Writing diary #6, 2026
This is my weekly writing diary: a record of the work done and the work resisted, the small wins no one applauds, the doubts that show up anyway, and the long game of building a writing life
Podcast
After a summer hiatus, the podcast is back with Episode 21: Breaking the Cycle: Trauma, Truth, and Creative Courage — a conversation with Ruth Clare.
I’ve refreshed the branding: bolder colours, updated graphics, and a new intro. It feels like the beginning of a new season rather than a simple restart. I’ve also moved to a new podcast host, which offers built-in editing and mastering tools. I’m still learning the features, but the workflow already feels more sustainable.
I’m now writing articles based on each episode, published every Monday after the episode drops. This gives the podcast a longer life and keeps content circulating rather than disappearing after release.
Public appearances
I’m actively organising public appearances. Two book fairs are confirmed, three library events are booked, and a fourth is likely. These are slow, background efforts — the quiet, consistent drip that keeps the whole machine moving even when nothing flashy is happening. These are always updated on my News and Events page.
2026 Events
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February, 2026 at Book Fair Australia, Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Saturday 21 February Building your creative outlet into a business panel at Book Fair Australia
Saturday 14 March, Creative Ground Open Day at Hunt Club Community Arts Centre delivering memoir workshop
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2026, Clunes Book Festival
Monday 11 May 2026, Funding workshop at Melton Library
Thursday 21 May 2026, Growing up Muslim in Australia event at Darebin Libraries
Tuesday 26 May 2026, Memoir Writing workshop at Melton Literary Festival
Promotion
I’ve restarted Facebook ads. For a while, I assumed they weren’t doing much because daily sales reports from an aggregator looked underwhelming. Monthly deposits from individual retailers told a different story: the sales were there, just not visible in real time.
Lesson learned: trust the process and let this run quietly in the background. I’ve now added pixels, so the data is cleaner, and I’m testing new creatives to see what lands.
I’ve also booked discounted promos for Ghosts Among the Gumtrees from 10–12 February, pricing it at $0.99. This follows my broader marketing rhythm: Kickstarter pre-release → launch → promo dip → ongoing Facebook ads. The posts are scheduled and the graphics are ready.
Kickstarter
I’ve created the Kickstarter for the next book, Mad Dawn Winter, and it’s currently stuck in review limbo. I’ve contacted support again — the issue appears to be that I didn’t explicitly state that my previous Kickstarter has been fulfilled, which has stalled approval.
Annoying, but not urgent. I’m deliberately not getting worked up because I have time.
I’m also waiting on a proof copy, which I’ll use to:
proofread the manuscript
create promo videos for the campaign
proof bonus content
One bonus story is already published and edited. Another longer, novella-length piece still needs revision before I create a proof copy.
Translation
The Bosnian proof copy of Time Kneels Between Mountains is in progress. Once it arrives, my husband will proofread it. There’s no deadline attached to this — it will happen in its own time.
Next book in the Seka Torlak series
I’m revising Book 4, which needs a full structural edit. I rewrote Chapter 1 and it’s a cracker — sharp, focused, and exactly what the book needs. I’m genuinely excited about making this the strongest version possible.
I’m also clarifying the larger architecture of the series: how each book is structured, how story arcs span three books at a time, and how a large cast of recurring characters builds depth across the series rather than resetting each time.
This feels like real, foundational work.
Substack
I’ve been posting Notes daily and experimenting without overthinking. I had a sudden idea for a publishing-industry series, came home from yoga, and wrote the first piece in one go. That deep sense of contentment — when the muse gets fed — is hard to beat.
I’m consciously avoiding endless advice about how to “do Substack better.” Most of it just feeds insecurity. Instead, I’m settling into the work: experimenting, publishing consistently, interacting, and building in public. I’m having fun again.
Things that gave me joy this week
Re-watching Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984. I love this incarnation of her, unapologetically.
A pottery class with a friend — messy, grounding, joyful.
Baking sourdough and meeting a lovely 14-year-old girl through pottery, who I gave starter and a recipe to. Passing on knowledge feels quietly powerful.
Revising Book 4 and seeing the pieces finally click into place.
Sourdough Sundays: the repetition, the rhythm, the fact that my family now expects and loves it. There’s something deeply satisfying about a routine that works.
