What do you want to learn about writing and publishing?

The 2022 newsletter is tailored to your needs

Photo by Svetlana Romashenko from Pexels

The layers of horror happening in the world are on my mind, as I’m sure they are on yours, and I don’t know the most appropriate way to acknowledge it other than to acknowledge it. There is war. There are floods. And there is genocide, colonialism, capitalism and greed, the destruction of the environment. And global warming, which threatens all life on earth.

Meanwhile we go about our little lives, if we are lucky, and to us they are not little at all. They are our lives. And we only have the one (unless you believe otherwise). What does it mean to choose (or be chosen!) to be a writer amid all this?

I don’t know. Mostly we probably do it because we feel compelled to. It’s a part of who we are. There’s no good or bad or right or wrong about it. It gives us a sense of fullness, or helps us contemplate those large, uncontrollable forces at work. It gives us solace or joy. It helps us connect with others. Whatever the reason, we do it.

With the newsletter this year I would like to be guided by you. I genuinely love giving practical advice and sharing my own experiences as a writer, editor and industry professional, but often I flounder when trying to think of the topic for the next newsletter. It’s not because I don’t have many possible topics in mind, it’s more that sometimes I sense this false note in myself – this feeling of strain – if I feel I’m pushing something onto you. Everyone, everywhere, is dealing with so much right now. I want to be able to provide clear, honest, encouraging answers to genuine writing and publishing questions you may have.

So help me to hone that focus? You can hit reply or comment below.

This year I’m working on a range of projects: an industry sustainability report, editing books for publishers, assessing manuscripts, mentoring early career writers, and in the second half of the year, university teaching. I’m happy to share anything related to that work. I also have my second novel coming out, Moon Sugar, in October. So I can share any behind-the-scenes aspects of publishing a novel in these times… I’m also always happy to speak to you as a reader. Would you like me to interview other writers, too, for example?

Let me know your burning writing and publishing questions, and I’ll try to shape the monthly newsletters around those!

Opportunity of the month

The Novel Prize, run by Giramondo Publishing, Fitzcarraldo Editions and New Directions will open for entries on 1 April 2022. The Novel Prize offers US$10,000 to the winner and simultaneous publication of their novel in Australia and New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, and in North America. I have the inagural winner sitting on top of my reading pile, Jessica Au’s Cold Enough for Snow. Looking forward to it!

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If you would like to support this newsletter in keeping it free, you might consider buying me a digital cuppa. :)

Take care, and all good wishes to you and yours,

Angela

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