manuscript assessment
I provide comprehensive, structural feedback on your manuscript—pinpointing what’s working, what’s not, and the practical steps to lift the whole piece to publication-ready form. As an experienced manuscript assessor, I read with an independent, professional eye informed by years of assessing, reviewing, and working across the publishing landscape.
I assess:
- Fiction (long and short form) — all genres
- Non-fiction (long and short form)
- Poetry and poetry collections
- Children’s books
- Short stories and short-story collections
- Scripts and screenplays
Why work with me?
A manuscript assessment is one of the most effective ways to prepare your work for the industry—whether you’re entering a competition, querying agents, or pitching to publishers. Friends and colleagues can offer encouragement, but an independent, genre-savvy read gives you targeted insights into structure, voice, pacing, character, market fit, and more. My goal is to help you refine your manuscript so it’s the strongest version of itself before you take the next step.
When you put your precious work into my hands, I’m 100% in your corner and want to see you succeed.
writing mentorship
So you’ve written (or want to write) the project of your dreams? Great! If you’re looking for support and guidance on your project, I’m here to help.
In my mentorships you get one-on-one, personalised advice from me—an experienced professional writer and writing coach —covering your writing goals, industry insights, craft and development, rigorous critique, steady accountability, and space to ask every burning question.
I work across most genres and formats—whether you’re a novelist, screenwriter, poet, or essayist—and tailor the mentorship to you and your project. If your needs fall outside my wheelhouse, I’ll point you to a trusted colleague with the right experience.
Mentorships are booked in blocks and include a mix of my dedicated reading time and one-on-one sessions (in person or online). You can add more blocks as you progress, keeping momentum while we refine the work step by step.
author appearances
Available for:
- Author appearances
- Book Readings
- Panels
I have many years of experience as a public facing author, and am comfortable appearing in front of any number of people. If you’re needing an engaging author to run Youth Week in your library, or want a lively panel member for your next literary event, I’m only an email away!
What makes me the author you should choose?
- You’ll get 100% of my energy and considerable enthusiasm.
- There is no question I will not answer! I have the patience of a saint, and a love of teaching storytelling. I hang around long after my sessions end, helping as many people as possible.
- My prize-winning writing career has covered many genres and formats – I’m bound to have something useful to read aloud at your event!
- I run a slick operation, and will turn up with stock for sale, banners, and anything else needed to make your event go well.
school / homeschool visits
Whether it’s to encourage a class to try out storytelling, a chance to bolster your curriculum or simply an excuse to break up your teaching load, why not get in contact? I have years of experience visiting schools, and leave each session full of revved-up and engaged students.
Here are some of the benefits I provide:
- There is no distance I won’t travel. I’ve provided author visits to schools all around South Australia, including several regional and country schools. I’ll come to you wherever you are.
- I turn up with all sorts of tools and toys to make the session fun and memorable. Spin the wheel of random conflict! Draw story prompts out of a box! Roll dice, crowd-storm stories until everyone is yelling with excitement – you’ve never seen energy like this.
- Do you have that one creative student who just absolutely dreams of being a writer? I will give them every bit of helpful advice that I can while onsite.
I can provide bespoke workshops, something that will fit in with a curriculum requirement, or even something from the below example workshops.
For homeschoolers, I will MOVE MOUNTAINS to help your creative tribe flourish. Please contact me below to discuss how I can best be of service.
grant writing assistance
Having trouble putting together an arts grant proposal? Drowning in a sea of requirements and paperwork?
Fear not! I am the angel you definitely need.
As a previous recipient of several grants, I can help you shape a strong, competitive application and approach how to win funds for the creative project of your dreams. I can walk you through:
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identifying the most suitable grants to apply for based on your artform, career stage and project needs
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decoding the guidelines and eligibility rules so you don’t waste time on applications you can’t actually submit
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framing your idea against the key assessment criteria (artistic merit, viability, and impact) in clear, persuasive language
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building a realistic project plan, timeline and budget, including artist fees, production costs and in-kind support that make sense to assessors
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polishing the written application itself – tightening your responses, meeting word limits and turning form questions into a compelling story
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curating and refining support material (CVs, bios, work samples, letters) so everything works together to back up your pitch
Whether you’re an individual artist, a small collective or an organisation, I can jump in at any stage – from rough idea to final proofread – and help you submit a confident, professional grant application.
writing workshops
the magpie method
A repeat favourite, this workshop uses group brainstorming techniques and the use of deepfake images and random elements to build fully rounded characters, link them together and generate a satisfying plot – all in 30-60 minutes! Guaranteed to get the whole room involved. Suitable for all ages.
Everything happens in this town
Dipping into everything from sleepy English murder mysteries through to “How to Train Your Dragon”, this workshop is about making small settings. The group will completely brainstorm, create and describe one location and the surrounding environment, and just how this place effects everyone who lives there. Participants will end with a complete and fully functioning setting suitable for any number of stories, as well as the rulebook for creating their own small setting.
ninja editing
Half of writing is rewriting, and in this workshop Jason will guide participants through some quick and fast rules to improve any manuscript. Participants will get a chance to compete for a prize by being the best at editing a section from the infamously awful story “The Eye of Argon”.
Roll Up Role Playing for Character Creation
What can role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons teach us about character creation in fiction? In this workshop award-winning author Jason Fischer will walk you through how to use generic RPG stats and the character creation process to develop interesting characters with compelling strengths and weaknesses.
This is a hands-on and fun workshop aimed at challenging your creative process and providing you with alternative character creation techniques. But be warned – there will be bucket loads of dice!
Participants will learn:
- Stats and Dice – how to roll up classic RPG stats for a challenging character.
- Min/Maxing – superstar characters need not apply! Why a flawed/weak character is inherently more interesting.
- Character strengths and weaknesses and how to use them in storytelling.
- Character classes – how to use the story of “what people do here” to begin fleshing out your setting.
Welcome to World-Building!
Do you dream of creating your own written universe where all the rules are made by you? Are you imagining a world of dragons, or a space station where aliens meet and trade? If so then Aurealis Award-winning writer Jason Fischer will guide you through the steps needed to create your own world and setting, either to kick-start your own stories and comics, or just for fun.
This workshop is a hands on and interactive way to learn how to build worlds with words, and will involve drawing maps, creating creatures, and talking about the natural laws observed by writers when creating their fantasy settings.
Suitable for beginners and writers at any level interested in learning creative ways to enhance their world building skills.
PLUS MANY MORE!
I also have many other workshops that I can deliver to your group, including the following examples:
- Characters and Conflict
- Plot
- Dialogue
- Editing
- Starting a Project
- High Concept Titles
- Choose Your Own Adventure
- Comic Writing
- Brain Storming Techniques
- Pitching and Selling a Story
- Short Fiction Overview
- Aim Your Arrows Well!
- Staying Motivated and Beating Writers Block
- Second Act Sag
- Let’s Make a Webcomic
- Dialogue Revisited and Subtext
- Using the Magpie Method
- Write-For-Hire Work and Pitching
- Writing for the Stage
- The Writers’ Room
- Pacing Your Story
- Character Development and Growth
- Story and Series Planning
- Always Judge a Book By Its Cover
- Writing Childrens’ Books
- Anthologies
- Poetry
- Conventions, Workshops and Panels
- Writing Fantasy
- Writing Science Fiction
- Writing Horror
- Writing Mysteries and Thrillers
- It Takes a Village
- Writing Scavenger Hunt
If you have a specific requirement for your group I can design a new workshop.