A Bee in My Bonnet or Idioms in Fiction
Reading the first draft of my new novel The Ark, my friend Robyn brought my attention to my frequent use of idiom. In…
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The Nit Comb or The Importance of Editing
Last week in The Guardian, Rick Gekoski published an article on the importance of editing, in response to the revelation that esteemed publisher…
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You Might Also Like… Finding Books You’ll Love
You know that feeling when you’ve just finished an amazing book? Part of you is deeply satisfied but another part is bereft, needing…
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Reading Renaissance
Almost a decade ago, while living in Melbourne, I had my first ‘real’ full-time office job. A thinly-veiled fictional account of this experience…
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Editing *sigh*
I’m currently in the process of editing my novel Whisky Charlie Foxtrot for publication. It’s always a fascinating process having new eyes reading…
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Young Adult: Movies about Writers
Young Adult, the latest movie from the Jason Reitman/Diablo Cody team, tells the story of thirty-something Mavis Gary, the writer of a long-running…
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My Love/Hate Relationship with Australian Fiction (II)
I can’t wait to read something that’s NOT Australian Yes, I know it’s only a matter of days since I admitted that I’d…
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My Love/Hate Relationship with Australian Fiction (I)
Last year I was invited by Westerly to write their annual fiction review. New Australian books would be delivered to me, absolutely pristine,…
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The Perils of Applying for Writing Grants
It’s no secret that writing a book takes time. A lot of time. For me, around 5 years. Or that it pays badly….
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Why Writers Need Marketing Plans
At the moment I’m in the process of applying for a grant from the West Australian Department of Culture & the Arts (DCA),…
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