Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com This has been a big rejection year for me. In fact, since December I've received nothing else. To be fair, I've been concentrating on a large project, so it hasn't been a big submission year either. The odds haven't been in my favour. Most of the time polite form rejections … Continue reading Why all writing competitions should publish their longlists
Books on writing that are actually worth reading
A few months ago I reached out to the wonderful writing community on Twitter. I had just finished the messy first draft of a novel and wanted to learn more about narrative structure before tackling an edit. Unsurprisingly, I was inundated with recommendations of books about the craft of writing. The response was so helpful, … Continue reading Books on writing that are actually worth reading
Avoiding burnout as a writer
When you decide to take writing seriously—to work towards making it a career rather than a hobby—the self-applied pressure can be enormous. Advice flows freely from successful writers: write every day, publish or perish, engage on social media, rejections are fuel. When you come to writing later in life it can feel like you've started … Continue reading Avoiding burnout as a writer
Top five memorable reads of 2018
In keeping with the tradition I started last year, rather than compiling a best-of-2018 reading list, I've put together a list of five books that have surprised me, have taught me something valuable at the right time, or were memorable for some other reason. Here they are, in no particular order. Bird by Bird, Anne … Continue reading Top five memorable reads of 2018
A flash of brilliance: why emerging writers should write flash fiction
My first published story was a work of flash fiction. I didn't realise it at the time; I don't think I had even heard of the term flash fiction when I wrote 'Perseveration'. An idea came to me—a moment that begged to be put into words—and for once the story flowed. It was fuelled by … Continue reading A flash of brilliance: why emerging writers should write flash fiction
How to find your authentic voice
Yesterday I went shopping with my mum. This was a rare mother-daughter day that we had both been looking forward to. I was on the hunt for a special outfit. I wanted something special, but not too special. And predictably nothing was quite right. Every dress was too formal, too informal, too young, too old, … Continue reading How to find your authentic voice
Trolls, traps and treats: tips for the newcomer to Twitter
Twitter is a divisive social media platform: people either love it or hate, and sometimes both on the same day. When I decided to build my social media presence a year ago, I set up a Facebook author page and began to engage with the writing community on Twitter. At first, Facebook seemed the more … Continue reading Trolls, traps and treats: tips for the newcomer to Twitter
Taking stock: the importance of reflecting on the writing journey
Social media feeds display a carefully curated view of other people’s lives. It’s easy to become bogged down in the extraordinary achievements of Twitter friends, and feel that you’re floundering. Left behind on the slush pile while others forge ahead with their brilliant literary careers. In view of that feeling, and a few recent rejections … Continue reading Taking stock: the importance of reflecting on the writing journey
Tips for preparing a verbal pitch
Last month, I blogged about attending this year's ASA literary speed dating event in Sydney. As a follow-up, I thought I'd cover my preparation for the event, the questions I was asked, and what I'd do differently with the benefit of hindsight. And offer a few tips for anyone keen to take on a similar … Continue reading Tips for preparing a verbal pitch
The pros and cons of literary speed dating
A couple of weeks ago I attended my first face-to-face pitching event: ASA literary speed dating, in Sydney. These events are generally held in Sydney and Melbourne every year, and are a rare opportunity for writers to pitch work directly to agents and publishers. This year the ASA also offered a similar opportunity for regional writers to … Continue reading The pros and cons of literary speed dating
