I’ve Been Editing …
My apologies for being so quiet on my blog lately. As most of you would already know, I've been doing the structural edits on my novel. They're notoriously hard—just ask any author—and I had only one month in which to complete them. That month also happened...
Deb Wain: A Circuitous Pathway to Writing
I have yet another gorgeous essay for Writers in the Attic this week, this time from Deb Wain. Deb's tale of how she came to writing really resonated with me. In fact, parts of it are eerily similar to an essay I wrote for the Writing the Dream anthology...
Glenda Janes: The Saving Grace of Writing
Every week, I say how honoured/thrilled/excited I am to host this week's Writer in the Attic. I know I'm repeating myself and sounding clichéd, but it's true: every week, I am truly honoured, thrilled and excited to post each story. As I read the...
Jessica Gately: What I Enjoy Most About Writing
A few weeks' ago, I put a call out for essays for Writers in the Attic to a Facebook group for Australian writers. I was a little nervous and had no idea if anyone would want to write for this little attic, but, as always, my fellow writers rose to the...
Vikki Holstein: On Writing Alternative Romance
Welcome to the second week of Writers in the Attic for 2017. Today, another interstate guest joins me—Vikki Holstein. Vikki is a romance writer, but of romance with a twist. I admire her 'I'll show them' attitude, and that she's prepared to take a risk and...
Christina Houen: The Evolution of a Story
Welcome back to Writers in the Attic for 2017! This series was one of the highlights, if not the highlight, of my 2016 blog year, so it's my absolute pleasure to invite writers into this little space again. I have some wonderful writers and essays lined...
My Writing Goals In 2017
I've been quiet on the blog lately and I apologise. My excuse is that in this part of the world, it's school holidays, and I've wound everything right back so I don't spend all day in the attic and neglect my family. School returns next week so I'm...
Lily Malone: On Writing Romance
My last writer in the attic for 2016 is Lily Malone. Lily was a guest here in 2014, but she's been rather busy since then ... Lily has worked as a journalist and editor of wine industry magazines, but discovered after years of writing facts for a...
Maureen Eppen: From Journalism to Creative Writing
When I started this series of essays and asked people to contribute, I wondered if I'd have any interested writers. But it's turned into a beautiful series of personal stories that have really spoken to not just me, but to readers, too, as this series...
On the Eve of Fifty
I'm about to turn fifty. Half a century, a milestone. An age I once thought of as ancient. Until this birthday, I've not worried about my age, not ever. The number of years I'd been alive had never made me feel old. When I was a child, I'd felt...
Threasa Meads: Being Brave As A Writer
I'm proud to welcome writer and artist, Threasa Meads, to the attic this week. Please read on for a beautiful piece about being brave in your writing. Threasa is the author of two liminal autobiographies, Nobody and Mothsong (Rare Bird Books, 2016), and a...
Helen Jones: Writing As A Self-Published Author
The days of snail mail and letters to pen pals in other countries might be behind us, but thanks to the internet, it's easier than ever to form friendships with people overseas whom we've never met. I have a few such friends, people I correspond...
Teena Raffa-Mulligan: A Writing Life
Teena Raffa-Mulligan has stepped into the attic today and gives us another beautiful essay in this series. The honesty and simplicity with which she tells the story of what writing has meant to her will move you. Teena is a...
The Story Behind My Story: My Grandfather
In the lead up to publication of my novel, I'd like to write more about the 'The Story Behind the Story': the genesis of my novel, and the people and places that inspired it. My Grandfather My paternal grandfather was one of...
Gulara Vincent: Writing For Healing and Self-Discovery
Despite all the downsides to the internet—its time-sucking capacity being one of them—it has made life easier—it's easier to shop, to find information, and it's easier to make friends. (Brilliant segue coming up -->) One of these friends is Gulara...