Guides
The Writer’s Guide to Querying Agents in a Shifting Publishing LandscapeQuerying literary agents has always required patience, precision and a clear sense of where a manuscript belongs. The process is changing, however. Agents are…Writing a non-linear narrative that enhances your storyA non-linear narrative does not move from event A to event B and then event C in a tidy line. It may begin with a consequence, return to an earlier wound, leap…How Symbolism and Motifs Deepen a Novel’s ThemesA compelling novel often communicates its deepest ideas through more than dialogue and plot. A recurring object, colour, place, gesture or natural image can…The Craft of Keeping Readers Turning PagesA compelling novel creates a quiet pressure that follows readers from one page to the next. They may be waiting for a confession, a rescue, a betrayal or…Showing not telling in storytelling: when the old rule should bendFor nearly a century, the writing maxim "show, don't tell" has been drilled into aspiring authors by creative writing tutors and craft manuals stacked in…How to write a political thriller that reads like the evening newsAustralia has its own appetite for the genre, from parliamentary intrigue set in Canberra to cyber-espionage yarn spun across the Pacific. Writers here don't…Creating a Detailed Character Bible for a Consistent SeriesA long-running fiction series depends on readers feeling that its characters remain recognisable as the story expands. Personalities may mature, loyalties may…Developing a Writing Voice That Stands Out in a Crowded MarketWriters across Australia face a peculiar paradox. The country celebrates storytelling with gusto, from the Sydney Writers' Festival to intimate launches in…Writing Outside Your Identity: An Australian ConversationThe question of who is permitted to tell which story has moved from the fringe of writers' workshops into the heart of publishing contracts, festival panels…Crafting Real Emotion in Romance FictionRomance readers come to the genre looking for more than a meet-cute and a satisfying kiss. They want their hearts squeezed, their breath held, and their faith…
