Lee Kofman

Author, mentor, writing teacher and speaker

Welcome

This website is all about literature and writing, which really means – about living an ‘examined’ life, to paraphrase Socrates. Here I share information about my books as well as my literary and teaching gigs. More importantly, I share some of my favourite books, writing resources and exercises, and my blog The Writer Laid Bare, named after my most recent book.

On my blog I write about what I have learnt about writing from the books I’ve read, the writers I’ve met and from my ongoing trial-and-error practice. I also blog about all I don’t manage to learn about writing despite my daily efforts. 

The Writer Laid Bare is available for pre-order now

The Writer Laid Bare

Part memoir, part writing handbook, The Writer Laid Bare is an essential compendium for every writer – aspiring, emerging or established – wishing to hone their craft and a fascinating guide to the world of literature for the voracious and curious reader. Written by renowned author and writing coach, Lee Kofman, The Writer Laid Bare is an authentic distillation of the challenges and rewards of writing, offering wisdom, inspiration and practical advice through the lens of the author’s own storied writing career.

Released on 30 March 2022, the book is available for pre-order here.

Purchase

Imperfect

How Our Bodies Shape the People We Become

In a captivating mix of memoir and cultural critique, Kofman casts a questioning eye on the myths surrounding our conception of physical perfection and what it’s like to live in a body that deviates from the norm.

Illuminating, confronting and deeply personal, Imperfect challenges us all to consider how we exist in the world and how our bodies shape the people we become.

Purchase

Split

True Stories of Leaving, Loss and New Beginnings

In this compelling anthology of personal essays, curated by award-winning author Lee Kofman, some of Australia’s most beloved writers reveal, for the first time, powerful, occasionally funny and often heartbreaking stories of significant endings and their aftermath.

Purchase

Rebellious Daughters

An anthology of Australian memoir Lee co-edited with Maria Katsonis

Good daughters hold their tongues, obey their elders and let their families determine their destiny. Rebellious Daughters are just the opposite.

In Rebellious Daughters, some of Australia’s most talented female writers share intimate and touching stories of rebellion and independence as they defy the expectations of parents and society to find their place in the world.

Purchase

The Dangerous Bride

A Memoir of Love, Gods and Geography

What do you do when your husband claims to be madly in love with you, but doesn’t desire you sexually? When your therapist is more interested in opening an online sex-toy shop with your husband than in saving your marriage? Do you try yet another counsellor, get divorced or settle for a sexless marriage?

Hoping she could do better the second time round, Lee embarked on a personal exploration to find out whether she could save her marriage while being non-monogamous in an ethical way. Set during Lee’s first years in Australia, it is also the story of migration, and an exploration of the eternal conflict between our desire for security, but also for foreign places—in love and elsewhere. The Dangerous Bride tells the story of her quest.

Purchase

Upcoming events

Creating Compelling Characters, face-to-face 2 hours workshop at Flemington Library, 21 May 2022.

Become a Better Writer, face-to-face 3-hour workshop at Sunshine Library, 28 May 2022.

Lost Gems Uncovered, a panel at Melbourne Jewish Book Week with Bram Presser, Veronica Sullivan & Andrea Goldsmith, 29 May.

Creative Approaches to Revision, an international ONLINE workshop in 2 parts via City Of Literature, 12 & 14 June. More details to come.

Environmental Writing, face-to-face 1.5-hour workshop at Vermont South library, 14 June 2022. More details to come.

Author Talk about The Writer Laid Bare at Hastings library, Victoria, 17 June at 11am.

The Art of Personal Essay, 3-hour online workshop via Writers SA, 18 June.

Mastering Emotional Honesty, 1.5 hour workshop at Williamstown Writers Festival, 19 June.

Light of My Life – a panel on alternative love at NT Writers Festival, Darwin, 25 June at 2pm.

Between Worlds – a panel on migration & multiple identities at NT Writers Festival, Darwin, 26 June at 11:30am.

Luminous Moments – a panel on a creative life at NT Writers Festival, Darwin, 26 June at 2pm.

Writing from Life, 2 hours workshop at NT Writers Festival, Darwin, 27 June at 5:30pm.

Graeme Simsion & Lee Kofman On the Art of Writing with Claire Halliday, online event via Stonnington Libraries, 28 June at 6:30pm.

In-conversation about The Writer Laid Bare with Walter Mason at Better Read Than Dead bookshop in Sydney and online, 6 July.

Author talk about The Writer Laid Bare at Wordfest Monash Libraries, Wellington Reserve Community Centre at 7pm.

Introduction to Memoir, face-to-face 2 hours workshop at Carnegie library, 13 July. More details to come.

All Writing is Rewriting, face-to-face 6 hours workshop at Moe library via Gippsland Writers, 16 July. More details to come.

Stories to Save the World panel I’m moderating with Alice Robinson & Kate Mildenhall at Doncaster library, 21 July 2022. More details to come.

Mastering Emotional Honesty, face-to-face 2.5 hours workshop at Malvern library, 25 July. More details to come.

Mastering Voice through Emotional Honesty, an online week-long course at Writing NSW, starting on 3rd August.

In-conversation about The Writer Laid Bare at Waverly library, Sydney, 16 August at 7pm. More details to come.

Author talk about The Writer Laid Bare at Watsonia Library, 7:30pm. More details to come.

Writing Emotions, an ONLINE 2-hours workshop via Australian Society of Authors (ASA), 19th August, 12noon-2pm.

 

The Writer at Work

The Writer at Work
guitar
funny
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
The Writer at Work
previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow
Top