Ask me something!
A key change for the August newsletter
After a lot of travel, festivals, public speaking and the inevitable instant and nasty bout of illness that often follows such things, I’m weary. So I’ve decided on a little key change for the next newsletter: instead of my choosing a topic, I’m asking you to find some for me.
If there is something - anything! - that you’d like me to address here, send me a question or three. It could be anything about my work or books, or more broadly in relation to the writing life or the creative process. Be as specific, or as general, as you like.
You can either comment on this post publicly with your question, or reply to this email privately and ask it ‘anonymously’. I might answer one, or a bunch. Who knows? I’ll need questions by July 30.
I look forward to reading - bring them on!
How do you mange the difference between trusting the novel/material to do its thing as you write it and/or imposing your authorial view on what you want the work to do or be 'about'? I know it's a kind of a psychological sleight of hand (like when a gym trainer or yoga person explains what your muscles are meant to do in a new way and it makes ALL the difference), but I imagine you have thoughts and possible advice?! I guess I'm asking how do you get out of your own way while acknowledging that it's your brain 'making' the way??? K xx
Were you ever tempted to move away from Australia and to one of the more 'literary-intense' cities like New York or London? Do you ever feel frustrated or somehow small-pond here? Alternatively, what's special about Australian literature in particular?