Christine Talbot: "I was surprised by how much I had achieved"

To have the opportunity to live among the peace and tranquillity of Katharine Susannah Prichard’s property for two weeks, has been a wonderful gift to my writing.

This KSP fellowship has provided me with the perfect immersive experience to develop my work in progress to the next level, and push me on to the end of a second draft of my novel, a story set in the Great Southern. Living alone in a timber cabin for a fortnight, took me a couple of days to detox from normal life, the distractions and responsibilities we all have. I kept on working, even though it was hard to achieve much more than at home. But by mid-week of week one, my word count had doubled, and the rhythm of a more productive work style began to set in. I came prepared with all the usual things for two weeks away. But in addition to the laptop, sandwich press and suitcase, I brought a printed copy of my manuscript. I found that having a hard copy was very helpful to markup as I went, but also move things around and reshape the narrative structure.

My fellow fellowship friend, Tenille McDermott from Townsville, North Queensland, and I, got to know each other mid-week of the first week. And we soon enjoyed talking about our writing projects and a shared love of literature. It was after the drinks and nibbles night in the main house, that Tenille and I, made a plan together to set up a daily intention and accountability. An early morning message followed with our intended word count for the day. By mid-afternoon, we touched base again to see how we’d gone, and I was surprised by how much I had achieved. The ‘accountability habit’ proved to be a really great motivator during my KSP stay, without interrupting or intruding on the other writer’s space. This small work habit is something I plan to continue at home, the early start, setting an intention of word count or activity, with a reward of a good book or walk once the target is achieved.

Undertaking a KSP Fellowship has been a satisfying experience, a gift, a sanctuary. Much gratitude to staff, The Katherine Susannah Prichard Foundation and Shire of Mundaring.

Top 10 Tips:

1. Well into a first draft, print off a hard copy of manuscript for edits, reorganising scenes and audible reading.

2. Don’t tell people too much about you’re novel, stay vague while you find your way.

3. Have a goal setting/accountability practice with a writing buddy.

4. Read novels, inside your genre and out.

5. Join a vibrant writing group, for professional development and emotional support.

6. Plan the narrative arc for your novel, and work towards the peak.

7. Take time for walks and breaks. Amazing clarity and ideas can come during a walk.

8. If your characters give you dialogue during the night, get up and writing it down. You will never get it right in the morning otherwise.

9. Enjoy the love of words and writing without loading too much pressure on yourself.

10. Use your phone notes and lots of notebooks. Date them. Fill them with observations of weather, seasons, setting details, birds, random ideas, and gems of dialogue and language you hear during a day.

Blog Post written by Christine Talbot, KSP Fellow 2025. Christine Talbot is a writer who spent years living in the Great Southern of Western Australia on a wheat farm. Christine has a BA of Professional Writing and Publishing. She has written her family history, and stories of Wickepin’s Pioneers. Her debut novel, The Plover’s Nest, has been Longlisted twice.