I wanted to write a post that summarised five or six or seven of the books and websites I most frequently turn to when I need advice on writing. Instead, I got stuck on the first one on my list; The Little Red Writing Book, by Mark Tredinnick. This is probably because I’ve never been... Continue Reading →
Environmental Disaster, Star Signs and Belonging: Inspiration for Children of the Solstice
My first novel, Children of the Solstice, follows the journey of Rory, an Australian teenager who discovers she is part of a secret race of supernatural beings called Elementals. Her excitement at finally finding her place in the world is shattered when she learns that the whole fate of Elementals – and humanity – might... Continue Reading →
Can I write about Aboriginal Australia as a white woman?
The NSW Writers’ Centre’s ‘Newswrite’ Issue 230 had an interesting piece by Adeline Teoh on “the minefield of writing from a cultural viewpoint not your own”. As a white, heterosexual, middle-class woman, I’m only one step away from being the dominant narrative in Australia, but from a young age I remember feeling very passionate and... Continue Reading →
10 Inspiring Travel Destinations for Writing
Over the past several years, I’ve been lucky enough to explore quite a few different locales, all of which have inspired my writing in their own ways. Sometimes, it might just be an encounter on the street, other times a whole culture, a setting for a scene, a character’s backstory… so here are some places... Continue Reading →
I'm an [Aspiring] Author
Social media, in various forms, has been big since about 2005. Most social media pages have always required some kind of tagline or bio, to go with your profile. In these taglines, I’ve always made copious use of words like ‘aspiring’ ‘amateur’ and ‘wannabe’. While the Spice Girls’ song (yes, I’m a nineties kid) is... Continue Reading →