Time to reevaluate the prominence trauma has in our stories

There’s an excellent article on the prevalence of the trauma plot in contemporary literature in the January 3-10 issue of The New Yorker, which grabbed my attention for two reasons: first, as a writer wanting to understand more about the craft (and which types of stories are currently popular and why) but secondly, as someone …

Python: new short fiction

I’ve been developing a series of science fiction novels for the past few years and hope to finish the first by the end of the year. In the meantime, I’ve also worked on some short stories that predate the events of the novels, but take place in the same universe. This is the first, introducing a character who will feature prominently in the short stories and at least the first novel.

Writing is our bitch: But getting there is hell

The reason more people don't write novels isn't the writing. Sure, that's hard enough — but if you're a writer, writing is the juice. The reason is the moment before you write, in which all your fear, loneliness, self-doubt, insecurity, and anxiety, floods in like canal water through a sluice gate. And that's not the worst …

When God took Job’s teeth: Tommy Tiernan tells a Bible story

No one — NO ONE — tells Bible stories like Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan. That he tells Bible stories at all says something. Something about his Catholic upbringing, perhaps, and definitely something about where his faith is now. As he said in a recent interview on Irish television, ‘It feels to me that we're born with an …

An open letter: Why this theologian has nothing to say about Christian education

I have four daughters, two of whom went to Christian primary schools and then to a Christian high school, in both country Western Australia and Perth. Our experience of Christian primary schooling in the country was terrific. The school communities were supportive through difficult years for us and many of the teachers became our friends. …

We are not like this: No?

I apologise beforehand for any offence. This is just rage.   I gotta be honest though, I hate the fucking Facebook profile sticker that says, This is not who we are. Sure, we’re not America, we don’t do this every day, it’s not a pastime or a sport or a way to fill the news …

Assisted suicide: a Valentine’s Day poem about love

  No need to load the bullet Or knot the rope I’m gone already If I found knowing, then what is this? What ignorance, tormented If I found life, then what is this? What else did I find? The room and the keys A vision of what will, what could Be But everyone sang In …

One Tree Hill: A conversation with Scruff

The cuttings of Scruff's extraordinary life are stuffed into a fat, brown leather wallet, along with his personal documents, references, some photos and books. Anything that's been written about Scruff, by anyone, at any time over the past few decades, is in this file. His personal library. It's so full the zip barely closes. It …

On writing: Wild Wood and the Babadook

It was just one small comment, but it made a world of difference. 'I love that process of being told by the work what it is, but it also requires faith and trust and that can be hard.' Just a flash of understanding that acts like a key, a key that unlocks ... me. I …