Work in Progress Archives | Michelle Scott Tucker

An acquisition, a shortlisting and a scholarship!

Writers Victoria has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship, and I'm beyond delighted to have made the cut; ‘for a biography of Louisa Lawson, newspaper proprietor, poet, suffragist and mother of Henry Lawson.’ What a strong list and what an honour to be included in it. Although those of you who've been playing along at home will know that I've been shortlisted for the Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship twice before. Here's hoping that this third time will be the charm! The Literary Fellowship, valued at $20,000, [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2024-01-19T15:04:01+11:00January 19th, 2024|Life, Work in Progress, Writing|0 Comments

Louisa Lawson

Louisa Lawson. Source: State Library of NSW Louisa Lawson (1848-1920) was a farmer, poet, writer, and a successful newspaper owner. She established Dawn, Australia’s first journal for women readers and lobbied publicly and successfully for women’s rights – including the right to vote. Yet today she is best known, if at all, for being Henry Lawson’s mother. Outspoken, uncompromising, opinionated – Louisa Lawson was vilified in her day by contemporary journalists and politicians and maligned after death by historians who blamed her for Henry Lawson’s alcoholic dissolution. Louisa Lawson [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2023-10-20T10:37:49+11:00October 20th, 2023|Colonial History, Louisa Lawson, Work in Progress|11 Comments

And what does an editor do, exactly?

This isn't, of course, a question I can answer. I'm not an editor. But I can tell you something about what it is like to be edited. And the short answer is: it's wonderful. For my next book, So Far So Good, I've been working closely with Pantera Publishing's Senior Editor Anne Reilly and she has been an absolute delight. Her editorial (and, later, her author emotional support) comments were invariably insightful, always practical and often hilarious. The draft manuscript was submitted just before Christmas. At about 80,000 words it [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-06-10T16:43:14+10:00June 10th, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Work in Progress, Writing|4 Comments

Lost at Sandy Gallop Asylum

Sandy Gallop Asylum Source: ABC News I've been trying to source information about the great-grandfather of my memoir subject (my subject is Aaron Fa'Aoso, his great-grandfather was Guy Townson). Aaron remains very close to his Nan, was essentially raised by her, and Guy was her father. The following excerpt from the draft manuscript is Aaron's recollection of Guy's heartbreaking story. Guy Townson was the skipper of a pearling ketch, and he spent the last years of his life in a mental hospital in Ipswich, in southern [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2022-02-12T12:50:12+11:00February 12th, 2022|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Work in Progress|2 Comments

Shortlisted! Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship

In exciting news, I've been shortlisted for the 2021 Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship, worth $15,000. The shortlisting is for a project I've been quietly working on for a while - I'm (ghost) writing a memoir for Aaron Fa’Aoso, Torres Strait Islander actor, film and television writer, director and producer. You can read more about my newest project here. And stay tuned, there is even more exciting news to come! The Hazel Rowley Literary Fellowship was established by the family and friends of Hazel Rowley, one of the world’s leading biographers, to [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2021-01-14T11:24:19+11:00January 14th, 2021|Aaron Fa'Aoso, Work in Progress, Writing|4 Comments

Out and about, talking about Elizabeth Macarthur

Promoting the book has so far been a very happy, enjoyable process. Talking to interesting people, hanging out in libraries and bookshops, eating scones - seriously, what's not to love? And yes, those scones pictured left were laid on after my talk by the lovely Clare, who owns Aesop's Attic book shop in Kyneton, Victoria. They were homemade, and every bit as delicious as they look. I have finished my run of radio interviews for now and, just as I was getting very comfortable with delivering author talks, I seem [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2018-05-14T14:31:48+10:00May 14th, 2018|Work in Progress|5 Comments

Guest Post and Holidays

Worked like a demon to get the first big edit of the manuscript finished before the end of 2017 - and made it with, at least 48 hours to spare! Then my family and I went to the beach for a week. No wifi. Bliss. Then (thanks to my hard working editor) came back to find the first nine chapters of the manuscript ready to copy edit. So that's what I've been doing, instead of blogging. But if you would like to read a little something, try this Guest Post [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2018-03-24T02:34:42+11:00January 12th, 2018|Colonial History, Work in Progress, Writing|6 Comments

SMH – What to read in 2018

Wow! Got a mention beside the big kids in today's Sydney Morning Herald. Jane Sullivan has an article called 'What to read in 2018: a selection of the big books on the shelves next year.' And if you scroll right down (keep going, yep keep going), you might find a mention of me. Huzzah! From Sullivan's list I'm also keen to read: Eleanor Limprecht (The Passengers, Allen & Unwin, March) - because I've enjoyed her earlier novels. Ruby Murray (The Biographer's Lover, Black Inc., April) - because with a title like [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2018-03-24T02:35:25+11:00December 29th, 2017|Interesting Articles, Work in Progress, Writing|6 Comments

Finding images for the book

When you pick up a biography, do you first turn to those glossy pages in the middle? The pages with the pictures, the paintings, the maps. The pages that somehow tell you what it is you're going to be reading about. The pages that the author - a person by definition good with words, rather than images - has sweated blood over. Reader, I know of what I speak! When I signed the contract with Text Publishing, my agent carefully pointed out the clause that says I'm responsible for [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2018-03-25T00:36:28+11:00December 21st, 2017|Work in Progress, Writing|19 Comments

The stories that get left out

What should biographers do with all the wonderful stories - or snippets - they discover along the way but can't include in their books? Many biographers do, of course, include them. But readers often don't like it - for example wonderful reviewer Whispering Gums recently discussed a biography she enjoyed, but felt contained too much extraneous detail. And, I'll confess, as a reader I feel the same way. I just want to read about the biographical subject, please. But as a writer? Of course I want to include all [...]

Michelle Scott Tucker2018-03-24T23:03:43+11:00December 4th, 2017|Work in Progress, Writing|18 Comments