“Research is all about venturing into the unknown and developing an understanding of the world you are writing about in a way that means you can make it real for your readers as well.”

Fill your October with these wonderful writing events. There’s a range of events to brighten your month, including writing festivals, author talks, live theatre, book launches and more!

“Too much information kills tension. But showing – through dialogue, active sentences, strong word choice and carefully chosen visceral reactions – pulls the reader into the story and makes them an active participant rather than a bored onlooker.”

Take a look at what we’ve read in September – a complex thriller, a meditation on grief, an addictive page-turner, a piece on Antarctic moss, a book of essays and more!

‘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.’

“A great synopsis shows that you understand very clearly what you are writing about, that you are able to encapsulate the intent and trajectory of the manuscript, and that you know where your project fits into the marketplace.”

Fill your September with these wonderful writing events. There’s a range of events to brighten your month, including writing festivals, poetry slams, author talks, workshops and more!

Take a look at what we’ve read in August – a compelling ode to Sarajevo, a contemplative literary novel, a new voice in Aussie crime, a haunting short story, a middle grade adventure and more!

“Once you have that first draft you have something to work with, you’re not facing a blank page and pulling ideas out of the air. Once you have a bunch of ideas on the page in front of you, you’re ready to shape, expand and trim them to achieve the effects you want.”