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Creative Writing
Rejection. Dejection. Introspection. Funny how these words all go together. GINNY SWART explores the reasons why writers might have their
If you are a non-fiction writer or you think your work is uncreative, keep reading. SALLY MAZAK explains how creativity
– BY FIONA ZERBST There are no short cuts in poetry. Even if you have been writing for over
The right level of language can make or break a book for children. Learn what kinds of English to avoid
This competition was discontinued in 2025. Read recent winning entries in our e-anthology ‘The Writers’ Journey’, a free download
BY TRISH NICHOLSON Competitions don’t just develop your skills. They can be a source of inspiration and motivation to keep
IF I wake up in the morning with perfectly formed sentences scratching at the inside of my skull to get out,
When Lotta received her ‘Local Hero’ award in 2014, she celebrated it with lime and soda rather than bubbly. Lotta
Sarah Lotz: Award-winning author of ‘The Three’ and ‘Day Four’ (Hodder Publishers) BY ALEX SMITH I can remember
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Your Stories
BY GLENN McGOLDRICK My writing journey? Ha-ha. Sounds pretentious. Where to start? I liked writing as a kid.
The three years I spent in high school gave me a taste of what it must be like to
BY TASNEEM DANIELS “Kill them,” she said. “What?” “Kill your darlings,” she repeated. “But why should I kill them? This
BY NATALIE SWAIN Christmas morning. My brother has a secretive smirk on his face. “This one is from me,
Writing is not something I do; it is something I can’t do without. My journey as a writer began
BY NOHLEE CLOETE On my mobile phone, I have a picture saved of the urban English word ’Rastrophiliopustrocity’. It has eight
BY OLAKUNLE OLADIRAN Growing up in the tiny village of Akure in Nigeria, I had only felt liberated
BY HELEN TOMPSON The thought that one day I could be a writer has bubbled inside me for
It wasn’t always writing that I loved. First there was the sensory world of writing: cracking the spine on
I was five years old, hugging the floor of my mother’s little shack, gunshots ringing through the air. I
Q & A WITH AWARD-WINNING WRITERS
New Zealand Poet Laureate, Dr Selina Tusitala-Marsh Selina Tusitala-Marsh has published three critically acclaimed collections of poetry. She was the
When Lotta received her ‘Local Hero’ award in 2014, she celebrated it with lime and soda rather than bubbly. Lotta
Mandy Speechly has worked as a copywriter in the advertising industry for over fifteen years for leading international advertising agencies
Paul Cleave – international bestselling New Zealand author – talks about his writing career and offers tips for new writers
Helen Brain is the author of 30 books for children, an adult memoir and many short stories. In 1998
BY THABISO SEKGOBELA He made cars.co.za one of the most trusted brands in South Africa. He published a book in
He’s the son of New Zealand’s inaugural Poet Laureate and describes himself as a freelance writer and editor.
Rosemary Hepözden has three decades of editing, writing and teaching experience. She is the author of three nonfiction books, and
For someone with a curious streak and a passion for Japanese design, Fiona Wilson may have one of the
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Apps for Writers
If you are a person who fears or dislikes new apps, and you also happen to be a journalist,
While your Moleskine may never go out fashion, technology changes at a rapid pace. These five apps get you
Boost your web writing career with these powerful apps. BY SARAH LLOYD We as 21st century writers are lucky to
Six apps to help travel writers organise, plan and execute their day. BY CHRIS STRYDOM Travel writers rely on technology
Anyone can share their travel stories on the Web. However, it is the quality of your writing, editing and photos
Web writing is an increasingly popular specialism for writers, but it’s also highly competitive. I’m sharing my top free and
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Well, it’s all about power, isn’t it? That’s where and why my life intersects the here and how
This competition was discontinued in 2025. Read recent winning entries in our e-anthology ‘The Writers’ Journey’, a free download
Logical flow is one of the trickier writing skills to master, but it is vital for good writing. Here’s a
Finally finished a piece of writing that you want to submit to an editor? Woohoo! But before you hit the
Need some writing inspiration and courage to keep going? Here are wise words from famous writers. “A professional
Here are 11 ways to draw in your reader and keep them hooked. Each one of these ways takes time
For most of the twentieth century, television was the preferred channel for advertisers to promote their goods to the masses.
The plot twist is the writer’s equivalent of magic: a sleight of hand, a puff of smoke and kazam! You
After over a decade of judging thousands of short stories in our national writing competitions, our Writers’ College
In most stories, people talk to each other. Many readers enjoy the “talking bits” the most, and will happily