I set a writer I am working with the challenge of writing a 200-word story every day for two weeks. Each one has to be self-contained: each one featuring a new story, a new character/s. I firmly believe that I should never set someone a task I wouldn’t be prepared to undertake … Continue reading
I remember discovering this poem once, which evoked that particular kind of feeling – a cross between pain, nostalgia and something else – that is akin to the feeling you get when you put your tongue into the place where your tooth used to be. This was many years ago. It was a … Continue reading
So, it’s about time I revisited this site, updated its look and started, like, actually posting stuff here. I mean, new stuff. So, this week, this site will be UNDER CONSTRUCTION while I work on that. Gotany suggestions? I’d love to hear from you.
I hope you’ll be attending GenreCon this year — it’s going to be an amazing event, with a rich and diverse program of panels, discussions, workshops, debates and other wonders. I’ll be making two ‘official’ appearances. The Joy of Writing workshop will take place from 1:30 – 5:30 pm on … Continue reading
“Maps are essential. Planning a journey without a map is like building a house without drawings.” [Mark Jenkins, The Hard Way: Stories of Danger, Survival, and the Soul of Adventure] This is the second in a series of posts designed to help you focus your writing. Last week, your homework … Continue reading
Not everyone wants or needs to work with a mentor, but many writers feel the need to refocus their writing practice at some point. This is the first in a series of posts that, together, will comprise a kind of DIY mentorship. The DIY mentorship isn’t designed to replace a … Continue reading
Recently, I was delighted to publish an article, in SALT magazine, on a real Sunshine Coast icon: The Big Pineapple. The article is largely about the early history of Sunshine Plantation, which was founded by Bill and Lyn Taylor in the 1970s. The article draws on a range of sources, … Continue reading
Instructions for writing a story for a small child, as a gift. First, consider the child. Is it small and sticky, or tall and clumsy? Does it prefer pickles, or ice cream? Pants or sequins? Measure it: first, from top to bottom, second, from belly button around to belly button. … Continue reading
When I was staying in Amsterdam, I visited Anne Frank House. It was a quiet January morning. I arrived early and wandered through the exhibition, which includes both introductory material about Anne, her family, and the other inhabitants of the Achterhuis during the war, the attic rooms themselves, and (once … Continue reading
Today, I answer some questions from Adam Mills over at Weird Fiction. You can also read an extract from Rupetta (The Miracle of Consciousness) published free and online in the same issue. There’s also little review of Rupetta included here. I’m all over that place!