Common Questions About Writing

There are a number of writing courses out there. What makes the Writers’ Studio different?

There’s an old writing saying: You can’t be taught how to write, but you can learn.


The Power of Emotion in Fiction

Emotion is the lifeblood of fiction, the beating heart that gives narratives their vitality and resonance. It is the driving force that captivates readers, creates empathetic connections, and leaves a lasting impact.

As the celebrated novelist Joseph Conrad once wrote, “To make you see, to make you hear, to make you feel. That is all, and that is everything.”


Getting Your Novel Published 1: The Publishing Landscape

Exploring the landscape of getting your novel published. If you are a writer who wants to publish your novel, you have more options available to you than ever before. But the path to publication can be confusing, frustrating and challenging, even for experienced writers.

In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the publishing landscape and give you an understanding of which publishing option is the most suitable for you and your novel.


Keeping Your Reader Turning the Page

In fiction, particularly commercial fiction, the most important thing is to keep your reader turning the pages. This is what the art and craft of writing fiction is all about.

As the English novelist, E.M. Forster said in his book Aspects of the Novel, a story “… has only one merit: that of making an audience want to know what happens next. And conversely it can only have one fault: that of making the audience not want to know what happens next.”


Writing Fiction nourishes the soul of the reader and writer

One of the outcomes of our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity course is to help participants understand and recognise whether writing fiction is something they want to pursue and make part of their life.

Writing fiction is an art and a craft that takes time to master. If you do want to publish a novel or write a professional screenplay, you need to dedicate time to learning the craft. The same applies to any creative endeavour.


Michael Connelly Interview – Key Fundamentals of Storytelling

Having read practically all of Michael Connelly’s books and being very much inspired by his character, Detective Harry Bosch, when writing my novel No Man’s Land, it was great to return to my roots as a journalist, sit down with him at the Wharf during the 2015 Sydney Writers’ Festival and interview him.

He’s a real master of the craft and I felt very fortunate to be able to ask him all those questions that have been bubbling away in my unconscious for years. And I’m pleased to say he seemed like a very decent bloke.


Getting your Novel Published 3: How to get a Literary Agent – Writing a Query Letter

Crack the champagne or mineral water! You have finally finished the manuscript of your novel, having written numerous drafts, ideally had it assessed by a professional editor to ensure it is the best story you are capable of writing and are now ready to put your creative baby out into the world.

If you have decided to go down the traditional publishing route, you will need to engage with the business of writing, especially when seeking representation from a literary agent or publisher. This requires a very different mindset from the one that created your novel.


Getting Your Novel Published 6: Marketing your Novel – Getting your Book into the Marketplace

Congratulations! You have written and produced a quality novel and have decided to independently publish it. Now comes the important step of getting your novel noticed and read.

There are three effective marketing platforms authors find effective to promote their books:


Common Questions About Writing -

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