16 Jul What happens when you hit a wall with your writing?
We’ve all been there. Those days when nothing seems to flow, when your words are wooden and your syntax is lifeless. Those days when you’re bored with writing. Sick of...
Blog
08 Jul 6 ways to start a new writing project
I can’t help myself. I’m already plotting my next two big writing projects even though I’ve hardly recovered from my launch last week of The Pagoda Tree. In this week’s post...
04 Jul Why you need writing allies
When my new novel was launched at Gleebooks in Sydney last Friday I had the chance to thank and acknowledge some of those people who’ve helped me along the way....
25 Jun Making the leap from non-fiction to fiction
The first question a journalist asked me last week was why I made the decision to write my new book as fiction. Why I made the leap. Although Last Seen in...
18 Jun Do you write to be read?
What makes you write? Do you write to be read? I was watching an interview with Australian author Markus Zusak (The Book Thief) who said that even if he knew...
10 Jun How objects breathe life into your story
If you have one of those days when you sit down and don’t know what to write, then find an object and write about that. Ideally choose something meaningful. Or...
04 Jun Three stages of editing
To make the publisher’s deadline for my new novel, I’ve been through an intense period of editing. At times it felt like running a marathon – except the finish line...
28 May Writing fearlessly
There are lots of things that stop us writing. A common one is fear. How much do we hold ourselves back as writers? What are we most afraid of? Here are...
21 May How to make writing a regular routine
When I teach writing, I always ask my workshop students how they create a routine for themselves. Here’s what some say: I write for 40 minutes during my lunch break twice...
30 Apr How to choose the best title for your book
Hello everyone, I’ve been quiet for a while. After working on my novel for two years, I’m excited to announce that it’s nearly ready for publication. The Pagoda Tree will...