A. R. Levett - News

Two New Publications and activity update

12/7/2023

In the twenty-one months since the last update, A. R. Levett has had two new poems published:

'The Wall' in the FAWWA August Newsletter (2023)
'Fragile' in Creatrix #61 (2023)

In the meantime, he has been developing and expanded his epic space opera science-fiction series, currently titled 'The Rebels', which has developed into a multi-book and multi-series saga. Renown Australia science-fiction author, Marianne De Pierres, has been helping with this process. Be sure to check out her fantastic work here. I highly recommend her books, especially 'Peacemaker' and 'Mythmaker'.

A. R. Levett is continuing to run creative writing courses, now at the Peter Cowan Writers' Centre, as well as his story mentoring, manuscript assessment, and editing services as part of his business, The Story Mentor.

Publications & Awards: Multiple Poems Published, Mentorship Awarded

13/10/2021

In the nineteen-months since the last update (sorry), A. R. Levett has had several poems published in a variety of publications:

'The Outsider' was published in the Brushstrokes Ros Spencer Anthology 2016-2019 (2020)
'Benefactor' appeared in Letters to Our Home (2020)
'The Split' reappeared in Creatrix Anthology #3 (2020)
'MFH' was published in Creatrix #52 (2021)
'Boranup Forest' appeared in Red Room Poetry (2021)
Persistence was printed in Poetry for the Planet (2021)

Further, A. R. Levett was awarded a two-year mentorship with the Peter Cowan Writers' Centre.

Hopefully updates will appear regularly from now onwards.

Award & Publications: Release awarded & published, Unearthing Sunshine published

16/3/2020

A. R. Levett has two lots of good news to announce.

Firstly, his short story, Release, has been awarded joint first-place in the Armadale Writers' Group competition and will be published in the Armadale Writers Group 2020 Visions anthology. The anthology will be launched on Saturday 9 May 2020 from 3.00pm - 4.30pm at the lower hall at Armadale District Hall, Covid-19 permitting. Please come and join A. R. Levett at the launch and celebrate with the other winners.

Secondly, his poem 'Unearthing Sunshine' has been published in Creatrix issue #48. You can read the poem here and here.

Book Review: 'You'll Be Sorry When I'm Dead' by Marieke Hardy

9/11/2019

Marieke Hardy’s memoir, You’ll Be Sorry When I’m Dead, was not the book I expected it to be, yet it has fast become my new favourite reading material. Through her open, honest, and witty recounts of parts of her life, from wanting to become a prostitute at age eleven, to idolising a child star and frank political writer, Hardy expresses a sense of child-like innocence about the world, her experiences, and love. As a reader you can’t help but fall in love with the person she portrays herself as on the page, because she comes across as a loveable scamp who evokes that inner child within you.

Her writing is terse and the way she conveys her experiences authentic. Those who have loved passionately, lingered in the joys of youth, and drunken to excess will likely find a relatable, kindred spirit in the author and her experiences. There are one or two dark moments, as well as instances where Hardy finds herself in awkward situations she never considered she might find herself in, but overall the memoir elicits a tone of curiosity and humorous self-portrayal.

Hardy’s honesty is very compelling, and we need more authors with the courage to write like this. If your sensibilities are old fashioned or you prefer “high” literature, you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you have an open mind, you want to learn more about this writer and public figure, or just want to enjoy a good memoir, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

Five stars.

Publication: 'Release' published in The Writers' Magazine #4

7/11/2019

The November issue of The Writers' Magazine (Issue #4) features A. R. Levett's short story, 'Release' on pages 66-68. If you have a subscription, clear here to read the published version. Otherwise you can read it here.

Publication: 'The Good Boy' published in Creatrix #44

26/4/2019

Creatrix #44 features A. R. Levett's poem, 'The Good Boy'. You can read it here.

This issue of Creatrix also features poetry by Kaye Brand, Peter Burges, Geraldine Day, Gary Colombo De Piazzi, Frances Faith Derek Fenton, Margaret Ferrell, Rosalind Franklin, Ann Gilchrist, Kevin Gillam, Mike Greenace, Ann Harrison, Glen Hunting, Ross Jackson, Veronica Lake, Mardi May, Glad McGough, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Jan Napier, Julian O'Dea, Tony O'Donnell, Virginia O'Keefe, Allan Padget, Ami Parekh, Yvonne G. Patterson, Barry Sanbrook, Maureen Sexton, Thomas Simpson, Laurie Smith, Traudi Tan, Rose van Son, Gael Willems, and Colin Young.

Publication: A. R. Levett's poem 'The Split' features in Creatrix #43

27/11/2018

The December 2018 issue of Creatrix issue #43 features A. R. Levett's poem, 'The Split'. You can read a copy of the poem here, and check out issue #43 of Creatrix here.

This issue of Creatrix also features poetry by Kaye Brand. Peter Burges, Graeme Butler, Gary Colombo De Piazzi, Edward Ebozo, Derek Fenton, Rosalind Franklin, Ann Gilchrist, Kevin Gillam, Mike Greenace, Ruari Jack Hughes, Ross Jackson, Pat Johnson, Veronica Lake, Meryl Manoy, Mardi May, Glad McGough, Dean Meredith, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Julian O'Dea, Virginia O'Keefe, Allan Padget, Joyce Parkes, Yvonne G. Patterson, Laurie Smith, and Rita Tognini.

Publication: 'The Outsider published in Creatrix issue #42

13/9/2018

The September 2018 issue of Creatrix, issue #42, features the poem, 'The Outsider'. You can read a copy of the poem here, and check out issue #42 of Creatrix here.

This issue of Creatrix also features poetry by Kaye Brand. Peter Burges, Graeme Butler, Gary Colombo De Piazzi, Nicoletta Dimas, Natalie D-Napoleon, Derek Fenton, Wendy Fleming, Sally Gaunt, Kevin Gillam, Candy Gordon, Mike Greenace,Dilantha Gunawardanal, Ann Harrison, Glen Hunting, Pat Johnson, Nada Kesic, Veonica Lake, Meryl Manoy, Mardi May, Glad McGough, Max Merckenschlager, Jan Napier, Tony O'Donnell, Virginia O'Keeffe, Allan Padgett, Joyce Parkes, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Yvonne G. Patterson, Mike Pedrana, Glen Phillips, Norma Schwind, Don Smith, Flora Smith, Laurie Smith, Rita Tognini, Mimma Tornatora, Maggie Van Putten, and Gail Willems.

Only 3 Days Left to Enrol in A. R. Levett's Mapping Your Story 12-Week Writing Course!

23/2/2018

There are only three days left to book in for A. R. Levett’s Mapping Your Story 12-Week course for the special price of $400 WAWU members / $500 general public. Bookings close Sunday 25 February 2018. After that, the price goes back up to $1,000 per person. Limited places. Seats are filling up fast, so be sure to book your place today.

People who book for the full course receive a free raffle ticket for 3 chances to win a 3,000-word Manuscript Assessment by A. R. Levett, The Story Mentor, valued at $80!

The course runs from Sunday 4 March 2018 to Sunday 2 December 2018. See flyer below for full dates and times.

Unsure if you want to enrol in the full course? Then book for the first workshop on 4 March 2018 at Mattie Furphy House, FAWWA, Swanbourne, for just $40 WAWU members / $50 general public to see how useful it is for your developing writing project. Then, those who want to book for the remaining 11 sessions after this can pay only $360 WAWU members / $450 general public.

Still unsure whether it’s a good course? Then read the glowing testimonials here and A. R. Levett’s qualifications here.

Mapping Your Story is useful for all writers struggling to develop an idea or stuck with an unwieldy story. Through an emphasis on key writing exercises, it offers writers guidance, building your story up from the premise and guiding you through developing and better understanding your story’s conflict, characters, theme, world, symbols, plot, scenes, and dialogue. Click here for the full course outline.

If you’re a pantser or discovery writer, this is an ideal course for helping you get to grips with your story. If you’re a plotter, you will learn a lot of useful techniques for shaping your story.

Bookings close 25 February 2018. Please email A. R. Levett today to reserve your seat. Places are limited, so book today.

News: A. R. Levett Migrates Story Services into The Story Mentor Business

20/2/2018

Over the past three years, A. R. Levett has offered an assortment of services to help writers, from Story Reviews and Editing services, to Workshops and Courses. As the demand for these services has increased, A. R. Levett has decided to separate his Story Mentoring services from his author website, turning them into his new business, The Story Mentor. Fear not, he will still offer the same professional services and great value, only from a brand-new website: https://www.thestorymentor.com.au/

What’s more, while he will still be offering the same services you love, such as Story Reviews (now Manuscript Assessments), Revision (now Substantive Editing), and Editing (now Copy Editing), he will be offering more services to give writers the very best support when it comes to their stories. These services include Story Mentoring, which is monthly meetings where he reviews and discusses your work and writing journey with you, Poetry Reviews, which will introduce manuscript assessments for poetry, and Ghost Writing, which offer you the ability to have A. R. Levett write your story for you.

What’s more, as The Story Mentor, A. R. Levett will be offering a wider range of workshops and courses to give you all the information you need to write that best-seller. And in the future, The Story Mentor plans to offer you even more new services, such as typesetting, transcription, proof reading, and even writing retreats to cater to all your writing needs.

Since workshop and courses are being run at the moment, it will take a little while before they migrate over to the new website, but the information will remain here until then and still continue to be valid until it is moved.

Be sure to visit the new website (https://www.thestorymentor.com.au/) and pick up a brochure from your local writing centre or library to see how The Story Mentor can help you.