Helping authors to make their stories shine … Editing Services for fiction and memoir
Two days before I was due to send my next manuscript to Wings, they announced they are closing down.
I went into a tailspin. It took me so long to reach this point of being a published author, and I’d just landed on a snake in Snakes and Ladders and been sent right back to the start. Continue reading A dead end … not The End
Diane Clarke, known for writing family dramas exploring secrets and complex relationships, has just published her second novel, The Bracelet. We discuss her writing process, inspiration, her stunning cover designs and more. Continue reading Diane Clarke on The Bracelet
The Winding Narrative is seven years old! Last year was a massive year for me professionally. Highlights included having two novels published and joining the committee for the Mansfield Readers & Writers Festival. Let’s see 2024 in review… Continue reading The Winding Narrative Turns Seven
Interview by Sophia Voukelatos. Read along to a riveting conversation with Melbourne-based author and editor, Kirsten Alexander, on her upcoming third novel, After the Fall. We discuss her professional career, her experience of motherhood, her love of travel and the importance of showcasing female stories. Continue reading Kirsten Alexander on After the Fall
Lee Kofman is an author, writing coach and speaker. Her latest work is a writing and reading guide, The Writer Laid Bare, which I’ve found incredibly valuable in my writing journey. Today, we discuss the challenges and benefits of its key principle: how to write honestly. Continue reading Lee Kofman on The Writer Laid Bare
Lisa Darcy’s tenth book is here just in time for Christmas. Appropriate timing for a novel focused on the festive season. The story behind the story is also fascinating. This novel wasn’t originally focussed on Christmas, but the publisher requested a rewrite to tailor it to this way. Lisa shared with me how she did this, and more. Continue reading Lisa Darcy on Christmas Actually
Paul has always loved the South Australian department store, John Martin’s. When he realized memories of the beloved store were fading, he resolved to write a book to celebrate the company’s legacy. John Martin’s – The Story of South Australia’s Beloved Department Store is the result. It almost sold out in its launch week, so a second print run is arriving before Christmas, and less than two weeks later, it’s already onto the third run. Why is it generating such a buzz? Read on to find out. Continue reading Paul Flavel on Capturing Memories of John Martin’s
This is a specialized post for Australian authors wanting to place their books in Australian libraries. If you have an Australian publisher, they will likely manage this for you, but if you’re self-published or have an offshore publisher, you’ll need to do it yourself. Continue reading How to Get Your Book into an Australian Library
Diane Clarke was born in South London and spent her childhood on the Sussex coast. She trained as a speech pathologist and worked in that field most of her career, continuing after she immigrated to Australia 27 years ago.
When she took three months off to find another job, she decided to dabble in writing, and now, her debut novel has been published, The Photograph, a family drama about a woman looking for her lost brother. Continue reading Diane Clarke on wartime evacuation and her novel, The Photograph
I recently had the honour of chatting with Lisa Hope Tilstra on the Make Life Less Difficult podcast. To quote her purpose, “This podcast explores what it means to make life less difficult for each other and for ourselves. We share stories of struggles and successes because we believe sharing our stories eases the difficulty of life.” This really spoke to me because as an editor and writing coach, my role is all about helping people tell their stories. I tried to articulate for Lisa how I help authors and subsequently wrote this post to capture those ideas.
When a client approaches me for help with their book, I need to understand their motivation and goals. The why, what and how of their story:
Why do they want to tell the story?
What do they want to say?
How might they say it?
This may sound obvious, but it’s easy to dive into what is already on the page without considering these parameters. If I’m working with authors who are clear about their goals, I don’t spend much time on this, but for new authors who are feeling their way, a more extensive discussion may be useful. Continue reading The Why, What and How of Storytelling
Brightside Story Studio 