Sharron Booth: The Myth of ‘Follow Your Dream’
I loved this gorgeously wise post by WA début author, Sharron Booth. I know writers, and readers, will love it too, as we all resonate with the struggles of writing a book and getting published. It’s never straightforward and Sharron’s post, with its truth and...
On Ted Kooser, Journaling and Playing With Poetry
It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then I read or hear about something and it strikes me immediately as something I must do. This happened to me in October 2020 – I was driving home, watching the road, probably thinking about the next thing I had to...
Writing the First Draft is the Hardest Part
People talk about plotters versus pantsers, and those who write their books sequentially versus those who write them ad hoc. But not many talk about those who enjoy writing a first draft and hate editing, and those who despise the messy first draft but love the...
10 Things I Learnt From Writing My Second Novel
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. For many reasons, including that I’ve had my head down finishing off Novel #2, I’ve been busy scribbling Novel #3 (over 50,000 words in already) and I’ve been working on a few other projects (see below)....
Sara Foster: Rewriting the Maternal Voice in Fiction
My friend and much-loved Western Australian author, Sara Foster, visits the attic today. After writing six bestselling psychological suspense novels, Sara’s latest book, The Hush, is a near-future thriller that has been garnering critical acclaim around the...
Portland Jones: Turning Family History into Historical Fiction
It’s with great joy I welcome Portland Jones back to the attic today. She visited back in 2019 – read that post here – but our friendship goes back to 2014, when we were both shortlisted for the City of Fremantle – TAG Hungerford Award. Portland has just...
Dinuka McKenzie: Just an Everyday Woman
I’m thrilled to welcome crime writer, Dinuka McKenzie, to the attic this week. Dinuka’s crime-fiction novel, The Torrent, won the 2020 Banjo Prize, and its publication was much-awaited. She’s recently signed with Harper Collins for a further two...
Fiona Robertson: Walking Away for Inspiration
It gives me more pleasure than you can possibly imagine to welcome Fiona into the attic. It’s not the first time she’s visited (read her first post from 2017) and these days Fi is an almost daily visitor to the attic, as I am to her office, when we write...
Maria Papas: Lessons from ten year old me: how to tell a difficult story
Welcome to Writers in the Attic for 2022! I have some wonderful authors lined up already, and I’m looking forward to bringing you their stories from behind-the-scenes. I don’t know about you, but over this past two years, books have become a touchstone for...
Karen Herbert: Mount Stupid Again
Please welcome Karen Herbert to the attic this week. Karen and I have crossed paths a few times over the years, as fellow members of the WASO chorus and as hockey mums, so I’m thrilled to have her in the attic as a début novelist. Her crime thriller, The River...