Wordsmith Lane

Interview: Sandi Tighello, Editor of Onya Magazine

Interview: Sandi Tighello, Editor of Onya Magazine

Sandi Tighello has good news. Not only has this lovely Australian-Italian bella launched a patriotic Aussie mag in ONYA to much acclaim, but in recent news, she’s defying the odds and taking her little beauty to print in 2010. Many people who launch online mags will never even dream of taking the leap, but here she is in all her glory, revealing how and why she became a wordsmith, in a testament to why she doesn’t let anything get in her way. You can catch Sandi writing for ONYA, Trespass Mag, and in her personal blog, www.inthethickofit.wordpress.com Plus, look out for her as she releases some delectable coffee-table books soon as well. This is one girl you need to read to believe. Enjoy!

Tell us about your wordsmith career path so far:

I started writing when I was six years old – I’ve always loved it. I used to write poems, songs, musings, stories – I still have quite a few of my old journals – most importantly the one I wrote when I was six that declared, ‘When I grow up I want to be a writer.’

It wasn’t until I hit high school that I pursued the idea further – working on the school newspaper and the end of year poetry anthology. When I was 15 I started writing for my local newspaper on a fortnightly basis – reviewing films and books and writing opinion pieces. In Year 12 I entered a competition being run by The Age. It involved writing a piece on maintaining balance throughout Year 12 and the winner would have their piece published in the newspaper. I got home from school on the Friday at 4.15pm and remembered that the competition closed at 5pm that day, and, even though I had every good intention to submit something, I had not written a word. In fact, I completely forgot all about it. So, I sat down, wrote and then submitted my piece without even reading back over it. On the Monday afternoon I received an email, from the Editor of The Age, saying I’d won the competition and that I had, ‘The gift of words.’ And that was it. From then on, I knew writing was exactly what I would do, because I loved it, and because someone else out there did too.

From there I wrote for university newspapers, print publications, street press, blogs and online publications. I was offered the position of Editor for Mink Magazine when I was 22, and stayed with them for two years. I then launched my own publication, Onya Magazine, on June 1^st, this year.

Writers that work from home tend to comment about the merits of being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

My days really do vary. Some days I have a brilliant routine – rise early, exercise, healthy breakfast, work, lunch break, work, cup of tea, work and switch off. Other days, I roll straight from my bed to my laptop (or sometimes have the laptop in bed) and am in my PJ’s until 3pm, having worked all day straight. Some days I’m in meetings, dashing from one meeting to another all over Melbourne’s CBD. Some days there are interviews to conduct, places to visit, things to see. I like the variety. I like being able to take a couple of hours out of my day to visit an art exhibit, or roam the streets, or catch up with a friend, or see a movie. In saying that, if have a fairly luxurious day, I usually pay for it by working late that night and on weekends. But I’m happy with the trade.

In addition to having a general media degree, you also have a postgraduate diploma in media production. Was it always important for you to have an additional qualification in production so that you can work with various technologies/opportunities that could take your writing to new heights?

I have a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University, with a double major in cultural studies and cinema studies. Throughout the course I also studied history, politics and creative writing. I loved it. Arts was, despite some people’s preconceptions of it being a course people head into when they don’t know what they want to do in life, exactly what I wanted to do. It was my number one preference. I initially thought I should do Journalism at RMIT University – I even completed the entrance test and got accepted – but the thought of studying short hand and interview skills and analysing media issues for three years made me want to tear my curly hair out. I wanted to do Arts because I wanted to know more about the things I loved; history and politics and popular culture and film, and I wanted to debate and research and be immersed in it. Journalism was so restricted, and I felt it better to be more educated, rather than more qualified.

The Diploma in Media Production was, honestly, my way of staying at University for another year (without having to do Honours) – because I loved Uni, and the lifestyle (good training for a freelancer) and the people. The environment is hard to let go, and being at Melbourne Uni was honestly a dream – the lecturers, the resources, the best place for what I loved. The Post Grad course I did included some hands on photography skills – which is another passion of mine – as well as more of the hands on side of media – tech and computers. It was something I was interested in, but knew little about, and it has been invaluable – particularly in this era, when online and digital media is not just the future, but also the present.

Why did you create Onya Magazine, and how have the first few months since its launch been like for you?

There were many reasons as to why I decided to create Onya Magazine, the main ones are because:

• I wanted to do something that was mine. That I controlled, and drove, and could do as I felt with. Something I was passionate about. Something that I loved.
• I was sick of perceptions, from abroad, that we’re a country of singlet wearing bogans that have kangaroos hopping down our city streets.
• I was sick of reading about clothing designers from Denmark and shampoo from the US and shoes from Spain, when there were people and businesses here making the same things and getting no exposure.
• I was sick, and still am, of picking up item after item and seeing them all imprinted with Made in China.
• I was over mainstream Australian media that constantly over exaggerates, people bash and saturates everything – I wanted to create, and portray, a slice of Australia that was positive, whilst still being honest.
• And mainly because I was sick of Australians themselves – for thinking that Australia Day is just an excuse to get drunk. For not supporting our artists and designers and creatives. For thinking that to be somebody you’ve got to hop on an aeroplane and go somewhere that matters, because Australia doesn’t. For thinking anything that’s associated with Australia is cringe-worthy. You see, I believe, and my Australia is one that’s filled with class, and humour, and intelligence, and beauty and a hell of a lot of talent. And I wanted to showcase and support that.

On December the 1^st, Onya will celebrate its sixth month as an online publication. We are still so young, but I often think of Onya in much the same terms as Australia – a country so young, bursting with talent and ideas, but with such a long way to go. The first few months of being at the helm of Onya were great – and they still are now. Each week we’ve grown, and each week, each day, I’ve learnt something new. I’m so fortunate to have such an incredible bunch of writers to work and collaborate with, and to be able to provide their work a platform to be published on has been one thing I’m very proud of.

What were some of the difficulties that you encountered when working on such a big project? And how did it feel to complete it?

I still don’t feel like I’ve completed it. It’s a constant work in progress. The ideas are never ending. But, when it went live an hour before our launch party on June 1^st, I felt incredibly proud. Because whatever it was at that moment in time, it was good. And it could only get better. And it has. And will continue to.

One thing I’m very insistent on is quality – because I believe, particularly in online media, there is too much rubbish around. I will not publish something of terrible quality, or something that I do not believe falls in line with Onya’s values, just to get website hits. My stance on quality has proved challenging at times – I’ve not accepted work from writers because it’s under par, and Onya doesn’t do under par. I’ve knocked back more businesses (for content and advertising) than I can remember because their company may be Australian owned, but their product is certainly not Australian made.  It’s about ethics and values and I won’t budge on those.

The other challenges are time and money. There never seems to be enough of either. I do most things at Onya and I am most people. I’m the advertising sales manager, and the editor, and the director, and the online content manager, and the receptionist and the list goes on. My inbox seems eternally full. My to-do list never ending. And just when you get on top of it, it fills up again.

You can spend all day working on something, but see very little in terms of results. You can have a lot of brilliant ideas, but not necessarily the money to bring them all to life.

Doing so many things is what I wanted though – I wanted to captain the ship. I wanted to steer it. And I’m learning so much, and meeting so many amazing people.

You also do a little bit of blogging, and write columns for various print and online publications. How important is it for you to stay abreast of other editorial opportunities despite having created your own in Onya?

Oh, it’s incredibly important. I’m trying to balance it further, to ensure I don’t spend every moment on Onya, because it’s not healthy and you can lose sight and focus very quickly. There is so much more I’m interested in beyond Onya and I still want to be able to nurture that. It’s important for my writers that I keep it up too – so I don’t become stale or my ideas stagnant. And it keeps my foot in the door with other publications, other personal opportunities. I’m the Editor and Director of Onya, but first and foremost I’m a writer, and I always will be.

What is a typical day in the life of Sandi Tighello, freelance writer?

Well, it’s pretty typical for me to not have a whole day devoted to writing anymore, because so much of my time is devoted to Onya, but a typical day (and one that I’m working towards perfecting and re-enacting more) is; kick starting the day with some exercise and then a big breakfast and coffee, replying to emails, writing or attending to Onya editing/uploading, having a break, organising future articles, liaising with writers, and then doing some personal writing for my columns, blog or future book – or even some photography.

What are some of the perks associated with your job? And what are some of the difficulties?

The freebies. Beauty products, books, tickets…the freebies are a definite perk. It’s funny, I went to see a movie the other day and I was almost slightly annoyed that I had to purchase my ticket (I’m only joking, well…half joking). Also the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made. The media industry really isn’t that big and I’ve made some truly incredible friends from it. The best perk, hands down, would have to be what you can do and learn. One day you’re interviewing a musician, or a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, the next you’re creating a media kit, or brainstorming with a team of creative folk and then the next day you’re writing a review on a theatre show and having a nice dinner.

Time is a perk. When everyone is commuting, stuck in an office, then commuting again, it makes what I do seem rather luxurious. But it’s not. And that’s one of the difficulties – some people don’t take you seriously. They view your work as frivolous. It used to bother me, but I couldn’t care less anymore. A steady wage is another difficulty. And because the media industry is so small, there never appears to be enough jobs available – especially when companies are chopping people from publications left right and centre and using the GFC as an excuse.

But you don’t launch into this career without knowing that. So, I believe, if you accept it before you launch into a career as a writer, then you shouldn’t complain. Because I don’t know many other people, honestly, that wake up every morning with the same zest for life and enthusiasm that I do.

Have you consulted any mentors or guides to make the process of establishing writing career a little easier?

I haven’t had any one mentor that I’ve consulted with over and over again, it has been more of a case of collecting small gems of wisdom along the way. I’ve certainly met with various people over the past couple years – some incredibly accomplished, famous authors, like Tara Moss, that I’ve had coffee with for an hour and have drilled and had wonderful advice passed onto me, but I’ve also been just as inspired by the randoms that I have come across – the bookshop owner, the café entrepreneur. If you’re interested, everyone has a story and you can learn something from every person you meet.

What is the freelance feature writing like? Did you find it difficult to establish contacts that enabled you to get some freelance work?

It’s usually fairly easy to find a contact, but sometimes getting work from them can be hard. Once you’re in though, you’re usually in. And if you’re a good egg, you can usually stay around for a while. Feature writing is great – so many words and so much to say – but doing so effectively and clearly can be difficult.

Who are you writing for at the moment? / What are some of your current projects?  

I’m writing my column, ‘The Small Matter Of…’ for Trespass Magazine, and I’m also writing articles for Onya. I started a new blog called In The Thick Of It a week and a half ago, and it feels great to be back blogging. I’ve also got a few projects lined up with other publications – print and online – but none are set in stone as yet. And I’ve just started working on a coffee table book, which will be a merging of my writing and photography, and it’ll be incredibly motivational and pretty.

Are we allowed to have a sneak peak at your goals list?

Sure. My current goals involve completing and publishing my coffee table book, marking Onya’s place in the print world as a publication of brilliance and uniqueness, building my new blog, and writing, writing and more writing.

How does it feel to be able to take Onya Magazine to print?

I feel the best way to sum that up, because you can probably get a sense that I tend to waffle rather than be succinct, is to read this post that I wrote when I broke the news: http://www.onyamagazine.com/articles/extra-extra-read-all-about-it/

What advice would you offer to aspiring novelists, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

Every writer has a style. Don’t be afraid to embrace yours. The best compliment I’ve ever received was someone who told me that when they read my work it was almost like I was sitting there next to them, talking. It was uncomplicated and fresh.

And there’s my next piece of advice – don’t overcomplicate things. I’m a strong believer in keeping things simple, but that’s just my style. I’ve always thought that there’s no real reason to be overly academic in your writing unless you’re writing an academic paper – because if you’re work is not accessible, then no one will access it.

Don’t be afraid to put out a strong opinion – you’ll always get strong opinions back, but that is only fuel for a stronger fire within.

To write well, you must read well.

If you start your own business, do it because it would be an injustice if you didn’t. Don’t do it to be cool or popular or to get discovered. I guarantee you that three months into your growing business, the work will swallow you, and if you don’t love what you’re doing and if you’re not prepared to put time and effort into it, then you will be a world away from cool and popular.

Don’t expect to be a brilliant editor, if you are not a brilliant writer. As far as I’m concerned the two are intrinsically linked.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1. Describe yourself in one word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
2. Biggest accomplishment to date: I take nothing for granted. Every piece I’ve ever had published makes me smile. Every time I publish a writer’s work in Onya I smile. But, if I had to choose, probably building a business on my own, from the ground up, all on my own with no backing, and succeeding so far, has been a point of great satisfaction in my life.
3. You wish you wrote: Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr Suess
4. Can’t leave home without: My BlackBerry, notebook, pen, lip balm, keys and wallet. And sometimes my MacBook Pro and Canon EOS.
5. One thing you are currently writing: I never leave a piece unfinished. That’s why I haven’t dared to write a novel yet. But I’ll get there.
6. First thing you wrote: Without retrieving the journal, it would be hard to say, but one particular pearler that stands out is this line by six year old me, ‘If a kid ever beat me in a running race, I’d probably bash them up.’
7. Addicted to reading: Yes, entirely addicted to reading. It’s safe to say I devour words, so if it’s in a book, magazine or online, I’m generally reading it. 
8. Top spot on your goals list: I have a couple, in equal place. Publishing Onya Magazine – the print version – in late 2010. It’s going to be one hell of an adventure. And getting my coffee table book completed, and published.
9. If you were a character in a classic, you’d be: I’d love to say Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s but I’m much more like Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird.
10. The best thing about being a wordsmith: Being read. Every time someone reads your work you are making them think or feel or remember. You might even teach them, or inform them, or better still inspire them.

Interview: Elsie Kassis, Fashion Blogger & Writer

Elsie Kassis, Blogger at www.diaryofafashionmuse.blogspot.com

Tell us about your wordsmith career path so far: I have been writing for as long as I can remember. As a child I kept journals which I kept going right through my early high school years. After that, when it came apparent that a career within the fashion industry was my ideal path, those journals simply evolved into scrapbooks. During my years of studying fashion design and then production, along with sketching and sewing for classes, I continued to write in my spare time at home. Those scrapbooks became my world. I filled them with various forms of inspiration from magazine cut outs, to quotes, to drawings, to article and story ideas and so forth. After years of studying and working within the fashion industry, I finally decided that writing about fashion was my real love and Diary Of A Fashion Muse was born.

You’ve gone from being a fashion student to establishing a widely-read fashion blog that has now been nominated for ‘Best Fashion Blog’ at the Australian Fashion Awards. Does it feel like you’re heading in an entire different direction in terms of career? Absolutely. I started Diary Of A Fashion Muse due to my complete and utter obsession with all things fashion and my love of writing in general. It was an opportunity to see the ideas and thoughts in my head come to life. Almost like an online ‘scrapbook’ if you may. I started out wanting to be a fashion designer and along the way, it evolved into becoming a fashion commentator of sorts and I couldn’t be happier. Being nominated by my Industry peers for Best Fashion Blog when Diary Of A Fashion Muse is still less than a year old has certainly made me one happy little blogger!

What appeals to you about blogging, and how often do you post and why? Diary Of A Fashion Muse is a Fashion Industry Blog which covers all the latest collections from around the Globe, designer information, store openings, celebrity and model style, current trends and how to wear them, Industry news, the latest Advertising Campaigns, what is hot right this minute plus personal anecdotes of the trials and tribulations of fashion and shopping from myself, my friends and my readers. Diary Of A Fashion Muse is for the Fashion Obsessed as well as the Fashion L-Plater.
I like to constantly inform my readers of the happenings within this Industry whilst giving them some personal information about my life as well and I love how I am able to do this instantly. I love the immediacy of blogging. How as soon as I get an idea about anything at all I can communicate it with the world in an instant and I think (and hope) that is what my readers like about it too, that they are constantly informed and ‘clued’ in. Due to this I happily post several times a day.

What is a typical day in the life of A Fashion Muse? It truly varies. Some days I will have meetings or interviews to attend, other days I am holed up at home typing away on the blog or for various other websites. If I have a full day at home I get up, shower and dress (as if I am physically leaving for work) and walk the 5 or so metres to where my PC is situated (a long and tedious commute clearly) where I will check and reply to my emails. I then reply to any messages I have received both on facebook and twitter and then go on to reply and approve any comments that have been left on my blog. If I have any assignments I need to complete or get started on I concentrate on those first and once they have been completed, I begin researching my next blog post. If I do have a meeting scheduled, I then obviously would take more care in regards to my outfit selection, do my hair and make up and grab my very cute LV Agenda and head out the door, stopping along the way to grab various newspapers and magazines to devour and to check my post box. I take breaks throughout the day to clear my head and regroup where I take my dog Harley for a walk, meet friends for lunch and go window shopping (it’s research, honestly).

Are you writing freelance for any other fashion publications, or do you prefer to concentrate solely on your blog for the mean time? I do contribute to other websites so when I am not blogging on Diary Of A Fashion Muse, I am pitching ideas or working on articles for them as well as pitching ideas for other publications  (ahh, such is the life of the freelancer!)

Most bloggers find that, at least ininitially, it’s very hard to get writing read by a large audience. What do you think has helped AFM succeed? Shameless promotion usually helps! Seriously though, I find that by posting relevant links on networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook helps spread the word however I have also realised that word of mouth seems to be working in my favour with Diary Of A Fashion Muse. The power of the Internet is truly amazing as I constantly receive emails from various readers informing me that they stumbled across the blog by accident. It has really has just grown on it’s own.

How did the idea for your blog come about? I had been wanting to start a blog for such a long time for me to really just share my love for all things fashion with other like minded people. It was Christmas Day 2008, I was at home aimlessly surfing the Net and just thought ‘Why not?’ and so I did. It really was the perfect step for someone like me who loves fashion and loves to write so by fusing these two areas together, I found that having my own blog was the perfect platform to successfully communicate both my interests to a wider audience.

What were some of the difficulties you first encountered when trying to establish an audience, build up the site, find your niche etc? I knew from the beginning that Diary Of A Fashion Muse would be for anybody interested in the fashion world, whether or not they were already in the industry, trying to break in or just had pure love for it. I also knew that the blog needed to be filled not just with industry news and information but it also had to have a personal slant to it as I found that when I shared any personal experiences, my readers tended to respond positively as they could identify with my anecdotes themselves. I have been extremely lucky in the sense that I never really encountered any difficulties when I established Diary Of A Fashion Muse as due to the various contacts I had within the industry, getting the blog out there was never a major issue for me.

Did you consult any mentors or guides to make the process a little easier? Not particularly. From the moment I decided on setting up Diary Of A Fashion Muse, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it so I just kind of went with what was in my head I guess!

Niche fashion and beauty blogs have really taken off in the past couple of years. Why do you think this is so and does that make you continue to strive hard to ensure AFM always has a point of difference? I think it is due to the aforementioned immediacy of it. With the popularity of the Internet, people are able to visit any website to get the information they crave constantly and in an instant and I also think it is because readers can really relate to the bloggers themselves and to what the blog is really all about. I know that before I started, I would read other blogs religiously and think to myself that I could possibly do something along those lines as well. I think Diary Of A Fashion Muse is fairly unique in that it is professional yet not intimidating. It really is just me in a nutshell as I share the things that I love in a way that is fun and enjoyable. I am approachable and have such a love for what I write that I believe (and hope) it comes across on screen.

How do you work with your blog? Are your postings inspired by press releases and industry news, your own sense of style and shopping patterns, or do you rely on the questions asked by your readers to write up your bits and pieces? A mixture of all of the above. My posts cover industry news, the latest collections, information on designers and the new advertising campaigns. There is also quite a strong focus on both model and celebrity style as well as personal photographs of my own style and anecdotes from my own various experiences. Readers will also quite often email me queries on particular subjects that they would like to know about and I happily oblige.

How do you think the layout, pictures and colour scheme of the blog enhance the overall writing experience? People respond well to images which is why I tend to use a whole range of photographs and illustrations throughout. I try to keep the layout fairly simple and straightforward as I prefer to keep the focus on the actual content of my posts.

Do you have a goals list that the Wordsmith Lane readers can have a sneak peak at? I don’t tend to plan too far ahead to be honest however at this stage I really would like Diary Of A Fashion Muse to keep expanding and to continue to reach the fellow fashion obsessed all over the world. Establishing my blog has really opened many doors for me and if anything I would like that to continue!

Give us one good reason why we should follow your blog. As I mentioned before, Diary Of A Fashion Muse is really for everybody, from the fashion obsessed to the fashion newbie. Come here to learn about the industry and to get to know what I am all about.

What advice would you offer to aspiring bloggers, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path? My advice for bloggers is fairly simple: know what industry you want to write about, find your target market and just write. If it is truly a passion for you, it will come fairly easily. For freelancers, you will need to pinpoint exactly which area of the media you aspire to be involved with. You need to know that particular publication inside and out when pitching your ideas to them. For everybody who wants to write one way or another, you will need to become a vicarious reader if you are not already. Read everything from newspapers to magazines to press releases to newsletters. You need to be like a sponge and soak up all sorts of information from all areas of life in order to be a successful writer.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1.    Describe yourself in one word: Curious

2.    Biggest accomplishment to date: Being nominated in the 2009 2threads Australian Fashion Awards for Best Fashion Blog

3.    You wish you wrote: The Alchemist. Such a simple, beautiful tale that has changed the lives of so many across the Globe.

4.    Can’t leave home without: My purse, which is simply an extension of my body (albeit a stylish one).

5.    One thing you are currently writing: A piece about ‘Store Stalking’ – when you constantly visit the same store to lovingly stare at or repeatedly try on a particular item that for what ever reason you just can not bring yourself to purchase. This is what I call ‘Store Stalking’ and we are all guilty of it!

6.    First thing you wrote: An Illustrated children’s novel I was working on at home and which I gave to my 8th grade English teacher to mark!

7.    Addicted to reading: everything and anything. My tastes are endless.

8.    Top spot on your goals list: To expand Diary Of A Fashion Muse into an ‘interactive’ website.

9.    If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Jo March in Little Women.

10.  The best thing about being a wordsmith: Being able to communicate in various mediums when you have a love for the written word is priceless.

TO VOTE FOR DIARY OF A FASHION MUSE IN THE  ‘BEST FASHION BLOG’ CATEGORY OF THE 2THREADS AUSTRALIAN FASHION AWARDS, CLICK HERE: http://www.2threads.com/fashionawards/vote#u

Interview: Sarah Hannah Fisher, Freelance Writer

As mentioned earlier today, I feel it will be just as beneficial for us to follow the tales of aspiring writers who are just starting out in the game as it is to learn from those who are well-established. This week, Wordsmith Lane regular Sarah Hannah Fisher takes us on her little journey. Don’t you just love her picture here? I feel there’s a lot more than wordsmith to this lady! Check out her blog  at www.deathwearsdiamondjewellery.wordpress.com

Tell us (in a nutshell) about your wordsmith career path so far:

I’ve been writing my whole life: journaling, poetry, short stories & novellas… So I knew that I wanted to make a career out of the written word from a young age.

I did a BA Media & Communications degree at Sydney Uni majoring in English. However, life got in the way and I ended up taking a fairly long time to finish my degree- I only graduated last year. I’m a bit of a free spirit and at the moment, working 9-5 stuck behind a desk sounds so unappealing to me! I started doing a small bit of freelance work last year, but this year I’ve worked really hard to feel like I deserve to call myself a ‘freelance writer.’

Who are you writing for at the moment? / What are some of your current projects? 

I’m currently working on two articles: one for Australia’s premier eco fashion magazine Peppermint and another for Urban Animal.

I am constantly sending pitches to editors and negotiating possible upcoming commissions so tomorrow morning I may get an email back from Marie Claire with the good news that they want to publish my story, so check back with me!

I’m also working with another freelance journalist to set up a new online portal for writers, which is set to launch on November 1st.

Have you ever attended or been a part of any writer’s festivals? If so, how do you think they aid your career? 

Sadly, no I haven’t! I planned on attending this years Sydney’s Writer’s Festival, but I ended up interstate the whole time. Next year…

What are your favourite topics to write about?

There are so many!!! I like writing about issues that I can personally relate to or are interested in. Things like animal rights, body image and mental health are all topics I am passionate about. That said, I also love fashion & beauty writing and I love analysing pop culture too.

Are you looking to concentrate on a certain niche, or do you want to continue to vary up your topics at this stage?

I like keeping things varied. I would love to one day end up writing on topics that are relevant to teenage girls. I had such a hard time as a teenager and just out of high school but now I am on the other end of it all… The idea that something I have written could help a girl cope with serious issues such as depression, body image, self harm etc would be amazing.

You are currently interning at Dumbo Feather Magazine. How did that come about, and what does it do for you to intern?

It’s actually a fairly new gig for me! I’d heard about the mag for a while but for some reason never got around to buying an issue until a few months ago. I fell in love with it- it was just such a refreshing change from all the usual celebrity saturated magazines. I basically just emailed the editor to tell her how much I admired her for creating Dumbo Feather and straight out asked to intern one day a week with her!

Kate Bezar (editor) is an amazing woman and I am learning so much from her already. It is a fantastic experience.

What are some other avenues that you are taking to further your career? Have you ever utilised networking opportunities or writer’s groups, or are you more reliant on your blog and mediums like Twitter to make a connection?

So far I’ve just been relying on things like my personal blog and twitter as well as recommendations from other writers and friends.

I’m looking into joining some writer’s groups and things, but I’m still a little lost as to where to start searching! Wordsmith Lane post idea maybe?

You have had work published in Cleo and Girlfriend. How did it feel to get published in the mainstream publications and how did this come about for you?

The first time I saw my name printed in a magazine I was so excited! I bought multiple copies and gave it to pretty much everyone I knew!

What are some of the difficulties you encounter when trying to establish yourself as a freelance journalist? Are you reliant on any tools, mentors, groups or writers centres/courses for help? 

The main difficulty I have is having my proposal’s approved by editors! My portfolio is still fairly skeletal and a lot of the mainstream publications, especially in the current economic climate, find it risky to commission such an unknown writer.

I find that when I get stuck with something I am unclear on, I tend to ask for advice from a couple of freelance writer’s that I admire such as Katrina Fox and Rachel Hills. Both women have been extremely generous in unofficially mentoring me!

Great writers read a lot. What are some of your must-reads?

Oh god, I am a huge book nerd!! Unfortunately my apartment is so small that 90% of my collection lives with my mother as there is just no space to put them all!

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger, Dracula by Bram Stroker, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and The Chronicles of Narnia are a few of my all time favourite books.

Works by Anais Nin, Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Kurt Vonnegut, Jeffery Engines, Henry Miller, Scott F. Fitzgerald, Hunter S. Thompson, Johnathan Safran Foer… I could go on!

Writers that work from home (part-time or full-time) tend to comment about the merits of being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

It definitely appeals to me; I have a slight issue with authority and being told what to do and when to do it!

I generally keep a pretty loose schedule that I like to stick to every day, but it changes depending on my motivation and my social life! I make a ‘to-do-list’ and as long as I complete it each day, I am happy.

I do need to be a little more strict on myself thou. I have slight issues with the fact that a 25year old should be a grown up already and having a live in boyfriend who works nights is hard sometimes as I’m often tempted to just leave the laptop and spend the day mucking about.

What are some of your current writing projects, and what are some of your writing goals?

The biggest goal I have is to complete my book. I am currently writing a sort of loose memoir on some of the hardships I’ve experienced in my very early 20s- mental illness and psychiatric hospitalisations and such.

I want to keep it in a diary-like format, so I’m in the middle of transcribing entries from my original diaries and writing journals.

Tell us about your blog ‘Death wears diamond jewellery’.

I basically just write about whatever pops into my head! Some posts are inspired by current topics in the media and other’s are just random thoughts I might have on something like Disney songs.

What are your primary reasons for blogging? Does it get your ‘juices flowing’ in a sense?

I started blogging earlier this year when I became serious about freelance writing. It definitely keeps me in the habit of writing regularly and gets my brain moving.

I also just got sick of reading the same old blogs by people my age- photos of what they are wearing or what they ate etc. I thought having a blog with a more insightful edge to it and that was written less formally than a news site or something, would be appealing.

What is a typical day in the life of Sarah Hannah Fisher, freelance writer?

Every day is different! One day a week I am interning and once a week I volunteer at the Cat Protection Society. I’m trying to put roughly 2hours a day aside for working on my book, but I’m not very good at it yet!

Most other days I get up when my body clock does, around 10am. Late I know, but I am a big believer in sleep! I start the day with a coffee and checking emails, new twitter updates, reading & replying to new blog comments and browsing some newspapers and blogs. The rest of the day I usually spend replying to emails, planning new blog posts, doing research for new proposal ideas and writing and editing whatever articles I am currently working on.

That said, some days I don’t really do anything but play with friends!

What are some of the perks associated with your job?  

Writing what I want to write, whenever I want to. I am lucky that it’s not my main source of income, so I do have the freedom to take on projects that I am passionate about.

What advice would you offer to aspiring freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

That it’s never to late to start! Also, I think having faith in yourself plays a huge element in perusing freelance work; there is a lot of rejections!

Ten in the Hot Seat:

Describe yourself in one word: Vampiric

Biggest accomplishment to date: Finally finishing my degree! I hated university with a passion. My respect goes out to writers like you who tackle thesis’s!

You wish you wrote: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Can’t leave home without: Saying goodbye to my cat

One thing you are currently writing: A proposal to Girlfriend magazine

First thing you wrote: A story about visiting the zoo

Addicted to reading: Mags that combine quality content with gorgeous photography like RUSSH, Oyster, Lula

Top spot on your goals list: To stay happy

If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Some one from Alice in Wonderland. Probably the Cheshire Cat

The best thing about being a wordsmith: Playing around with words to paint an image in the reader’s head.

Interview: Rachel Hills – Writer, Speaker, Blogger, etc.

Rachel Hills does a lot of things. She writes for a number of online and print publications of both the high and low brow, blogs about life and other catastrophes at www.rachellhills.tumblr.com , helps to run the highly-visited NINEMSN home page in her role as Deputy Editor, speaks at festivals, forums and media events, and conducts copius amounts of research for her big thesis on sex and gender. In between, she’s working on a book, plotting her intellectual takeover over our media spheres and guising me through many a crisis as my mentor.

You can see here that I have a lot of nice things to say about Ms Hills, but these are not going to give her enough justice. How about you read this fabulous interview instead, and see for yourself what a goal-oriented, groung-breaking and awe-inspiring wordsmith she really is. Have a fab weekend, wordsmith laners xx

Who are you writing for at the moment? / What are some of your current projects? 

I’ve worked with a pretty broad stable of editors (see here for more info), but who I work with at any given moment is determined more by the stories I want to pursue than anything else – it changes over time. This year, though, I’ve done most of my work with Cleo and the Fairfax newspapers. I’m also working on a feature for Vogue, which I’ve jokingly started to refer to as ‘the story that never ends’. And then there’s my book and thesis.

You sold your first article when you were 22, an age where most young people are still trying to figure out who they are. Not even four years later, you have had over 100 articles published, all while juggling various part-time jobs, expansive speaking gigs, and most recently, a postgraduate research degree. How has this experience been for you? Does it seem surreal, or fast? And how are you able to stay focused on your major career goals and objectives while, in a sense, diversifying your avenues of getting there?

If anything, it’s seemed too slow. Too slow when I was figuring out how to get published, too slow when I was first starting out and couldn’t get the major mags to pay any attention to me, and too slow now that I realise this bloody book is probably going to take me another three years to finish (but when it is finished, I’m sure people will think it was fast, too)! There have definitely been some crises of confidence. That said, I still get a real thrill whenever I get a pitch accepted, and over the past year and a half especially, it’s been really wonderful to reach a point in my career where even editors who haven’t worked with me will usually take on my ideas, on the strength of my portfolio and reputation. That’s what this whole thing is about, really – being able to get your writing out there, and get it read. As for staying focused – obviously it’s hard sometimes when you’ve got so much going on, but overall I’ve found it’s reasonably easy to stay on track if your end goal is consistent.

How did it feel to head up and participate in projects such as election tracker [which sent four journalists aged under 25 on the 2004 federal election campaign], interface and the Media Bistro events? Do you think that your creative community building efforts aid your career?

Fantastic. I was absolutely in love with electionTracker – at that point, it was the most exciting thing I’d ever done in my life – and Interface was my baby. I was incredibly passionate about both of them, and there’s nothing like working on a project you care about that much. They were also a great opportunity to meet some really talented young writers (if I hadn’t done electionTracker, I wouldn’t have started freelancing until much later) and learn ‘how things work’: things like how to negotiate access, how to get a panel up at a writers’ festival, how to get media coverage, how to manage people and be managed, and so on. That said, they were also exhausting – I was burnt out after both of them. When I was editing electionTracker, I had to be available to my writers between 8pm and 2am each day. I was also working another job four days a week, so I was editing ten articles each day and coordinating seven staff in the evenings. I was working so hard that I managed to come down with a different illness every week.

I got involved with Media Bistro when I met Laurel Touby, the company’s founder, on my first trip to the United States in 2006. She mentioned that she’d always envisioned her events as “salons”, a concept I’m quite passionate about, so I ended up volunteering to co-run her Sydney events. It was a great way to get to know a few more people in the industry, and to get to know those I already knew better, but I had to give it up when I started my thesis last year.

These projects were really good experiences in and of themselves, but they also introduced me to a lot of really interesting, inspiring people. Vibewire [the organisation that ran electionTracker and Interface] has always attracted very talented people, and I think this was particularly the case at the time that I was an editor. A lot of the people I worked with on electionTracker and as editor of Vibewire.net’s politics section are now doing really good work in the media and arts. I didn’t do the work for the purpose of networking, but the networks I developed through doing it were probably the best thing I got out of it.

What was it like to be an ambassador at the Emerging Writer’s Festival in Melbourne this past May?

It was great – one of the most flattering things I’ve been asked to do (and following on from the last question, I later discovered that it was someone I’ve worked with at Vibewire who recommended me to do it). I love meeting people and talking about writing, so it was pretty much heaven. I’ve been involved with four writers’ festivals, and the EWF was definitely my favourite: all the panels were really insightful and well-targeted, and it created an environment that was very conducive to interaction between the audience and participants, which is very different to most festivals.

How useful do you find networking, and how would you recommend Wordsmith Lane readers network for their career potential, without coming across as pushy or annoying?

That’s a tricky one. I suspect most people would say I’m great at networking (whether they mean that as a compliment or not is another matter), but I don’t own businesscards, and I tend to get quite shy and stick to people I know at networking events. That’s what was great about the Media Bistro events, actually. As hosts, we were told our role was to help meet each other - introducing people, checking to see that they were okay and so on - which I think makes it easier for most people to strike up conversations. And as host, it was my job to approach strangers, which made it much easier for me to do than it would have been otherwise.

In a professional sense, networking is about two things: letting people know who you are, and hoping they end up liking you. A good networker, in my opinion, is not someone who shoves their businesscard in your face, or someone who is only talking to you to get a job or freelance work. Good networking is simply good social interaction with people who happen work in your industry – it’s about being personable, passionate about your work and interested in other people. It’s literally about making someone a part of your ”network” and becoming part of theirs. Its professional payoff also hinges, I think, on doing good work – people won’t think of you or recommend you for a role if your work isn’t up to scratch.

If you want to network without being pushy or annoying, my advice would simply be to reach out to people you genuinely admire, and whose work you connect with – whether they’re editors, authors, bloggers or whatever. I do it all the time – not for personal gain, but simply because I want to be in touch with people I think are cool. Most writers love hearing from people who appreciate their work, and passionate, sincere, talented people will stand out every time.

You seem to have carved up a little niche for yourself in the areas of sexuality and gender, and also write quite a bit about politics and social issues. At the same time, you write a lot for magazines such as Cleo, which are obviously a different kind of publication for a different type of audience. How do you think you are able to tailor your writing topics and style to a variety of varying publications, without actually compromising on your interests or areas of expertise?

Quite easily – most of my writing falls under the broad umbrella of social and cultural analysis, and I just tweak it to make it interesting for different audiences. You do need to make an effort to learn the voice of each publication you write for, but even so, I think my individual writing “voice” comes through. And all my work is shaped by the same basic motivation – to write about the intersection between the personal and political in a way that challenges conventional wisdom.

How does your academic research and writing differ to your freelance work? /What are some of the similarities and differences between the two, and do you find it difficult to switch between them?

I think academic research can make you a better journalist – it’s made me think more carefully about how I approach interviews and phrase my questions. On the other hand, because I’m so accustomed to writing in a journalistic voice, it can be hard to turn off the colloquialisms when I’m writing academically - but then, that also makes your work easier for the markers to read. Overall, I think both use a very similar set of skillsets: talking to people, making sense of information and writing it down.

What were some of the difficulties you encountered when trying to establish yourself as a freelance journalist? Did you rely on any tools, mentors, groups or writers centres/courses for help?

The main difficulty I faced when I first started out was the same as the one most budding freelancers face – building relationships with editors who have no idea who you are (and because I had no contacts in the industry, they literally did have no idea). I think I was equally held back by my own fear and inertia, though. The first 9-10 months I was freelancing, I only wrote for the Fairfax papers - I understood how they worked, and I was afraid to pitch elsewhere. How did I overcome these difficulties? By asking freelancer friends for advice, by devouring websites like Mediabistro.com (not a plug – it’s how I got involved in the organisation!) and The Renegade Writer, trial and error, and good old “time”.

Writers that work from home (part-time or full-time) tend to comment about the merits of being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

I’m not a very structured person by nature, and when I was freelancing fulltime I would work all sorts of odd hours. I would also procrastinate a whole lot, reading blogs and the like for “research”. It wasn’t all bad – it meant I was incredibly well-informed about the issues I wrote about – but it also meant I could never switch off from work. I still don’t have a very clear delineation between work and non-work (I’m writing the answers to these questions at 11pm the night before I’m due to go on holiday), and I still don’t have a set routine, but I’m more organised now because I have to fit so much in. I recently downloaded a ‘to-do list’ application to my iPhone, and I love it. It’s a really effective way to keep track of everything I need to do, and it’s also really motivating – much more so than a paper or online to-do list, because I take it with me everywhere.

What are some of the difficulties that you encounter when working on a big project such as a book/doctoral thesis?

Staying focused. And not being swayed by the temptation to work on projects with more immediate gratification, like freelancing or blogging. I haven’t quite mastered that one yet.

What are your primary reasons for blogging? Does it get your ‘juices flowing’ in a sense?

I started blogging because I wanted to connect with people who read and enjoy my freelancing articles. The way in which I’ve done that has evolved over time, and will no doubt continue to evolve. As Erica Bartle once told me (quoting Jeff Jarvis), “do what you do best and link the rest”. So, I’ve learned that my “comparative advantage” as a blogger is in writing slightly longer, more considered posts - although still much less considered than my paid writing. I’m not about publishing 10 posts a day, or providing an immediate reaction, or post non-stop photos of myself and my life, although I’ve tried all those things from time to time. I’ve also learned that the audience I reach through my blog is quite distinct from those I’d reach through my mainstream media work – they might not buy the publications I write for, or happen to pick them up on the days or monthsI write for them. If I’m honest with myself, blogging definitely cuts into my paid and thesis work, but I also see it as a vital part of my vocation.

What is a typical day in the life of Rachel Hills, freelance writer?

Not nearly as much freelancing as I’d like! Generally I get up at around 8am, read some blogs while I eat breakfast and get ready, then write for an hour or two (thesis, blog, article research etc…), before heading into work for the afternoon – I work as a part-time editor for a major media company. I get home around 7pm, do some exercise, eat dinner, write some more and head to bed around midnight. That’s a very general outline, though – I go through phases where I get up at 6am, and others where I work until 2am and sleep late. And of course I don’t work late every night – I do have a social life.

What are some of the perks associated with your job?

Free books, movie tickets, the occasional concert (although it’s amazing how quickly journalists tire of these). Being immersed in information all day long. Being able to write and have people read what I’ve written.

And what are your career aspirations – especially now, compared to those at 22?

Well, I have most of the things I wanted at 22, now! I’d like to finish my book and for it to do really well – I’m aiming for influential international bestseller, but I’m also well aware that most books don’t do that. As wanky as it sounds, I’d like to be a kind of new school, highly accessible ”public intellectual” - with a presence across books, research, freelance features and essays, blogging, and whatever other media emerges over the next 20 years.

What advice would you offer to aspiring freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path? 

Work really hard and be persistent. The difference between people who want to be writers and those who actually do it is just that: working hard and not giving up. It took me two and a half years after I finished university for my writing career to even start to look how I wanted it to, although I also had plenty of fun doing other things along the way. That might sound like a really short period of time, but as any uni grad knows, it certainly doesn’t feel like it when you’re living it. I’m also a big fan of sticking to stories you’re passionate about and publications you enjoy reading yourself – if you like a publication, that’s usually a good sign that you and the editor have similar ideas about what constitutes a good piece of writing.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1. Describe yourself in one word: Friendly. And analytical. That’s two, I know.
2. Biggest accomplishment to date: I don’t think there’s any single one I’d single out, more a whole bunch of little ones that all add up. I think my biggest accomplishment is the one I mentioned before – that for the last 18 months or so, I’ve been able to get some pretty hardcore pitches accepted based purely on my clips and reputation. It’s a bit of a writer’s dream, really.
3. You wish you wrote: The Beauty Myth.
4. Can’t leave home without: A bottle of water.
5. One thing you are currently writing: Thesis-related Vogue feature. And just submitted a review of Mia Freedman’s new book to the SMH this morning.
6. First thing you wrote: For pay? An opinion piece on Germaine Greer’s short-lived stint on UK Celebrity Big Brother.
7. Addicted to reading: My Google Reader.
8. Top spot on your goals list: Finish the damn book!
9. If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: None spring to mind. But caricatured and on a good day, I’d be Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2 – optimistic, idealistic and tenacious. And I’d like to be Veronica Mars: smart and sassy.
10. The best thing about being a wordsmith: Being able to communicate about things I – and increasingly the people reading my work – care about.

Interview: Katrina Lawrence, Beauty Writer & Blogger

Picture me at 19. Awkward and naive, I had just finished my first year of uni – where time and time again it had been reiterated to me that getting a job as a journalist and writer was going to be a very difficult (and competitive) feat. But I couldn’t stop wanting it, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen. Even if it meant swallowing my pride and approaching my fave magazine writers for advice. Enter Katrina Lawrence. When I first started reading her work, she was writing all sorts of fabulous fashion features for Shop, but prior to that she had been the beaurty editor at Cleo and one of Shop‘s senior eds.

One of my favourite pieces of work was one where she interviewed women who had either lived overseas/traveled to a particular destination extensively – writing about the best haunts in their respective cities. So, with a meek little wonder as to whether or not she’d think I was an idiot, I emailed, and soon enough, she replied. I expected her to write a few little titbits in an email and shoot it off, expecting to never hear from moi again, but it wasn’t the case. Katrina emailed me back, offering her phone number and suggesting we meet up to discuss my career plans. And I’ve admired her ever since. A few weeks ago, when I was writing about Satchel Girl Erica Bartle, I said that there might be a rare few women in magazine editing who are not as snooty as we believe. Like Bartle, Katrina Lawrence is one of those few. She invited me into her home, where she displayed a genuine interest in helping me out, and answered all my subsequent emails in the months afterward. Nowadays, she’s recently finished a maternity leave contract as Beauty & Health Editor at Madison magazine, and looking to continue work on her fabulous beauty blog www.beautyeditor.com.au while she has a baby of her own! I hope you guys enjoy this great interview – both for its informative titbits of a writer’s career path, and because it’s the last post for beauty writing week. Beauty writing might be all about products, even though we all want to espouse the ‘beauty is on the inside’ kind of mentality, but I stand to think that this woman has gotten her beauty from helping others out without ever taking credit or anything in return. And that is something that warrants a glow that no facial, scrub or serum can compete with. Good to see I have high hopes for this baby being in good hands…and well moisturised ones at that! Have a great weekend everyone x

You’ve gone from being an editor on a number of major magazines [Katrina has worked in senior roles on Cleo, Shop Til you Drop, and most recently, as a maternity-leave-cover Beauty Editor  on Madison] to full-time freelancing. How does a lifestyle of being your own boss compare to working for someone else?

You know, I actually prefer working full-time. I love a salary, it keeps my spending in check! And you miss holiday leave and pay once you are no longer entitled to them. The problem is, I’m at the point in my career now where I’ve become quite picky. I don’t just want a good position, I want a good boss, title, team and publishing house. It’s very rare that you can tick all those boxes. But until a dream job comes up, I’m quite happy freelancing. After almost five years, I’ve finally got my head around it. And, of course, there are the lifestyle benefits. Even though some weeks see you writing 24/7 – which is all too easy to do as you’re living in your office – other weeks see you with lots of free shopping time on your hands. Not always great if your invoices haven’t been paid on time … but that’s another story.

Freelancers tend to comment about being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

It depends on my energy levels each morning. Sometimes I’m really sluggish so I need to preen myself and power-dress in order to feel ready to tackle my work. Other days, I wake up raring to write and I literally roll in front of the computer and type away until I realise that it’s 11am and I’m still in my robe. It’s essential to have a to-do list every day – it’s just good to be flexible regarding the order in which you tick it off.

What is a typical day in the life of Beauty Editor?

I do three to four posts a day at the moment (more on Monday, when I’m uploading the weekly content). First I look through all the latest celeb events and decide on a look of the day, which I then post along with a mini how-to. Next I answer a reader question. Then, I have a look at my list of beauty releases and see if there’s anything new on counter that I’ve been testing and that I can review. I try to do product review a few times a week, but some weeks are really slow and I prefer to only review when there’s a product I think worthy of being written up. Finally, I write my diary entry, which is the bloggy bit and is usually some random beauty musing that has been on my mind of late.

The rest of the day usually sees me working on one or two freelance projects, as well as attending at least one product launch.

Are you still writing beauty, health and style for mainstream magazines, or are you concentrating on getting back into your blog?

Sure am – that’s my bread and butter right now. I won’t be able to devote full-time hours to the site until it’s making enough money from advertising to justify that. That looks to be a while off unfortunately. Baby steps …

Most bloggers find that, at least initially, it’s very hard to get your writing read by a large audience. Do you think that your work on the glossies made it easier for Beautyeditor.com.au to work?

I think having the credibility as a beauty expert has certainly helped me to keep the readers. But getting them in the first place is the tricky part, no matter who you are. This process has been really interesting. I’ve had some great support from friends and acquaintances in magazines and newspapers but there’s a surprisingly small correlation between a good magazine write-up and an increase in traffic. The key is online PR and word of mouth – you need that direct link to make sure people are motivated enough to visit. Some of my best spikes have been when I’ve been quoted say on ninemsn. I also syndicate the Beauty Diary section to madison in return for a link, so this has provided a steady stream of extra traffic.

How did the idea for your blog come about?

I wanted something that would be me in a project. I thought about everything I knew and was interested in, threw them all together, and this site just made perfect sense. As soon as I found I could get the URL I wanted, it all fell into place.

What were some of the difficulties you first encountered swapping from a very senior editing role to blogging? Was it hard to establish an audience, build up the site, find your niche etc?

So many stresses in the beginning … Finding web designers. Working with the designers. Having arguments with designers about the aesthetics or intellectual property … It’s a really costly process and, unlike at a magazine, there’s no IT department to help you out. I didn’t mind the fact that I was starting at the bottom again though, because I knew I was building something that would be mine. If I’d stayed in magazines, I would have put all of that effort and words into a magazine’s site, and in the end I think that would have been much less rewarding.

Did you consult any mentors or guides to make the process a little easier?

Not really, which was wrong. I was so determined to get it going that I didn’t do as much research as I should have. I’ve had two design phases though. For the redesign, which is what you see now, I did a lot more research and as a result have a more workable site.

Beautyeditor.com.au has been around for a few years, although in the past year or so, we have seen the Beauty Writing industry really take off. These days, we have the likes of beauty portals, beauty manuals, and beauty websites, which means that the beauty pages on the magazines are not as in demand as they once were. What is your take on the issue?

Consumers increasingly google before purchasing a product, which makes forums, blogs and review sites all the more powerful. I think there’s a whole new world of beauty experts out there and magazines must accept this. Having said that, I’m still very much a glossy-loving girl and I totally get why most advertisers still prefer to see their product on a pretty page rather than a computer screen. But speaking of advertisers … I think magazines need to be very careful about how much sway they let advertisers have over editorial. Of course, advertisers are crucial in these times, and they’re customers as much as readers are, but the key is keeping that balance. Magazines have limited page space and you don’t want to get to a situation as a beauty writer where all your precious space is being devoted to writing about product you might not necessarily love. One good thing to know, however, is that beauty writers are never told exactly what to say. You might know that you have to mention something, but it’s up to you how to write about it. A beauty writer should never personally endorse a product – say, via a tried & tested type execution – if she doesn’t believe in it. (I remember once way back having to write about a really coarse face scrub I absolutely hated – so I included it as a two-in-one value buy, saying it was perfect for feet). The only way beauty pages will remain credible is by getting the right mix – one of being both market-report and editor’s-favourites.

A lot of people dismiss beauty writing as airy-fairy, but there’s obviously a lot of work involved in testing a whole load of product, looking at new research, writing about it in an accessible form for varied audiences (because obviously everyone has different skin tones, hair types etc) – and continuing to do so in an engaging manner. This is obviously a challenge that means beauty writing is just a credible journalistic path to take as traditional news or feature writing. What do you say to this?

You know, I never call myself a beauty journalist, I prefer to say writer. Because it’s definitely not pure journalism. You’re constantly doing a balancing act between giving practical advice, considering commercial concerns, and wrapping it all up in a fun or pretty package. I actually used to want to be a political journalist (can you believe). And I admit, sometimes the limitations in beauty writing frustrate me. But 99% of the time, I simply enjoy it. And if you can find any job that does that for you, you’re lucky.

And, as you said, there’s a lot more to beauty writing than just writing. The testing is fun (of course!). Getting your head around the ever-changing technology of it all is a good challenge. And if you enjoy the business side of beauty, it can be very interesting to meet these amazing marketing and R&D minds working at the big beauty companies.

How do you work with your blog? Are your postings inspired by press releases and industry news, or do you rely on the questions asked by your readers to write up your bits and pieces?

The site is divided up into various sections, so that all depends. For Beauty Spot, which is where I post product reviews, I rely on my PR contacts for access to product and information. Beauty Expert is where I run a Q&A with a beauty industry insider, and Beauty Q&A is where I respond to readers. For the other sections, I mostly use my own knowledge as a basis. But for the blog specifically (Beauty Diary), I tend to react to industry and celebrity trends as they happen.

How do you think the layout and colour scheme of the blog enhance the overall writing experience?

I know that some web designers like a tricky design in order to kind of confuse readers and keep them on site for longer. But feedback from my readers has been that they really appreciate how easy my site is to navigate and that they never feel lost or frustrated. I make a point of writing everything in a quite boxy sub-headed way, so each page is also easy to dip in and out of. I also think that clean elegant font, lovely relaxing colours, and pretty pictures are essential for making the experience a nice one.

Are you freelancing for any particular titles at present?

Yes – currently for Madison, Shop Til You Drop and Harper’s Bazaar. I’ll probably take a couple of months off magazines soon, as I’m due to have my first baby in around five weeks.

Do you have a goals list that the Wordsmith Lane readers can have a sneak peak at?

Uh, does giving birth without too much pain count? Or getting my waist back? I’m really not seeing my bigger career picture very clearly at this stage in my life – it’s all getting my head around nappies right now – but I definitely want to keep growing my site and see where that takes me.

Give us one good reason why we should follow your blog.

What my tagline says – it’s all you need to know about beauty.

What advice would you offer to aspiring bloggers, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

Set yourself up as a credible expert first. I couldn’t have gone freelance successfully without eight years of beauty writing at Cleo and Shop behind me, not to mention all of the relationships I had established with editors and deputy editors in this time. While blogs are great for finding your voice, it’s also important to not launch one in a big way until you are seen as at least somewhat of an expert in that field. Everyone has a blog now, so the ones that will stand out in the future will be the ones that have the strongest voice. So that’s just another reason to work as a full-time writer first. Oh and save some money while you’re on a salary – you’ll need it when you go freelance, take it from me.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1. Describe yourself in one word: Happy.
2. Biggest accomplishment to date: Finding life balance.
3. You wish you wrote: Skinny Bitch.
4. Can’t leave home without: My dog, Daisy.
5. One thing you are currently writing: A piece on new pigment technology.
6. First thing you wrote: A magazine all about Cleopatra for a primary school history assignment.
7. Addicted to reading: Anything on Paris, France and the French.
8. Top spot on your goals list: Right now it’s to be a good mum, followed by dealing with the post-baby body, and getting back to my old yoga routine.
9. If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Alice in Wonderland, I’ve been obsessed with her since the age of three.
10. The best thing about being a wordsmith: Finding new words and ways to express myself. Believe me, that’s not always easy when you’re trying to write about applying blush for the 1000^th time.

Interview: Sarah-Jane Adams – Editor, Journalist and Web-designer

For such a young woman, Sarah-Jane Adams has sure got her skates on. Take a peek at her resume and you will see that she is a regular contributor to a whole host of print and online publications, something which ought to be commended considering the difficulties associated with breaking into the writing industry. But Sarah-Jane takes it all in her stride, maintaining a pro-active approach to a career that has seen her recognised for her creative talent and ability to tap into a variety of audiences, no matter how full her plate is. And plate might be an understatement (perhaps tray is a better word?), because Sarah-Jane has actually taken her writing and media know-how and established herself as the go-to source for young creatives – penning a weekly Trespass column on succeeding in business as a Gen Y’er, and currently working on a series of e-books to help said creatives really break into their dream creative jobs. In fact, Sarah-Jane works on making such dream jobs happen in more ways than one, espeically with regards to her work with Creative Vanity, a web-design, media and marketing agency which she herself established. Truth be told, I seriously debated running Sarah-Jane as my interview subject for the fashion-themed week because she obviously does a whole lot more than write about fashion. But considering this woman is really going for her dreams and her career, with no hint of a stop sign in sight, I really wanted you guys to be inspired by her work ethic just as much as I am. I guess Sarah-jane proves that you can never spread yourselves too thin, or maybe, all that writing for fashion has given her the ability to handle said spreading with the flair that she writes about. Hope you enjoy the interview, and don’t forget to check out her website www.sarahjaneadams.com for more information. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to cower in a corner in shame after chatting to this journalist, business-mind, and brand-extraordinaire  ;p

Tell us a little about your wordsmith career path so far:

Well I began with a degree in Fashion Promotion, specialising in fashion journalism, and whilst at university I dabbled in my own online publication.  The brand rapidly took off, and I used the kudos associated with it to move into freelancing.  I wanted to also continue owning a business, so I developed Creative Vanity, a web design agency which specialises in accessible and affordable marketing solutions for talents in the fashion and music industries.

You have a very impressive portfolio of work, and a host of regular columns as a fashion editor and journalist for a number of online and print publications around the world. How do you manage to stay on top of things?

Thanks, that’s so kind!  I wish I knew!  I try and work as much in advance as I can, and in bulk, and that tends to keep me sane.  Just.

Tell us about why you established Cause a Scene magazine, and what opportunities that provided for you?

Well Cause a Scene started life as an indie fashion community called Fashion Central, and an accompanying magazine was born from demand.  It morphed into Cause a Scene as our teenage audience boomed, and we moved into covering the scene culture and online celebrity that was taking off at the time.  Soon the pinnacles of these circles, such as Audrey Kitching, Christine Dolce, Raquel Reed, etc, were all being featured by the mag, with exclusive spreads created for us by these amazing Hollywood photographers.  It really gave me the chance to meet hundreds of top industry insiders, fast track my contacts and abilities, and to learn all of the tools and business knowledge which I use now.

Do you find it challenging to vary your output when you have such a large and diverse demand [in terms of publications]?

Not really.  Once you’ve fully researched a publication, you should start to understand its voice, and you build a mental image of a typical reader, who you try and speak to at their level.  I love moving from tabloid, to high fashion, to debate, to urban, ensuring that my portfolio has something for everyone.  I think that in order to be a successful journalist, it’s essential to be able to vary your tone for different readerships; the more adaptable you are, the more work you can take on, and the more areas you can venture into.

How do you find the freelance lifestyle? Most freelancers tend to comment about being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJ’s all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

(Laughs) I’ve heard about this mythical life of the freelance writer, ruled by languid pyjama days spent in the name of ‘writer’s block’, but unfortunately I’ve yet to witness it for myself.   To me, being self employed means working more, not less, so I’m not sure where the myth of being able to structure freelancing around your own hours comes from.  Perhaps I just work too much!

Do you feel that writing fashion columns is a good way to separate yourself from your more demanding journalistic roles?

(Laughs) That’s a dangerous question!  No, I think that if you viewed writing a fashion column as taking it easy compared to other forms of journalism, then you’d be mistaken and the work would suffer.  Obviously fashion journalism isn’t reporting from a war zone or the like, but I give the same importance to each piece I write, whatever the topic, and you still need to have a great deal of knowledge and research to pull it off.  If someone’s paying my bills, whether they’re a fashion publication or a broadsheet, their articles all deserve the same level of attention, so no, there’s no separating work into easier or less demanding categories for me. [I think I actually phrased this question wrong. For me, writing fashion/girly reads is a lot more fun because it let's me go in a little bit of a different direction and put some of my personality/personal taste in the story, but Sarah-Jane answered my tricky question excellently anwyay!]

What is a typical day (or week, since you do so much) in the life of Sarah-Jane Adams?

Every day is completely different.  My week is somewhat structured according to the fact that I have a different column going live each week day, so they have some regular demands and activities attached, but aside from that it entirely depends on the types of bookings Creative Vanity has, and the communications and requests I’ve received.  I’d say my time is split between a) the physical work of writing, designing columns, web design and marketing projects, b) the admin involved in emails, evaluating submissions, returning requests for interview or advice etc, and c) the branding needed to keep getting my name out there, pitching, updating my website and fan pages and promoting hard!

The media industry, and the fashion industry especially, is very competitive. Did you find it difficult to establish contacts that enabled you to get some freelance work?

It is very competitive, but everybody knows somebody, and you have to capitalise on that when you’re starting out.  When I was in the earliest throws of journalism, I quite easily managed to attract the attention of lots of high profile individuals and companies who realistically shouldn’t have had the slightest interest in what I was doing at that stage, but I guess that’s the power of a good pitch for you!  If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn’t even have tried to make contact with those people, and I’d have missed out.  Who dares wins!

Did you consult any mentors or guides to make the process a little easier?

No, I’m a huge advocate of the virtues of being self taught, and whilst I can see the potential merits of having a mentor, I’d rather make my own path.

You’ve established yourself as quite a brand. How does it feel to be breaking so much career ground at such a young age?

Thank you!  That always sounds like such a strange question, because I feel like I haven’t really even started yet!  As far as I’m concerned there are so many young entrepreneurs out there doing amazing things, and as long as I can build a self sufficient, sustainable brand over the next couple of years I’ll be happy.

With regards to your fashion roles, do you work from home, or do you go into the offices of the publications you work on? Either way, do you feel like you have to keep your image constantly in check as a reflection of the fact that you are essentially bringing the latest in style to your audiences?

It varies, sometimes you’ll be required to attend meetings or shoots, and sometimes you can submit externally.  I do put an emphasis on making sure I have some decent images floating around; if people are going to be interested in Sarah-Jane Adams the brand, rather than just an article written by somebody called Sarah-Jane Adams, then they need to be up to speed with my look.  But when you’re working on a set, those creating the glamour are rarely dolled up to the nines, and you can relax.

In addition to your varied portfolio, you also keep a blog. How do you think that enhances the overall writing experience? What purpose does the blog serve for you personally, and to your audience?

Well my blog is more low key, as it’s essentially just the news component of my website, so it’s more ‘I’ve just done this’, and ‘check this out here’ rather than articles and so forth.  The magazine creator inside me always has plans for a full blog with interviews and interesting ways to take my writing out on the open road, but essentially it’s an issue of time, and right now my blog is a very practical method of promoting my projects, and allowing my audience to keep up to date with my latest published pieces.  I’ve hooked my blog up to Facebook, so that my posts are also automatically published there, and that’s been a great tool for keeping my followers in the loop.

Tell us about your work on Flair Now Magazine [where Sarah-Jane is the editor-in-chief].

Well Flair Now was founded by renowned agency The Model’s Portal, and they took their expertise in photography and casting to create a high end publication.  When Marcus approached me to be involved, I was thrilled, as the standard is of such high quality.  The exciting part for me is that I create the direction of the articles, linking the text with the visuals, and giving the planned shoots life and a story.  We’re currently working on the third instalment, and the initial graphics are already looking spectacular.  www.flairnow.com

The fashion world is fickle and ever-changing. How do you stay in the loop with the goings on in the fashion world to keep your readers up-to-date in your work?

Well working in fashion can often be disorientating because you’re a season or more ahead.  Some publications will need your stories so far in advance that it’s essential to be completely up to speed with the tools of trend prediction, whereas some are more instant and will request a report on what a celebrity was seen wearing yesterday.  Really it’s just important to absorb as much as you can; read everything, sign up to mailing lists, browse websites and watch your blog roll, and podcasts are a great way to take in information on the move or in some spare moments.  Even following celebrities or industry heads on Twitter and Facebook can keep you in the loop and show emerging patterns.

You also offer up marketing, copywriting, and web-designing services. How important to you is diversifying yourself as a brand, and how do you do it?

For me, being a brand is key, as the total of your sum parts becomes greater, and you add value to your work.  My skills feed into each other, and I always try to make sure that any new areas I venture into make sense with my branding.  If I suddenly went off an started my own range of bottled waters, that would be a little out there, but journalism, pr and web design all work well together.

You have a regular gig as a business columnist on Trespass Magazine. What are some of the things you write about, and why? How important is business for a self-employed creative?

Nowadays I think it’s as important as the actual creative talent you’re trying to sell.  If you’re not savvy with pitching and the basics of marketing, you’re going to lose a lot of ground to those who are.  The time of waiting to be discovered is dead; if you’re a musician, designer, model, or whatever, it’s expected for you to get online and sell yourself, and to make it happen.  Not everyone will understand the processes of PR and branding, and that’s why columns like the one offered by Trespass are so important; it’s free, understandable advice that you can see instant results from.

What are some of your fashion must-reads?

I love Jill Sherman’s blog Trend de la Crème, it’s absolutely hilarious, and she has such a witty turn of phrase and eye for an usual story.  I also regularly check in with PR super power PR Couture, where I can also be seen contributing upon their panel of fashion industry insiders, and N.E.E.T Magazine is one of the original and best examples of an indie ezine you can find.

Do you think that aspiring wordsmiths who would like to specialise in fashion journalism should do anything additional to understand the industry better. Or is writing and an interest in fashion sufficient?

I think it’s important to do a vocational course in the area of fashion, so that you come to the market with specialist knowledge.  There are plenty of art schools or creative universities that offer either full fashion degrees, foundation courses, or even evening classes, so try one of these in replacement of or in addition to general journalism studies.  You could also try some unpaid work experience; magazines can be trickier to get in with if you’re not in specialist education, but don’t overlook PR or modelling agencies, who will offer you ground level experience of the industry, and often have a lot of velvet rope access you won’t find elsewhere.  Having said that, it’s not impossible for people to find themselves with a journalistic hit on their hands with no formal training, so start blogging, modelling, presenting, whatever you can do to get a foot in the door.

Why should Wordsmith Lane readers consider your web services for their self-publishing endeavours?

Well Creative Vanity is designed with those such as Wordsmith Lane readers in mind; creative talents who want to access an affordable and friendly service, without compromising on a high end result.  Our process is so quick and straight forward, and we have a fixed price of £249 for bespoke flash web design, which would set you back thousands elsewhere.  Aside from these obvious incentives, you can also be safe in the knowledge that you’re in the hands of someone who understands marketing, has extensive experience in the creative industries, and knows what works for online promotion inside out.  Alongside web design we also offer social networking services and designs, marketing tools such as mailing list graphics and press release copy, and image retouch, all at prices which are immediately achievable for independent businesses.

Tell us about your upcoming range of e-books for self-employed creatives. Why must we be on high-alert for them, and what can we expect to find in them?

This is a project I’m really excited about getting stuck into, which involves the creation of a set of ebooks designed to offer instruction and advice to those looking to break into or advance in various creative sectors.  I’ve found that my tutorial articles on entrepreneurialism have become very popular, and I felt it was time to capitalise on this knowledge.  The guides will cover a variety of essential topics for building a successful career, and will be overflowing with tips, shortcuts and advice from celebrities  and high profile models, editors, DJs and entrepreneurs who’ve all been there and done it, and whose words are like gold dust!  The wheels are in motion right now, so if you’d like to receive details of when these books launch, send your details to sarahjane@sarahjaneadams.com, or keep an eye on creativevanity.com

Can the Wordsmith Lane audience have a sneak peek at your goals list?

My next stage is going to be a big push on Creative Vanity; we’ve been employing a stealth approach for the last couple of months to make sure everything fits and that everything is viable, so now we’re ready to take it to the next level and really let everyone know about the services we’re offering, because it’s already received a lot of interest with minimal exposure.  Alongside that I’ll be pitching for some bigger and better freelance positions, and continuing work on the ebooks.

What advice would you offer to aspiring bloggers, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

Know what you’re talking about, never underestimate anyone, and be prepared to work double the hours for half the pay for a very long time. 

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1.       Describe yourself in one word: Ambitious

2.       Biggest accomplishment to date:  Appearing on Wordsmith Lane

3.      You wish you wrote: The Bible.  That’s a bestseller right?

4.       Can’t leave home without: IPod

5.       One thing you are currently writing: The answers to this and an interview for my university alumni magazine. How famous am I.

6.       First thing you wrote: A series of novelettes about a family of coloured blobs called The Grumps when I was very tiny.  Available in all good bookstores soon.

7.       Addicted to reading:  about WW1

8.       Top spot on your goals list:  To be on the panel of Dragon’s Den

9.        If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Charlie in his chocolate factory please.

10.      The best thing about being a wordsmith: is that you get to use phrases such as ‘wordsmith.’

Interview: Paul Hemsley, Blogger & Radio Show Host

This week on wordsmith lane, we’ve looked at pop-cultural portrayals of journalists and wordsmiths. We checked out a book on journalism and the movies and looked at the myths associated with mag-land. And when my brain decides it wants to start functioning again, there will be a delayed spotlight on Miss Lois Lane – the woman who inspired me to choose this very profession. Of course, ending a Wordsmith lane week can never be done unless we look at the words and works of a fellow writer, no matter their style, field of expertise, level of experience or fame. As such, this week’s interviewee is a very fitting end to our pop-culture themed week. Paul Hemsley, who I sometimes call James Drax (only because I only ever see emails and nicknames with that name instead of his one), is one of the biggest movie buffs I have ever yet, and you see that reflected in his writing on www.moonrakingdrax.wordpress.com . That’s not to say he is not more though. In fact, when I first met Paul, he was the loud and opinionated fellow in my Political Journalism class at Sydney Uni, so the boy is smarter in more ways than one. So much so, that considering his aptitude for politics and my lack thereof (I used to read Shop Til You Drop in class and eat Violet Crumbles – I even told the teacher that I had more experience writing and reading more airy-fairy journalism than the kind he was teaching) I fiugred we’d never be friends. But I was wrong – and he is one of maybe 5 people I keep in contact with. So without further ado, I urge you to read my very interesting interview with Mr Paul Hemsley. Trust me, it’s a perfect addition to Friday afternoon.

Tell us about your wordsmith career path so far:

When I was a young lad there were two things that I wanted to be, an actor or Perry White, editor-in-chief of the The Daily Planet, but then you took that job, so now I’m out-of-work.  Anyhow, I had a knack for writing well in high school, so I decided journalism would be a good career pursuit.  My life revolved around media anyway, so how hard could it be?

Well, Petersham TAFE was accepting admissions for their News Media course, so I went to the orientation night they had there, and 200 people must have showed up, many were young people with their parents, and I had my mother there to cheerlead me to victory.  This middle-aged fellow spoke to the group, who was also the course co-coordinator, he was probably one of the most discouraging and depressing old dots I’d ever encountered, telling us that we won’t succeed and people only want to get into journalism because it “sounds sexy” (it was like he read my mind).  We all filled out our applications, but I left thinking “what a crock”, until mother pushed me back in there to sell myself to this old scarecrow, and a week later, I received a phone call telling me that I was accepted!  Apparently only thirty people made it. My year doing that course was a lot of fun; it was an easy ride and a great learning curve.

The following year, I enrolled at Macleay College for their Diploma in Journalism program. I’ll probably remember that year for two particularly unique characteristics, first, I’d never seen so many young girls in their early 20’s so interested in doing media, and many of them were quite lovely; second, I don’t think a journalist knows what painful repetitive endurance is like until they’ve been rigorously tested on Teeline shorthand (I hear some have had to do Pittman, ouch!) almost every weekday for a whole year until they can reach competency and accuracy at 60 words a minute.  It really was a nightmare for me in particular because I’m left-handed and speed-writing by hand just isn’t something that comes as easily as it would for others.  My hand was almost red-raw and stiff as a board by the end of each class session.

After that, I stayed at Macleay and did their Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications through Southern Cross University where essay writing and media analysis from an academic perspective was the main focus.  My lecturer for that year was a very passionate Greek philosopher – I didn’t always agree with him, but I appreciated him as an academic mentor. Following that, I thought I may as well put the final polish on my writing qualifications by stacking another degree on top of that with the Master of Media Practice in 2007.  There was one girl I met there named Sarah Ayoub, who was up-to-her eyeballs in the Political Journalism class, you might know her, I think she went on to bigger and better things though. Brilliant writer! [Aww, shucks! Although I must say Paul, I'll let you take the Perry White job if I get to be Ms Lane]].

Aside from academics, news articles and some public relations stuff, I’ve written a vast amount in internet message boards, so I’ve had a great deal of practice, which makes perfect! Then came the blog, but we’ll get to that later!

Where (and when) can Wordsmith Laners hear your radio show, and what can they expect to listen to when they tune in?

Listeners of my radio show Music from the Movies can expect a strong emphasis on the scores that generally accompany the films.  I tend to play some of the most popular and greatest of composers, such as Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, John Barry, James Horner, the whole gang, as well as lesser known composers who can be equally as good, creating a diverse aural range of film music variety that’s found a small, but dedicated audience.  I have so many soundtracks for films that I’ve played on-air, many people listening probably think “I’ve wanted to hear that for years!”  Also expect me to give short commentaries on the scores and the films, as well as the occasional on-air film review between the music.

My good friend Peter Novakovich, who’s also a composer and director of musical theatre sometimes drops in and interrupts me, causing chaotic banter and arguments about films and whatever else there is moan and groan about.  His addition to the show makes for some fun entertainment!  The show airs on Monday nights at 8pm-10pm on 100.3 FM, but listeners outside the coverage area will have to tune into the online live broadcast.

You have found a niche for yourself in the area of popular culture – namely film. How does it feel to mesh something that interests you personally with your professional writing and radio work?

I could have had a political talk show and acted like a crazy clown like Glenn Beck with some anti-authoritarian rants, but I’m afraid I’d just bore everyone, and eventually bore myself to tears too.

Many of my favourite movies and my favourite genre of music, namely film scores, aren’t what would be considered mainstream, so it’s nice to have the opportunity to broadcast my interests in an accessible way that hopefully anyone can find some enjoyment in and appreciate some on-air unpacking of the movie tunes. Film scores are an area that are somewhat neglected, so I feel that it’s my job to give the community the opportunity to hear how great and diverse film scores are.

It’s an easy gig, there’s loads of music and lots to say.

Tell us a little bit about your blog – www.moonrakingdrax.wordpress.com?

Moonraking Drax is basically a blog page featuring my own various interests in film, television, music, and even some sly political humour that makes fun of everyone. You may be wondering what “Moonraking Drax” means, well my favourite James Bond movie is Octopussy (1983), but there’s no way I’d be able to get away with a blog title with a double entendre like that, so I moved down to one of the other ones I like very much, which is Moonraker (1979), and picking the name of the wealthy French industrialist Hugo Drax – I always liked that surname, if I could change my name, I’d pick that! I do have a strong interest in American politics in particular, but I would prefer to save that for the United States Studies Society page, which is located in the links on my page if you’re interested in that.  Moonraking Drax has a little bit for almost everyone, if you want a unique perspective on film, as well as film music, which is an aspect that is very much related to my radio show, then this blog is for you to follow! The focus, though, is mainly popular culture.

You have recently started your Masters Degree in US Studies, and you also have a similar qualification in Media Practice. What do you hope to attain, both personally and professionally, from your choice of studies?

I thought my Master of Media Practice was going to be my last qualification, but I wanted to do something else that interested me, and with the opening of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, I quickly decided that I wanted to pursue the Master of US Studies just to satisfy my thirst for knowledge and understanding of the United States – it’s a nation with a history that interests me a great deal, as they’re still constantly making history happen.  It’s really just another cat in the bag in case I ever want to be a US correspondent in any way, be it in LA or DC.

One unit I took last semester was American Film and Hollywood, which I got a distinction for (appropriately!), and the other two were US Constitution and Key Issues in American Culture – each class was fantastic and I’m happy to have taken them, and Semester 2 has only just begun!  I was recently appointed as Treasurer for the United States Studies Society, and I can’t say enough kind words about the executive team whom I work with who help make the learning experience more fun and engaging. A month ago, we had the July 4^th party in town, it was a very well organized event, although I’ll never forget the arguments I had with some of our team about Democrats, Republicans, climate change, taxes, and all that jazz.  With all these political junkies seated with each other, it’s bound to get a little heated, but it’s all in good fun!

How often do you blog, and what inspires your blog postings?

I tend to blog every few days, and my blog inspirations tend to come at the weirdest times when I’m groggy at 3am.  My life signs phasing in and out of our space-time continuum and into dreamland must have something to do with blog thoughts and ideas popping into my mind.

Do you have any immediate plans to branch the ideas and tenants of this blog into more mainstream forms of writing – like features?

You, like most people I talk to about this, are full of ideas.  I’d have to build a larger portfolio with this blog first, and be able to prove that I have longevity, like I’ve had with my radio show, which I’ve done since 2006.  I promote my blog through Twitter, and word spreads around, so I’m constantly on the move to make it work and flow nicely.

Wordsmith Lane focuses on the written word in all its forms, but admittedly, its ed is a little lacking in knowledge with regards to the scriptwriting department. For someone who’s a little bit of a movie expert, what can you tell us about scripts? How does a well-written script enhance the overall film experience, and, with regards to film adaptations of novels, what do you think is important to maintain?

A well written script is an entertaining one. It has to have structure, character development, careful plotting, setting, and types of conflict.  It needs to recognize the common structures of literature and film, which are introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. Knowledge of technical aspects of the film making process help as well. Some of the best films are about one person against incredible odds that are not in their favour. Then there are the stylistic touches, such as symbolism, motifs, and memorable dialogue. Plus, if you’re adapting a novel into a film, the most important thing is to retain the spirit of the book, rather than a word-for-word recount, which hardly ever turns out that great.

From my experience, there are four simple steps to writing a screenplay:

1. Synopsis: this can be one sentence, one paragraph, or one page if you like, but it’s basically a pitch version of what the story is going to be.  It needs to illustrate the “who”, “what” and how” in a succinct manner.
2. Treatment: a treatment is where you map out the events of the story over two pages or so.  This can take a bit of development if need be.
3. Scene Breakdown: quite a fun element because your vision is taking shape.  Number every scene, and use the “INT” and “EXT” openings for each scene, name the characters featured in each scene, and write a short treatment of events that take place in every numbered scene.
4. First Draft: this is where it happens! You expand your scene breakdown into a full-on script with dialogue and scene descriptions. Then all you need is a script doctor!

So there, you have a simple and effective method of planning and writing a screenplay! You should be able to avoid continuity errors this way too, and I’m sure screenwriters read books they’re about to adapt with the scene breakdown in mind as well.

In your opinion, how do you think writers and journalists are portrayed in film, and is this representation accurate?

I tend to find journalists are portrayed as sniveling morons without any moral compass, understanding or interpersonal diplomacy or simply with no conscience in film and television. There was a two-part episode of Stargate SG-1 in its seventh season called “Heroes”, which featured veteran character actor Saul Rubinek portraying a journalist hired by the Pentagon to make a video documentary on the day-to-day goings-on at Stargate Command.  He acts like a total weasel throughout much of the first part, asking questions in a tactless manner, and treating his subjects like crap; while he does redeem himself in the second part, I just can’t help thinking about what I would do if I were in his position.  I certainly wouldn’t be treating people doing their jobs like idiots and making them feel uncomfortable like he does.

Another one that annoys me is Dick Thornberg (played by William Atherton) from Die Hard and Die Hard 2, who seems to enjoy snaking his way into Holly McClane’s house to interview her daughter thereby putting her mother in danger, and sending an entire airport into a mass panic for the sake of a story. It was quite a shame he wasn’t in Die Hard: With a Vengeance actually.  There’s also Peter Finch in Network (1976), who’s good at heart and I agree with a lot of what his character had to say, but who the hell acts like that? The job really sent him nuts. I’m not sure if these portrayals are accurate, but all one needs to do is watch tabloid gutter journalism at work on a couple of certain free-to-air channels at 6:30pm to see what some will really stoop to just to get an angle.

But then of course there’s Clark Kent, mild-mannered newspaper reporter, along with his trusty pal Lois Lane, who both have the good of Metropolis and its inhabitants at heart – you couldn’t find two better journos portrayed in film, television or comic books!

What is a typical day in the life of Paul Hemsley?

Any ordinary day is entering MI6 headquarters, greeting Miss Moneypenny, getting the next assignment from M, meeting some pretty girls… oh… ME, you mean?  My days should be more glamorous, but it’s mostly I, a computer and a mobile phone, along with thoughts gyrating in my rusty old cranium trying to conjure up an idea on what to write, what to think, and what to say. I also bulldoze through my music collection like crazy throughout the week to assemble a quality radio show for the following Monday night, which I always have to gather about two hours worth just in case I have to leave the chair so then it can just run itself in the event of an emergency outside the studio, but let’s hope it never comes to that!

What are some of the perks associated with your writing?

Having a lot of time to think about it, do it, and edit it all by myself!

Have you relied on any mentors or guides to better educate yourself on your niche of film writing/blogging?

Not directly, it’s mostly just been reading reviews by professional critics and getting a sense of their review structure. Also, mixing with people with a similar interest helps. If I do have mentors on blogging, it’s definitely my US Studies classmates who told me that I should get a blog because they found the ideas that I expressed to be unique enough to warrant one, and since then, they’ve been extremely encouraging in my blogging endeavors, so I really have them to thank. Also when reviewing a film on-air, I have to be careful not to bore my core listeners by going off tangent with rants about the film or score if I really hated it; when I listen back to it on tape, I can’t help thinking “I can’t believe I said that! Just play some damn music!”, although ironically that’s usually when my ratings skyrocket! For approaches in on-air oral presentations of film reviews, I tend to listen to how James Rolfe (of the Angry Video Game Nerd fame on YouTube) reviews films that he’s seen, minus the swearing of course.  He definitely has his biases, but that’s what makes a good film reviewer, when you keep going back to them to hear their opinions if they can somehow ground themselves on a level of objectivity, which is where you know they can appreciate the merits of a decent film, regardless of their biases.

Do you have any other current writing projects?  

Some of my long-term projects involve ideas for blog posts that I haven’t figured out how to approach yet.  My Blogspot account “dashboard” is developing into a warehouse of shelved ideas that I haven’t found a good angle for yet.  These mostly include personal histories of my experiences with certain film franchises, and pet peeves I have with almost anything.  Just stay tuned to the blog, and some of these will be perfected and presented in good time!

What are some of your goals, writing-wise?

I’d actually love to write fan fiction! There are some franchises that I’m a huge fan of, so I like reading what fellow fans think would happen to the characters in these multiple alternate universes. I’d like to try my own out, maybe a crossover story, Freddy Krueger vs. Indiana Jones, maybe?  I think the one with the hat would win.

Writing-wise, I just want to improve with every proceeding piece I do. The beauty about having a blog is that you’re in a position to express yourself without someone breathing down your neck. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I let a nanny state government bureaucrat close my blog for material perceived as “unacceptable”. So before I have to submit my will and sell my soul, I’d like to perfect my writing for broader audiences. It’s a tiny bit different for my radio show, where it’s all about film scores and I get to present whatever I want in that genre and talk about what I want in the limited time I give to myself, but if I went commercial, I’d have to give up some of those freedoms that come with community radio. But what the hell, the pay would be steeply better, so why should I complain? A long-term goal of mine would be to write an autobiography when I’m a fully-experienced and employable octogenarian, and I can say I have enough background on my resume to apply for anything. That’s one thing that bugs me about Barack Obama, he wrote two autobiographies before he was even a US Senator, couldn’t he have waited until he retired?

What advice would you offer to aspiring wordsmiths?

One of my high school English teachers said “I want you all to be lean, mean, writing machines!”  He was right!  Practice makes perfect.  Writing is a form of communication that will never die out as long as they don’t develop creepy telepathic technology. I also advise that you read over your older material because there are things you might want to improve, or there might be characteristics in your writing that you may have liked back then but you’ve forgotten how to do, so you need to revise and remind yourself about what makes your writing strong.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1.      Describe yourself in one word: Cluey.

2.      Biggest accomplishment to date: 137 episodes of my show over three years, and counting.

3.      You wish you wrote: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, then I could end it properly.

4.      Can’t leave home without: My Christopher Walken sunglasses from A View to a Kill.

5.      One thing you are currently writing: My next film review, shh, it’s a secret!

6.      First thing you wrote: Ever? Well, I can tell you the first thing I remember writing, which was probably a horror story about giant monsters.  I had a lovely childhood, but I also had a messed up fascination with mutated beasts tearing up Tokyo. The kids at school just didn’t understand!

7.      Addicted to reading: Film music reviews, even if I disagree with their assessments.

8.      Top spot on your goals list: To date look-a-likes of every blonde in an Alfred Hitchcock film.

9.      If you were a character in a classic, you’d be: Scrooge McDuck, I’ve always been very tight with money.

10.  The best thing about being a wordsmith: being interviewed by you with the knowledge from my crystal ball that I’ll perhaps interview you someday.

Interview: Erica Bartle – Writer & Blogger

Interview: Erica Bartle, Freelance Magazine Writer, Blogger at Girlwithasatchel.blogspot.com, and all-round nice girl

I have a kind of girl-crush on Erica Bartle. I read her blog almost religiously (I check it morning and night, although now I am grateful that she has Twitter so I can find out when she’s posted to avoid checking in every 15 minutes), annoyingly probe her with emails and questions and feedback about her postings, and remind myself that contrary to what Andy Sachs (of Devil wears Prada fame) experienced, there are nice girls inhabiting the land of glossy. In fact, I don’t even need to check out her blog to be reminded of the last bit. I just think of the times she used to send me notices about junior editorial positions going at Pac Mags, even though we had never met. All she knew was that I was a 19 year old uni student who was doing work experience everywhere and who desperately wanted a job in magazines. These days, Ms Bartle blogs about glossies, media, books and girly things from her pretty and pink office in her home in Mount Tambourine, QLD. Her blog is a treasure trove of good reading that is wholesome but interesting, and endowed with an aesthetic quality of nice pages to look at, books that she is reading, blogs she loves to read and places she likes to shop. In fact, I actually find her so fascinating that I love it when she posts pictures of her office, or her breakfast, or tells a tale of her life. I love to know what she is reading and thinking because to me, she is a more real ‘celebrity’ (although you would not describe her as such) and someone worth aspiring to emulate. Erica Bartle is estremely deserving of the success that she has made her blog. For many young girls, she provides an sneak peek into accessing the glossy/media world, while divulging all its happenings and analysing its productions in a manner so detailed it actually becomes educational. Plus, for the likes of me, a self-confessed mag addict on a less-than-glossy budget, her blog is a reliable tool for choosing what mags on the stands are worth buying (her ratings and commentary are substantial enough to help formulate this decision). Any aspiring wordsmith ought to check out her blog, and just because she’s worth it, vote for her to win Cosmo’s Fun Fearless Female Award. Hope you enjoy this (detailed) interview!

You’ve gone from being deputy editor on a major teen magazine to full-time freelancing. How does a lifestyle of being your own boss compare to working for someone else? I really miss the frantic office environment at Girlfriend – the witty cross-cubicle banter, the celebrity chit-chat, the editorial meetings, the highly scientific cover surveys (who do you like best right now?), the positive feedback/encouragement, the “oohs” and “ahhs” expressed at the sight of a lunch-time purchase, the daily “where should we go for lunch?” dilemma… That sense of community and fellowship, of a shared passion for producing a quality publication, is just something you can’t emulate in a solo working environment.

I’m a tough task master, workaholic and perfectionist, so when I first went freelance, while also maintaining my blog, my husband literally had to pry me away from my laptop. I was consumed by an incessant need to be online. Now, I’m a little more easy-going and less tortured about my approach to work. There has to be a balance – and, if you’re going to work for yourself and not have all the benefits of superannuation, pay security and nice things like beauty sales in the office, why the heck not take the occasional afternoon off? Carrie Bradshaw certainly spent more time out and about than at her laptop – though, we all know she was HIGHLY FICTIONAL and glamourised the freelance/column writer’s life.

Twitter has been an absolute GOD SEND in terms of making me feel more like part of a work community: it’s the online equivalent to office chatter. Add to that a girlie office layout I adore, an intern who comes to help me out once a week or so and my husband co-piloting in the office (doing his own thing, mind you) and I’m much happier and more comfortable in my writing zone now than I’ve ever been. I’ve been lucky to have made some very excellent virtual friends (fellow bloggers and freelancers) and to have had the support of people in the media industry who I may have never had the chance to work with had I not struck it solo (Mia Freedman comes to mind). And when I do feel isolated and a bit stir-crazy, I head to my favourite coffee shop, Spice of Life, with my MacBook. Voila!

Freelancers tend to comment about being able to work their own hours, or write in their PJs all day long. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you productive? I let my personal presentation slide when I first went freelance and moved to Mount Tamborine (Gold Coast hinterland). But I came to realise that part of my self-esteem is wound up in how I present myself, so I now rock out a cute outfit every day, put on makeup, do my hair and even pack a lunch in a lunchbox so I’m not frittering away time in front of the fridge… though that’s still my preferred way to procrastinate.

What is a typical day in the life of GWAS? I pray and journal to God first thing in the morning and meditate on a passage from Joyce Meyer’s Christian compendium, Starting The Day Right/Ending the Day Right (just like Kevin Rudd!). In the fast-paced, fickle media world, I find my faith gives me solid grounding. Then, it’s off to the shower, outfit editing, makeup and down the stairs (my painful commute to the office takes all of three seconds: can you believe I actually miss my 40-minute bus ride to McMahon’s Point?!). If it’s a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, I’ll go to my newsagent (hi, Gavan!) and purchase the latest glossies or newspapers containing the sections I like to read (The Australian and Fin Review on Mondays for their media sections; The Sydney Morning Herald for its Essential section on Thursdays).

I try to have my first blog post up by 9am, if not earlier, then I try to get on top of my inbox (no easy feat) and reply to emails. I try to post twice more on the blog throughout the day, usually before lunch and at around 4.30pm. Of course, I’ll approve and try to respond to comments, too. When I’m not blogging, scanning or uploading pictures, I’m pitching, researching, interviewing, transcribing or writing freelance stories, chatting to blog advertisers and Twittering. While I love the immediacy of the internet, I like the balance that freelancing gives me as a writer – allowing ideas to gestate, interviewing, structuring a story… feature writing is a real craft.

I try to get out of the home office at least once during the day, if not more often – to check the post (it’s 5-minute walk to our mailbox), play with my dog, Gus, or go into town for a coffee. Generally, I try to finish up my work by 6pm, but that easily turns into 8, 9, 10pm some days. I’m trying to get out of that habit: I sleep better if I’ve wound down properly and turned my laptop off. Terribly exciting, isn’t it?!

Did you find it difficult to establish contacts in the glossies that enabled you to get some freelance work, or do you think that your blog made things a little easier? If anything, the blog has made things harder – it’s not ideal to be critiquing glossies in a public forum if it’s your dream to write for them! Thankfully, I have been blessed with a few wonderful industry contacts who feed me the occasional story. To be honest, I don’t have a lot of time for pitching these days.

How did the idea for your blog come about? It was really an extension of the work I was doing as deputy editor on Girlfriend. I was editing sections like the pop-culture packed “Get It Guide” and “Girl Crush” pages, as well as looking after the Love 2 Shop fashion quarterly, penning features and working on the Self Respect campaign. I wanted to flex my writing muscle and creativity and blogging seemed like the way to go. Instant gratification! I have been a long-time subscriber of Daily Candy, really enjoyed Mediapost’s “magazine rack” reviews and Who What Wear Daily was taking off, so I thought I could meld the concepts into one blog. And so Girl With A Satchel was born.

What were some of the difficulties you first encountered swapping from a very senior editing role to blogging? Was it hard to establish an audience, build up the site, find your niche etc? GWAS has really only hit the ground running over the past 6-12 months. Before that, it was a real mag girl’s blog, growing organically through word-of-mouth, but now the readership has grown and widened and so has its credibility as a “media blog” (or so I’m told), thanks to links from other reputable sites and traditional media. The niche came easily – glossy mags are something I’ve always been passionate about. I dubbed myself “The Nation’s Number One Consumer of Glossy Magazines” on my post-uni CV. Thankfully, all that financial investment seems to be paying off!

Did you consult any mentors or guides to make the process a little easier? No, but I wish I had. Initially, I had terrible moments of insecurity about how the blog content would be received by those in the industry, though I was confident about my convictions. However, the support did come. Rebecca Lowrey-Boyd of Wee Birdy, Mia Freedman, Zoe Foster, Sarah Oakes… they’ve all been wonderful supporters, as have other glossy editors and writers, the gorgeously loyal readers and contributors who slip me the occasional “keep it up” email and, of course, my husband and family (dad writes a “Bloke With a Bag” column and my sister contributes the occasional book review!).

You’ve established a cute little niche for yourself. How does it feel to be called upon as a speaker/expert in the field of blogging and glossy magazines? Hilarious! Who would have thought? It’s very humbling. Particularly as a journalist who interviews “experts” in their respective fields. God works in mysterious ways.

Recently, you’ve had to implement commenting guidelines on your site in response to some ‘bitchy’ or ‘nasty’ comments. In both pop culture and reality, women’s mags are notorious for rumours of bitching and gossip. Do you think that implementing such guidelines inhibits free speech, and (apart from the personal attacks on you and your family) what made you decide that these guidelines were the way to go? I’ve obviously given this a lot of thought. I think instantaneous, open discourse is part of the appeal of blogs – essentially, I’m a conversation starter and critic – but, at the same time, the blog is my online home and I like people to be respectful of it. I don’t go to other people’s homes and tread dog poo through the carpet and tell them they stink. That’s just rude. I don’t mind criticism – I dish it out, after all – but there’s a pervasive culture of snark that’s erupted via blogging (and anonymous commenting) which I think diminishes us all: nothing good ever comes from negativity and encouraging, building up and celebrating women is something we should all strive towards. I encourage articulate, insightful, elaborative and witty comments; bitchiness for the sake of bringing someone down (and thereby the blog) I do not. If you want the freedom to be outlandishly bitchy.. .start your own blog!

One thing I find very unique, and extremely refreshing, about your blog is its Christian influences. In the modern day and age, a lot of traditional, organised religions are seen to be something to be hidden because of their conservative outlooks. Did you struggle with the decision to make something that is seen to be so private, public? Or do you think that these influences and overtones help keep your work and nice-girl attitudes in check? It’s been a very natural thing for me to discuss my faith on the blog, as the site’s launch coincided with me recommitting to Christianity after years of blowing about in the wind. My faith is intrinsic to who I am and, therefore, my perceptions and opinions of the world, including the media and popular culture. I like to think that this gives me a slightly different perspective. Just about all the big editorial decisions I’ve made with the blog have come about as a result of prayer and petition. I’m sure Anna Wintour would be terrifying to work for, but being accountable to God is about as big as it gets (eek!).

How do you think the pictures on the sides of the blog enhance the overall writing experience? Blogs, like magazines, are an aesthetic (though not tactile) experience. A visit to my blog is a visual entree to my life and loves and sponsors! I’ve been lucky in that most of my sponsors are online retailers who themselves take pride in their appearance: their ads complement my site.

You write about women’s magazines and their content, and obviously give them a critical rating. Does that make you question your ability to work with them in future? Through my reviews, what I hope to do is celebrate the good while shining a light on editorial which I think is morally questionable or detrimental to the wellbeing of female readers. I’d like to think I provide a complementary service to the glossy industry. Film directors, actors, singers/bands… they all endure critical reviews of their work. Magazines are consumed by just as many people – why should they be exempt?

Who are you writing for at the moment? Cosmopolitan and Cleo, mostly – to be honest, the blog consumes more of my time every week! Do you have a goals list of other publication’s you’d like to target? Right now I’m focusing my energies on the blog, so no. But I think every writer has their dream writing gig (if I say it out loud it might not come true!)

What advice would you offer to aspiring bloggers, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path? If it’s blogging you want to do, find a niche area to cover. If you’re freelancing, stay on top of all media – particularly those you plan to pitch to! There’s nothing more annoying for editors than to be pitched stories that they’ve just run. Be a voracious media consumer, read outside the media-sphere, explore the world and write, write, write!

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1. Biggest accomplishment to date: Writing for The Walkley Magazine was a highlight, as is being nominated in Cosmo’s Fun Fearless Female awards!

2. You wish you wrote: The Shops by India Knight. It’s like my comfort food.

3. Can’t leave home without: My satchel, of course!

4. One thing you are currently writing: A piece about cyber stalking!

5. First thing you wrote: A two-sentence short story about bunnies diligently handed over to the library lady for typing…on a typewriter!

6. Addicted to reading: everything. I am a gluttonous pig when it comes to media/books/internet.

7. Top spot on your goals list: To be an excellent mother one day, not too far in the future.

8. If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Anne of Green Gables.

9. The best thing about being a wordsmith: Speaking to lovely people like you, Sarah.

10. Describe yourself in one word: Grateful.

Interview: Shirley Walker, Author

Tell us about your wordsmith career path so far:

I’ve published lots of articles on Australian Literature also two books (one a complete Bibliography) on Judith Wright’s poetry. After I retired I wrote my memoir, Roundabout at Bangalow, published in 2001 by the University of Queensland Press. The Ghost at the Wedding is the story, or stories, of my husband’s family through three genertions and two wars, with especial emphasis upon the experience of the women in the family.

Since finishing The Ghost at the Wedding, do you have any plans for new projects? Or are you going to rest easy for a while?

I have another project, to be called The Disputed Plain. It deals with European myths of settlement in Australia. It’s centred on an English family, from Kent, who come as assisted migrants in the 1840s and live in a shepherd’s hut in a place which is in dispute between two powerful land-grabbing cattle barons. Neither has any concern for their indentured labourers or the indigenous people. The family’s hut is burned by one of these factions and the family is put out on the disputed plain to fend for themselves. I have lots of   research to do before I can confidently put pen to paper (or even open a Word document).

You are a retired academic and an honorary fellow of UNE. How has your background in academia helped your career as a writer?

At least I know where to put the apostrophes! But, seriously, my study and teaching of the writing of others has hopefully taught me what works, what doesn’t. But it’s all trial and error, hard work, sorrow and disappointment, with occasional moments of rapture when you know immediately that, as a writer, you’ve managed to get it just right!

Your previous work was the memoir Roundabout at Bangalow. How was it writing your memoir, and then writing the tale of your mother in law Jessie? What did you prefer working on?

Writing a personal memoir is quite different to writing autobiography, especially when writing about one’s mother-in-law, a powerful family figure. My own memoir came straight from the heart and required little research, although I did carefully check my facts. Writing someone else’s story meant that I had to position myself emotionally and dramatically in that person’s consciousness. This was not easy, especially with someone who had been as reticent as Jessie. Descriptions of her paintings helped me to enter her mind, clarify her responses to her circumstances. Even a reticent, locked-in person can express her emotions in a different medium where even the colours, or the way the paint is slathered on, can be an expression of personality.

Which would you say was easier to work on and why?

Obviously the memoir Roundabout at Bangalow was easier. I had also, in writing The Ghost at the Wedding, to be careful about  invading the privacy of various family members. Not my immediate family, but perhaps distant relatives of Jessie. That is why I changed some of the names.

The Ghost at the Wedding manuscript won the inaugural Penguin/Varuna scholarship. What was it like winning, and what did the process of turning your manuscript into the finished product involve?

I was quite astonished to win this scholarship as I knew that quite a few manuscripts had been entered. Part of the award was the editing of the manuscript by Penguin’s senior literary editor, Meredith Rose. Her help was absolutely invaluable and it was not long after this editing process that Penguin decided to publish The Ghost at the Wedding. Things moved very quickly then, and the book came out some six months later.

Did you struggle in terms of finding a publisher when you first started writing? What was that like?

It’s always very difficult for beginning authors to have their manuscripts read, let alone have them published. There are apocryphal stories of piles of decaying manuscripts in publishers’ offices waiting to be dusted off and read. Because I had published academic books through the University of Queensland Press, I knew, when I sent the manuscript of  Roundabout at Bangalow to them, that it would be read, and read sympathetically. I would hate to have gone in cold. And similarly with The Ghost at the Wedding. The Penguin/Varuna Scholarship opened the door to the most prestigious publishing house in Australia. I have indeed been lucky.

What are some of the difficulties that you encounter when working on a big project such as a book?

The difficulty is in keeping the continuity and keeping the narrative flowing. Life keeps interrupting and it’s always hard to get back to the work and pick up where one left off. Because this book took a long time – five years – to write, I was concerned that my writing style had changed in that time. I certainly felt that, towards the end of the project, it was flowing much more easily. But I suppose that’s natural.

Were these difficulties maximised by the fact that you were writing history?

Yes, there was a considerable amount of historical research. I was writing about soldiers on various battlefields during two wars, and I had to make their experiences as authentic as possible, so you can see how much delving into historical records took place. I spent time in the research room of the Australian War Memorial and consulted their staff whenever I came across a problem. There are also wonderful historical accounts of both wars. For WWI there is Charles Bean’s many-volumed Official History; a copy is in most large libraries as well as online. Les Carlyon’s The Great War and Patsy Adam-Smith’s The Anzacs are accurate and detailed. For the New Guinea campaign Peter FitzSimons’ Kokoda and Peter Brune’s A Bastard of a Place were invaluable. I had to get each war episode absolutely correct and also try to capture the atmosphere of each battlefield. A visit to the battlefields of the Somme certainly helped to recreate the atmosphere.

As far as the home scene went, that was relatively easy. As well as Jessie’s stories my own parents’ memories are still with me. I’m also old enough to remember the ‘thirties and life in Australia during the second war.

Apart from letters, what else did you consult for facts when writing about Jessie’s life?

I knew the facts of Jessie’s life from her many stories and family documents such as marriage, birth and death certificates. I also consulted material in the local historical societies. Jessie left not only bundles of letters to and from the various battle fronts but also carefully wrapped parcels containing the ‘effects’ of dead soldiers, sent back to the relatives when the war ended. These were often quite pathetic. Can you believe that all a young soldier owned in the world was a small diary, a razor, a wrist-watch with a broken strap and a holy medal? Imagine my feelings when I opened the diary 90 years after it was written and found pressed flowers from the battlefield between its pages? A 19-year-old soldier paused in the middle of the most horrible war in memory to pick flowers and press them? Unbelievable.

In 1918, as soon as she came home from her honeymoon Jessie wrote a long account of her wedding to her brother Joe who was with the AIF in France. He didn’t receive the letter. He was already dead. The letter was returned unopened, stamped DECEASED. In it I learned the facts of her marriage, but I had to imagine the shock and grief of receiving the letter back.

Jessie lived in a time of hardship and suffering, but the fact that many emerged from it to go on with their daily lives is astonishing. Did you feel a sense of sadness when writing her tale? How did it feel to be writing about your own family, and then getting into your mother in law’s shoes through her paintings?

Whenever I think of what Jessie and her mother Janet went through I am overcome with pity and sadness. But stronger than that are my feelings of admiration for the strength of these two women.

There is always a distance between a mother-in-law and her son’s wife. It’s no wonder there are so many jokes on the subject. The younger woman has supplanted the mother and, according to the mother, doesn’t do anything nearly as well as she did. It wasn’t ever this difficult between Jessie and myself but I did find it very difficult to imagine her emotions, her inner feelings. I also had to overcome the feeling that I was treading on sacred ground in daring to imagine and describe her feelings. As I’ve said earlier the paintings helped.

What is a typical day in the life of Shirley Walker?

I am the full-time carer for a 90-year-old veteran of WW2, my husband and Jessie’s eldest son. This is quite a serious and time-consuming task but I feel honoured to do it. We have a big house and I have a large area in which to spread out the ‘mess’ of my writing. I try to spend at least three hours a day writing but much of this is re-writing. I’m a passionate and spontaneous writer but a compulsive re-writer. I try to get every word, every sentence, as perfect as I can. I envy writers who don’t need to revise so much but I don’t think there are many of them.

What are some of the perks associated with your job?

As I am retired on reasonable (but not too generous) superannuation I regard the rest of my life as one long (I hope) literary fellowship.

What are your writing goals now, in comparison to what they were before you were published?

Just more of the same. I’m very interested in history, the human aspects of history and hope, for as long as I am able, to continue interpreting history – especially from the point of view of the women involved.

What advice would you offer to aspiring writers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

Read widely. Analyse good writing. Look at the way other successful writers have done it. Then write spontaneously and passionately. But don’t be afraid to re-write, again and again until you are completely satisfied. Good writing is never easy.

I would advise anyone seeking publication to work through an agent. If an agent likes your work she/he will push it with the publishers and hopefully find a home for it. Agents also know which publisher will be more likely to be interested in your kind of writing.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1.       Describe yourself in one word: passionate

2. Biggest accomplishment to date: My family

3.       You wish you wrote: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

4.       Can’t leave home without: Laptop

5.       One thing you are currently writing: Review for Australian Book Review

6.       First thing you wrote: Poem for the Children’s Page in the Lismore Northern Star when I was seven.

7.       Addicted to reading: Everything

8.       Top spot on your goals list: Next book: The Disputed Plain

9.       If you were a character in a novel, you’d be: Young, sexy, beautiful, smart and totally unbelievable

10.   The best thing about being a wordsmith: Holding the new book in your hand for the very first time. Rapture!

Interview: Sam Webster,Writer

Tell us about your wordsmith career path so far:

Starting as a 13 year old non-poet, shackled to his desk until he wrote a poem, I can definitely see why these days I am much freer with my approach. In my short time as what seems to resemble a career writer, I have been a finalist for National Youth Week’s writing competition twice, and won it once, I have been a judge for Pacific Opera’s Young Critics Award, and I have given numerous seminars to high school students on how to unleash their creativity in (sometimes) the most restricting of situations. The fun you get up to while studying a writing degree and waiting for the days to turn cold enough to style yourself in the latest pashmina configurations.

You wrote a suite of poetry, about the political interaction between Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler, as part of your Honours Thesis at the University of Technology, Sydney. Tell us a little bit about that. Has it helped you to kind of carve out a niche in writing something different and unusual in a sense?

I wouldn’t say the subject matter of Crescendo was one that necessarily lead to a niche, stylistically, but working on such a complete project definitely honed my writing style down to something that hopefully I can predict, but my readers cannot. It certainly showed me that picking a topic you are endlessly interested in can be a blessing when the deadline looms. If I wasn’t intrigued by Chaplin’s whimsy and Hitler’s vulnerable side, I would never have gotten through the stress of a thesis.

You have also worked as a cultural studies tutor. Did this help you refine your interests and writing?

I have often remarked that teaching a class taught me more than being in that same classroom as a student. I’m only half serious on that one. Teaching requires a very in-depth knowledge of the limited material being dealt with. It’s all well and good having a Masters in a certain area, but if you’re teaching a separate area, you need to be able to grapple with that material on a weekly basis. Doing that cemented the theoretical ideas in my head. I LOVE being in front of a class. The right combination of students can lead to a lot of fun, the wrong combination can be like pulling teeth, but the performative aspect of my personality thrives on the characteristic weirdness of ‘Sam the tutor.’ My interests have been expanded rather than refined. I’ve certainly gone further down the cultural path, and my column on Trespass definitely is a result to the way that area of study has influenced my own thought patterns. The problem with teaching is every week you are caught with a new area to teach, and then the students throw back a billion questions you never thought of. It can be very hard to keep up.

Where do you draw inspiration to write from?

It really depends on what I’m writing… A column usually comes from ‘What do you want to tell the world?’, a short story might instead be ‘How can you tell this sequence of events in a unique’ way and a poem stems from something poet Robert Gray once told me, “A poem is a comment that the world cannot forget.”

That said, I believe waiting for inspiration is a pitfall of writing. Writer’s block is not necessarily a myth, but if your writing comes to a complete standstill because of a sense of writer’s block, waiting for inspiration will not solve it. There are creative methods to get around that feeling, from word association and continuous writing to simply reading someone else’s work. Deadlines don’t wait for inspiration.

You focus on a lot of music writing, and of course, creative fiction and short stories. Do you think you would like to explore a different genre?

All the writers I have met tend to focus on things that are close to them. You write what you know. I was brought up in an extremely musical family. Every one of the Websters has at some point played an instrument, I myself have three basses in my bedroom right now, waiting to be played. It’s not really conducive to the creativity for me to sit down and write about biochemistry, it’s not in my blood. I’ll explore a new genre the moment I feel that genre inside me. Anything less is an experiment, not really a personal creative exploration.

Are you able to live fully based on this career choice? Or do you find it really is the case, that as an establishing writer, you have to forego a lot of things that you might not necessarily have to if you were in a full-time job?

This question is a tricky one. If I’m not careful how I’ll answer, parents will be up in arms when their teenage boy says he wants to be a poet. There’s definitely that stigma about the arts that you can’t make a living. The truth is you can but it’s not as perfect as it seems. It’s a whole lot better than a desk job in my opinion, but sometimes freelancing in advertising is a necessary way to getting the novel complete. We all work towards the same dream of having our original work published, just as musicians dream of Wembley Stadium, but the fact that the dream doesn’t come within months shouldn’t be a deterrent from doing what you love. Yes, I’ve foregone a lot for some of the creative liberties I have (money being one of them, since I have tried my best to avoid a droning office job), but at the end of the day, it has been more than worth it.

Writers that work from home tend to comment about the merits of being able to work their own hours, or work in their PJs all day. Is that something that appeals to you, or do you tend to structure your day around a routine to keep you more productive?

I’m definitely free, but i’m also doing more than writing. I’m working on photography and design as well, and also just generally brainstorming on projects so my day tends to see me go through a number of different veins, and I let it take me. It’s not the most productive of methods but it keeps things fresh.

You are currently working on your first novel. How is that going?

My novel is currently on a slight hiatus for two reasons. First, I have been working more on smaller pieces, articles and short stories, while I try to further build my portfolio. Secondly, I like the idea of taking time from something so large and consuming. Whenever I’ve taken a break, the return has been extremely eye-opening. The novel itself is based on the lives of some fictional and non-fictional characters. Those who are non-fictional are still in constant contact with me, so the research continues even when the writing process is on hold.

What are some of the difficulties that you encounter working on such a big project?

Word count! I like to say things simply and beautifully, to the best of my ability. Novels require a certain level of detail, a certain length of story and a certain overall arc, which I am still working on. I’m constantly restructuring the novel to try and smooth out the bumps of what would otherwise be a collection of interesting anecdotes.

You also do a little bit of photography. Does this help in bringing a little more money while you do the more creative/free-falling parts of the job?

Photography helps financially, and creatively. Thinking about the way light hits an object definitely helps you describe that same occurrence, or even just thinking about subject matter in a completely different way can help things fall into place. My aim is to release the novel with a set of photos, or at the least an accompanying exhibition.

What is a typical day in the life of Samuel Webster, freelance writer?

I wake up early, my brain does not handle sleeping during the day time. I usually lie in bed for a few hours though, working on my laptop as I do. I am on twitter a lot and Facebook too much, promoting pieces I’ve written, talking to colleagues and friends, and just generally keeping connected while I go about my work. When I’m not at home I’ll be a favourite cafe. Some are chosen for their aesthetics, and some for their proximity to home. All of them become my work place for a few hours at a time as I tap out stories.

What are some of the perks associated with your job?

Absolute creativity and absolute power over the output of that creativity.

Have you consulted any mentors or guides to make the process of establishing writing career a little easier?

So many. Mark Mordue is a big inspiration, even though we don’t get a chance to speak as critically as we did when I first met him. Seeing that man’s work inspires me to write something new and strong.

What is the freelance feature writing like? Did you find it difficult to establish contacts that enabled you to get some freelance work?

I didn’t find it difficult because of the connections I already have. Liv Hambrett, who I see you spoke with last week, has been an incredible source of whip-cracking under the Trespass umbrella. Seeing Amelia Schmidt’s work with ymi magazine, and now with throw shapes has shown me the guts and determination it takes to see it through. My family, friends and partners over the years have always been very supportive of me so that’s given me the strength to push myself forward as a ‘creative entity.’ That’s a really narcissistic way to look at it, but it’s necessary sometimes to be the personality, or the image of your writing.

Who are you writing for at the moment? / What are some of your current projects?

I’m writing for Trespass Magazine, Channel V and I’ve just been added to the writer’s list over at RHUM and Onya Magazine. A lot of online work, which is the sphere I’ve always been interested. Thinking a lot about ways to use the online medium; a much fresher publishing stage than print. The other projects are top secrets, all I can say is look out for an online/real world pastiche called Use Your Words and at least one photo exhibition in the next 12 months.

Let us in on your goals list?

• Finish Masters in Creative Writing (I start in August)
• Teach more Seminars and keep improving on the depth of the information I present
• Take more classes at university, learning more myself.
• Expand my writing output to at least two columns a week plus features.
• Expand my review output from 4 albums a week to 10.
• Finish my novel and publish it with a live Big Band and photo exhibition.
• Finish my novella and publish it in a second hand book store with tea.

What advice would you offer to aspiring novelists, freelancers and wordsmiths who want to follow a similar career path?

• Push yourself, no matter what level you’re at. First year writing students have the capacity to join small publications and hone their skills. That’s the one mistake I wish I hadn’t made, thinking that your age and experience automatically excludes you from the industry is the number one thing that holds you back.
• Be a writer, don’t just say you are one. A brick layer doesn’t collect the doll. A doctor doesn’t just muse about medicine. If you say you are a writer, you better be writing.
• Don’t be afraid to be seen. A lot of writers hide behind their work. That’s fine at a blockbuster level, but in the early stages, the only thing separating your work from anyone else’s is the source. Be yourself and write what you feel. People will be drawn to your work if they like you, because they know it respects you. If they don’t like you, don’t be disheartened; do you like everyone you ever met?
• Don’t worry about rejection. Take what you can from it, constructively. If there is nothing to learn from it, forget it. It happens to everyone. You can’t win every game.

Ten in the Hot Seat:

1. Describe yourself in one word: Tangential (verbally… start a conversation with me and see where we end up…I dare you.)
2. Biggest accomplishment to date: Finishing my Thesis. It was a hard year but I learnt more in that one year than I did in the first three years of my undergraduate degree.
3. You wish you wrote: The Possibility of an Island by Michel Houellebecq, but it would be way less racy then so maybe I should leave it to him.
4. Can’t leave home without: My iPhone. These days my headphones too. I have to have music or speaking in my ears at all time or I get bored.
5. One thing you are currently writing: My Novel, tentatively titled Supposing I Dreamed This
6. First thing you wrote:  “Cold, White Snow” when I was thirteen. A sad poem about loneliness, the first poem I ever wrote, possibly the best one I wrote that entire year though.
7. Addicted to reading: Donald Barthelme short stories, and Kurt Vonnegut Novels.
8. Top spot on your goals list: Publishing S.I.D.T. with a Big Band, I think that’d be pretty cool.
9. If you were a character in a classic, you’d be: edited out. My personality doesn’t suit classic novels.
10. The best thing about being a wordsmith: It’s cleaner than being a blacksmith (boom-ching!)