Writing Rockface: The Filter Word Infection

As well as writing amazing stories (he he!), I run a full-time creative support business, which includes editing, mentoring, teaching, book layouts, and other publishing support for authors and publishers. Over the last few weeks, I’ve edited so many manuscripts riddled with filter words it’s time to speak up. I…

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15 Ways to Survive While Under Pressure

Have you ever been so busy with work that it puts a strain on your health or relationships? Like the well-known stress management scenario about holding a cup of water – you can hold a cup of water easily enough for a minute, but after an hour your arm will…

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Setting a Vision for Arts & Creativity

Last night I was invited to participate in a council think tank about arts and culture on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. A dozen participants were selected, introduced to each other as champions of their respective arts, well-connected and dedicated to their passions. It made my heart sing to be described as…

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Character Domination!

Characters, characters, characters – they’ve dominated my last few weeks. This weekend I judged the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature and was impressed by how well entrants got into the heads of such a diverse range of characters – young and elderly, real and surreal, abstract and concrete, monstrous and…

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How Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity can be a funny old creature. It often hides in the shadows out of reach or lurks where you least expect to find it. It can disguise itself as a closed door or sheer cliff-face drop destined to destroy you. It can seem to offer itself to everyone else…

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Book Launch Time & You’re Invited!!

 Please join me to support Australian authors and The Kids’ Cancer Project at these two amazing book launches…   1. ‘A Noise on an Island’ – an anthology of short stories edited by me! – Saturday 16th June, 2pm at Manly Bowling Club   What would you do if a long-abandoned…

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