So You Want to be a Writer

Australian Writers' Centre
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So You Want to be a Writer Podcast

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. WRITER 625: Bec Nanayakkara on her picture books 'Grow Big Little Seed' and 'The Book Star'.

    2 DAYS AGO

    WRITER 625: Bec Nanayakkara on her picture books 'Grow Big Little Seed' and 'The Book Star'.

    Meet Bec Nanayakkara who discusses her journey to becoming a published picture book author. Bec reveals how she got her book deals, her writing techniques, the illustration process, and much more. Also discover how our app recommendation can help you keep track of submissions.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:20 Special Series on Children's Authors01:55 App Tip of the Week06:56 Course Spotlight: Writing Picture Books09:07 Interview with Bec Nanayakkara09:53 Bec's Journey to Publication10:32 The Book Star: Inspiration and Process16:02 Grow Big Little Seed: Themes and Illustrations23:15 Future Projects and 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.

    27 min
  2. WRITER 624: Sandie Docker on how to ensure longevity in your author career

    5 DAYS AGO

    WRITER 624: Sandie Docker on how to ensure longevity in your author career

    Meet Sandie Docker, who shares her journey and strategies for ensuring longevity in your author career. Sandie emphasises the importance of networking, connecting with readers, and seeking help in areas outside of one’s expertise. She also discusses her role in starting the Northern Beaches Readers Festival and how it has benefited her career. 00:00 Introduction00:19 Upcoming webinar on avoiding infringement in fiction writing03:38 Nat Newman's lighthouse residency experience07:27 Writing tips from Nat Newman12:45 Exciting book giveaway: The Oxenbridge King by Christine Paice16:07 Word of the week: Gravamen17:45 Interview with author Sandie Docker27:06 Establishing an author career28:47 Building industry relationships33:40 Connecting with readers37:02 The role of an agent41:06 Starting a literary festival48:35 Writing routine and 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
  3. WRITER 623: Exploring the world of children's writing with Cassy Polimeni

    5 SEPT

    WRITER 623: Exploring the world of children's writing with Cassy Polimeni

    Cassy Polimeni discusses her journey to becoming an author, the process of writing and publishing her books The Garden at the End of the World and Ella and The Amazing Frog Orchestra, and valuable insights into writing for the children's market. 00:00 Introduction to the podcast02:02 Writing tips with Nat Newman09:46 Interview with Cassy Polimeni11:21 Writing and publishing children's books13:34 Crafting Ella and The Amazing Frog Orchestra20:25 Cassy’s writing process and routine27:28 Future plans and final thoughts28:53 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.

    30 min
  4. WRITER 622: Louise Southerden on travel writing and her revealing memoir ‘Tiny’

    2 SEPT

    WRITER 622: Louise Southerden on travel writing and her revealing memoir ‘Tiny’

    Meet memoirist Louise Southerden about her book Tiny, which details her experience building a tiny house while going through a challenging relationship. Louise shares her journey into travel writing, the dynamics of writing personal stories, and techniques for capturing the essence of travel experiences. 00:00 Introduction04:16 Nat Newman’s writing tip13:15 Book giveaway: Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor15:06 Word of the week: Piscatorial17:12 Writer in residence: Louise Southerden17:36 Introduction to Louise and her memoir Tiny18:11 The emotional journey of building a tiny house19:39 Deciding to write the memoir20:58 Challenges and process of writing24:38 Pitching and publishing the memoir35:16 Insights on travel writing41:49 Defining a tiny house43:08 Conclusion and final thoughts43:35 Fun fact and farewell 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.

    47 min
  5. WRITER 621: Children’s author Carla Fitzgerald shares her five must-do tips for aspiring middle-grade authors

    29 AUG

    WRITER 621: Children’s author Carla Fitzgerald shares her five must-do tips for aspiring middle-grade authors

    Children’s author Carla Fitzgerald is author of the middle-grade novel How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5. Carla shares insights into writing compelling stories for children and offers five must-do tips for aspiring middle-grade authors. Additionally, Nat Newman provides a practical app tip about the benefits of using Google Docs. And more. 00:00 Introduction to the podcast00:19 Spotlight on children's authors01:27 Weekly app tip with Nat Newman01:55 Google Docs: A writer's best friend06:24 Course advertisement: Writing children's novels07:16 Interview with Carla Fitzgerald12:28 Five must-do's for writing middle grade novels25:23 Building a sustainable author career32:50 Conclusion 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.

    36 min
  6. WRITER 620: Kate Forsyth on 5 essential lessons to make you a better writer

    26 AUG

    WRITER 620: Kate Forsyth on 5 essential lessons to make you a better writer

    In this special episode, we bring you an edited version of the recent webinar featuring bestselling author Kate Forsyth. The episode is jam-packed with insights, focusing on five essential lessons from different genres that can improve your writing. Kate Forsyth delves into historical fiction, crime and mystery, romance, fantasy, and magic realism, sharing her top tips for writing compelling and immersive narratives. Additionally, the episode features a Q&A session where Kate answers questions on writing routines, character development, publishing, and more. The episode offers practical advice and inspirational insights for aspiring and established writers. 00:00 Introduction and welcome00:16 Special episode announcement01:04 Competition announcement02:39 Word of the week03:18 Webinar introduction05:20 Kate Forsyth's writing journey08:59 Lessons from historical fiction11:30 Lessons from crime and mystery14:44 Lessons from romance16:46 Lessons from fantasy19:28 Lessons from magic realism24:30 Q&A session31:37 Exploring new writing territories32:15 Top magic realism books32:39 Advice for unpublished authors33:51 Creating memorable characters34:41 Understanding Psyche's motif35:13 Knowing when editing is done35:52 Starting your writing journey36:40 Musicality in writing37:42 Balancing originality and familiarity38:36 Imagining your protagonists40:02 Publishing your first book40:42 Inspiration from lyrical authors41:31 Setting your novel apart42:27 Establishing a writing routine44:08 Crafting the perfect ending46:13 Incorporating writing tips48:26 Maintaining writing motivation49:43 Finding time to read50:27 Defining historical fiction51:14 Choosing character names51:59 Condensing your story52:46 Crafting satisfying endings53:41 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.

    56 min
  7. WRITER 619: Picture book author Deborah Frenkel on her creative process and creating a successful career.

    22 AUG

    WRITER 619: Picture book author Deborah Frenkel on her creative process and creating a successful career.

    Meet Deborah Frenkel, author of four picture books including her most recent: 100 Schools Days and The Truck Cat. Deborah reveals her journey to publication, her creative process and tips for aspiring authors. 00:00 Introduction to the podcast00:19 Special series on children's authors01:34 Nat Newman's app tip of the week10:43 Interview with Deborah Frenkel19:29 The journey to getting published20:18 The impact of writing courses22:27 Pitching The Sydney Harbour Fairy24:19 Creating 100 School Days26:15 Showcasing published works31:37 Upcoming projects and writing routine35:12 Tips for aspiring authors37:28 Conclusion and 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.

    31 min
  8. WRITER 618: JP Pomare on writing gripping crime thrillers and his latest novel ’17 Years Later’.

    19 AUG

    WRITER 618: JP Pomare on writing gripping crime thrillers and his latest novel ’17 Years Later’.

    JP Pomare on writing gripping crime thrillers and his latest novel 17 Years Later. JP discusses his writing process, research methods, and experiences with book adaptations into TV series. The episode features insights on maintaining creativity, the importance of method writing, crafting captivating crime narratives, and tips for aspiring writers. JP highlights the intricacies of plotting and characterisation in crime fiction, his unique approach to developing a story, and how he navigates the darker aspects of true crime. 00:00 Introduction and upcoming event02:06 Creative catch-up with Nat Newman05:48 Writing tip of the week08:46 Book giveaway: Precipice by Robert Harris10:19 Word of the week: Cantillate11:55 Interview with J.P. Pomare28:12 Challenges of writing crime fiction29:50 Balancing plotting and pantsing32:21 Crafting memorable scenes35:46 Daily writing routine39:16 From book to TV series51:12 Handling dark themes in writing55:24 Future plans and advice for writers01:01:19 Conclusion and fun fact 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.

    1h 3m
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Hosts & Guests

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 - 2024
  • Episodes
    625
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Australian Writers' Centre
  • Show Website
    So You Want to be a Writer

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