There’s a myth in writing that if you haven’t “made it” by a certain age, you’ve missed your chance. It’s a young person’s story, borrowed from sport and tech, and it makes very little sense when applied to books. Writing isn’t a test of speed. It’s a test of accumulation. Marina Lewycka published her first… Continue reading The advantage of starting late

Every now and then a glossy ad pops up promising a “transformational writers’ retreat.” The photos always feature windswept cliffs, steaming mugs and a dozen thoughtful types gazing into the middle distance as if waiting for their muse to arrive by helicopter. I’ve never attended one — not a single catered morning tea or group… Continue reading Beating a retreat

Every industry has awards. Actors have Oscars, musicians have Grammys, journalists have Walkleys. Writers, supposedly, have plenty too — although most of us will never get within sniffing distance of one unless it’s on display in someone else’s lounge room. So I’ve decided the time has come to celebrate the overlooked, underfunded and entirely fabricated… Continue reading Oh yes, I’m the great pretender

Writers are often told to “draw on their life experience,” which is excellent advice if you spent your formative years roaming the globe, living on a schooner or training llamas in Peru. I, on the other hand, spent 38 years in journalism. During that time I worked variously as a sports reporter, news reporter, feature… Continue reading I was a driving instructor on Mars

With reference to my post last week, I have never been asked to join a writers’ cricket team. There are two good reasons for this: Can’t bat, can’t bowl. No, three. Can’t throw. Um, four. Can’t catch. Especially rock-hard, shiny red cricket balls. Do you blame me? My fingers are bruised enough from typing. I… Continue reading I haven’t got a giant moustache but I know who has