Flourishing Together

 I am a terrible runner.  The only races I ever placed were in swimming. When it came to running, I always came last. In fact, one year (in one of the many schools I went to), someone had the bright idea to put all the terrible runners into the obstacle race. They then asked my Dad to judge it. Guess who came last. Yes, me. Last of the last. My humiliation was complete. 

In a race, we compete against each other. Winners mean losers. Your gain is my loss. 

Writing is not like that. Together, we are stronger. Remember the Inklings - a writing group that included C S Lewis, J R R Tolkien, Charles Williams and others (and Dorothy Sayers as the unoffical inkling). These writers sparked off each other, encouraging and critiquing. The result -- a richer world and timeless classics.  

CASQ

This last weekend, a group of writers got together for Christian Authors Showcase (Queensland) or CASQ. Together we are stronger. Through encouragement, inspiration, good counsel and challeing each other. More than that, we could fellowship together, overcome misunderstandings, pray, listen and laugh together. 

The weekend started with a keynote speech from publisher Rochelle Stephens and finished with Adele Jones with a deep dive into what it means to find our tribe. In between, we were treated with heartfelt worship, the green curled grammar grandma grinch, panels and presentations on writing craft (short stories, suspense, spec fic, song-writing, research, hero's journey, changes in writing style etc), and about publishing and different writing groups including CWD. Pop-ups gave authors 90 seconds to present their books, while a number of authors had the opportunity to launch their books - from Mosaic of Grace, to Stephen & the Heroes, El Roi and others.  

I especially had fun moderating the Sci-Fiction and Fantasy panel with Lynne Stringer and Donita Bundy as we explored the difference in the spec fic genres, the role and creation of worlds and how our fiction intersects with real life and research.

But best of all was connecting with each other and our Lord, catching up with old friends and making new ones, sharing our stories over dinner on Saturday, lunches and the delicious morning and afternoon teas. 

A big thank you to Annie Hamilton, Judy Rogers, Ruth Bonetti, Bek Robinson for organising the weekend and all speakers, panelists, the contributors of prizes, and the wonderful attendees who made this a great weekend. Looking foward to next year. 

Stories That Shape Us

In just over a week, on 15 May 2026 at the Gap Uniting Church, Ruth Bonetti, Kathy Hoopmann and I (Jeanette O'Hagan) will be joining with authors Megan Daly, Debbie O'Shea and Claire Nada in the Stories That Shape Us -- an inspiring evening celebrating the power of stories to shape our lives, values, and sense of purpose.

Through a panel conversation with local authors, discover what draws them to their stories, what motivates their writing, and how stories have influenced their lives.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/16fz9ytyt5/  &  website  

CALEB

Omega Writers CALEB Award is closing this Friday - for published works. CALEB stands for Christian Authors Lifting Each other's Books.  Not only entries - but readers of the different categories are wanted.

https://omegawriters.com.au/caleb-award/

Omega Writers Conference

And finally, registrations are NOW OPEN for the Omega Writers Conference in October. This year's conference is to be held in South Australia.

"Building Blocks and Pathways 2026 is here—and bookings are officially open for the Omega Writers biennial conference.

Join us on October 16–18, 2026 at Nunyara Conference Centre in Adelaide, South Australia, for a weekend designed to equip, encourage, and connect writers at every stage of their journey."

https://omegawriters.com.au/omega-writers-conference-2026-details/

Jeanette O'Hagan has spun tales in the world of Nardva from the age of eight. She enjoys writing fantasy, sci-fi, poetry. Her Nardvan stories span continents, millennia and cultures. Some involve shapeshifters and magic. Others include space stations and cyborgs.

She has published over forty stories and poems, including the Under the Mountain Series (5 books), Akrad's Children and Rasel's Song, the first two books in the Akrad’s Legacy series and more recently, Rise of the Consortium. Her story in Stepping Sideways, 'In a League of Her Own' won the 2024 Aurealis Award for YA Short Stories & 'Anomalies at Prospero Base' (in Rise of the Consortium) was shortlisted in the 2025 Aurealis Awards.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and writing. She loves reading, painting, travel, and pondering the meaning of life. She lives in Brisbane.

Find out more about Jeanette at:

My Website | Facebook Author Page | Amazon | Books2Read | Goodreads

Writing goals when you’re nearly 80

by Barbara McKay

My story

Since my husband died from metastatic cancer in 2014, learning to write creatively has been therapeutic.


‘Don’t you think I’m too old to be writing?’ I was speaking with a lovely author, Anne Hamilton at a Writer’s weekend in Brisbane early this year. She answered me ‘No’ she said,

‘You are showing cognitive plasticity’. I could have jumped for joy at those words, but I couldn’t because I’d broken my leg


My creative writing journey began when I saw an ad ‘Write your Memoir’ course by Cecily Anne Patterson. In 2018, I was 73, and a widow coping with grief and loss. I contacted
Cecily, and slowly worked through every session. Lots of new terminology, and eventually, I wrote my first chapter, getting to about 80,000 words.


In 2022, Vanessa Vankcom said ‘Why don’t you send 10,000 words into Omega Writers for the CALEB Unpublished Adult Nonfiction section? I did. I received an email to say ‘You are a finalist’. I cried all day. What was God saying to me?


I was 77. I faced my fears, and decided to go to the conference at Kingscliff. I met Cecily, and many other amazing authors. They weren’t scary, but normal human beings, fun and developing their writing to bless others.


After that weekend, Nola Passmore, the encourager who specialises in nagging us to write, invited me to join the Toowoomba Omega Writers – again, a scary experience but exciting. I told the group ‘I’m in Year 3 doing a subject titled ‘Creative Writing’. Some of them told me off. ‘No, you cannot say that. You are on a creative learning curve, just like all of us.’ Mazzy even said that with my life’s experience, I’d have plenty to write about from a mature perspective.’ She’s a great encourager.

Some Writing Tips

Tips for organising your writing goals when you’re nearly 80, when you feel you’ve left it too late. Why did I ask that question?


Firstly, the ageing process does bring deficits with chronic illness, hospitalization, loneliness, and discouragement. Those of you who have older members in your families see their decline.

Secondly, our lives do have an expiry date. I do feel a sense of urgency with my writing because none of us know when that time will come. What creative work is a priority? What do I leave undone? What stories do I tell? I am in the final season of my life. I’m in my 80th year – unbelievable. To think that I’m learning at this age is surely a gift from my loving Heavenly Father. I do lose heart and that’s why I love it when the apostle Paul says ‘Do not lose heart. Though outwardly, we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day.’ 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

Thirdly, the gift of encouragement. Why is it that many of us become discouraged and long for words of affirmation? How do I finish my life with few regrets?

What makes me a feisty nearly 80-year-old who feasts on life?  Many of your comments bring the sparks that light up my life.

1. Meredith said ‘my mother finished her memoirs at the end of last year. She was 85. She passed away four months after she finished writing them. ‘What a wonderful story, and no doubt Meredith gave her loads of encouragement. We need to get a rough draft down, even if it isn’t published.

2. Nola mentioned a lady who died at the age of 96. ‘She was writing a monthly column into her 90’s. She turned in her last column on the day she died.’

3. Sue Jeffrey is the one who said ‘you inspire me’ and called me ‘feisty’

4. Christine O’Malley said ‘build yourself a group of praying supporters who will laugh with you, cry with you…and keep on asking how the writing is going to make sure you don’t give up.’ Let’s do it. That’s not easy for some of us who live in rural places, but it is do-able. We have ‘zoom’ and a ‘mobile’.

5. One young author, Stephanie said ‘I want to keep on encouraging others. The gift of encouragement is such a kind, generous gift.

6. Anusha mentioned ‘I make writing goals each year’.

7. Recently, I read a letter from my aunt, Hilda North. She was writing to me to give instructions on organising her 90 th birthday’. God nudged me. ‘Look at that aunty of yours – cognitively, as sharp as a tack. She lived until she was 101.

8. I have learnt not to compare myself with others. The more I learn about creative writing, the more I realise there is so much that I do not understand. People have said to me ‘you have to start somewhere’.

Finally 

This year, I suffered, I broke my left leg badly – hospitalised for 77 days, moon boot for 11 weeks, and transition care for 12 weeks. ‘What was God trying to tell me?' 

Again, God placed wonderful people on my radar, surprising me with heavenly hugs. I wrote two stories about my suffering, and I’m pleased they are being published in Stories of Life - His love to me during the tough times.


Now I want to hear from you, stories about those who persevere when tempted to give up – stories from those who are in their 70’s and 80’s. What legacy are you leaving?

Brought to you by Barbara McKay