Come to my seminar!

Sometimes the most compelling non-fiction stories are about other people. Whether you’re writing biography, interested in ghost writing, drawing together your family or local history, or even thinking about feature interviews – if you want to tell someone else’s story then learn how to illuminate your subject with writing that is engaging, ethical and insightful. On Sunday 14 June 2020, I'll be delivering an online workshop for Writers Victoria. We'll talk, we'll laugh and best of all, afterwards I'll provide personal feedback about a short excerpt of your writing. This [...]

2020-05-15T15:22:22+10:00May 15th, 2020|Writing|0 Comments
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Book Clubs

Book clubs really are the best, aren’t they? People with a common interest—reading—coming together to talk about books, ideas, and issues. Also, possibly to drink some wine, eat some cheese and catch up with some friends. It sounds like heaven to me (I always especially enjoy the cheese part). Earlier this year I boldly started up a new book club, aiming to meet every second month with some friends who live nearby, but we only managed to meet once before the coronavirus shutdown happened. We read The Weekend, by Charlotte [...]

2020-04-21T11:53:12+10:00April 21st, 2020|Author Talk|9 Comments
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So now I’m judging a writing competition

With some trepidation, I recently said yes to judging a writing competition. The Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Competition  for short stories and creative non-fiction. Sian Prior is judging the non-fiction and Mark Brandi and I are judging the fiction. Yes, there are a lot of entries to read. Yes, the stories vary widely. And of course picking a winner is not an easy task. So what insights can I give you into the judging process? I read each story with care. I can only presume each was crafted with [...]

2018-03-25T12:05:28+11:00July 21st, 2017|Writing|6 Comments
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Vote for me – please?

Writers Victoria is a wonderful organisation which supports and connects all types of writers at all stages of their writing careers. I've been a member for more than ten years - attending courses and workshops, and enjoying the monthly magazine. Writers Victoria also offers mentorships, a manuscript assessment service, and lots of support, advice and information. So, in an effort to give something back, I've decided to stand for a place on the Committee of Management. That is, I'd like to become a Board Member of Writers Victoria. But to [...]

2018-03-25T12:14:31+11:00March 27th, 2017|Life|4 Comments
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Indigenous Immersion

For the past three days my ongoing adventures in biography have immersed me in Aboriginal culture and I attended: Indigenous Cultural Awareness course Indigenous Language Intensive Guided tour of the Mt William stone axe quarry Want to know what I learned? I'm happy to tell you, but first some context. In the course of my research I've become more and more interested in the interactions between the Macarthur family and the Aboriginal people whose lands the family colonised. The various relationships are often only hinted at but seem to have [...]

2018-03-25T13:01:26+11:00November 27th, 2016|Life|7 Comments
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