A man in his underwear is surrounded by others dressed in the themes of the parties that take place in the novel (one in erotica, one from the roaring twenties and one from the psychedelic sixties). The guy in underwear shakes his head at these weirdly dressed people before looking directly at the camera to …
Self editing my first draft
Over the last two days I've read through the first draft of a work in progress. I finished this draft three months ago. This is how long I take before I revisit a manuscript. Any sooner and I wouldn't be able to clearly see what elements need work. I had some doubts about this novel, …
As an author, how much social media is enough?
I have two designated days a week to write. That's more than most. One of those days is Monday and like most people find, Mondays fly by quickly. I usually do the washing on that day as well, and pop off to the gym in the morning. So I don't get to my laptop until …
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My Sensitivity Read for ‘Speedbump’ – Guest blog by Charli Coty
The last edition of Australian Author had an interesting article about Sensitivity Readers. These are people from a certain background or minority that will read your manuscript and give you feedback on the character that represents them. For example, if I wrote about a transsexual, I would offer my work to a transsexual who would …
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Trusting my author instincts
Something has changed in my approach to writing. Or perhaps it's just a change for the book I'm currently working on. I usually meticulously plot chapter by chapter, but for the sequel to Social Media Central, that's not the case. Maybe it's because it needs twists and turns as its a dystopian thriller. It's better …
Writing ‘At Your Service’ – Guest blog by K.S. Trenten
Author K.S. Trenten has popped over to tell us who's the fairest of them all in her reinvention of the Cinderella story for the NineStar Press anthology, Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume 2. I’ve been thinking about desire, what makes a person desirable for quite some time. Certain images are used in the media, marketed …
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The Paradox of Science Fiction (Guest blog – Rebecca Langham)
Rebecca Langham has several things in common with me. Firstly, she is a fellow author at NineStar Press. Secondly, she is Australian and lives north of Sydney in the Blue Mountains. Thirdly, we've both been emailing each other frantically because we are going to promote our sci-fi books (mine comes out in March) at the …
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Words. They have power!
I've often blogged about my favourite editor, Mary Belk. She was assigned to my first novel and totally helped me re-imagine it. But I realised something the other day. I have no idea what she looks or sounds like. That's not unusual as I have the same relationship with my current editor, Jason. I wanted …
Our Christmas tree
It's time for a confession. Some years our Christmas tree doesn't go up. We may have to travel to see family straight after working all the way up to the holidays so, as no one is going to visit, it stays in its box in the garage. Maybe I'm getting older and sentimental, or maybe …
‘A Face Without A Heart’ by Rick R. Reed
I have a confession. Although this story is set in modern times, I kept picturing it set in the late nineteenth century. This is, after all, a retelling of an Oscar Wilde classic. When a modern prop like a g-string was mentioned my mind re-adjusted, but just as quickly all the characters were back in …
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