So You Want to be a Writer Australian Writers' Centre

Valerie interviews B.M. Carroll, whose latest thriller, One of Us Is Missing, revolves around a family dealing with a mysterious disappearance of one family member during a concert. The conversation also touches on B.M. Carroll's writing process, character development, and the importance of feedback and rewriting.

00:00 Introduction and shoutout to AWC graduate Richard Pritchard on this third book01:55 Nat Newman’s writing tips02:50 Words at Dawn writing group05:19 Avoiding info dumps09:32 Book giveaway: Blackwater by Jacqueline Ross15:49 Interview with B. M. Carroll22:44 The creative process and panic23:32 Editing and major rewrites25:59 Timeline of writing and rewriting30:18 Character development and authenticity37:27 Writing routine and word count goals40:09 Name change and genre shift42:35 Top tips for aspiring writers46:34 Conclusion and fun fact

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Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love. Amy discusses her journey from TV producer to successful romance novelist, the importance of social media presence for authors, and practical tips for aspiring writers. Host Valerie Khoo also chats to author Nat Newman who shares her experience with the Meisner acting technique, and provides valuable advice on dealing with rejection as a writer.

00:00 Introduction00:46 Deep dive into chapter structure02:43 Nat Newman’s writing tips03:01 Drama workshop insights07:45 Dealing with rejection11:55 Book giveaway: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins14:56 Word of the week: cynosure16:25 Interview with Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love27:19 Pitching through virtual literary speed dating27:58 Romance Writers of Australia conference experience29:32 The chaotic offer moment31:06 Working on multiple projects34:31 Developing 'Love From Scratch'39:35 Daily writing routine and discipline42:17 Engaging with social media as an author47:14 Courses and continuous learning51:37 Future plans and traditional publishing53:56 Top tips for aspiring writers56:33 Conclusion and fun fact

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com
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Explore the world of co-writing and collaboration with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, discussing challenges, the process of co-writing, the importance of capturing emotional depth in storytelling, and the profound impact of building a purpose-driven business. The episode touches on effective writing strategies, including the importance of starting your day with creative work and offers listeners a chance to win three copies of The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.

00:00 Welcome to the podcast & upcoming seminar announcement00:16 Deep dive into writing chapters02:24 Nat Newman's writing tips & personal journey13:29 Win The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.17:57 Meeting Radek Sali and his co-writer Bernadette Schwerdt21:50 From idea to co-writer22:32 Challenges, editors, and finding the right partner24:02 Bernadette's approach: From manuscript assessment to starting fresh24:57 Crafting the narrative via nterviews, structure, and voice37:01 The business of co-writing: Financials and working with publishers40:08 Insights on co-writing47:38 Reflections and future directions

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com
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Meet Megan Daley, author of The Beehive. Megan talks about her passion for children’s literature, her role as a teacher librarian, and her picture book The Beehive. She also discusses her book Raising Readers, which emphasises the importance of instilling a love of reading in children from a young age and offers practical advice for parents.

00:00 Welcome to the world of writing and publishing00:22 Unlocking creativity with story seeds03:48 Nat Newman's writing tip07:54 Crafting engaging openings in writing14:58 Megan Daley: A passion for children's literature and bees21:30 The journey from blog to book: Unveiling a love for reading23:01 Empowering reading habits: Tips for parents and educators23:48 A creative approach to encouraging reading29:34 Encouraging savvy teen readers in a digital age32:41 The path to becoming a teacher librarian34:02 From educator to children's book author36:28 Strategies for busy creatives42:34 From writing dreams to picture book reality44:22 A dive into the history of the exclamation mark

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com
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Meet Jo Peck, whose memoir Suddenly Single at Sixty details her journey through divorce and rediscovery. Jo discusses her writing process, the therapeutic value of journalling, the challenges of constructing a memoir , and her inspirations. She also offers advice for writers on being honest in their writing and the importance of self-analysis.

00:00 Welcome to the podcast & updates02:03 Nat Newman’s writing tip05:15 Crafting secondary characters07:44 Book giveaway: Ghost Cities by Siang Lu10:39 Word of the week: Desultory11:26 Writer in residence: Jo Peck on Suddenly Single at Sixty24:23 The journey of writing a memoir25:58 From school gate to bookshelf29:12 Structuring a memoir34:16 Jo’s writing process38:18 Exploring future writing projects and reflections41:09 Receiving feedback and sharing advice for aspiring writers46:27 Closing thoughts and fun facts

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com
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Meet Deborah Abela, author of The Kindness Project. Deborah is one of Australia’s most beloved children's authors. Her latest middle grade novel is The Kindness Project, which is her 29th book. Recently, she also released the Book of Wondrous Possibilities. While Deb writes mainly in middle grade, she has also written chapter books and picture books, such as Bear in Space and the upcoming No More Room in the Bed. Also hear about 'Words at Dawn', a writing initiative for students of the Australian Writers’ Centre. And your chance to win the novel The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins.

00:00 Welcome to the world of writing and publishing01:09 Busting myths about writing for kids02:30 Guest spotlight: Nat Newman's writing tips04:38 Words at dawn: A creative writing initiative15:27 Deborah Abela: A deep dive into middle grade novels27:12 The Kindness Project: From concept to creation29:57 Exploring kindness through storytelling31:38 The creative process and writing in verse32:05 From pitch to publication34:06 Character development and creative inspiration37:55 Rejections and successes in the publishing world39:16 From film to children's books: A career journey43:21 The art of writing across different formats50:51 Engaging with young readers: The importance of school visits55:13 Top tips for aspiring middle grade writers

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.