Image: An author hibernating with a good book (Source: chatgpt4) As you might guess from the image above, I am about to go into...

The relentless hounding is so draining. Every night, as soon as I walk in the door, they pounce. 'Dad. Can we have a pet? We'll look...

Image: The author with Marjorie Fitzgibbon's sculpture of James Joyce in Dublin (source: Pete Mitchell ) As a confessed bibliophile, few...

Image: An extract from the movie poster for Lolita, by Stanley Kubrick (Source: IMDb) Writing has the power to challenge every sense. It...

Image: A notable quote from Ann Patchett, one of the headline writers at SWF24 (Source: P. Mitchell) "Stephen King famously described...

Image: The summit of Mt Cuthbert in the Monadnocks Conservation, Darling Range (Source: Pete Mitchell). Apologies, I have neglected this...

Image: Beta readers and critique partners can be thought of a test pilots before your manuscript hits the sky. (Source Google) Writing a...

Image: Reimagined cover art for AC/DC's Thunderstruck, off their 1990 album The Razor's Edge. (Source: Deviantart) Here is a flash...

Image: Read the write book. (Image: courtesy Kylie Abecca) It sounds like an ideal that we should aspire to - to read books that are...

Image: Enjoy your 'graduation'. Now the real work begins! (Image: Google freestock) This is the final instalment in my DIY-MFA. Over this...

Image: An obviously Australian reader. (Source: AI generated image. Spot the anatomical problem!). Welcome to the fifth instalment of my...

Image: I am sure you will find the writing community welcoming and constructive. (Source: Tough Guy book club) There are stories of...

Image: Focus on developing your critical eye. (Source: Favauthors) So, building on my DIY-MFA Parts 1 and 2, you should have complied...

Image: The start of my compilation. (Source: Pete Mitchell original) Okay, so you’ve decided to 'enroll' in your own course. A course...

Image: A happy university MFA graduate. Maybe she hasn't counted the cost! (Source: istock free image) The next few blogs will outline my...

Image: Books should have a cover like this, so the potential reader is warned, or enticed, depending on their preference. Purple prose is...

Image: Watermelons in their near-natural state. Are you wondering what watermelons have to do with anything? I hope the title has...

Image: The dark and mystical art of publication (Source: shutterstock) The thrill of getting my first novel, 'Darwin's Wake' into print...

Another free short story. A Christmas tale from an unexpected perspective for you. Let me know what you think. I know I’m obsessive, but...

Image: Don't make a secret of what you want for Christmas. (Source: Google freestock) The festive season will be soon upon us, and with...