Writing from life: how to tell your story

Simon Cleary (Bachelor of Arts ’88, Bachelor of Laws ’92) is the author of three novels, including Closer to Stone (2012), inspired by his experiences in North Africa at the commencement of the Algerian civil war in the 1990s. Everything is Water (2024) is his first work of non-fiction. He is a life-long walking and environmental enthusiast, and lives in Brisbane.

 

 

 

Carly-Jay Metcalfe (MPhil candidate in Creative Writing) is a Queensland-based writer. Her work has been published in Kill Your Darlings, The Guardian and TEXT Journal. She is a passionate advocate for organ donation and for more honest conversations around dying and death. She published her memoir, Breath, in 2024.

 

Sally Wilson (Bachelor of Arts ’01, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) ’04, Master of Arts ’17) has worked in books and magazine publishing for more than 20 years as a writer, editor, publicist and marketer. She has worked for publishers and literary organisations such as the Brisbane Writers Festival, UQP, Black Inc, Monash University Publishing, Magabala Books, Griffith Review and the Australian Book Industry Awards. She has a BA/LLB from The University of Queensland, where she also completed her Master of Writing, Editing & Publishing. Sally writes about books at The Booklister.