Amanda Scotney
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wattlelight.bsky.social
Amanda Scotney
@wattlelight.bsky.social
Writer, publisher of the Confidence and Seasons series of anthologies and judge of the Minds Shine Bright writing competition. Spreading the love of anthologies. www.mindsshinebright.com
This month we discuss the value of community story telling, reading, and writing; interview writer Kate Foulds; and welcome poet Jennifer Harrison back to the judging panel for the Places Writing Competition.
How to see community story telling, creative writing and reading
In this monthly update Amanda Scotney considers the value of telling stories, writing and reading; interviews writer Kate Foulds; and welcomes back poet Jennifer Harrison to join the judging panel for the Places Writing competition.
mindsshinebright.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Light and Shadow e book

In Light and Shadow read different interpretions of light and shadow from forty three shortlisted writers and poets. Sublimely dark and light with moments of illumination. Light and Shadow  is a comtemporary collection of stories, poems and flash fiction for our times.
Light and Shadow e book
In Light and Shadow read different interpretions of light and shadow from forty three shortlisted writers and poets. Sublimely dark and light with moments of illumination. Light and Shadow  is a comtemporary collection of stories, poems and flash fiction for our times.
mindsshinebright.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
The Minds Shine Bright Winter Update is available now. Discover poet Suzanna Fitzpatrick, our first experience of being part of a writer's festival, the full Light and Shadow Judges' Report and more.
Tweaking meaning and meter in a poem – poet in focus
Minds Shine Bright Winter Update including: an interview with Light and Shadow contributor and poet in focus, Suzanna Fitzpatrick, being part of a writer's festival, the full LIght and Shadow judges report and more.
mindsshinebright.com
September 11, 2025 at 8:47 AM
August 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Looking forward to the creation of moments of illumination at the “Writing Light and Shadow with Moments of Illumination” workshop, at the Words in Winter Festival in Daylesford on 23 August at Radius Arts. Get tickets here events.humanitix.com/writing-ligh... #Melbourne #workshop #writing #August
August 14, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Light and Shadow
Minds Shine Bright
International Creative Writing Anthology
Seasons 2 2025

Light and Shadow Anthology is sublimely dark and light with moments of illumination. Featuring stories and poems by 43 prize winning writers and poets.
ISBN 978-06455231-6-4
July 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Melbourne
28 June
12:30 -3:30pm
St Kilda Sports Club
LIGHT & SHADOW BOOK LAUNCH
Readings of stories and poems by local and international writers and poets, author signings, open mic, lunch
Get tix: www.mindsshinebright.com/event-bookings/ or trybooking.com
#auslit #stkildabooklaunch
June 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Places International Creative Writing Competition closes at midnight (wherever you are) on 31 May 2025. #writing #fiction #poetry #stories 📚💙✍️
May 29, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Poetry turns the everyday into something exquisite and strange

Only 30 days to go to enter Minds Shine Bright Places Writing Competition Light and Shadow Minds Shine Bright anthology is coming soon and be inspired by poet Isi Unikowski.
Poetry turns the everyday into something exquisite and strange
Only 30 days to go to enter Minds Shine Bright Places Writing Competition Light and Shadow Minds Shine Bright anthology is coming soon and be inspired by poet Isi Unikowski.
mindsshinebright.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:15 AM
The wonder of discovering new places. This view greeted us as we arrived at the fishing shack where we stayed to explore Port Fairy. I long to return. Tell us stories and poems about your favourite places. For info and to enter Places Writing Competition visit www.mindsshinebright.com #writing
April 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Places Writing Competition, the Launch of Light and Shadow anthology and all the Minds Shine Bright news about books, writers and literary events.
Capture the unique essence of places in captivating stories
Capture the unique essence of places creatively and enter the Places Writing Competition. Discover the new Minds Shine Bright book, Light and Shadow, launching in June, enjoy some writing about Places and keep up to date with Minds Shine Bright's monthly news about writers and books.
mindsshinebright.com
April 9, 2025 at 6:25 AM
The town of Clunes was filled with readers, writers, musicians and book vendors over the weekend. There was a strong sense of community and lots of book events, browsing, chatting and wandering.
March 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Setting up for Clunes Booktown Festival on Friday. Clunes a small country town in Victoria, celebrates old and new books with book events, book traders, music and food every year. This was our first visit. 📚📓📖
March 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The curve of a basil leaf— a simple joy. #garden #WritingPrompt #green
February 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Russell Falls in Tasmania is one of the places I love to go back to. Calling for entries of stories and poems about the places that mean something to you. To learn more and to enter the Places writing competition visit www.mindsshinebright.com
#💙📚📖🖊️
February 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Announcing the Light and Shadow Writing Competition Results

The overall winner of the Minds Shine Bright Light and Shadow writing competition was poet Isi Unikowski form Canberra Australia for his poem Bright Square of Morning. The poem is about leaving Melbourne in the morning light. It takes the…
Announcing the Light and Shadow Writing Competition Results
The overall winner of the Minds Shine Bright Light and Shadow writing competition was poet Isi Unikowski form Canberra Australia for his poem Bright Square of Morning. The poem is about leaving Melbourne in the morning light. It takes the reader on a journey from the physical world to the universal and stays with you. It is the first time that a poem has been the overall winner of a Minds Shine Bright writing competition.
mindsshinebright.com
February 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Every place has a story. Calling writers from all over the world to share yours about the places you live, the places you love, the places you leave. #Booksky 📚💙 #WritingandBooks #writing #writingprompt #poems #stories #writers
January 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
A male superb fairy wren shows off his stunning blue plumage at Pirate Bay, Tasman Peninsula #bird #WritingPrompt #places #blue
January 9, 2025 at 1:29 AM
The place is Blackpool, the narrator is UK author Dan Micklethwaite and the story is Blackpool Solo - from Confidence 2 - from the perspective of an outsider, where confidence has receded to a deep low 📚💙 #books youtu.be/jnMWxul37WM?...
Dan Micklethwaite reading from his short story Blackpool Solo
YouTube video by Minds Shine Bright
youtu.be
January 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Writing prompt- Places writing comp
The places we love, the places we live the places we leave.
January 2, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Check out our 2024 highlights, our plans to encourage more reading and creative writing in 2025 and the new Places writing competition.
New Year’s Resolution: More reading and writing in 2025
Minds Shine Bright encourages the reading and writing of books. Read our highlights from 2024 and our focuses for 2025. Places writing competition is open and calling for entries.
mindsshinebright.com
December 31, 2024 at 12:22 PM
Seasons Readings!
Try Confidence Minds Shine Bright anthology 2022 for curated stories and poems that follow the life cycle

Try Confidence 2 to wander through the carnival of life with a rag tag bunch of characters

Try Storms Seasons if you love the power of storms

Books by Minds Shine Bright 📚💙
December 22, 2024 at 8:10 AM
Our books are available in bookshops and at www.mindsshinebright.com but sometimes we love a grass roots approach.
Meeting people, hearing their stories, and promoting our writers is a real joy.

I love our new bookshop banner too. What do you think of it? 💙📚 #books #reading #confidence #seasons
December 16, 2024 at 9:04 PM