Meet author Michelle Upton who shares her journey to becoming a writer after the passing of her father, which led her to question her life's purpose. Michelle speaks about the process of writing her novels Emergency Exit Only and Terms of Inheritance, focusing on dealing with rejection, having perseverance, and the value of preparation and research. The episode also highlights the importance of setting deadlines, venturing into social media platforms for marketing, and advises writers to build a strong pitch before starting a novel.
00:00 Introduction and welcome 00:19 Personal updates and mentoring experiences 01:27 Exploring multiple passions and interests 03:02 The importance of creative curiosity 06:51 Encouragement to pursue creative interests 09:19 Nat Newman on how learning new languages can help your writing 17:27 Win Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody 19:42 Word of the week: solecism 21:40 Meet author Michelle Upton 23:39 Discussion on the inspiration behind Emergency Exit Only 29:02 The start of a writing journey: Short story success 29:35 The power of writing competitions: The Furious Fiction experience 32:10 Building a writer's platform: Leveraging social media and websites 34:38 The birth of a novel: From idea to publication 42:04 The art of plotting: A systematic approach to writing 52:35 The emotional journey of a writer: Perseverance and validation
Michelle Upton writes short stories and novels that examine our darkest fears and shine a light on hope and possibility. Born in Birmingham, England, Michelle emigrated to Australia in 2006 and is proud to call herself Australian. Michelle has a Bachelor (Hons) degree in Literature with Psychology, and before having children, she was a primary school teacher. Her debut novel, the much-loved Terms of Inheritance, was shortlisted for the HarperCollins Australia 2021 Banjo Prize. She lives on the Redlands Coast with her family.Â
