How to Write a Tragedy

When telling your story isn't so simple

CW: Many things. This article isn’t an instructional. In fact, I probably should have written that topic line as a question. I’ve written, co-written or ghostwritten nine books. I’m working on ten and eleven. I’ve coached about thirty authors through writing their own books. I’m good at this. It doesn’t scare me.

Writing my own submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Cults and Fringe Groups does. In fact, rather than write my own damn submission, I’ve started the Victorian Cult Survivor Network (which I co-run with Laura McConnell-Conti and Renee Spencer), am registering a business and building a website for what will become our not-for-profit group geared at supporting survivor -led law reform and advocacy among other things. I’m also on a working group for a group submission recommending specific law reforms for the inquiry, and this has led to a lot of hyperfocus in my household.

All of this is needed.

All of it has been needed for a long time.

All of it is easier than telling my own story.