2024-04-20 01:20
These two male cats didn't always get along, now they are inseparable.
The post Besties appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
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Melinda J. Irvine Blog
melirvine.com.au
Melinda Irvine is an Australian writer, poet and musician living between the Philippine Western Visayas and her home country. Blogging haiku poems, her writing journey and the power of giving to Filipino kids deeply affected by poverty.
2024-04-19 04:23
A fall on the road and a writer cannot type or use her dominant hand.
The post With the Other Hand appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2024-04-04 07:47
My website and blog was looking positively unruly. And not in a body positive way.
The post Trimming and Pruning the Blog appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2024-04-01 01:21
Lit like inner-city street lamps -- red and white and cerise.
The post Translucence appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2024-03-23 02:54
Sometimes on a hot afternoon, my son and I walk the backstreets to a swimming pool, hidden among mango trees.
The post The Swimming Pool at Night appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2024-02-16 12:53
A leafy tree and her multi-coloured leaves and seeds, inspire a shift in focus.
The post Possibilities appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2024-02-10 10:50
Gerberas revive my trek to the laundry shop and memories of my grandmother.
The post Revival appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2023-05-22 12:46
Have you ever noticed in a forest, or even a small pocket of garden, there is always one tree that stands a bit taller.
The post The One Tree appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2023-05-21 10:38
An evening stretch after 3 days of weakness and fatigue inspired this dark poem.
The post Evening Stretch appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2023-05-06 02:18
Little poem in tribute to the hablon weavers of Iloilo province, Philippines.
The post Hablon Weaving appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2023-05-04 04:13
Little poem inspired by an
The post Muddy Playground appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2023-05-01 04:35
Haiku poem inspired by the shining buds and velutinous blossoms that mask piles of human discharge. We can choose to see beautiful things.
The post What To See appeared first on Melinda J. I… Read More
2023-04-30 06:43
Senryu poem inspired by a church without walls, hidden in a small pocket of inner-city rainforest. The human side of worship on display.
The post Under Repair appeared first on Melinda J. Ir… Read More
2023-04-29 01:25
Little haiku poem celebrating the tiny pockets of rainforest that soothe and shroud Iloilo City from the sun's summer intensity.
The post Shroud appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2022-12-09 15:16
Little poem inspired by the gnarly bark of the shedding Angophora costata.
The post Sydney Red Gum appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2022-12-06 02:51
Finding an old church where I nervously sang Amazing Grace in my new dress, inspired this little essay.
The post Found appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2022-11-13 19:26
Arriving back in Australia after 2.5 years abroad, I was astonished by the amount of driftwood blanketing the beach at Wellington Rock, NSW. Heavy flooding dislodged branches, timber cuts… Read More
2021-01-14 12:22
Kicking off the 2021 year by sharing some of the writing inspiration I’ve gained from a book of Monet's letters and paintings. Let's get writing.
The post 4 Things Every Writer (actual… Read More
2020-02-25 11:59
Last week in Estancia was one of the best weeks I have every experienced in my life. So many prayers answered and being around creative energy, music and friendship -- just wonderful.
The po… Read More
2020-02-25 10:24
Watch the full Music Man Project Philippines inaugural concert (minus a few speeches) for Botongon (Estancia) Philippines. Held 5.30pm, 15 February 2020 at Barangay Botongon Gym Plaza.
The p… Read More
2020-02-24 04:57
Here’s a quick post to make sure you never, ever run out of blogging ideas. Mix and match these 10 blogging topics with your business, products, and services — and you’ll h… Read More
2020-02-23 12:05
Google gives priority in search results to 'quality websites' but gives no single definition of this standard. But there are clues.
The post Do You Have a Quality Website? appeared first on… Read More
2020-02-12 12:31
The Music Man Program is fully underway here in Botongon, Estancia. It all seems like a blur the last few days -- cancelled flights, rerouting, airport runs, transferring multiple bags and p… Read More
2020-02-10 13:02
If you read my blog yesterday you’ll know that in between writing assignments I’m involved in a music program and medical mission here in the Philippines. Check it out here: Brin… Read More
2020-02-09 01:22
Imagine how thrilled I was 6 months ago when a friend in the UK contacted me about coming back to the Philippines and bringing a FULLY FUNDED music program and medical mission. Imagine how t… Read More
2020-02-07 09:06
When was the last time you googled yourself -- or your business? A few days I was googling myself to see which of my social media channels was displaying in search -- and was totally delight… Read More
2020-02-06 12:40
How to create a project brief for your freelance writer, including the 5 essentials that will help your content writing project achieve all it's goals and deliverables.
The post How to creat… Read More
2020-01-31 15:25
Without a clear business blogging strategy your hard won traffic could be bouncing off the page within nano-seconds, and never coming back.
The post Don’t blog without a business blogg… Read More
2020-01-27 04:07
Is your website bringing you visitors and sales from search engines — or chasing them away?
The post Carry out your own web content and SEO audit appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2020-01-21 04:06
Does your business blog organise content into logical categories — or does everything you post end up in the ‘Uncategorized‘ pile? In today’s blog I’m going to… Read More
2020-01-18 09:06
No matter where your business is located, your employees have 4 key WHS responsibilities under the WHS Act in your state or territory. Help them understand what they need to do.
The post Hel… Read More
2020-01-09 16:48
Sometimes the most unassuming people teach you the greatest lessons -- about life, and yourself. For me it was Conrad, a friendly tricycle driver in Iloilo City.
The post Conrad teaches me t… Read More
2020-01-04 15:56
What is blogging actually? And why are we all doing it? Blogging seems to be one of those ethereal ‘things’ that everyone is into, but can’t really explain.
The post… Read More
2020-01-03 10:54
This is Marketing by Seth Godin is not a down-to-earth practical guide to marketing. It's big-picture stuff and tends to chop and change ideas rather quickly. That said, I gave it 4 stars (t… Read More
2020-01-02 01:38
Start the new year confident by having a better understanding of your WHS duties as an Australian small business owner.
The post 5 Essential WHS Duties of Australian Small Business Owners ap… Read More
2019-12-31 22:47
In today's blog I'm outlining 11 ways to optimise your website for Google search. Apply these 11 best practices to all the content on your website -- every post and every page.
The post Ways… Read More
2019-12-21 15:13
Outlining 5 essential elements of web content writing to help you write copy that is engaging, readable, and search engine friendly.
The post 5 Essential Elements of Web Content Writing appe… Read More
2019-12-20 07:25
Have you ever been invited to your sister’s (or BFF’s) for dinner — only to have the evening hijacked by your brother-in-law (or your BFF’s new girlfriend)?
The post… Read More
2019-12-19 02:26
Today’s blog is a quick introduction to safety legislation in Australia — how to identify the laws that apply to your business and what they mean for you as a small business owne… Read More
2019-12-13 20:21
This is a little book of 30 ideas which push us, prompt us, and dare us to move beyond our training to conform and comply -- and reach for something Seth Godin calls 'graceful'.
The post BOO… Read More
2019-12-13 08:56
Today I’m unpacking the actual SEO steps I take when writing a page of web copy or publishing a new blog post. Follow the 6 steps and make your own web content more Google-friendly.
Th… Read More
2019-12-12 07:53
Nearly every small business owner out there uses Google on a daily basis, but a lot of us don't know how Google actually finds our business website and displays it in their search results.
T… Read More
2019-12-11 07:20
Most small business owners I talk to would rather be engaged in the money making side of their business than embroiled in compliance talk or scrolling through pages of government websites an… Read More
2019-12-04 14:40
My writing business is ranking for the wrong search terms. And its all my fault. Let me explain it to you. So I’m a professional writer and specialise in B2B content strategies —… Read More
2019-12-03 13:39
If you copied your mission statement verbatim from your website onto a piece of paper, then handed it to a complete stranger — would they immediately know what your business does, and… Read More
2019-12-02 13:36
Copywriters? Content Writers? A quick explanation of the difference. When I first started writing professionally I really didn’t understand the difference between a copywriter and a co… Read More
2019-12-01 14:23
If your business has a written statement of values, it should absolutely be on your website. Did you know that customers are willing to pay more for things when they believe the business sel… Read More
2019-11-28 17:01
Before I became a full-time copywriter and business blogger, I used to deliver a lot of customer service and communication workshops to hospitality workers. Funnily enough, I’ve discov… Read More
2019-11-26 07:18
Does your organisation have its principle beliefs and values articulated into a Core Values Statement?
The post Core Values Statements appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-11-09 08:40
The Dead Girl by Melanie Thernstrom is one of those books that has been popping up on my 'must read' lists for years (it was first published in 1990). It's a memoir written by a young colleg… Read More
2019-11-07 16:06
This blog outlines 10 different strategies for finding paid work as a freelance writer -- it's for new freelancers or anyone thinking about a writing side-hustle.
The post How a freelance wr… Read More
2019-11-05 13:47
Whenever I'm lacking belief in my writing or stuck on a client project, I only have to take a quick visit to an old book to find some relief. Monet by himself.
The post Inspiration appeared… Read More
2019-11-03 02:13
Boy and brother visit the cemetery burn candles and remember their Mamma.
The post Boy and Brother appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-11-01 03:01
Your success as a freelance writer -- and this is true for any self-employed person -- is critically linked to your own personal productivity. And I'm not talking your ability to use Product… Read More
2019-10-31 13:11
Business blogging is done for one reason, and one reason only. To get people on our websites.
And we want them to stay awhile too — check out our content, join the newsletter, and even… Read More
2019-10-30 03:23
A successful freelance writer is not just someone who makes a lot of money, but a person who is creatively engaged in work they love, delivering high quality copy to their clients, and has t… Read More
2019-10-23 14:14
I love the night culture of the Philippines and how the twilight turns headlights into the moon. After the hot sun sinks and before the moon rises.
The post Moon Creatures appeared first on… Read More
2019-10-21 01:29
To be able to put words to the pain is the beginning of liberation. Jean Vanier — Seeing Beyond Depression. It’s wonderful to feel some energy within myself again for writing. Fe… Read More
2019-10-14 08:28
Maybe you've seen the donation buttons on my website and wonder what I do with the money -- I hope this post will give you a better understanding of what I do, and even inspire you to do mor… Read More
2019-10-07 06:55
You don’t need a pile of techie stuff or expensive subscriptions to start a freelance writing business. The best advice I can give you is to concentrate your purchases on the things th… Read More
2019-10-06 02:34
Last night I found a cute little video of Jerry singing. He got hold of my phone not long after he came to live with me in 2015, and watching it caused me a few lamentations about how fast h… Read More
2019-10-04 06:15
Our beloved Rosemarie died suddenly on Sunday morning. If you have been following my blog anytime over the past 5 years you’ll have seen many photos of Rosemarie and her family. Her mo… Read More
2019-09-24 05:30
“Stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions … the truth is that what we call ‘interruptions’ are precisely our real life — the life God is sendi… Read More
2019-09-14 09:46
Matt and Sam had been living together for 2 years. Both had jobs paying around $30,000 a year. They decided to buy a house. Roger from SMALL MORTGAGE BROKERS called them about a “speci… Read More
2019-09-13 07:12
Hi friends. Thanks for stopping by my website. Things are gonna be looking a bit wonky for the next few weeks — as I upgrade and get it ready for my new online learning centre and digi… Read More
2019-09-11 10:12
seated the sunshine flecked, with salt
The post Mangroves appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-09-08 12:17
What days are these? Where you can only be found — inside your own shadow.
The post Her Own Shadow appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-08-15 14:39
Most Fridays Jerry and I have breakfast in the Lapaz Public Market before I take him to morning class. We have a simple breakfast with native coffee. It’s our Friday treat. So one morn… Read More
2019-08-14 07:21
Yesterday I read some excellent writing advice on medium.com. Shouting out @tijmenr, who’s medium handle I stumbled across yesterday morning while coffeeing and blog browsing in… Read More
2019-07-22 01:02
For the last five years I’ve been writing everyday, and over that period have evolved from a sometime poet and blogger to a full-time professional writer. This blog is a short reflecti… Read More
2019-07-20 14:40
Yesterday afternoon Jerry’s classroom was fogged for dengue mosquitos. The entire Province of Iloilo is currently in a dengue emergency which includes both Estancia (where Jerry’… Read More
2019-07-17 03:37
Now don’t take me the wrong way here, I love my freelance writing life. But I’ve seen more than one marketing blog that seriously overstates the benefits of freelancing (probably… Read More
2019-07-14 12:47
vending pineapples with urgency money. exchange. quick. before the street guard surges Walking out of the money exchange kiosk I found my path blocked by a tricycle stretched with pineapples… Read More
2019-07-04 22:00
Subay. It’s the Hiligaynon word for ants. Actually it’s the Hiligaynon word for one ant — if you have more than one ant, or a group of ants — it’s mga subay. Mg… Read More
2019-07-04 00:00
tiny bubblets lodge in a spider’s trap last night’s rain © 2019 Melinda J. Irvine An evening downpour in the Philippine tropics is followed by intense morning sun, givi… Read More
2019-06-26 07:21
It rained and rained in the middle of the night and Jerry woke up to the shrieking sounds of frogs below his bedroom window. He eagerly grabbed the military grade binoculars given to us last… Read More
2019-06-25 14:12
There is plenty to love about freelancing. If it weren’t for my freelance writing business, as an Australian I would not be able to stay in the Philippines and take care of Jerry &mdas&hell…Read More
2019-06-21 10:03
each new sun lights layers your narrative sensitive to light © 2019 Melinda J. Irvine
The post Your narrative appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-06-16 00:44
Seeing red flowers. For the first time. Seeing red flowers. Everywhere. Seeing. For the first time. It’s amazing when you see something for the first time. It grabs at you and pulls yo… Read More
2019-06-11 21:00
This excellent book by Ted Hughes is a collection of the programmes he wrote for the BBC Schools Department ‘Listening and Writing’ series.
The post Book Review: Poetry in the Ma… Read More
2019-06-10 22:32
If you’re considering making the transition from paid employee to freelance writer or consultant, make sure the working relationship you have with clients doesn’t breach the taxa… Read More
2019-06-10 03:50
Kid’s water park excited shrieks wet selfies. Splashed with red flowers. ‘Tita Mel, you have little red flowers on you’ cried 11 year old Jerry as we were leaving a kid&rsq&hell…Read More
2019-06-08 15:05
Each year (with the help of friends and family), I use the money I earn as a freelance writer to support about 20 Filipino kids in their schooling. Throughout the year family and friends (an… Read More
2019-06-08 05:13
keep the secrets of trees close
The post Of trees appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-06-05 13:00
inside shadows a young fish passes beyond the mangroves
The post Rearranging the shadows appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-06-04 13:43
Everything is green and red TODAY. Jerry picked up a red flower today and asked me to photograph him with his favourite colour. I love living in Jerry’s magical world of flowers and bu… Read More
2019-05-30 20:10
the sand scorched heat and absence our monsoon rains are late this year and tonight (at last the night) the dogs will sleep inside fresh holes dug to the cool sand not like this burnt aftern… Read More
2019-05-29 20:48
young palm frond turned, green to burned gold on the low tide © 2019 Melinda J. Irvine
The post On the low tide appeared first on Melinda J. Irvine Read More
2019-05-28 23:28
The earliest ‘freelancers‘ were hired soldiers or ‘free lances‘ who sold their services to kings and rich landlords to defend soil and property. They were an importan… Read More
2019-05-04 10:20
Faith by Tim Costello My rating: 5 of 5 stars It is easy to speak highly of book where you agree with nearly everything the author has to say, and in some ways acts as an endorsement for som… Read More
2019-04-27 22:12
mid-summer heat settled shouts out curling leaf fronds brown and cracked clear voices cry rain hear us rain When my mother and sister arrived in Iloilo City 2 weeks ago, they both asked abou… Read More
2019-04-27 01:04
I can ride I can ride I can ride … He shouts like every kid who ever learned to ride Then hits a tree [not pictured]. Hiring a bicycle for Jerry to learn to ride in the gardens of the… Read More
2019-04-22 12:46
Sitting in a taxi not fitted with seatbelts, I spotted this group of young men on their way to work. Their van was crammed so full of catering equipment (chairs, tables, tents, and serving t… Read More
2019-04-21 12:52
In our family, the iPhone 6 Plus that I absorbed from a finalised Telstra Plan in 2016, is colloquially known as ‘The Red’. Factually, The Red is a piece of melded sapphire… Read More
2019-04-20 11:35
One of the things I love best about the Philippines is their strong cultural observances, customs and traditions. You don’t have to be Catholic (or even Filipino) to get swept into a H… Read More
2019-04-19 05:22
Is it possible to see a piece of art and not look for yourself? Or arrange each piece without turning it into your own autobiography of lost toys, lost time lost poetry, and lost vindication… Read More
2019-04-18 13:59
It’s been 5 days since my mother and sister went back to Australia. And apart from the picture of me when I was 13 that mum brought over and gave to Jerry, it’s hard to imagine t… Read More
2019-04-17 09:25
Isn’t it just the coolest thing when you’re sitting under a shredded tarpaulin on a stinking hot day — at a school after the Grade 6 graduation — and you look up and… Read More
2019-04-02 09:15
Jerry has just finished Grade 4, receiving his very first recognition medal and awards. It was an exciting experience for both of us, especially when you consider that just 4 years ago Jerry… Read More
2019-03-30 06:28
Last week I was having coffee with a new friend, and she was suggesting things for a newbie to do here in Iloilo City. Museums, galleries, historical sites … the type of stuff to help… Read More
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