Tuesday 28 December 2010

How to Write the Great Australian Novel

That's what Caroline Overington decided she was equipped to teach us all to do in yesterday's Australian. Leaving aside the fact that I have nursed a grudge against her ever since I shelled out $19.95 for one of her novels and discovered that the story, characterisation and everything else evaporated after the first 15 pages, I think someone who refers to days generically - "It was hot day", ("it was rainy day", "it was sunny but partly cloudly day") - cannot claim to know how to write themselves:


2 comments:

  1. But how else would an Australian describe days other than simply? I was hoping that he'd at least not resort to recounting a full half hour saga about the weather (as does the Englishman, I was reminded, upon returning to my homeland over Christmas).

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