Readers Asked Us: Why Do I Keep Doubting My Writing?
Most writers think doubt means something is wrong. But in practice, doubt shows up most reliably in writers who care deeply about what they’re making. The ones who are paying attention.
Readers Asked Us: What should I ask an illustrator and how much direction should I give?
If you’re feeling unsure about how much direction to give an illustrator — or what you’re even allowed to ask — you’re not alone. And no, this isn’t something “everyone else just knows”. It’s a skill. One most writers are never taught. So let’s talk about it properly.
Readers Asked Us: What Is a Portfolio Career And Why Should I Have One?
A portfolio career isn’t a sign you didn’t make it. It’s how writers stay long enough to make work that matters. Longevity is the quiet achievement no one glamorises — but it’s the one that changes everything. And if your career feels a little patchwork right now, that doesn’t mean it’s broken. It means it’s still being made.
Readers Asked Us: What Goes in an Illustration Brief?
I’ve seen illustration projects go off the rails for one very boring reason: nobody wrote things down early enough. Not because the illustrator wasn’t talented or because the author was difficult. But because everyone assumed the other person just knew what was meant. They didn’t.
Readers Asked Us: How Much Direction Should I Give an Illustrator?
Let’s answer the question writers actually mean when they ask this: How much direction can I give an illustrator without being “that author”?
Short answer: more than you think — and less than you’re probably tempted to.
Readers Asked Us: Do I Really Need Social Media as an Author?
This question comes up regularly— usually from authors who are not beginners, but professionals. People who are now trying to make sensible, sustainable decisions about how they show up in the world as writers. They are not asking out of laziness or resistance. They are asking because they want to build a serious writing career, not a performative one. So let’s answer the question properly.
What Does “Published” Actually Mean? (And Why Writers Keep Getting It Wrong)
If you scratch the surface, the word ‘published’ has more meanings than a government grant application — and it shifts depending on who you’re talking to, what country you’re in, and how honest people are being. So let’s clean it up. Let’s de-mystify it and tell the truth about the P-word.
Readers Asked Us: Is Academic Ghost Writing Legal in Australia?
There are a lot of questions floating around writing groups, Facebook chats and freelance forums right now: “Is it illegal to write a thesis for someone?” “Is it just ghost-writing?” “If I’m a freelancer, can I sell academic writing services?” Here’s the answer.
Readers Asked Us: Do Book Signings Actually Work?
Ask almost any new author about marketing and book signings come up fast. Often with hope. Sometimes with dread. Either way, the image is powerful: a table, a stack of books, a pen in hand, readers lining up. It feels legitimate. Visible. Like proof you’ve arrived. But here’s the uncomfortable question most authors don’t ask until after they’ve done one: Do book signings actually sell books — or just make writers feel like writers? Let’s strip the romance out of it and look at how signings work in Australia, right now.
Readers Asked Us: What’s the Best Method for Outlining a Fiction Novel?
There isn’t one “best” outlining method — there’s only the one that fits your brain, your genre, and your writing habits. This guide walks you through the most reliable outlining approaches used by Australian fiction writers today, helping you choose one that gives you clarity without killing your creativity.
Readers Asked Us: How Do I Get My First Paid Writing Job?
Your first paid writing job isn’t a miracle. It’s a milestone that comes from clarity, visibility, small steps, professionalism and follow-through. Once you get the first, the second comes easier. Then the third. Then the referrals begin. The hardest job to get is the first. The easiest is the one after you’ve delivered the first well. You’re closer than you think.
Readers Asked Us: When Am I a ‘Professional Writer’?
Most writers spend years waiting for some invisible authority to tap them on the shoulder and say, “Alright then, you’re a professional now.” But here’s the uncomfortable truth: no council of writers is meeting in secret to approve your title. Professionalism arrives the moment you decide to treat your writing like real work.