So You Want to be a Writer
Australian Writers' Centre
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 25, 2017 • 25min
WRITER 153: Do you need an agent?
Should I get an agent if I can negotiate myself? How do I respond to friends who don't think I'm a real writer when I write children's books? Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 21, 2017 • 1h 10min
WRITER 152: Meet David Crystal, author of 'Making Sense: The Glamorous Story of English Grammar'
Breathe magazine launches and Yen mag closes. Discover some great tips on how to write historical fiction and learn a neat trick for dealing with research for multiple articles. Meet the dynamic and engaging David Crystal, author of ‘Making Sense: The Glamorous Story of English Grammar’. Plus: play with the 'One Word' app, find out what your minimum author online presence should be and much more! Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 16, 2017 • 18min
WRITER 151: When you can call yourself a writer?
Debbi wants to know when she can call herself a writer, and Holly queries whether she should pitch her stand alone novel as part of a potential series. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 14, 2017 • 1h 7min
WRITER 150: Meet author and illustrator Tania McCartney, writer of 'Australian Story'
Discover tips for writing great dialogue, why learning about your craft is vital (even for writing veterans), and how whiteboard planning can help your creative writing. Shoutout to AWC graduate Penelope Janu who landed a two-book deal. Learn the meaning of meretricious and meet author and illustrator Tania McCartney. Plus, why sharing other people's stuff is good for your author platform, and much more! Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 10, 2017 • 27min
WRITER 149: Should you write under different pen names for different genres?
Layne wants to know about how to write stories with different timelines. And Bohdi asks whether he should write under different pen names for different genres. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 6, 2017 • 1h 11min
WRITER 148: Meet Vanessa Carnevale, author of 'The Florentine Bridge'
How to research your genre (and why you should), the counter-intuitive benefits of scheduling your writing, and fortune cookie writer gets writer’s block! Discover how you could win an animal lovers’ book pack. Valerie’s word of the week is ‘petrichor’! You’ll meet Vanessa Carnevale, author of ‘The Florentine Bridge’. Plus: why you should stay within your comfort zone when building your author platform and much more! This episode is brought to you by Travel Writing at the Australian Writers' Centre. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 2, 2017 • 34min
WRITER 147: World building, rugby league and stealing someone's story.
Andrew wants to know how Allison approached her world building and which rugby league teams we support! And we discuss a writer’s dilemma on someone who may have stolen her story. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 1, 2017 • 1h 15min
WRITER 146: Meet Nicole Hayes, author of 'A Shadow's Breath'
Discover how to become an insanely good writer, the life-changing magic of tidying up your writing, and learn the meaning of the word "paraph". You’ll meet Nicole Hayes, author of ‘A Shadow’s Breath’, find out how to do a structural edit, and much more! This episode is brought to you by Creative Writing Stage 1 at the Australian Writers' Centre. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 26, 2017 • 22min
WRITER 145: Writing under a pen name; and publishing options for a parenting book.
Bill wants to write and create social media platforms under a pen name. Simone asks about different publishing options for her parenting book. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 25, 2017 • 1h 4min
WRITER 144: Meet children's writer Oliver Phommavanh, author of 'The Other Christy'
Find out 5 things you can learn by writing every day and 7 steps to help you write your novel. You’ll meet children’s author and standup comedian Oliver Phommavanh. Plus, discover why your author newsletter is so important and much more! This episode is brought to you by Copywriting Essentials at the Australian Writers' Centre. Read the show notes. Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
