Writing tips and other bits

This week I’m in love with …

… Barkskins and Ticking Bomb One morning an old man, his back bent beneath a bundle, his glaring eyes roving left and right, came ricketing…

This week I’m in love with …

Apart from the sheer beauty, for me the way the backing singers support the soloist somehow embodies the strength and resilience of the oldest continuing culture on Earth.

This week I’m in love with …

… Our Magic Hour and Teeth & Tongue Two Melbourne artists this week. Jennifer Down’s sad and beautiful debut novel Our Magic Hour is pitch…

Should I avoid using ‘said’?

I’ve found that some new writers try to avoid using ‘said’, perhaps worrying that it’s boring or repetitive. But believe it or not…

This week I’m in love with …

… James Lasdun and Jess Cornelius Last week at a masterclass at the Brisbane Writers Festival, Stephen Amsterdam introduced us to this story by English…

Don’t be daunted – be inspired

I suggested he re-read an author he admires who writes this way, to see how they handle it. He answered that he always gets depressed reading his favourite author because ‘he’s just so damn good’.

This week I’m in love with …

… well researched long-form journalism and a bit of old school reggae Saturdays got a whole lot better since I subscribed to the Saturday Paper.…