David Allan-Petale: From Fact to Fiction
Well, I could say the locusts have taken over the attic this week: David Allan-Petale has come in to talk about his book, Locust Summer, and his metamorphosis from journalist to author. On the face of it, the two seem similar – both are writing, both tell stories –...
Zoë Deleuil: The Accidental Novel
I’m excited to welcome Zoe Deleuil, to the attic this week. Zoë is from Perth, Western Australia, but now lives in Berlin with her family. I remember running into Zoe at the Perth Writers Festival a few years ago (in the women’s loos, of course!), and chatting...
2020 Stocktake
At the risk of repeating what everyone else is saying, I’m pretty sure most of us will be waving a hearty good riddance to 2020 at midnight tonight, booting it over the nearest horizon and hoping for a kinder 2021. A year without a new pandemic is high on my priority...
Ewa Ramsey: Not Writing Made Me The Writer I Am, and Other Scary Stories
After a much-needed break from blogging over the past couple of weeks, I’m happy to pop back in today and welcome début author, Ewa Ramsey, to the attic. Ewa’s novel, The Morbids, was recently released by Allen and Unwin. In this piece, Ewa muses about the...
Donna Mazza: A Desk of One’s Own
I’m thrilled to have Donna Mazza as my guest in the attic this week. I’m sure all writers will relate to her post about writing desks and rooms, as we all yearn for a place to write that’s beautiful and tranquil. But this story is also about...
Heather Rose: A Few Thoughts About Writing
Today’s guest in the attic requires no introduction—she’s one of Australia’s best writers, as well as one of the kindest, most down-to-earth people you could ever meet. (That’s how they breed them in Tasmania. 😉 ) I’m thrilled and...
Guest Post: Re-Discovering the Joy of Writing
This week I popped over to Lee Kofman’s wonderful blog and wrote a guest post. It only took me five drafts before I was able to articulate what I really wanted to say about the struggles of writing a second book compared to the joy of writing a first, and all...
Ashley Kalagian Blunt: Going Where the Writing Takes You
One of the reasons I love hosting this series is because every writer is different — in the way they approach their craft, their sources of inspiration, how they set up their writing days and how they structure their writing lives. Certainly, there are common threads...
Leah Kaminsky: If We Could Talk to the Animals
Writing as an Act of Courage I’m delighted to welcome Leah Kaminsky into the attic today. Leah is incredibly accomplished, being both doctor and author, and a multi-award-winning one at that. She writes with intelligence and compassion on enormous and haunting...
Portland Jones: Why I Run
My friendship with today’s guest began back in 2014 when we were both shortlisted for the TAG Hungerford Award. Her book, Seeing the Elephant, was later published by Margaret River Press. Its poignant story and the lyricism and beauty of the prose have stayed...