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On Research for Novels
@DaniArostegui asked “Can you write a post on the research process for your novels? How much research do you do for a given book?” The book I’m writing at the moment, Sekrit Project, was inspired by a...
View ArticleState of the RSI
Since so many of you have kindly inquired about how I’m doing1 I figured best to answer you all in a post. Also Sarah Zarr recently posted about her own trials and tribulations, which reminded me yet...
View ArticleFinished the First Draft; Time for the Real Work to Begin
Yesterday, as I predicted, I finished the first draft of my sekrit project novel. And there was rejoicing throughout the Hills of Surry.1 Well, at least throughout my little corner of it. It’s the...
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In Which I Opine About Bubble Skirts
Because Nalo Hopkinson wants me to. What Nalo wants Nalo gets. In principle I don’t believe any particular item of clothing is per se hideous. On the whole I don’t like one-sleeved dresses but there’s...
View ArticleWriting to the Market
Last week I very much meant to respond to Sam X’s comment on my post about becoming a brand versus writing what you want to write but last week was crazy busy. Plus I soon realised my thoughts were...
View ArticleOn Blogging and the Olympics
So here it is the final day of my blogging every day of July effort and I have succeeded!1 And it was fun. So much fun that I’m going to keep on blogging. Not every day but at least once a week. Turns...
View ArticleGetting Started
I have a writing problem which is shared by many writers: I struggle to get started. I wrote about this problem a bit way back in 2009 when I confessed to almost destroying my professional writing...
View ArticleOn Getting Notes From First Readers
As I may have mentioned, once or twice, I recently finished the first draft of my Sekrit Project novel. And, yay verily, I was full of joy. There was dancing. Bouncing. Happiness and even more joy....
View ArticleOn Humility
I know a tiny handful of people who have not the tiniest speck of humility or modesty and—this is the important part—are not obnoxious. They are good people. What they have is a sense of their own...
View ArticleFemme Fatale Songs
At the moment I am loving this song, “Heart Killer”, by Gossling. A friend describes her voice as like P J Harvey on helium, which is about right. She has one of those very, very weird voices that...
View ArticleEpiphanies, Other Opinions and Listening
Went for a long walk yesterday through Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Rushcutters Bay. It’s spring here and almost everywhere smelt like jasmine.1 The sounds weren’t quite as lovely. Spring...
View ArticleWhy I Love Rewriting
My last post may have given the impression that I am not a fan of rewriting. So not true! I loves it. For me the first draft is the least fun because I’m never quite sure I have a novel until there’s a...
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Last Day of 2012
This is my annual post where I sum up what happened in my professional life for the year and look ahead to what’s going to happen in 2013. I do this so I can have a handy record that I can get to in...
View ArticleTen Years of Writing YA Novels For A Living
It is now TEN WHOLE YEARS since I became a freelance writer. I know, right? How did that happen? Ten years! And one more time because truly my disbelief is high: I HAVE BEEN A FULL-TIME, FREELANCE...
View ArticleOverused Words
This post is a reference post for my convenience. It’s taken from my large post on rewriting from a few years back. With some additions that I’ve noticed crop up in my writing more recently. (The...
View ArticleLast Day of 2013
And, lo, another year has passed and it is time for my annual post where I sum up what happened in my professional life this year and look ahead to what’s going to happen in 2014. I do this so I have a...
View ArticleSome Thoughts On A Writer’s Intentions
Recently some Twitter folk discussed fiction that has a moral. It started with Theri Pickens telling Daniel José Older that she’d love to see a story about people’s failure to apologise for racism or...
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My Next Published Solo Novel: RAZORHURST!
My next novel, Razorhurst, will be published in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin in July. That’s right, its publication is a mere five months away! Which is practically right now. I’m...
View ArticleIn which I speak of Razorhurst in front of a Camera
As I may have mentioned once or twice I have a new book, Razorhurst, set on the seedy streets of Sydney in 1932 and packed with deliciously dangerous dames and brutal, bloodthirsty blokes.1 It’ll be...
View ArticleDon’t Do What I Did: On Writing Historicals
I started my professional life as an academic. I spent my days researching, making notes, writing scholarly tomes, delivering papers, supervising the occasional student.1 Starting when I was in the...
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