Author: Barry Lee Thompson

My first collection of fiction, Broken Rules and Other Stories, is published by Transit Lounge (September 2020). It's supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, and by a fellowship from Varuna, the National Writers' House. My second book is supported by Regional Arts Victoria and Creative Victoria. Web: https://barryleethompson.com/
Broken Rules and Other Stories, the story behind the story11 Comments

The story behind ‘The Americans’

Barry Lee Thompson

‘The Americans’ – the fourth story in Broken Rules and Other Stories – is an homage to the annual summer holidays I used to take with my parents when I was growing up. We would spend two weeks every year in a seaside location, usually in the UK. For many years Bournemouth, on the south coast of England, was our destination, though we also visited the Channel Islands, Woolacombe, Torquay, and the Isle of Wight. These getaways were magical. This was a world of guesthouses, B&Bs, half-board accommodation, mystery coach-tours, cricket on the beach, and sandwiches and fresh-cream meringues with … Continue reading The story behind ‘The Americans’

publications, writing advice9 Comments

Working Writer

Barry Lee Thompson

In March 2016 I wrote a short blog post for the Elwood Writers website, part of a series of contributions from each group member about our various writing methods. My piece looked at some of the reasons I write short fiction, the way I write, and how I structure my working days. I revisited the original article last year, and was interested to note that nothing about the way I work had changed in the intervening six years. I tweaked the article a bit and asked Maggie Frisch at Working Writer in the US if they’d be interested in the … Continue reading Working Writer

writing advice2 Comments

Goals for the New Year: Ideas and Advice from 52 Authors

Barry Lee Thompson

… one thing these authors all agreed on: Goals are important! No matter which goals you pursue or how you measure them, setting an intention for the year can help provide direction, motivation, and focus. We hope you’ll find advice below that resonates with you and helps jump-start your work this year. Enjoy! The BookBub Partners Blog Thanks to BookBub for including me in their terrific publication, just released, with New Year writing ideas and advice from 52 authors, one for every week of 2023. Glance through the flipbook or download the high-resolution PDF at the link below: I’m Number … Continue reading Goals for the New Year: Ideas and Advice from 52 Authors

fiction4 Comments

Best of Cover to Cover 2022 | Vision Australia Radio

Barry Lee Thompson

Originally posted on Elwood Writers:
We’re excited to learn that this year’s special Elwood Writers edition of Cover To Cover on Vision Australia Radio (VAR) has been selected for the Best Of Cover To Cover 2022, which will run on VAR between 26 December and 6 January. Our program’s theme is ‘Adelaide’, and it was first broadcast over the Easter weekend. So if you missed our show the first time round, or if you would just welcome the chance to hear it again, tune in to hear us reading our own stories on-air. We don’t have specific timings yet, but… Continue reading Best of Cover to Cover 2022 | Vision Australia Radio

fiction, writers groups13 Comments

Retreat

Barry Lee Thompson

At the beginning of September I joined a group of writing friends for a week-long retreat at a rented house in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. The five of us originally met on a writing residency at Varuna in 2016, and have stayed in touch since then. The Sunday before leaving Melbourne, I sent off a grant application I’d been working on, and I had no other outstanding deadlines looming. I had a clean slate and a clear head, and decided I’d start a brand new short story in my week away. I wanted it to be an … Continue reading Retreat