…just remember Robert McKee’s words: Let’s say that this morning our storyteller tells her friends the story of “How I Put My Kids on the School Bus.” Like Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, she hooks everyone’s attention. She draws them into her spell, holding them slack-jawed over their coffee cups. She spins her tale, building them up,…
Federation Square, setting of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival* Gauging from the audience questions (both during, and those coming people up to me afterwards) at our ‘Author as Brand’ session yesterday, it seems this subject is a hot one. I’m not surprised. I suppose it goes back to that old catch-22: to get a publisher,…
The builder turns in uncertain angles, scuffing the ball of his foot, as he talks on his mobile. The phone is crushed into one ear, his finger jammed into another, as he struggles to hear the voice on the other end over the sound of drilling. As he turns, the sunlight bounces off his silver-and-yellow…
I have been working these past few weeks supervising an art exhibition. In the quiet times between when there are people in the gallery, I have been writing. Last week I was tidying up some poems and short stories. This week – and the ones to come – I’ve decided to pick up the long-neglected novel…
This piece first appeared online at the Melbourne’s Child website back in 2004. It’s no longer available there, so I thought I’d re-post it here. This is the sort of thing I was writing about parenthood before this blog came along… I think I was born under the wrong star sign. I should have been…
The Age is declaring the nation’s fate rests with five men (two represent the areas surrounding where I grew up). The news and social media are understandably alive this morning with post-mortems and campaign critiquing. I have seen reports of people being afraid (or outraged) that this election result might boil down to behind-the-scenes deal-making. This air…
I’m sorry I’m late: I’ve just logged on to see how many of you have been checking in! Apologies! I didn’t mean to keep you on tenterhooks. The winner was commenter #1: Jasmine. Congratulations! Enjoy your Readings voucher! Ooh, I’d make quick work of it. So many lovely things to buy… I hope at some…
