So You Want to be a Writer
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Episodes
How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The Thrill of It. Mandy discusses her inspiration for the book, unique stylistic and narrative choices she made, and more.
00:00 Welcome
03:04 Writing tip: What to do while ‘changing eyeballs’
06:38 WIN!: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith
08:07 Word of the wee...
They always say ‘write what you know’, right? Well, authors Gareth and Louise Ward (two British ex-cops who moved to New Zealand and opened a bookshop) fully leaned into it with The Bookshop Detectives series – all about, you guessed it, British ex-cops who move to New Zealand and open a bookshop! The murders are fiction though – and they join the podcast to share their experience writing book 2 in the serie...
What kind of life-spanning damage can parents do to their children? Award-winning author Barry Jonsberg explores this and themes of masculinity in his latest YA novel, Darkest Night, Brightest Star. Barry joins the podcast to share his inspiration for the story and insights into his writing process.
00:00 Welcome
04:18 Writing tip: Supporting other writers
07:32 WIN!: Best Left Buried by Neil A. White
10:04 Word of the wee...
A lighthouse on the gloomy shores of 1921 is where we take you in this episode, as we meet AWC alumna and author Camille Booker and her gothic historical mystery, The Woman in the Waves. Camille shares her inspirations and experience writing the book and the AWC course that helped her weave the stories together in this specific world.
00:00 Welcome
04:25 Writing tip: Pacemaker Planner app
05:44 WIN!: My Name is Emelia Del Val...
What is a ‘palate cleanser’ book? Author Lynette Noni has written one – pivoting from writing fantasy to a stand-alone contemporary YA romance Wandering Wild, and in this episode she discusses why she chose to write it, her experience researching its plot, her process and more.
00:00 Welcome
03:38 Writing tip: Public Domain Review
05:44 WIN!: All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson
07:31 Word of the...
What does homelessness look like to you? In this episode, author Michelle Prak tells her latest story – thriller novel Barren Cape – through the lens of the housing affordability crisis. Michelle chats to us about the book's inspiration, her own writing beginnings and much more!
00:00 Welcome
03:20 Writing tip: Visit museums for inspiration
06:24 WIN!: Invisible Woman by Katia Lief
08:15 Word of the week: &lsqu...
Ever wondered what an 18th century mashup of two fairytales would look like? AWC alumna and fantasy author Kell Woods did – and the result is her latest adult fantasy novel, Upon a Starlit Tide. Kell discusses her experience writing the book, online tools, research trips and more!
00:00 Welcome
04:27 Writing tip: Don’t aim for perfection
05:58 WIN!: Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang
07:21 Word of the week: &lsq...
Just how different is it in the city compared to the country? Former co-host Allison Tait returns to discuss capturing that feeling in her latest middle-grade novel, Willow Bright’s Secret Plot (writing as A.L.Tait) – as well as teasing some of her other books coming out and how she balances it all!
00:00 Welcome
08:02 Writing tip: Be proud of your own work
10:12 WIN!: I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena
12:02...
Australian columnist Kasey Edwards has published 10 books, with her latest memoir Goodbye Good Girl, Hello Me exploring self-love and societal expectations and what it means to be a woman. In this episode, Kasey discusses the process of writing the book, her research methods, dealing with rejection and tips for memoir writing.
00:00 Welcome
04:34 Writing tip: Borrowing books online
10:06 WIN!: When She Was Gone by Sarah Foste...
What do you get when you mix house-sitting frenemies with a big lovable dog? You get My Hot Housemate – the latest rom-com from Susannah Hardy, who joins us to discuss the characters and the writing process behind the book.
00:00 Welcome
03:19 Writing tip: Reference managers
06:03 WIN!: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire
07:48 Word of the week: ‘Overweening’
08:29 The world of words: Orderin...
What does ‘neighbourhood noir’ look like as a genre? Author Maryrose Cuskelly knows, and she discusses her latest novel The Campers, blending crime and psychological elements as well as contemporary issues.
00:00 Welcome
04:43 Writing tip: The importance of practice
10:26 WIN!: The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler
13:01 Word of the week: ‘Galligaskins’
15:00 Writer in residence: Mary...
There’s plenty to love about France and food, and author Victoria Brownlee has cleverly combined them both in her latest rom-com novel, Eat Your Heart Out. She joins us to discuss the timeless appeal of Paris, writing dual perspectives, sexy cheeses and much more!
00:00 Welcome
04:17 Writing tip: Do a course!
08:21 WIN: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens
10:05 Word of the week: “Lissom”
12:12 Worl...
When the Spin Doctors sang about ‘Two Princes’, perhaps they were thinking about author Cale Dietrich’s new young adult novel, The Rules of Royalty! Cale chats about writing the book and current trends in the genre.
00:00 Welcome
05:20 Writing tip: Be curious
08:13 WIN! London Uncanny by Clive Bloom
09:48 Word of the week: ‘Mansuetude’
10:58 Writer in Residence: Cale Dietrich
13:12 The a...
What secrets do you have hiding in YOUR family tree? Every family has them, and in AWC graduate Kate Horan’s new mystery, The Inheritance, DNA-testing shines a light on two women and previously unspoken truths. Kate shares her experience writing the book including inspirations and real life research.
00:00 Welcome
05:21 Writing tip: StoryGraph app
09:28 WIN!: Twist by Colum McCann
11:10 Word of the week: ‘harbi...
Capturing the nostalgia of ’90s horror flicks, This Stays Between Us is the latest novel by Margot McGovern. In this episode, Margot shares her inspiration for telling this kind of story, writing her cast of characters and her experience publishing the novel.
00:00 Introduction
09:13 Writing tip: Scheduling time for reading
13:53 WIN!: 2 Sisters Murder Investigations by Candice Fox and James Patterson
15:28 Word of t...
How do you go about writing a deeply personal story? In this episode, Sonia Orchard discusses her memoir, Groomed, and the process of writing about a traumatic childhood experience. She also shares tips for others looking to write their own memoir.
00:00 Introduction
03:15 Writing tip: It’s never too late to start
06:53 WIN!: Best, First and Last by Amy T. Matthews
09:07 Word of the week: ‘Grok’
11:18 ...
How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must Remember This and his unique journey bringing a story of dementia to the page.
00:00 Introduction
07:36 Writing tip: Goodreads trolling
09:36 WIN! Perspectives by Laurent Binet
11:40 Word of the week: ‘Leaguer’
12:18 Writer in residence: Sean Wilson
14:25 Why Sean wanted to tell...
Author Emma Pignatiello wondered why romance novels didn’t have more murders in them – so she wrote her own! In this episode, she discusses her book Last Shot, the inspiration behind it and the Australian Writers' Centre course that helped her get there.
00:00 Introduction
02:57 Writing tip: Follow the guidelines
10:33 WIN! Headcases by John McMahon
12:30 Word of the week: ‘Redolent’
15:43 Writer...
Belle Gibson fooled the world as a health influencer who lied about having brain cancer. In this re-released conversation, we speak with Beau Donelly – co-author of the book that inspired the hit Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar.
00:00 Introduction
02:41 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Write what you want to write
07:57 WIN! You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego
09:55 Word of the week: ‘Tintinnabulation&rsq...
A ‘folk horror’ that spans 40 years – awash with intrigue, magic and dark secrets! That’s what awaits you in this episode as we meet British author Olivia Isaac-Henry and discuss her latest suspense novel, Sorrow Spring. Olivia shares what inspired the location and themes, how she blended historical events with fiction, and the challenges of straddling two time periods and different character narratives.
00:...
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