Looking for short snippets of writing advice?

Written by Lisa Clifford, author, journalist, and founder of The Art of Writing, our blogs cover thought-provoking insights about everything "writing."

Articles

If I Wanted a Summary, I'd Read the Back Cover.

Lisa Clifford

Every week I open a manuscript full of promise, only to discover the best bits have already happened. 'They argued.' 'She was devastated.' 'He fell in love.'  Thank you. That's...

If I Wanted a Summary, I'd Read the Back Cover.

Lisa Clifford

Every week I open a manuscript full of promise, only to discover the best bits have already happened. 'They argued.' 'She was devastated.' 'He fell in love.'  Thank you. That's...

Word count and why I keep asking about it.

Lisa Clifford

It always sounds as if I’m hassling everyone about their word count because I'm worried about numbers. That’s not it at all. I look at word count because every stage of your...

Word count and why I keep asking about it.

Lisa Clifford

It always sounds as if I’m hassling everyone about their word count because I'm worried about numbers. That’s not it at all. I look at word count because every stage of your...

Too Much Showing, Not Enough Telling

Lisa Clifford

I've spent the past week reading manuscripts from writers all over Australia and overseas. Fabulous historical fiction from Florence, spot of memoir, quite a bit of climate fantasy, and a...

Too Much Showing, Not Enough Telling

Lisa Clifford

I've spent the past week reading manuscripts from writers all over Australia and overseas. Fabulous historical fiction from Florence, spot of memoir, quite a bit of climate fantasy, and a...

What a Reality TV Show Taught Me About Storytel...

Lisa Clifford

Last week I was flown to a secret location to teach manners and etiquette to twelve contestants on a reality television show that will air later this year. I can't...

What a Reality TV Show Taught Me About Storytel...

Lisa Clifford

Last week I was flown to a secret location to teach manners and etiquette to twelve contestants on a reality television show that will air later this year. I can't...

Finding Your Way Back to Your Story

Lisa Clifford

Most writers don't struggle because they lack talent. They struggle because somewhere along the way they lose sight of the story they are trying to tell. The manuscript becomes tangled....

Finding Your Way Back to Your Story

Lisa Clifford

Most writers don't struggle because they lack talent. They struggle because somewhere along the way they lose sight of the story they are trying to tell. The manuscript becomes tangled....

ChatGPT and the Curious Case of the Hollow Para...

Lisa Clifford

There’s a reason so many early writers think ChatGPT is the answer to their prayers. Writing is hard. Structuring a story is hard. Knowing where to begin, how to build...

ChatGPT and the Curious Case of the Hollow Para...

Lisa Clifford

There’s a reason so many early writers think ChatGPT is the answer to their prayers. Writing is hard. Structuring a story is hard. Knowing where to begin, how to build...