About

Hello, I’m so glad you dropped by.

I’m Melanie Gorst, and this is my quiet online writing nook: a home for curated copywork, thoughtful writing practice, and learning the craft of writing through close attention to great literature. So pull up a chair, open a notebook, and let’s begin.

Originally from the UK, I now live in the beautiful Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia.

Over the years, I’ve been many things: a nurse, a midwife, a homeschool mum, but the common thread running through my life has always been my love of words. I’ve always been drawn to good stories, whether that meant disappearing into a novel or scribbling away in notebooks of my own.

Now, in midlife, I’ve found a renewed sense of curiosity and a desire to return to writing with intention.

Why Copywork?

It was while homeschooling my youngest that I began using copywork more deliberately, and I quickly recognised how powerful it is. Writing out well-crafted sentences by hand teaches things that rules alone never can — rhythm, flow, punctuation, and the quiet confidence that comes from internalising good language.

For centuries, writers have used copywork as a way of learning their craft, much as artists study and copy from the masters. It isn’t about imitation. It’s about attention.

That practice sits at the heart of everything I create here.

What You’ll Find Here

• Curated copywork collections drawn from public-domain classics, organised by theme
• Notes on what makes a passage work, and why it lingers
• Writing prompts designed to help you unlock your own voice
• Occasional reflections on reading, handwriting, and the craft of writing

This space is for aspiring and practising writers of all ages — whether you’re just beginning, returning after a long pause, or, like me, finding your way back to the page in midlife.

If you love words, if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late (or too early) to start writing, or if you simply want a gentler, more grounded way to practice, you’re very welcome here.

With love,
Melanie

Image 1: “Woman at Her Writing Desk” by Johann Ender (1820) (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.

Image 2 by Deborah Hudson from Pixabay