Author Archives: jacqui

Hi Everyone I’m forever grateful for writing groups such as the Peninsula Writer’s Club who organise wonderful workshops. Yesterday, I attended a fantastic session with the well-known author and non-fiction editor of Island magazine, Anna Spargo-Ryan, on dialogue and characterisation. If you ever get the chance to attend one of Anna’s workshops, I highly recommendContinue reading “Wanna Chat?”

Hi everyone, Today I want to give a shout out to all the people who’ve helped me in my writing journey. The old expression, it takes a village to raise a child, rings true for a book ‘baby’ as well. Book buddies offer so many different forms of support, but each is crucial to writingContinue reading “In praise of book buddies”

Hi Everyone Have you been working on the dream of publication? Today I’ll talk about the post-dream and what the journey’s been like since I published my debut novel. The journey to publication was hard but ultimately rewarding. It’s been a long-cherished dream and to see it realised has been incredible but that dream hasContinue reading “What’s it like to be a published author?”

Hi Everyone Ever felt stuck in a rut when it comes to your writing? Perhaps it’s time to switch things up. Lately my writer’s group and I have experimented with different writing prompts as a way to challenge ourselves and find new ways to be creative. You might find these prompts useful at getting youContinue reading “Writing prompts”

Hi Everyone In a busy world, how do you find the time to write? The luxury of time and space is afforded to very few; perhaps those talented/fortunate enough to win a writing space and/or time to write. For most of us, the reality of day-to-day work/family/responsibility that is life impacts our ability to write.Continue reading “Something’s better than nothing!”

Hi Everyone I’ve been in a bit of a post-publication slump lately. Don’t get me wrong, finishing my novel, including editing, publication and post-publication promotion was an energy intensive, but exciting and ultimately rewarding process. I’ve also written some smaller pieces since the beginning of the year as well as trying to finish off aContinue reading “Re-energising”

Hi Everyone How do you write a book? Today I’ll be talking you through the highly convoluted (and not necessarily recommended) writing process I went through to complete my debut novel ‘The Sentinel’. I’ve blogged about the process before (here and here) and today I’ll go into more detail. One of the tips I learntContinue reading “Scene Breakdown”

Hi Everyone In my debut novel, ‘The Sentinel’, I have a large array of characters. There is Kathleen Devine, the main character, whose decision to take up the Head Teacher’s position at ‘The Sentinel’ lightstation begins the story. There is the Head Lightkeeper and his wife, and the two Assistant Keepers and their families (withContinue reading “Writing the landscape”

Hi Everyone, Are you a member of a book club? I joined a book club just over a year ago and it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve read authors such as Marcus Clay, Alka Joshi, Tara June Winch and Amor Towles amongst others. Most times we discuss pre-set book club questions or make upContinue reading “Book clubs”

Hi Everyone, Have you seen the film that’s currently streaming on SBS Demand called ‘The Ideal Palace’? It’s a very moving film about loss but also, unbelievable creativity and amazing determination. It’s the true story of Ferdinand Cheval, a humble postman from Hauterives in France, who walked 35 kilometres 5 days a week for overContinue reading “Why Write?”