Writers Behaving Badly Podcast

Lisa Ireland, Brooke Turnbull & Annie Bucknall
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🎙️ A writing podcast that pulls back the curtain on publishing. Lisa Ireland, Brooke Turnbull, and Annie Bucknall mix craft, chaos, and cocktails 🍷 with live mentoring, industry truths 📖, and writing confessions. New episodes every Saturday—because sometimes, it’s good to be bad. 🔥 writersbehavingbadly.substack.com

  1. ✍️ Stephen King's Weirdest Writing Advice

    FEB 14

    ✍️ Stephen King's Weirdest Writing Advice

    On this episode of Writers Behaving Badly: Brooke, Lisa and Annie tackle the heavy vibes of 2026 with podcasting joy and a new format. We’re folding in the cheese for our new segment (please leave a comment to help us give it a title), getting inspo at the traffic lights (hello, motorcycle man 👋) and writing through the horrors that are modern life. Plus: We discuss some truly unhinged writing advice from Stephen King…and will Brooke ever forgive Lisa for killing off Nana Lil? What You'll Learn: Why finishing a ‘bad draft’ can leave you with golden nuggets How to write in the face of existential dread What we’re reading to keep our book brains fed and happy! Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsLisa declares herself a ‘swinner’, Brooke breaks a writing slump with a sneaky sideways glance at the traffic lights and Annie discusses what life as a working historian means for her writing. 📚 OUR UNNAMED SEGMENT?How do you write in the face of existential dread? No, really? The horrors may persist but so do we! Learn why Lisa is genuinely looking forward to the art that comes out of this period in time...and why, no matter what, you should keep making it. 🍵 Tea Time Rant1, 2, 3, 4, 5…everybody in the car and come on let’s write! Stephen King’s weird writing advice we just have to talk about. Got some writing tea to spill? Leave us a comment 😊 Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Wednesday 25th February @ 7:30pm Melbourne Time. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min

  2. 10/17/2025

    ✍️ How to Find the Right Beta Reader (and Be One)

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: It’s the season two finale! Annie, Brooke, and Lisa wrap up a year of literary chaos with bread, burnout, and breakthroughs. Lisa digs deep for one final curly question and Brooke delivers the Footballer’s Baby conception scene…(almost)… Plus: The knitting community comes for Hank Green in a thread war for the ages… What You'll Learn: The difference between a supportive beta reader and a confidence killer How to give feedback that doesn’t make someone quit writing forever Why “being kind” isn’t the same as “lying” Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsLisa inches closer to ‘the end’ while Brooke and Annie creep further away… 🔥 Roast or ToastBrooke gives us what we’ve asked for…the Footballer’s Baby is finally conceived… 📚 Curly QuestionHow do you find a Beta Reader…but more importantly, how do you give good feedback without crushing a writer’s spirit? Lisa shares her wisdom. 🍵 Tea Time RantHank Green vs. the knitters: when socks are undervalued, and sexism enters the chat. Annie brings the chaos; Brooke tries not to choke on her tea. Are we cancelled? Afraid knot… Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 28th October @ 8:00pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
  3. ✍️ Kate Solly on Writing, Imposter Syndrome & Novlr Obsession

    10/10/2025

    ✍️ Kate Solly on Writing, Imposter Syndrome & Novlr Obsession

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We’re back with New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth for Part Two of our rollicking chat. Sally dishes on the realities of social media (hint: don’t waste time building a platform before you’ve written the book), resilience in the face of one-star reviews, and the myth-busting advice every aspiring author needs to hear. She also spills some tea on a library event with Lisa that went hilariously sideways—complete with Maud heckling from the front row… Plus: Lisa can’t take an ugly photo of Sally (no matter how hard she tries), and Brooke yells the F-word directly into Sally’s face. You couldn’t script it if you tried. Follow Sally Hepworth on Substack 😊 Pre-order Mad Mabel What You'll Learn: Why social media can wait until you’ve actually written the book. How to find (and keep) your voice online without hating it. The art of laughing at one-star reviews (including Rhonda’s epic takedown). Why every writer needs resilience and a good sense of humour. Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 23rd September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! (We’ll be announcing more end of year dates shortly 😊) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min

  4. 10/03/2025

    ✍️ When to Send Your Book to Beta Readers

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: It’s our very first live, in-person episode—recorded in Sydney with questionable tech, maximum chaos, and at least one snort that may or may not become a sound effect. Brooke fights through a new-job writing slump, Lisa produces her award-winning early manuscript for listening pleasure and Annie gets distracted by a 90s inspired dream. There’s a dramatic reading, a curly question about beta readers and tea that makes us wonder if Malcolm Turnbull has a Google alert on his name (or DMs are open…) What You'll Learn: Why you can’t follow ‘the shinies’ Why it’s easier to write the 60s How your early work forms part of your writing journey (even if you think it’s cringe) The right time to send your work to beta readers Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsIt’s an in-person confession time with one of our writers ending up in the sin-bin while the other two just scrape over the line. 🔥 Roast or ToastLisa’s Strictly Business gets a dramatic group reading—tampons, talismans, and a groom with cold feet. Instead of a brutal roast, it sparks nostalgia, trope talk (“touch her and die”), and Brooke’s so in love with the hero she makes Lisa blush. 📚 Curly QuestionWhen is the right time to send your manuscript to a beta reader? Lisa explains what is ‘too early’ and how to know if you’re really ready for feedback. 🍵 Tea Time RantA viral reel sparks debate: can you judge someone by the books on their shelf? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min

  5. 09/26/2025

    ✍️ How to Write Believable Romantic Conflict

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: Season Two kicks off with triple wins! Brooke discovers the power of horny ghosts, Lisa finds her character voice (and an accountability partner who doesn't mess around), and Annie reclaims her historical heroine's agency. Plus, we debut Brooke's very first novel—complete with mysterious football jerseys and a dubious hall-of-fame. What You'll Learn: How to move past "am I saying anything important?" by focusing on what you do well—fun genres matter too! How accountability partners can transform your writing momentum Why research matters even in contemporary fiction (looking at you, football scenes) The truth about first chapter "rules" and why most of them are nonsense Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsFor once, we're all winning! Creative breakthroughs, voice discoveries, and 30,000 words in a month. 🔥 Roast or ToastBrooke reads from The Footballer's Baby—her genre-bending debut featuring NRL/soccer/gridiron confusion and generic farms. Lisa delivers the ultimate writing lesson: great storytelling transcends factual accuracy, but research still matters. 📚 Curly QuestionWe tackle the TikTok writing advice rabbit hole and why those endless "must-have" lists might be killing your creativity. 🍵 Tea Time RantThe ethics of true crime publishing—why the rush to capitalise on tragedy raises serious questions about victim-centred storytelling and responsible journalism. Our first Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 12th August @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    44 min
  6. ✍️ Sally Hepworth on Social Media for Authors

    09/19/2025

    ✍️ Sally Hepworth on Social Media for Authors

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We’re back with New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth for Part Two of our rollicking chat. Sally dishes on the realities of social media (hint: don’t waste time building a platform before you’ve written the book), resilience in the face of one-star reviews, and the myth-busting advice every aspiring author needs to hear. She also spills some tea on a library event with Lisa that went hilariously sideways—complete with Maud heckling from the front row… Plus: Lisa can’t take an ugly photo of Sally (no matter how hard she tries), and Brooke yells the F-word directly into Sally’s face. You couldn’t script it if you tried. Follow Sally Hepworth on Substack 😊 Pre-order Mad Mabel What You'll Learn: Why social media can wait until you’ve actually written the book. How to find (and keep) your voice online without hating it. The art of laughing at one-star reviews (including Rhonda’s epic takedown). Why every writer needs resilience and a good sense of humour. Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 23rd September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! (We’ll be announcing more end of year dates shortly 😊) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    25 min
  7. ✍️ Sally Hepworth's Writing Routine

    09/12/2025

    ✍️ Sally Hepworth's Writing Routine

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We welcome New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth! She joins us to chat about her incredible career, from the book that changed everything (The Mother-in-Law) to billboard moments in Bourke Street Mall, optioned screen adaptations, and why resilience beats luck every time. She also confesses to once dictating Lisa’s plotting process with a stack of index cards (but she might have won that argument in the end 👀) Plus: Sally and Brooke bond over ‘town water’… This week’s write-along winners 🏆👏 Kylie Casey Erin Cath P Cath G Linda Lucinda Sue Ann Athena What You'll Learn: How to write (and survive) through personal upheaval. The role of consistency in building a career and a brand. How it’s okay to experiment with process. How to handle bad reviews, awkward encounters, and emails from Estelle in Wisconsin. Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsLisa smugly climbs back on the podium with scene cards in hand, Brooke battles the corporate commute, Annie claims ‘it’s all sinny in Philadelphia’ and our community of writers bring their A-game to the page. 📚 Author Interview – Sally Hepworth Part OneFrom resilience to screen adaptations and The Mother-in-Law changing everything—Sally tells us the truth about publishing highs and lows, her flexible process, and why the most successful authors often struggle the most to give writing advice… Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 23rd September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min
  8. ✍️Complexity vs. Depth: are you writing layers or just noise?

    09/05/2025

    ✍️Complexity vs. Depth: are you writing layers or just noise?

    This week on Writers Behaving Badly: The hosts sin in varying degrees (and one of them blames it on their husband 👀). Brooke dusts off her shiny flirtation of a manuscript, Bad Boy Lessons and is given Lisa’s toughest roast yet. We tackle a curly question on story complexity versus depth and spill the tea on a Bookstagrammer who admitted to pirating books… Plus: Hotel hijinks, write-along confessions, and Lisa pushes the GCM…again 😉 What You'll Learn: How to tell if your story is truly complex, or just unnecessarily complicated Why depth (not endless subplots) is what keeps readers hooked Practical ways to strengthen character voice so readers fall in love with your hero Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsBrooke confesses to a zero-word week (saved only by a memoir client), Lisa manages a chaotic small number of words (and blames her husband), and Annie keeps her manuscript alive thanks to write-alongs. 🔥 Roast or ToastBrooke dusts off “Bad Boy Lessons” for Lisa’s critique. Cue hair plugs, gold teeth, and a neighbour with a ficus—and a whole lot of banter. 📚 Curly QuestionIs your novel too complicated—or not deep enough? We unpack Michael Hauge’s advice and revisit Pride and Prejudice to explore why simple stories endure. 🍵 Tea Time A bookstagrammer recently confessed to pirating books she reviews…we spill the tea. Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 9th September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

🎙️ A writing podcast that pulls back the curtain on publishing. Lisa Ireland, Brooke Turnbull, and Annie Bucknall mix craft, chaos, and cocktails 🍷 with live mentoring, industry truths 📖, and writing confessions. New episodes every Saturday—because sometimes, it’s good to be bad. 🔥 writersbehavingbadly.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Ireland, Brooke Turnbull & Annie Bucknall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Annie Bucknall
  • Show Website
    Writers Behaving Badly Podcast

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