So You Want To Be A Writer: Australian Writers' Ce 6t6r3b

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 Valle by Isabel Allende 09:31 Word of the week: ‘Loquacious’ 10:56 The world of words: Story vs Storey 12:09 Writer in residence: Camille Booker 14:12 Camille’s inspirations for The Woman in the Waves 15:30 Choosing the timeframe 19:55 Techniques Camille used to create the mood 22:00 Populating the world of the novel 23:20 The mechanics of writing – software and notes 24:40 Inspired by Kate Forsyth’s ‘History, Mystery and Magic’ course 25:57 Creative writing advice 27:44 Camille’s publishing journey her novel 30:34 On being a manuscript reader and judge 32:14 Promoting the book 34:55 Historical fiction writing tips 37:00 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 week: ‘Sequacious’ 08:45 Writer in residence: Lynette Noni 09:23 Lynette’s journey to writing Wandering Wild 12:23 Moving from fantasy to this book 19:32 Writing in dual POV and real-world building 22:00 Researching adventure and survival 25:18 Balancing fiction and reality 26:45 Character development 29:57 The importance of writing healthy friendships 35:06 Lynette’s full time writing routine 37:14 Engaging with readers through events 41:18 projects 43:43 Lynette’s top tips for writers 45:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: ‘Koan’ 11:27 The World of words: Compliment vs complement 13:31 Writer in residence: Michelle Prak 14:33 Overview of the novel Barren Cape 16:20 The explosion of the Aussie crime genre 17:21 Author inspirations 19:32 The little red typewriter 21:39 Balancing writing and life responsibilities 23:25 Exploring themes of homelessness in Barren Cape 27:54 Inspiration behind the setting and characters 31:04 Writing multiple perspectives 33:10 On writing younger characters 36:57 Michelle’s daily writing habits and process 39:16 projects 40:35 Advice for aspiring thriller writers 41:52 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: ‘Geologise’ 09:10 Writer in residence: Kell Woods 10:15 Describing her latest book, Upon a Starlit Tide 12:45 Mixing the ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ 16:20 A very busy year – book one to book two 19:00 Overcoming impostor syndrome 20:45 The publishing experience 24:22 Balancing writing and promoting 25:40 Writing to deadlines 28:30 Kell’s research and writing tools 30:44 Becoming a ‘bestselling author’ 32:31 The impact of book subscription services 35:12 Research and using libraries 38:54 International research trips and using video 43:14 Balancing writing and marketing 44:11 Future projects and writing timelines 51:08 Advice for aspiring writers 53:47 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Word of the week: ‘Lagniappe’ 15:24 Writer in residence: A.L Tait 16:01 Recap on Allison’s life lately 21:53 Defining middle grade 24:55 Her latest book, Willow Bright’s Secret Plot 26:35 Inspiration behind the story 29:48 The ideas file – the ‘wows’ and ‘whys’ 36:47 projects and writing rhythm 37:56 Danger Road – a middle-grade crime novel 45:59 Allison’s drafting process 47:30 Hiding clues through books without plotting 48:45 A third secret book on the way 52:20 Why ‘A.L.Tait’ and not ‘Allison Tait’? 53:58 The ‘Your Kids Next Read’ podcast 54:45 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Foster 12:04 Word of the week: ‘Pantagruelian’ 13:40 Writer in residence: Kasey Edwards 14:30 Thoughts on growing up as a girl 16:31 Defining Goodbye Good Girl, Hello Me 21:00 Researching to solve problems 23:59 The healing power of sharing your truth 24:51 Facing criticism as a writer 27:31 Daily writing routine and challenges 31:31 Collaborating with a co-author 33:30 Writing fiction vs memoir 34:07 Navigating the publishing industry 37:10 The importance of self-promotion 41:07 Tips for aspiring memoir writers 43:03 Conclusion and course promotion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 s 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: Ordering adjectives 12:16 Writer in residence: Susannah Hardy 13:02 Overview of My Hot Housemate 14:47 Writing about the acting world 17:46 Adding a dog character to the story 20:17 Showing off Sydney 21:36 Tips on writing comedy 22:41 Writing authentic dialogue 24:00 Character development and relationships 25:38 The rise of rom-coms 27:44 Writing process and challenges 29:39 Balancing writing with life 33:38 Having other creative interests 35:32 Importance of mentors and community 37:42 General writing tips 40:17 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: Maryrose Cuskelly 18:01 Inspirations for The Campers 21:38 Defining the genre 22:12 Maryrose’s research and writing process 26:43 Bringing the setting to life 28:08 Incorporating COVID into the story 29:35 Character development and choices 31:09 Homelessness and social issues 33:04 The writing process and fellowships 36:29 Balancing writing and life 38:48 Publicity and new projects 44:36 Tips for crime writers 45:58 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s plenty to love about and food, and author Victoria Brownlee has cleverly combined them both in her latest rom-com novel, Eat Your Heart Out. She s 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 World of words: “Fewer” vs “Less” 13:58 Writer in Residence: Victoria Brownlee 15:56 Victoria’s obsession with food 17:30 Landing in Paris 18:40 Optioning her first book as a film 21:00 The sexiness of cheese 21:45 Introducing Eat Your Heart Out 23:12 Writing dual perspectives 26:48 Balancing food and story 28:44 The romance of Paris and 30:55 Victoria’s writing process 31:32 The influence of Emily in Paris 34:46 Bloggers and influencers in writing 37:25 The ingredients of a good rom-com novel 38:48 projects 40:07 Tips for writers 43:20 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 appeal of queer royal fiction 15:15 Cale’s writing process 18:39 Researching the royal aspects 19:37 Going from pitch to contract 20:45 How collaborative writing works 22:49 Planning and structure 24:36 Character development – nice boys 26:11 Balancing work and writing 27:25 Publicity and social media 29:34 Cale’s projects 32:05 Advice for aspiring YA writers 33:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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: ‘harbinger’ 12:51 Word Insights with Dean Koorey: ‘hone vs home’ 15:55 Writer in residence: Kate Horan 18:00 On writing two very different characters 20:11 Geographic and DNA inspirations 24:20 The many meanings of ‘inheritance’ 26:13 Inspiration from Who Do You Think You Are? 26:40 Complicated family dynamics 28:19 Kate’s writing process and balancing life 29:18 Managing time and prioritising as a writer 31:15 Journey to publication via an agent 35:00 Importance of structural edits 37:09 AWC courses and learning the craft 40:09 Kate’s writing tips and investing in your skills 41:33 Building a writing community 44:18 Surreal experience of getting published 45:17 projects and future plans 47:45 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the week: ‘Lycanthrope’ 17:00 Writer in residence: Margot McGovern 19:40 The attraction of horror stories 21:00 Representing and reflecting young people’s worlds 23:11 The differences between 2000 and today 25:26 School camp inspirations 27:38 Nostalgia for ’90s horror films 28:49 Writing multiple points of view 30:23 Drafting and editing process 34:20 Publishing journey with Penguin 38:07 Publicity and the social media landscape 39:56 projects 44:26 Margot’s tips for aspiring writers 45:48 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Writer in residence: Sonia Orchard 15:33 Deciding whether to tell such a vulnerable story 17:00 Writing it vs not writing it 19:25 How Sonia compiled the memoir 23:12 “Write for yourself and edit for others” 24:20 Choosing what details to remove in the story 26:55 Navigating the justice system 28:08 The therapeutic power of writing 33:55 Memoir vs fiction: Similarities and differences 44:31 What Sonia hopes people take away from this book 46:30 Top tips for writing your own memoir 48:41 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must 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 this story 15:40 Writing child characters 17:00 Self-care while writing 19:06 Crafting authentic secondary characters 21:01 Storytelling the challenges of ageing 23:09 How Sean drew inspiration from real life events 25:35 The prevalence of dementia 27:48 From play to novel: The writing journey 31:19 Crafting a nonlinear narrative 35:37 Publishing journey and future projects 38:45 The art of writing across different forms 42:34 Future projects 46:37 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 in Residence: Emma Pignatiello 17:20 Emma’s inspiration for the story 24:20 Mapping out the plot points and character arcs 25:49 The writing process 29:42 Balancing her day job and parenting with writing 32:11 The publishing journey 40:51 Two amazing things happen in one day 41:40 Receiving the “yes” from her agent 44:53 Pitching two books to publishers 50:25 Future projects 52:32 How the Australian Writers' Centre Romance Writing course helped her 55:41 Top tips on finding publishing success 1:00:51 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 7:57 WIN! You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego 9:55 Word of the week: ‘Tintinnabulation’ 12:41 Re-release conversation: Beau Donelly 18:50 Beau’s first connection with the scandal 22:55 Initial research on Belle’s story 26:00 Fundraising fraud 27:25 Archiving social media 30:30 Categorising the information 32:49 Turning the story into a book 35:11 Dividing the workload between two authors 40:25 Exposing the ‘wellness’ influencer phenomenon 41:42 Painting a picture of Belle’s parents 46:20 The biggest challenge of writing the book 54:20 Belle Gibson’s lack of remorse 55:34 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Nat Newman's writing tip: You’re not ‘bad’ 10:17 WIN! The Last Days of Kira Mullan by Nicci French 12:10 Word of the week: ‘Wolver’ 15:41 Writer in residence: Olivia Isaac-Henry 18:47 Olivia’s inspiration for her story and themes 19:59 Setting the scene: Time periods and locations 21:35 Character backgrounds and motivations 23:40 Crafting distinct voices for characters 26:03 Incorporating real-life events into fiction 26:58 Writing process and challenges 28:19 projects and future plans 32:37 Olivia’s tips for aspiring writers 33:56 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feeling cosy? Then you’ll love meeting author Alexandra Almond, as she shares her cosy fantasy novel, Thoroughly Disenchanted. Alexandra unpacks how she built her distinct characters, the role of magic in everyday life and her experience in finding an agent and getting published, along with advice for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction 04:08 Words at dawn: a unique writing practice 09:55 Nat Newman’s writing tip: change things up 13:43 WIN! Chickenpox by Remy Lai 15:33 Word of the week: ‘diaphanous’ 18:16 Writer in residence: Alexandra Almond 21:17 Character origins and development 23:42 The unexpected romance 26:21 Magic in everyday life 27:44 The historical setting and character evolution 32:05 Alexandra’s writing process and challenges 36:28 Finding an agent and publisher 40:22 Advice for aspiring writers 43:01 Current and future projects 43:57 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crafting a novel is one thing, but author Kate Solly loves crafting ‘crafty’ novels – including her latest title, The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-up. Kate shares her journey from casual writing in her family group chats to getting her first publishing contract, as well as how she manages to stay able and fit writing in while bringing up six kids!  00:00 Introduction 05:37 Nat Newman’s writing tip: overcoming ‘the doldrums’ 10:28 WIN! The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan 12:52 Word of the week: ‘ravel’ 14:11 Writer in residence: Kate Solly 15:34 Getting started in writing 17:11 How she kept able 20:04 Kate’s inspiration for her first book 22:30 Writing the next book 26:14 Pre-kids career and charity work 28:40 Getting the first novel published 34:29 The second novel: process and challenges 35:30 Balancing writing with family life 42:15 Editing and future plans 45:25 Building an author platform 47:42 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the halls of Australia’s Parliament House to the dark corners of the Vatican! In this episode, author Sophie Clark talks about her writing process and how she pitched her debut ‘romantasy’ novel, Cruel is the Light. She chats about her political background and how walking the ‘halls of power’ influenced her writing, as well as offering tips for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction 03:06 Nat Newman's writing tip: systematic editing 09:02 WIN! Death in the Arctic by Tom Hindle 10:47 Word of the week: ‘disputation’ 12:29 Writer in residence: Sophie Clark 14:25 Defining ‘romantasy’ 15:49 Inspiration for her book 18:35 Researching on location 22:29 Writing action and fight scenes 24:28 Drafting and experience in Pitch Wars 26:24 Mentorship and guidance 27:38 Securing an agent 30:11 Sophie’s writing process and challenges 34:30 Political influence in writing 36:31 Building a writing community 39:13 Publicity and promotion 41:17 Asking “who’s my audience?” 45:38 Sophie’s top tips for aspiring writers 48:04 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.