From Hook To Book

Oh, what a feeling..!
That feeling when your brand new story/character/world becomes real and – OMG, it/he/she speaks to you! Especially when you feared after finishing your previous project (of many drafts and years) that the same passion might never strike you again. Despite reading many blogs/interviews/author biographies to the contrary – the promise … Read More

Young Writers Competitions and Opportunities
Calling all young writers, playwrights and poets! Lots of regular and new young writers’ competitions and opportunities have opened up. Some are closing soon. So flex those writing muscles and get your entries in fast. (Only if they’ve been buffed and polished and proofed, of course.) You’ll find further details and some great new … Read More

And that’s a wrap!
On Saturday November 12 SCBWI Vic enjoyed a fabulous end of year meeting and wrap party to close what has been a busy, enjoyable and creative SCBWI year. We began with our usual Show and Tell session celebrating six member successes and new publications. This session is always so inspiring … Read More
My Tribe (SCBWI Australia East/NZ)
Writing is such a solitary endeavour. Of course, we writers/illustrators/creators are no longer isolated or starving in a garret as in years or centuries past. (Forgive the aside, but is it only me who perceives ‘starving in a garret’ as somewhat romantic when transported to 20th century Paris? I could … Read More
The Value of Conferences – CYA
I can’t believe it’s been weeks since I attended the fantastic CYA Conference in Brisbane. I’ve been head-down ever since, following up on manuscript advice received during my two publisher assessment sessions and giving social media a narrow gaze. I was really excited in the weeks prior to the conference to be shortlisted … Read More
My New Favourite Thing
Move over notebooks. I think I’ve just found my new favourite thing – for a writer. I feel a bit odd gushing about a gadget in this terribly material age, but my new favourite thing is a fantastic tool of trade – a shiny new iPad Pro (the small 9.7 … Read More
Libraries Rule for Research
As a writer of historical fiction, many an hour I’ve spent to great result in the State Library of Victoria, PROV and various local and overseas’ libraries. So it was dismaying for me to read a recent blog post on research, on a major, international writing website, that alleged researching your novel in a … Read More