The January Nutshell

Gabrielle Williams, covid isolation, pep talks, and old favourites

Dear Reader,

January has been bleak for me for one overwhelming reason — the loss of my friend Gabrielle Williams, author of highly-acclaimed, original and bold young adult novels such as The Guy, The Girl, The Artist and His Ex and The Reluctant Hallelujah. The incomparable Simmone Howell wrote this piece for The Conversation. If you have the appetite for only one thing from my recap of this month, let it be that.

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Voracious began like every novel I’ve written: spontaneously, with unbridled enthusiasm and no plan. Halfway through the month I boarded a flight to London and thereafter headed for a tiny village in Buckinghamshire — apparently famous for cherry pies though I have so far failed to locate one — where my sister is running a large pub while parenting a one-year-old and a newborn. Here, I managed to play super-aunt for a week before losing my covid virginity and becoming quarantined-aunt. An unsettling sight to see a line against the T after dodging it for so long.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working furiously on Voracious, my own newborn. Brainstorming, fretting, double-checking. And I need to slow down to take stock. So here’s a look back to see if there’s anything you’ve missed. I’ll do this towards the end of each month. And to commemorate January I’m adding a series of photos taken from my window at different times of the day during my covid isolation.

This month, articles for free subscribers consisted of: one for writers (5 Mistakes I’ve Made: No. 1, I Subbed Before I Was Ready); a booklist for anyone with a child who is about to start school, high school or uni, or life in a new place; and a preview of the third novel by Australian-abroad children’s author Jessica Miller, The Hotel Witch, which I highly recommend for its European flavour, riveting magic and moving subtext. 

For paid subscribers, in addition I offered the following:

• 3 short podcast episodes, including a 9-minute essay on the ghostly stories for children that were published in Australia last year, a 12-minute pep talk for writers, and a 24-minute interview with YA author Nina Kenwood that is dedicated to the way she developed humour for her two young adult novels, It Sounded Better In My Head and Unnecessary Drama.

• For writers, a piece about taking a forgotten or much-rejected manuscript and upcycling it into something that retains the original intention and all the finest qualities but thoroughly revitalises it.

I’d love to know if you enjoyed any of these posts in particular.

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Elsewhere . . .

Most of all I needed familiarity this month. The loss of Gabrielle, my always-emotional flight home to the UK, and then a positive covid result and isolation: these begged for reassuring literary nourishment. Here’s what helped:

• Listening

Backlisted: (the show that gives new life to old books) Episode from 18th October 2021 about Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Barker. I’m a huge fan of this novel and it was invigorating to hear it discussed in detail.

The Book Show: Episode from 8th January 2023 featuring Marlon James and Meg Mason. Did you love Sorrow & Bliss? And buy it for all of your friends? I did. And was tickled to hear Meg Mason describe herself as the Crowded House of Australian literature. There’s also a happy section on what readers do for writers.

Your Kids Next Read: did you know they have a Substack now? A must for anyone interested in Australian children’s literature. On the podcast, I loved their Summer Snacks series. 

The First Time: Episode featuring Liane Moriarty, part of their Summer Series. I always feel reassured and inspired listening to Liane, and have been thinking about the talented Moriarty sisters, Liane, Jaclyn and Nicola, since going to see a certain film . . . 

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• Watching

I took my 18-year-old to a preview of Emily, the biographical film about Emily Bronte, written and directed by Frances O’Connor and starring Emma Mackey from Sex Education. As the film progressed I was anxious that my daughter, who hasn’t read Wuthering Heights, would find it lacking as she had no context for the parallels being drawn. To my delight, she loved it and asked at the end: “Do we have a copy? That’s made me want to read it.” Greedily, perhaps, I found myself wanting a little more from the film, or for it to linger on certain aspects (the sisters, Emily’s turmoil and genius) rather than others (the romance). But it was well worth seeing.

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• Reading

Novels: It’s been years since I’ve read a novel by Ian McEwan but I’m reading Lessons slowly, deliberately, in awe and enjoyment, taking notes. I loved his writing in my twenties and this book feels like a new level of mastery.

Newsletters: I’m enjoying many but one I’d like to shout out to this month is Emma Gannon’s The Hyphen. Emma’s writing has great clarity and energy and she has wise nuggets to impart about productivity, our obsession with success, and how to enjoy the things we do without succumbing to overwhelm.

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• Writing

In January I wrote one — that’s one — sentence in my work-in-progress. I don’t feel bad about that. Not because it was a fantastic sentence — it was fine — but because after a break from that manuscript I took the time to read some chapters and reacquaint myself, and to feel again the desire to continue. If you listened to my pep talk, you’ll understand why I’m letting myself off with a paltry word count.

The rest of my time has been spent writing manuscript assessments, which you can find out about on my website if you’re in need of editorial feedback.

Thank you for signing up. Truly. I’ve derived a lot of enjoyment producing articles and podcasts this month and I’m grateful for your support.

Goodbye January; here’s to February. X