Motifs are not necessarily part of the story and often do not carry any extra meaning for the characters themselves. It is a relationship between the author and audience... the symbols must be both subtle yet significant | Shannon Meyerkort
Category: articles and other writing
Starting from Scratch (again)
What happens when you realise you need to rewrite your entire book because you didn't tell the story you thought you had? A lesson in starting over | Shannon Meyerkort
Can you make money from blogging?
I had been under the distinct impression that writing, in any form, was a humbling and poverty-inducing career choice; that one chose it from a place of deep desire, like a religious calling, and not because you could actually make a buck from it...
Spending the $50million
I’m sure you’re familiar with that marvelous feeling, after you have bought a lotto ticket but before the draw, where the possibility of winning the $50 million dollars is so real and tangible you can taste it. When you are making lists in your head, spending your winnings, deciding which holidays to go on, which … Continue reading Spending the $50million
When should you say goodbye?
It’s certainly not my favourite thing to do, but every now and then I follow my business mentor’s advice and think about boring things like SEO and search terms. Deep down I’m a writer, and my greatest joy is putting words on a page and sending them out to the world. Worrying about whether those … Continue reading When should you say goodbye?
Weasel Words and Tips for Writers
‘I could see her looking at me, as she readied herself to tell me about my overuse of weasel words in the nicest possible way. I felt my face tighten as I braced myself for the impact of her words.’ Or ‘She looked at me, ready to tell me about my overuse of weasel words. … Continue reading Weasel Words and Tips for Writers
How to Pitch Your Book (and Yourself)
Lessons in how to pitch your book and get more author speaking engagements.
When Good Comes From Bad
In January 2020 writers got together to raise over half a million dollars to support the bushfire appeals, and I made some new friends.
Hearing the Voice of the Writer
A million years ago (back at the turn of the century) when I was working as a research assistant at the University of New South Wales, one of my jobs was to write up the project findings into reports. I was sent with a tape recorder and notebook up the road to the Sydney Children’s … Continue reading Hearing the Voice of the Writer
Stocktake on Words – 2019
I do my writing in two shifts. I create new worlds and fictional characters during those dark, shadowy hours between 4 and 6.30am, and during the bright, daylight hours between 9am and 3pm I work on my blogs and other non-fiction endeavours. I even work in different rooms on my different forms of writing – … Continue reading Stocktake on Words – 2019
