as I do. 'Til next time! xx

Hello 2013!

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 04:44:00 +0000

January's almost over, but I've got big plans for 2013...

Overall writing goals:

Write more magazine articles.
Finish my zine.
Pitch my non-fiction book to agents and publishers, hopefully resulting in a book deal. : )

On the magazine front, I'd like to improve my portfolio by writing for more big-name women's fashion and lifestyle titles, including some international publications. My ultimate goal is a commission from Vogue.

I'll continue writing generally on lifestyle, health, weddings etc, but also develop a niche in fashion writing/shopping (especially online -- eBay, Etsy, buying and selling etc)/social media/winning competitions/consumer issues.

With the above in mind, I'll be pitching to:

Online, I'd like to write posts for:

The Punch
ABC The Drum

We'll see how all this pans out! What are your goals (writerly or otherwise) for this year?

Fabulous Fridays: 25 January 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:02:00 +0000

A very hooded, rosy-cheeked weekend to ya! Here's what's up in my world this week...

Just ignore how many 1/2 sticks of butter are in this recipe and focus on the fact you're eating your vegetables.
Are writers prone to being depressed? Probably, because other people are prone to being a**holes!
Hungry for a block burger?
This song: pretty much the best thing Grey's Anatomy had going for it.
A green piece of shower art/candidate for Regretsy.
I'm so totally digging this Aussie cruelty-free beauty company lately. Bought their shampoo today.
If Sheldon and co stuffing up doesn't make you LOLZ, you are dead inside, I tells ya.
There's some sort of pianist/penis joke in this dress. Wow.
Grand matron of magazines, Ita Buttrose, has been named Aussie of the year. Yay Ita!
For the morning show host who made offensive comments about breastfeeding this week: a boob beanie. Brilliant!
Weird Al was doing parodies before memes were even a thing, so eat it.

Now if you excuse me I'm gonna go find a drawstring rucksack to dress myself in. G'night!

The Melbourne Trip

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 07:51:00 +0000

You may have noticed last week's Fabulous Friday post went by the wayside. Mr Big and I travelled to Melbourne for a few days' R & R. Can you guess what we got up to? Here's a quiz...

1 We trekked to Melbourne for
a) the Australian Open
b) a LEGO convention
c) a blogging convention
d) Fashion Week
correct answer: b (but the other options sound all kinds of rad too!)

2 While there, a 10-year-old told me I look like
a) Miranda Kerr
b) Miley Cyrus
c) someone's mum
correct answer: flatteringly, c : (

3 Happily, I was also complimented by a stranger on my
a) Banana-yellow skinny jeans
b) Mandarin-orange shorts
c) Grape-purple peep-toe ankle boots
correct answer: a (although I do own b and c)

4 My favourite LEGO exhibit was
a) a gigantic pink-frosted doughnut
b) The Love Boat
c) styrofoam LEGO men the size of Cabbage Patch dolls
correct answer: a (b and c were there too)

5 We met up with
a) our long-lost identical twins
b) a celebrity I was interviewing for a top glossy
c) friends who've moved to Melbourne and Mr Big's online friend from an action figure forum
correct answer: c

Up for another quiz? See how I feel about the ol' day job in Workin' 9 to 5.

Fabulous Fridays: 11 January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:21:00 +0000

Hey, if you were wearing that much tulle, you'd look pretty constipated too. Unwind with this assortment...

Okay, so my New Year's fitness resolution is to learn how to do the worm and I'm not even joking.
Graeme Simsion sent me a copy of his novel, The Rosie Project, this week. I'm imagining the main character is like a cross between Bones and Sherlock Holmes and expecting brilliant things.
And then Sportsgirl released this jumper and made my life complete...
I find gardening pretty boring. Unless, of course, you do something wicked like this.
Clever marketing idea of the week: Monopoly asks you to save one token and vote in another. I saved the Scottie dog and voted in the robot.
Fascinating read if you feel like indulging your inner Chicken Little.
This is the cutest fracking thing EVER: woman makes tiny teddies for her pet mouse.
I WILL kick the ass of whoever gets in the way of me watching the fifth Die Hard movie.
The place where my love of dance and '80s computer games meet. Heart it so much.
A couple of great Aussie magazine writers to follow on Facebook: Gabrielle Tozer and Sarah Ayoub.
Would somebody please pack this in my lunchbox next week? Too cute. : )

Happy Friday, fuzz balls!

Fabulous Fridays: 4 January 2013

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:18:00 +0000

Yay, time to tap into that weekend vibe with a few well-earned diversions...

I'm keen to get my mitts on Flow magazine. For paper lovers and hip people all over!
The power of parody: I saw a TV show last night showing American school students protesting their paltry cafeteria lunches with "We Are Hungry". And it worked!
My latest acquisition arrived yesterday in the post: a delightful pink Bloch onesie. Adore.
Some may dismiss a giant rubber duck in Sydney Harbour as silly and tacky. To me it's the best. Thing. Ever.
My new theme song, thanks to frequent viewings of Snooki and JWOWW (despite being, ahem, a year or two away from being a '90s bitch).
This dude's blog intrigues me. Bookmark for when you need ideas for that dystopian novel you're planning.
#DepressingChildrensBooks. Ha!
Would you date an unemployed guy? It's sad that we're so keen to jump to conclusions.
Unfortunately my brilliant idea for a cookbook this week was already taken. Fortunately, it rocks! Want.
This is what it's like to experience New Year's Eve in Times Square. Next year, I'll be standing there for real, I hope!
Anyone who pins Bambi tattoos must be befriended: my latest Pinterest buddy, Tea Cake Make.

Welcome to the weekend! xx

Goodbye 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Beck's year 2012...

Survived taste-testing a century egg and enjoyed our friends' wedding in Malaysia.
Visited a psychic for the first time.
Freelanced full-time for three months, dayjobbed (a verb, yes?) for nine months and decided to revert to part-time to make way for more writing.
Endured a real low point when our cat Jemma went missing and never returned, despite months of searching.
Regained custody of my two cats, Mew-Two and Jaffa, after they'd lived with my ex for three years.
Dabbled in being a redhead and decided I like life on the flame-haired side.
Dipped my toe into the wonderful world of fish foot spas.
Voted on firemen calendar wannabes at a selection night and won the raffle prize of attending the photo shoot and oiling down the "talent". Phew, it was tough work!
Won, in addition to the firemen raffle, a magazine subscription and social media course. Hooray! : )
Learned to make cheese with my friend Karen.
Wrote for magazines, Dog's Life and Diabetic Living, and online for Mamamia (Megan Gale even tweeted about my article!).
Tried (and got heart palpitations from) shooting a gun.
Managed not to go completely round the twist renovating our bathroom.
Saw The Hunger Games at the cinema, became enthralled, and then proceeded to buy the books and read them repeatedly.
Modelled myself on Lady Gaga for my pole dancing competition performance to Just Dance.
Saw one of my ultra-idols, James Marsters aka Spike from Buffy, at a pop culture convention.
Enjoyed my first ever flight for (and paid for by) work, staying in a beautiful Melbourne hotel with a TV in the bath!
Learned to make sparkly, magpie-pleasing jewellery at a dichroic glass course with gal pal, Cathy.
Embarked on a road trip with Mr Big's family to the lovely seaside town of Port Fairy and had a ball pretending to be a pioneer at Sovereign Hill.
Saw my favourite band from back when I was a kid in concert. Roxette definitely still rox!

Wanna see my 2011 list? Here it is.

I Tried... Shooting a Gun!

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

A voucher for my birthday, a firing range and popping balloons...

Firstly, let me get one thing straight: I don't advocate guns or killing for sport. I'm not even that keen on killing for food. I just wanted to try shooting a gun, you know, for the coming zombocalypse. Best to be prepared, right?

Shooting a gun at a firing range has been on my bucket list for some time and, recognising this, my in-laws decided to give me a taste of being an outlaw for my birthday. So off to the firing range Mr Big and I toddled.

If you've never fired a gun and you'd like to try it, first let me pose you a question: Are you afraid of popping balloons? Because I am. I hadn't connected these two concepts until I stood in my stall next to the other shooters and squealed and had a mini-heart attack every time someone fired at their target.

We tried four types of guns, each more powerful than the last, two automatic then two revolvers. I preferred the smallest automatic for its weaker kickback and (relatively) quiet bang. By the time we got to the revolvers, I was seriously considering quitting and waiting for Mr Big in the lounge area with a nice cup of tea.

But with nine other men in my group of shooters and zero women, I loathed the thought of being such a stereotypical girl. In the end, I'm glad I pushed through. I gave it a go, I'm actually not a bad shot, and I can now say I've tried firing a gun.

So, on to my next bucket list pursuit... Should I try skinny dipping or picking locks?

Have you tried firing a gun? Did it scare the living @#/%$ out of you?

Fabulous Fridays: 28 December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:44:00 +0000

It's the final countdown until 2013 and I've got a few parting gifts for you...

I've always fancied myself quite the moonwalker, when really I suck. I've found what I'll be wasting my time on these holidays.
My Mr Big is a massive comic book addict, so super-shoes would be his and my obsessions combined!
How to choose a wallpaper for my new MacBook? Create a Pinterest board. I chose this clever little number in the end.
Word.
Twenty + years since Days of Thunder and I still can't get over Show Me Heaven... and it'd make an excellent pole dancing song, no?
The media and politicians both need a reality check, but who's gonna bring it? So agree with this.
I hate salad, but even I couldn't go past these colours.
And speaking of the pole-ished look, if you're gonna go skanky you've gotta commit, right?
Devastated. This silver sequinned onesie was sold out in my size in Zara. : (
One of my fave Christmas presents: Secret Lives of Great Authors. So many kooky, brilliant buggers!
So you've noticed I like So You Think You Can Dance, especially the incredible auditions. Duh, have we met?

See you on the flip side! xx

Fabulous Fridays: 21 December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 13:13:00 +0000

THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE

Happy holidays, guys and dolls! Here's what I'm loving in the lead-up to Tuesday...

Build your own LEGO Christmas ornaments. I like the gingerbread house and turkey platter. : )
The 12 gays of Christmas. Gold.
We bought a few festive albums recently: Taylor Swift, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Neil Diamond.
Cool Christmas memes and marketing. I'm off to investigate this Space Invaders...
Dear Lord, onesies get the yuletide treatment. Yikes.
Gonna make these as gifts with some spare felt. Cute and easy, just how I like my craft!
That awkward moment when half the food court bursts into the Hallelujah Chorus.
Season-appropriate Tumblr: Sparkly Shit.
Brings an all-new meaning to "Christmas stockings". Pretty.
"Jingle Hell": the Full House episode where Michelle learns to crap in a bowl. Should have been called "The Christmas Craptacular".
Cee Lo Green and The Muppets wish you a fuzzy festive season! : )

Merry Muppetmas! xx

Fabulous Fridays: 14 December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:23:00 +0000

The picture above looks like Alice In Wonderland's Queen of Hearts meets Vogue photo-shoot to me. Mad as a march hare about these delights this week...

Have some festive fun and see your house in a snow globe. : )
Love Actually was on the telly this week. I have such mixed feelings about that movie. Ditto.
Such a sweet, boppy song -- I hadn't seen it had gotten a Glee makeover. Cute!
Obsessed with learning fashion illustration right now. Just because.
Really, these are my choices? I demand a recount.
Cute arrow ring is cute.
Golly, oversight or harbinger of doom? This is why we need sub-editors to preserve our digital-age dignity.
Given I've written for Mamamia, I was fascinated by the debate this week over whether it should pay its writers.
Digging these Instagram photos by @sybilsteele. So bright and lively. : )
Wow, I'd always thought of Nicki Minaj as a less talented imitation of Lady Gaga. I repent. Love it.
If you wanna turn your photographic ineptitude into quirky cool, these are just the ticket. Want!

Hope I haven't made you late for a very important date. Enjoy the weekend. See you next week. xx

Fabulous Fridays: 7 December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:46:00 +0000

Hope you've had a rockin' week! Mine's been good -- I've even fit in time to write (drafting up an online opinion piece)t. In between, I've found these highlights...

Scrooge didn't need three ghosts, he just needed to read this post on The Hoopla.
Guess who can't be bothered with gender equality? Great game, but this irked me as a kid too.
Robot wars on So You Think You Can Dance. Amazing.
You're gonna wanna check The Modern Woman's Survival Guide every day for a while -- it's running a '12 days of Christmas' competition.
Motivational and nerdy. I like.
My favourite Christmas movie, tied with The Muppet Christmas Carol.
I think Lauren Conrad is a little bit fabulous. Love this 2-ingredient party appetiser recipe on her site.
These offbeat little cards and prints are perfect for cheering someone up.
Can't wait for the upcoming Company magazine super bloggers issue, featuring these online superstars.
Back when I liked Kylie Minogue and choreographed dance routines to her songs for school assemblies (yes, really).
I'm all for kitsch ornaments, but having this on the Christmas tree might just give me nightmares.
The most important friggin' cultural event ever: Vanilla Ice on ice. : )

Rock on! xx

Interview: Gabrielle Tozer

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Proving former nerdburgers like me who did the MS Readathon can grow up to be rather cool actually, Gabrielle Tozer is a magazine features writer with a grab-bag of amazing titles to her name. She will soon be adding 'published author' to her credentials, with the launch of her upcoming book. She has graciously shared her writing tips and behind-the-scenes glimpses with us here.

Gabrielle Tozer (nee McMillan) is a Sydney-based journalist and soon-to-be author.

When Gabrielle’s not churning features for her full-time magazine gig at Prevention Australia magazine, she’s working (‘tearing her hair out’) on the sequel.

Her writing has also been featured in titles including DOLLY, Cosmopolitan, Mother & Baby, GOfish, Weight Watchers magazine, The Canberra Times and mamamia.com.au.

Say hello at www.gabrielletozer.com, on Twitter @gabrielletozer and on Facebook – distractions are always welcome. In fact, they’re encouraged.

1. How did you discover you wanted to be a writer?

Even as a tot, I adored reading. I’d read everything I could get my paws on – and then re-read it, just for fun. You know those kids who’d happily do the MS Readathon forever if they could? That was me. I think that interest in devouring book after book naturally led me to writing my own short stories and, when I learned you could get paid to do that, I was hooked.

I was young, too: five years old and all buck-toothed and mono-browed, with limbs resembling a baby giraffe. But I knew what I loved and nothing could convince me otherwise. I even had an assignment in kindergarten where we had to name our ‘dream careers’ and – this makes me so happy – journalist and author were both on there. Okay, okay, in the interest of full disclosure, ‘lady who works at Grace Bros’ and ‘craft shop owner’ were also on the list, but luckily I followed the right path (because DIY is my sworn enemy).

Later on, my decision was cemented after meeting young-adult authors John Marsden and Margaret Clarke. My little cotton socks were knocked off and I knew, more than ever, I wanted to be a writer. My friends and I would make our own magazines using A4 notebooks, paper, textas and cuttings from real mags. I’d kindly nominate myself as the editor-in-chief – complete with my very own ‘editor’s letter’. Occasionally I feel embarrassed that I’ve known what I’ve wanted to do for – literally – 81.48 per cent of my lifetime. But, most of the time, I feel blessed, because it’s given me more years to do what I love most.

2. What were your first goals as a writer? For which publications did you aim to write?

When I first started, my only goal was to write. Simple. Once I was doing that regularly, I began to look for places to pitch my pieces to, whether that was magazines, anthologies and competitions (not to age myself too much, but this was before endless blogs exploded all over the internet).

Now, I’m no Carrie Bradshaw – I have terrible shoes, a limited wardrobe and a lack of interesting dating stories – so the high-end fashion titles were never on my radar. But everything else was: entertainment, news, music, lifestyle, youth, health, celebrity, reviews, creative… you name it, I’d give it a crack. I wasn’t picky – the local newsagent introduced me to a smorgasbord of magazine titles, and I contacted every editor possible. Eventually, someone took a chance on me and said yes, and it snowballed from there.

Knowing what I do now, I’m relieved I stayed open-minded with genre and didn’t pigeon-hole myself too much – writing on a range of topics keeps things interesting and means I’m always learning and discovering with the reader.

3. What was your first paid (or breakthrough) article? How did it come about?

My first paid article was for a Geelong-based street-press title called Forte in 2004. I’d been lucky enough to chat with Naughty by Nature for the Canberra-based title BMA, and Forte wanted to reprint it because they hadn’t secured an interview. I was thrilled to be commissioned and promptly signed up for an ABN to feel like a real freelancer.

4. What is the most enjoyable article you have written?

Tough question. Honest answer? I don’t know. Some of my proudest moments have been after I’ve wrangled groups of high-profile Australian celebrities together for photo shoots (not always an easy task!), interviewed them and written up their personal stories. It’s always a little stressful in the lead-up, but once it comes together on the day I feel a real sense of achievement. Seeing my byline in the finished product is fabulous, too.

(Actually, one particularly fun story was for Weight Watchers magazine in 2011, where I had to trial different exercise classes with my now-husband, Jason. I dragged him along to a salsa class and, while we weren’t exactly Fred and Ginger, we had a great time... treading on each other’s toes and laughing our heads off, that is.)

5. Tell us about your new website, www.gabrielletozer.com, and how it was created.

After recently getting hitched and changing my name personally and professionally to Gabrielle Tozer (my bylines used to be under ‘Gabrielle McMillan’ or ‘Gabby McMillan’), I decided to treat myself to a shiny, new website to go with my shiny, new surname.

I’d already worked with design company Magicdust on my previous two websites, so they were an obvious choice. My vision and ‘feel’ for the new site was clear in my mind – I just needed their help to bring it to life. I wanted something fun, quirky, feminine and strong; a place where I could upload recent work and keep people updated on my news, portfolio and upcoming books.

I considered adding a blog to the site but decided against it (for now, anyway) – there are only so many hours in the day, after all. I’m so happy with it and thankful to the gorgeous Simona from gm photographics for snapping some of the photos of me, too; talk about a team effort!

6. I'm counting down until February 2014 when your debut novel will be released! Can you give us a sneak peek into what it's about?

Ohhhh, now you’ve made me blush. And nervous. It sounds ridiculous but I always forget about the ‘people reading/judging/reviewing my novel’ part of becoming a published author! Seriously, all minor panic attacks aside, thank you. I still can’t believe it’s happening and probably won’t until I have a copy in my hands (and even then I’ll probably wonder if it’s all a dream). For the moment I’m sworn to secrecy regarding the characters and plot, but I can say it’s a young-adult novel that will hopefully make tweens, teens and young-at-heart adults smile, cringe, roll their eyes and laugh. Hopefully.

7. How did you pitch the novel to agents/publishers? How did your background in features writing help with that process?

At the recommendation of a mutual industry acquaintance, HarperCollins had dropped me a note to see if I had any spare manuscripts hidden in my bottom desk drawer (oh, I wish!). I didn’t, so I came up with four-five ideas, (two had already been lingering for a while), wrote them down and pitched them to the publisher via email.

I was flying by the seat of my snug-fitting pants and probably broke every ‘How to pitch your novel’ rule out there, but I somehow fooled them into thinking I could do this. HarperCollins told me the two ideas they liked most, I narrowed it down to one, then churned out four sample chapters so they could get a taste of my ‘voice’ (a very important ingredient, especially in first-person writing and young adult). Soon after, they requested a full manuscript, which I then wrote 'on spec' and handed in about nine months later. Two months later, I was offered a two-book contract (and may have broken down crying in my work hallway afterwards, reality television-style. It was very dramatic).

As for how my features writing experience helped? I suppose it reminded me to pinpoint to the publisher what I wanted to write and who I thought my novel would be suitable for, but overall I felt like a beginner all over again! I won’t lie: I often felt like a fraud who was following her gut instincts and hoping for the best – fake it ’til you make it, anyone?

8. What are your best tips for aspiring authors?

Write. Write every day. Too busy? Swap watching that re-run of Modern Family and make time to write – even if it’s just a paragraph or two. It sounds obvious, but your style will only improve with regular writing sessions.

Be gentle with yourself because your first draft won’t be perfect. In fact, if it’s anything like my first draft it will be terrible with a few moments of awesome. But don’t let that discourage you. My motto is – and will continue to be – write first, edit later. It’s impossible to edit a blank page, remember?

Also, there’s not one magical way to write a novel, so experiment to find your groove and ideal writing process. Some people like to plot, some people like to ‘pants’ (write by the seat of their pants/make it up as they go): I’m somewhere in between, and that’s okay. For me, writing in the morning before work and on weekends suits my lifestyle; others may prefer wrangling words by moonlight.

Oh, and last but not least: write what you love! Forget trying to re-create the style or genre of the latest trends; just be yourself and you’ll shine.

Fabulous Fridays: 30 November 2012

noreply@blogger.com (BECKS) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Hey beautiful, happy people! I'm counting down to Christmas and New Year's and all the festivities and unwinding with a few treasures I've found of late...

For the sake of my wallet, please keep me away from Hunt No More.
Peanut butter + pancakes? Heck, yes. And it's a recipe so simple, even I'm capable of following it!
Found: Angelina Jolie's long-lost, prettier sister. Uncanny.
A sticker book for grown-up girly girls.
Could this be the sexiest one-piece ever? I think so. Want!
Parody of the moment: Sh*t Fashion Girls Say. It's, like, totes amazeballs. Ob-SESSED!
Can you get an honest review anymore?
Love the warning at the start, the earrings, the song... everything: Christina Aguilera's "Your Body".

Latest loves...

Reading: Sell Your Book Like Wildfire: The Writer's Guide to Marketing & Publicity, for when I finally write that book!

Listening: Because I have the musical taste of a gay man, the soundtrack of A Chorus Line, especially emotionally-charged "At the Ballet" and naughty-but-nice "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three".

Tasting: Salmon and spinach crepes, Irish cream iced coffees and Mexican feasts with Mr Big (we're addicted right now!).

Loving: Sharing a personal trainer with a few gal pals Tuesday nights, finally finishing our bathroom renovation, Christmas shopping on Amazon and winning The Modern Woman's Survival Guide dream career competition!

Awaiting: Converting from full-time to part-time in my 9-5 in four weeks and having more time to write, our traditional Chrissie eve offensive movie night, staying at a fancy hotel on the best New Year's Eve yet, and playing with the new MacBook Pro Mr Big is giving me for Christmas!

xx Becks