Book Editor and Writing Coach

August 7, 2026

Meet Zali Steggall – From Champion Skiier to Climate Campaigner

[Mini Biography: Zali Steggall] Today I want to write about someone I briefly encountered in about 1998, who springs to mind due to the Winter Olympics and current political “can’t get anywhere with Climate bills” catastrophe. Zali Steggall OAM is a member of Australian parliament who has successfully navigated two vastly different high-pressure careers: first as an elite world-champion athlete and later as a trailblazing independent politician. Early Life and the Manly Connection Jen at Manly, 1990 I loved my youthful time in Manly, often boogie boarding on the lovely waves. But as a self-sustaining person, I noticed the divide between us renters and homeowners with asset wealth – which since the ’90s has strayed even further from the strugglers. Our half house rent was $140 per week in 1990 on the hill in Fairlight, near Manly. Our joint budget…

June 9, 2026

Book Marketing

I Was Paying for a Whole Promotion Platform Just to Use the Beta Reader Feature

That frustration led to Shimerith. Today’s article is brought to you by an indie fiction author – I hope you enjoy it. I’m Emma, an indie author since 2019 with six novels and one novella published. For years I’ve relied on a newsletter promotion platform that also includes a beta reader function. Even though I didn’t use the newsletter swaps, I kept paying a fairly expensive annual subscription just to access the beta reader feature. The problem with that is I only publish about one book a year. So, I was paying a large yearly fee… and using the feature only once. One day I mentioned this to my husband or, to be honest, I grumbled to my husband. My wonderful husband is a senior product engineer. He builds systems that solve problems and organise complex information into something…

April 24, 2026

Book Writing

Brilliance in Writing and the Actor-Observer Bias

Do you ever think to yourself: my writing is just so-so, it’s not like ….(famous writer you admire)…. they’re brilliant? Welcome to the critical path of being a novice. Novice writers often judge their own writing very differently from how they judge other people’s work. This happens because of a psychological pattern called the Actor–Observer Bias. (Attributing our own behaviour to situational factors/moods/struggle but attributing those observed to personality traits.) Internally, you see every part of your own writing process — the messy draft, the awkward sentences, the second-guessing, the struggles to find the right word. Because you see all this, you tend to explain your “not-so-great” paragraphs as something born not made: “I’m not naturally good at this” “This is not the right time for writing a book as I’m struggling” Attributing initial writing problems to your own abilities…

Digital Marketers can be catastrophic for business

November 5, 2025

Book Marketing

Digital Marketers can be Catastrophic for Business

I was reading ‘Inside Small Business’ on Sunday 🤓 and it said, “One in three small business owners who outsourced marketing ended up in a dispute with their provider.” Even more worrying, “Only three in ten small business owners are sticking with a digital marketer for more than a year.” (70% change, in other words) This is disastrous for business momentum and ROI. If you’re a micro business or launching author, it can spell catastrophe. The study was conducted by the University of the Sunshine Coast and supported by the Australian Family & Small Business Ombudsman. The article made comment that one of the reasons is due to a lack of fit between business needs and the agency’s skillset. Some might be great at digital ads but not have a storyteller and brand expert on board, so the ads don’t…

June 9, 2026

Book Marketing, Writers Mindset

Why Your Newsletter Stays in Your Mind

You know you’ve got to expand into newsletters if you’re writing a topical book or self-help guide. So why does your online newsletter sit unwritten? I believe it’s not about writing ability or finding the time. It’s about overcoming perfectionism. Most of us have the expertise or life experience. But translating that knowledge into newsletter content exhausts both your mental capacity—and hits the wall of wanting to be perfect. While my newsletters are not perfect either, I think research can help us overcome these barriers. The Research Gap Nobody Talks About Expert authors say “Just share about how your wrote your book”. Specialists say “Just share your expertise and stories” That’s not where to start. Before you write a word, you need to understand what your audience is actively searching for. Not what you assume they want. What they’re actually…

March 19, 2026

Writers Mindset

Best Writers Retreats 2026 to Inspire You to Write!

If you get inspired by being around writing teachers and other writers, and you have some savings for self-development, then a writers’ retreat could be great for you. I believe writing retreats are more in the personal development bucket than calling it a return on investment. Talks, creativity or speed writing workshops are usually included. Manuscript critiques (readings) are also included in some writing retreats. Then there are hybrid book writing and walking (or music) retreats and my first very own Writers Retreat, in the snow. Here I will go into some good value writing retreats, about half of which include accommodation. First, ask yourself some reflection questions: What new technique or new creativity practice do you want to get out of the retreat? Or is your main motivation to be around supportive writers and learn from those further ahead?…