A step-by-step process of how to make a Book Christmas Tree (with a few detours) | Shannon Meyerkort
Tag Archives: lessons
Finding Story Talismans and Motifs
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
Writing Character Arcs (or Falling in Love with your Characters)
‘But does Winnie actually want a husband and children, or is she happily single?’ my mentor Brooke asked as we discussed my book, Letting Go. ‘What does she want from life?’ ‘Ahhhhh,’ was my rather inarticulate response. I didn’t know. It suited my purposes for this particular character to be childless, but I hadn’t consideredContinue reading “Writing Character Arcs (or Falling in Love with your Characters)”
Addicted to flashbacks
An addiction to flashbacks may sound like I misspent my youth, but in reality I have discovered an over-reliance on a literary technique that threatens to turn my book into a time-hopping debacle.
Why You Should Keep a Record of Rejection
What embarrassing secrets have I got hidden in my ‘rejection file’? Why writers should keep records of their submissions | Shannon Meyerkort
Interviewing Experts for your Novel
‘They wouldn’t be sweating once they were in cardiac arrest, even if it was a cocaine overdose,’ the lady across from me said. She stopped to think. ‘With a heroin overdose they might be sweaty once they’ve been resuscitated and trying to get back to normal, but it would be unlikely that two people inContinue reading “Interviewing Experts for your Novel”
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.
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’sContinue reading “Hearing the Voice of the Writer”
Why writing a first draft is like having a baby
Writing the first draft of a novel is a bit like having a baby…