So You Want to be a Writer

Australian Writers' Centre
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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. 

  1. Writing Podcast Episode 719: Allison Tait talks 'The Last Word' and YKNR series

    5 days ago

    Writing Podcast Episode 719: Allison Tait talks 'The Last Word' and YKNR series

    She’s baaaaack! Any chance to chat with my former podcast co-host Allison Tait (who writes as A.L Tait) is a good day, and she’s back with yet another book hitting shelves – tween romance, The Last Word. Allison also discusses some of the other exciting projects including curating a new series of books through her Your Kids Next Read community. 00:00 Welcome06:05 Writers in the wild09:23 Writing tip: Do NOT self-censor in a memoir draft11:28 WIN!: Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine13:06 Word of the week: ’Recondite’13:48 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait14:52 Allison discusses new book, The Last Word17:52 What makes tween romance?21:55 Allison’s ‘romance’ origins25:33 Character-driven romance27:31 Books coming up28:00 Your Next Read fiction series30:20 Writing small word counts30:45 Finding new lanes33:36 Writing for different age levels37:24 One project at a time!39:48 From CLEO magazine to writing41:35 Writing around kids43:30 Allison’s YKNR podcast role46:30 Just show up and write!49:52 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.

    54 min
  2. Writing Podcast Episode 718: Mary-Lou Stephens welcomes you to 'The Hobart Hotel'

    25 May

    Writing Podcast Episode 718: Mary-Lou Stephens welcomes you to 'The Hobart Hotel'

    Do you love historical fiction? I have to admit to being a sucker for a different time and place – and both are on offer in Mary-Lou Stephens’ latest novel, The Hobart Hotel. In this episode, Mary-Lou discusses her unique approach to research and the challenges of writing about Uruguay in the 1940s, as well as why she loves writing historical fiction so much. 00:00 Welcome06:03 Writers in the Wild10:08 Writing tip: Find balance in your creative life13:15 WIN!: The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott15:07 Word of the week: ’Patalous’15:45 Writer in residence: Mary-Lou Stephens17:19 Describing The Hobart Hotel19:16 Inspiration and research20:57 The dual timeline process22:36 Capturing the Uruguay wartime vibe27:24 Why Historical Fiction?30:32 Mary-Lou’s ‘slow travel’ writing life34:40 Writing while traveling37:17 Memoir and meditation43:10 What’s next?44:58 Promoting her books46:07 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.

    51 min
  3. Writing Podcast Episode 717: Katie Hoskins and her new book, 'When the Party’s Over'

    18 May

    Writing Podcast Episode 717: Katie Hoskins and her new book, 'When the Party’s Over'

    OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins’ debut novel, When the Party’s Over! In so many ways, it’s the PERFECT book – nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginner to a two-book Pan Macmillan deal, including the AWC courses that helped her hone her structure, subplot, distinct voices and more.  00:00 Welcome09:33 Writing tip: Don’t avoid the tough scenes11:43 WIN!: When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston14:12 Word of the week: ’Imprimatur’14:45 Writer in residence: Katie Hoskins16:12 Plot and inspiration for When the Party’s Over20:23 Dreaming of being an author21:16 From journalism to fiction22:58 AWC courses that sparked the shift25:01 Writing her novel26:22 The usefulness of workshopping27:11 Nailing story structure29:57 Balancing subplot arcs33:01 Distinct voices36:06 Landing the book deal39:30 Advice for aspiring writers42:29 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.

    49 min
  4. Writing Podcast Episode 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'

    11 May

    Writing Podcast Episode 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'

    Australian bestselling crime author Sarah Barrie has a dozen books to her name, with her latest standalone thriller Dark Sanctuary, exploring the nuanced world of mental health support, prisons and more. In this episode, Sarah shares the serendipitous inspiration for this novel, the research process and POV choices she made, as well as turning back the clock to give insights into her equally serendipitous start into the world of writing! 00:00 Welcome07:35 Writing tip: Put your writing out there!10:20 WIN!: The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier13:06 Word of the week: ’Crepuscular’13:38 Writer in residence: Sarah Barrie14:49 Dark Sanctuary overview15:46 Inspiration and themes17:59 Three POV structure19:11 Podcast character angle20:49 Setting and research21:45 Prisons – psychology and programs24:34 Research and the findings25:30 Writing the detective character27:47 Editing and deadlines28:20 Farm life writing30:07 Mental health themes32:59 Sarah’s origin story34:56 Publishing breakthrough38:50 Advice for writers40:16 What’s next?41:29 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.

    44 min
  5. Writing Podcast Episode 715: India-Rose Bower’s folk horror novel, 'We Call Them Witches'

    4 May

    Writing Podcast Episode 715: India-Rose Bower’s folk horror novel, 'We Call Them Witches'

    British writer and librarian India-Rose Bower’s folk horror debut novel, We Call Them Witches explores the concept of ‘eldritch’ creatures in a surreal post-apocalyptic world. In this episode, India-Rose discusses her surprising inspirations for the novel, what ‘eldritch’ actually means and a unique writing tip we should all try! 00:00 Welcome06:45 Writing tip: Don’t use AI for a pitch!08:05 WIN!: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon9:57 Word of the week: ‘Mélange’10:17 Writer in residence: India-Rose Bower11:04 What is her book, We Call Them Witches about?12:22 Origins of the story15:02 Designing the eldritch ‘witches’17:02 Creating the first draft18:42 Entering a competition and securing an agent21:07 Selling yourself and the book22:21 Publicity and author life23:35 Writing around work and health issues25:29 Next book and research habits}28:41 India-Rose’s unique writing tip30:58 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.

    34 min
  6. Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series

    27 Apr

    Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series

    Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series – with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator. 00:00 Welcome06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club  by Gabbie Stroud12:57 Word of the week: ‘Spicate’13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview17:20 Tina’s favourite koala fun fact18:19 Wildlife career origins21:54 The role of zoos and conservation25:05 Turning point to getting into writing27:02 Building a daily habit27:37 Entering a CYA competition31:22 Connecting with a publisher33:03 From samples to a series35:12 Courses and gaining confidence36:55 Building her author website 38:25 Writing routine and its evolution42:07 School visits and writing festivals42:57 Illustrator collaboration44:52 Next books47:08 Tina shares some writing advice49:11 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.

    52 min
  7. Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'

    20 Apr

    Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'

    Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp’s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing. 00:00 Welcome10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey17:29 Word of the week: ‘Mensal’18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about19:47 Origins and influences21:54 Novel versus script23:27 The differences between the two27:21 Defining the age range 30:48 Small town limitations34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices37:01 Acting skills in writing39:43 George’s writing routine42:54 The publication process45:54 Editing collaboration48:25 A writing tip50:13 Next projects51:03 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.

    50 min
  8. Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'

    13 Apr

    Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'

    Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And ‘What Rhymes with Murder?’ – the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey’s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library’s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book! 00:00 Welcome04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke10:37 Word of the week: ‘Weltschmerz’11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder?12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book14:39 The quirky title15:32 The decision to write her first adult book17:36 The writing process and plotting18:38 Librarian life in the novel20:31 Building a cosy cast21:07 The timeline of writing the book21:50 Penny’s writing routine22:30 The biggest challenge23:41 Having for researching the book24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues29:39 The overall themes of the book31:29 Next projects ahead32:02 Genre switching advice33:33 Cosy crime specific advice34:28 Librarian book pick35:58 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.

    39 min
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4.7
out of 5
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About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Australian Writers' Centre
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    719
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Australian Writers' Centre
  • Show Website
    So You Want to be a Writer

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