‘With few exceptions, writers don’t figure out their plots on the first attempt, whether they’re sitting down and plotting it out in advance or figuring it out as they draft. Plotting is a skill that requires an understanding of the mechanics of story, and that will develop as you apply yourself to the task of writing and rewriting.’

‘An expert can break all of this down and help a writer work through suggested areas of improvement, one layer at a time.’

“The better you understand the intricacies of good writing, the more powerfully you can write about any aspect of your life.”

‘These days nearly all my friends are writers. Much of the joy in my life comes from our conversations about books, our introspective lives, and our work. It also comes from witnessing their efforts and celebrating their successes.’

“The better you understand the intricacies of good writing, the more powerfully you can write about any aspect of your life.”

What book’s got you feeling all the feelings this month? Our September reads include Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall, Alan Duff’s Once Were Warriors, The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, What I Loved by Siri Husvedt and Norman Erikson Pasaribu’s Sergius Seeks Bacchus.

Our August reads include The Erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Unlike the Heart: A Memoir of Brain and Mind by Nicola Redhouse, and Brute by Emily Skaja.

There’s no doubt about it – true happiness is snuggling up with a good book and a hot cup of tea while winter rages outside. And while we probably can’t help you with the tea, we can definitely help in the book section! Read on to discover what our staff have been reading in the cold winter months. Who knows, you might even stumble upon your new favourite book!

Our staff have a range of reading interests, and we’re sharing our picks for May!