A Writer’s Quest is a personal journey that may be relevant to other writers. It documents my thinking about writing, as well as the resources I have found useful. I hope it provides something for you.
My name is Wayne Cosshall and I am a writer. I have been writing non-fiction, mainly technical content, for the last 25+ years. I had my first article published in the US magazine Byte in 1981. For some time I contributed the odd article about computers and photography (two lifelong passions). By the 1990’s I was a frequent contributor to a number of magazines.
In the mid 90’s I lost my then wife to cancer. In the aftermath of this I gave up my university teaching and research job and started writing full time. This was a mistake financially, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I because a regular contributor to several Australian magazines, eventually becoming editor of several and technical editor of several others over the years.
So let’s jump to the present. I am happily remarried with a lovely daughter. I still write for the odd print magazine and online blog, but now publish my own magazines online and one new ‘magazine’ in print. I make my living primarily from designing websites for people and running workshops in my three passion areas: photography, computers and spiritual/personal development. The writing is a growing source of income.
I have several non-fiction book projects on the go, one almost out the door. I also have a passion to write novels. Recognizing that non-fiction writing is not always a good preparation for writing fiction, I have embarked on a self-guided journey of study and practice in fiction writing. This site comes out of this quest, hence the name. I realized in having a good look at myself that I had a lot of skills in technical and non-fiction writing in general, that I wanted to share. I also think that there is much others can gain from my self-directed program of study in fiction writing and from the mistakes I am making along the way.
You will find content on non-fiction writing, approaching editors, dealing with the day to day of getting it done, and such. You will find pieces on the technological support I have found useful to research, keeping organized, planning, etc. Lastly, you will find the places I have been looking to build up my fiction writing skills.
So here it is. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
Wayne J. Cosshall