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Creative Writing
“But I write fiction, I create worlds so I don’t need to research, right?” Wrong. All writers need research to
Sarah Lotz: Award-winning author of ‘The Three’ and ‘Day Four’ (Hodder Publishers) BY ALEX SMITH I can remember
Everyone wants to be published, to see their name in print and enjoy that glow that comes from a publisher
Do you have a piece of creative writing you would like to have published? This area of our webzine is
We thought we’d kickstart your week with these ten recommended articles for fiction writers. Got a few minutes? Then
If you are a non-fiction writer or you think your work is uncreative, keep reading. SALLY MAZAK explains how creativity
You sit down to write, and the words just can’t come out. When they do they seem flat and
By Hannah Green How do you create that nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat page-turner? How do best-selling authors create tension in their writing?
Piet van Wyk de Vries, a songwriter and singer, has earned fame and respect in the circles of Afrikaans
WEB WRITING
Your Stories
Oh, the joy of your first job! How exciting, wonderful and, honestly, very disappointing. ‘First job blues’ is a
BY CARMEN MARCUS It was the summer of 1984 and Lady Di was just about to marry my toy gorilla,
BY ANNE MARAIS Writing is a passion for me. However, when I look back to where I started, it was
Technically, I shouldn’t even be here. Where? Here, among a sea of writers filled with talent who always knew they
BY STEPHANIE MILLAR “We’re moving to Durban next month,” my dad nonchalantly announced. He and my mum had
Congratulations to Christie Williams from New Zealand for her story about procrastination. Christie wins our June contest. The closing date for the next My
BY DANIELLE RAMAEKERS I paused my coffee mid-sip when I read, ‘Make yourself a solemn promise right now that you’ll…..never
BY OLAKUNLE OLADIRAN Growing up in the tiny village of Akure in Nigeria, I had only felt liberated
BY ANNA STROUD I was in my fourth year at university, studying towards a Bachelors degree in Journalism
BY ROLINE GALVAN It was written in big red letters on my paper: “USE SIMPLE SENTENCES.” The first thing
Q & A WITH AWARD-WINNING WRITERS
Alex Smith’s most recent novel ‘Devilskein & Dearlove’ is a YA Fantasy, described by the ‘Sunday Times’ as “a magical
When Lotta received her ‘Local Hero’ award in 2014, she celebrated it with lime and soda rather than bubbly. Lotta
Mandy Speechly has worked as a copywriter in the advertising industry for over fifteen years for leading international advertising agencies
Sonny Whitelaw has enjoyed a successful career as a writer for more than thirty years. Her work as a photojournalist
Successful journalist Sarah Lang may have started her working life sleeping in her mother’s garage, but she has quickly climbed
New Zealand Poet Laureate, Dr Selina Tusitala-Marsh Selina Tusitala-Marsh has published three critically acclaimed collections of poetry. She was the
Rosemary Hepözden has three decades of editing, writing and teaching experience. She is the author of three nonfiction books, and
He’s the son of New Zealand’s inaugural Poet Laureate and describes himself as a freelance writer and editor.
TRUDY DELAMARE asks veteran copy-editor Di Smith if machines can correct errors better than humans in this frank Q &
Trending Posts
Apps for Writers
Anyone can share their travel stories on the Web. However, it is the quality of your writing, editing and photos
While your Moleskine may never go out fashion, technology changes at a rapid pace. These five apps get you
Boost your web writing career with these powerful apps. BY SARAH LLOYD We as 21st century writers are lucky to
If you are a person who fears or dislikes new apps, and you also happen to be a journalist,
Six apps to help travel writers organise, plan and execute their day. BY CHRIS STRYDOM Travel writers rely on technology
Web writing is an increasingly popular specialism for writers, but it’s also highly competitive. I’m sharing my top free and
latest posts
Well, it’s all about power, isn’t it? That’s where and why my life intersects the here and how
This competition was discontinued in 2025. Read recent winning entries in our e-anthology ‘The Writers’ Journey’, a free download
Logical flow is one of the trickier writing skills to master, but it is vital for good writing. Here’s a
Finally finished a piece of writing that you want to submit to an editor? Woohoo! But before you hit the
Need some writing inspiration and courage to keep going? Here are wise words from famous writers. “A professional
Here are 11 ways to draw in your reader and keep them hooked. Each one of these ways takes time
For most of the twentieth century, television was the preferred channel for advertisers to promote their goods to the masses.
The plot twist is the writer’s equivalent of magic: a sleight of hand, a puff of smoke and kazam! You
After over a decade of judging thousands of short stories in our national writing competitions, our Writers’ College
In most stories, people talk to each other. Many readers enjoy the “talking bits” the most, and will happily