Why Writers Should Read
Should you read if you want to write? Maybe you’ve been told that reading someone else’s work will stifle your unique voice. If they...
Three Perspectives on “Write What You Know”
All writers are familiar with the adage “write what you know”. But what does it actually mean? Should it be taken literally? Or does it...
“Juggling the Books Doesn’t Stack Up”: Why Book-sellers and Publishers Should Care about the 2015 Fe
It is well known that the number of bookshops in Australia is dwindling. What is less well known is that the Australian book and...
Narrative Tension: Is Serialisation an Answer?
Narrative tension is vital in a novel and writers often struggle with how to introduce it. Can it be done with shorter chapters? Can it...
The Literary Agent: A Bridge to Publication
A good literary agent is a bridge between the novelist and publication. He or she understands the publishing industry, knows who the most...
Purple Patches
Probably every school child has seen the words purple patch scrawled in red pen on her essay. When I was in Year 5, I found the phrase in...
Literary Lifespans
Life expectancy at birth was 50 years in 1890s Britain. Now it stands at 80. In this month’s Literary Review John Sutherland has an...
Landscape and the Novel
How does the landscape contribute to the novel? Is it there as background? Is it a protagonist? Or is it a bit of both? Some writers use...
How to Cope with Rejection
You’re an author - and you’ve spent months – or more likely years – writing your manuscript. Before you sent it - or a few sample...
India's Publishing Boom
We’ve all read about India’s expanding economy and its bright prospects for the future. But what are the implications of this rapid...
