‘While the first objects that come to mind for writing might be precious items that have a clear significance through their artistic, heirloom, or monetary value, humble and everyday objects are no less interesting to write with. It’s the stories they connect to that make them profound.’

‘We read non-fiction for information and also for emotional engagement. Does your topic have the potential to reach a wider audience because it has ‘big human issues’ to share? By this I mean issues about resilience, survival, love.’

‘Creativity is its own life force, with its own ebbs and flows, and needs to be treated with that respect. We cannot expect the mind to just churn things out continuously. We need to develop a more reciprocal relationship with this force.’

‘Sometimes the most important and impactful of things are said in a quiet, controlled and thoughtful voice.’

This month, the Writing NSW team has been reading memoir, devouring essays on women’s football in the midst of the Matildas fever, and listening to podcasts that tell stories and discuss writing for video games.

‘I have so many lovely moments when readers have recognised themselves in my personal essays and felt like I was writing about their own lives. It is in these moments that I see the true power of memoir; we are writing our own personal truths and yet these are universal truths.’

Have a look at what the Writing NSW team has been reading recently: stories of Country, queerness, grief, coming of age, and speculative fiction.

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

“… a distinction must be made between the artform of fiction or writing for oneself or journaling. Both are important, but they serve different purposes.”