Happy Birthday to Writers in the Attic!
A few days ago, on the first of August, Writers in the Attic turned one year old! Just over a year ago I tentatively approached a couple of writers and asked them to pen an essay about what being a writer meant to them. I certainly didn't expect it would still be...
Nicole McAlinden: A Strong Voice Spoken Quietly
Today, my friend Nicole McAlinden steps into the attic. I've known Nicole for a number of years through a writing group of which we are both members. I can vouch not only for her writing, but that she is, in person, a strong voice spoken quietly. 'I will keep on...
Camilla Hullick: My Happy Place
In the attic with me this week is Camilla Hullick. Camilla sent me this heartwarming story of how she returned to her 'happy place' after many years away from it. I related to Camilla's conflicting emotions of enjoying solitude and physical work and at the same...
Samantha House: How Reading Made Me A Writer
Western Australian writer and mother-of-four, Samantha House, has stepped into the attic today. She talks about how important reading is to her and what she hopes to give her own readers one day. I hope you'll enjoy her essay as much as I do—she's managed to...
Susan Dunn: My Reading and Writing Life
Perth writer, Susan Dunn, is my guest in the attic this week. Susan's essay takes us from her early reading through to her adult writing life, and I'm sure you'll enjoy reading about the books and people who have influenced her. 'I curled up in bed...
Anthea Hodgson: The Drifter’s Heart
I don't have the words to express how deeply this essay by Anthea Hodgson about her dad and his death from Alzheimer's affected me. All I can say is that it's beautiful and it made me cry. If you've never read a Writers in the Attic post before, today's the day...
Rebecca Freeman: Running Writing
I'm so proud to host of this series of essays and bring you a different insight into the writing life every week. Each essay is truly inspiring and thoughtful and really bolsters my spirits. They're all too special, really, not to be published more widely or in print,...
Lauren Keegan: The Anchor That is Writing
If you're an aspiring writer, this is a not-to-be-missed post about rejection and not giving up. A few weeks ago, I read a blog post titled, 'How To Cope with Rejection and Keep on Writing'. The author of the post, Lauren Keegan, had sent her fifth completed...
Jodi Gibson: Finding My Place in the World
Jodi Gibson, writer and blogger, has stepped into the attic today. I found myself nodding all the way through Jodi's piece and wanted to underline so many of her sentences. I relate to what she says about blogging, about how it changed her life. It does; it's...
Rachel Nightingale: When Achieving Your Dream Makes You Sad
I have another moving essay for the attic today. This piece by Rachel Nightingale, about her dad and his influence on her writing, really touched me. There's something special about the relationship between daughters and their dads. 'Now, as...
Cait Gordon: When to Listen to and When to Ignore Writing Advice
I'm always excited when someone I don't know contacts me wanting to be part of Writers in the Attic. That's how this post came about, and until I read Cait's essay, I knew as much about this Irish-Canadian author and editor as you! Read on to learn more about Cait...
Denise Mills: Writing is a Big Deal
When my Inbox goes ping and I see it's another piece for Writers in the Attic, I feel a little thrill. I have to drop what I'm doing and read it straightaway. I can't resist. Each of the essays I've posted has resonated with me in some way and many have had me...
Eliza Henry-Jones: Discovering How I Write
I have the extremely talented Eliza Henry-Jones in the attic with me today. Eliza is on the eve of launching her second novel, Ache. I first heard of Eliza in an interview with Natasha Lester in 2015, just after her first novel 'In the Quiet' was published....
Leanda Michelle: What Writing Means to Me
Leanda Michelle joins me in the attic today to tell the story of how she started writing and her 14-year journey to publication. As I read this piece, once again I was reminded of how persistent and courageous we have to be in following our dreams. ...
Marie McLean: What Writing Means to Me
I'm yet to meet today's writer in the attic, Marie McLean, despite the fact we both live in the same city, we're both writers and we encounter each other almost daily online. We're hoping to remedy that soon, but in the meantime I'll bring you Marie's beautifully...
