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Promo image for Shaun Tan: 'Self-doubt, I think many creators would agree, is hard to overcome'

Shaun Tan: ‘Self-doubt, I think many creators would agree, is hard to overcome'

Guest post by Shaun Tan

Artist, writer and filmmaker Shaun Tan shares a couple of thoughts on self-doubt, and its place in a writer's work.

Promo image for Andrew McDonald: 'Good writing is about a book that puts forward a kernel of truth'

Andrew McDonald: ‘Good writing is about a book that puts forward a kernel of truth'  /  Books, reading & writing

Author Andrew McDonald on the importance of truth in writing.

Promo image for Jess Walton: 'Some people are writing in whatever gaps in their day or their week or their month that they can find'

Jess Walton: ‘Some people are writing in whatever gaps in their day or their week or their month that they can find'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Jessica Walton

Picture book author, teacher, parent, daughter of a trans parent, and proud queer disabled woman Jess Walton on the support new writers need in developing a major work.

Promo image for Jamila Rizvi: 'Finding the time and space to write is really, really difficult'

Jamila Rizvi: ‘Finding the time and space to write is really, really difficult'  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Jamila Rizvi

Author, presenter and political commentator Jamila Rizvi on the importance of finding the time to develop a larger piece of work.

Promo image for Melanie Cheng: 'Once writing had become part of my routine, I was hooked'

Melanie Cheng: ‘Once writing had become part of my routine, I was hooked'  /  Work

Guest post by Melanie Cheng

Writer and general practitioner Melanie Cheng reflects on her dual professional lives – and on finally giving herself permission to write.

Promo image for Candy Bowers: 'There are these little explosions that start happening'

Candy Bowers: ‘There are these little explosions that start happening'  /  Diversity

Guest post by Candy Bowers

Candy Bowers talks about the changing nature of representation in Australian literature.

Promo image for Santilla Chingaipe: 'The strongest work comes from development'

Santilla Chingaipe: ‘The strongest work comes from development'  /  Work

Guest post by Santilla Chingaipe

Santilla Chingaipe on the importance of time for development in producing a major work.

Promo image for Sami Shah: 'Everyone wants to know my story as a non-fiction piece'

Sami Shah: ‘Everyone wants to know my story as a non-fiction piece'

Guest post by Sami Shah

Sami Shah discusses barriers to diversity when writing fiction in Australia.

Promo image for Watch: An introduction to The Next Chapter, and a guide to applying

Watch: An introduction to The Next Chapter, and a guide to applying

Guest post by Sophie Black and Jon Tjhia

In this short 12-minute video, Sophie Black and Jon Tjhia explain what The Next Chapter is, what it's for – and how to put together your application.

Promo image for Toni Jordan: 'It's an exercise in holding your nerve'

Toni Jordan: ‘It’s an exercise in holding your nerve'

Guest post by Toni Jordan

Toni Jordan discusses the value of mentorship – particularly in getting through publishing your first major work.

Promo image for Quinn Eades: 'Writers need to write'

Quinn Eades: ‘Writers need to write'

Guest post by Quinn Eades

Quinn Eades is a researcher, writer, and poet whose work is published nationally and internationally, and is the author of all the beginnings: a queer autobiography of the body, and Rallying. He shares some thoughts about what he's learned about writing, getting published and how Australian literary culture has…

Promo image for Yassmin Abdel-Magied: 'We are certainly a land of storytellers'

Yassmin Abdel-Magied: ‘We are certainly a land of storytellers'

Guest post by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Sudanese-born mechanical engineer, social advocate, writer and petrol head Yassmin Abdel-Magied reflects on how we might do justice to Australia's long history of storytelling.