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
Jan 27, 2016 • 1h 3min
WRITER 093: Meet thriller author Jaye Ford, author of 'Darkest Place'
What writers need to know about defamation when writing memoirs, win a writer's residency in a bridge, a writer is arrested after winning illegal narcotics in a writing competition and a tax return is hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary fiction. Plus: advice on how to juggle multiple writing projects, meet thriller author Jaye Ford, who moonlights as a romance author, and 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.
Jan 20, 2016 • 1h 12min
WRITER 092: Meet Holly Seddon, journo-turned-author of psychological thriller “Try Not to Breathe”
CLEO magazine is closing, Penthouse drops print magazines, copyediting and grammar mistakes to avoid, the book The Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe, and Allison’s top blog posts about blogging. Meet journalist-turned-author Holly Seddon, whose new book is the psychological thriller Try Not to Breathe. Also: the clever note taking app Notability, when to pitch to magazines, and 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.
Jan 12, 2016 • 46min
WRITER 091: How to achieve your writing goals in 2016
CLEO magazine is closing, Penthouse drops print magazines, copyediting and grammar mistakes to avoid, the book The Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe, and Allison’s top blog posts about blogging. Meet journalist-turned-author Holly Seddon, whose new book is the psychological thriller Try Not to Breathe. Also: the clever note taking app Notability, when to pitch to magazines, and 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.
Dec 16, 2015 • 40min
WRITER 090: The best of 2015
Margret Atwood is writing a graphic novel, writing rituals and why they work, tips on how to get to know your characters and the intricacies of naming them well, and the book Worst Words by Don Watson. PLUS: our 12 Days of Christmas giveaway, we look back at the best of 2015, and the Summer Reading Club Lost Worlds competitions. See you in 2016! 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.
Dec 14, 2015 • 1h 11min
WRITER 089: Meet epic fantasy novelist Mitchell Hogan, author of 'Blood of Innocents'
Do you mourn the loss of a character? How to write a killer elevator pitch for your book, 10 over-writing traps to avoid, tell us your 2016 writing goal, and how to enter our “12 Days of Christmas” giveaway. Also: tips on pitching to a blogger, and meet Writer in Residence epic fantasy novelist Mitchell Hogan, author of “Blood of Innocents”. Plus: a free screenwriting app from Amazon, what to do when agents aren’t taking on new authors, and 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.
Dec 9, 2015 • 1h 6min
WRITER 088: Meet Ellie Marney, author of 'Every Word'
Why publishers are giving million dollar advances to debut novelists. Should you write for love or money? Book hotels are now a THING. Also: why a female author wanted a male voice actor to narrate her books. WIN a copy of "The Man With the Golden Typewriter" by Fergus Fleming. Plus: great books about writing, Writer in Residence Ellie Marney, vehicle log app, advice on splitting your personal brand, and 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.
Dec 1, 2015 • 1h 11min
WRITER 087: Meet Drew Chapman, author of 'The King of Fear'
Congrats to our presenter Judith Rossell for making the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards shortlist. Allison Tait’s “The Mapmaker Chronicles 2: Prisoner of the Black Hawk” is one of the best middle grade books for 2015! Also: would you want to write a novel in a castle? Why you need a professional book cover for your self-published book, phrases to cut from your writing, patience for writers, and the death of the mummy blog. Plus: Writer-in-Residence Drew Chapman, the app “Tape a Call” to record your phone calls (perfect for journalists!), how to approach writing a trilogy, and 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.
Nov 17, 2015 • 1h 15min
WRITER 086: Meet film director and novelist Shirley Barrett, author of 'Rush, Oh!'
Allison’s “The Mapmaker Chronicles” optioned for a film, new words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary (YAAAS!), the author who assaulted a reviewer, book promotion minus the misery, “China Rich Girlfriend” giveaway, and the book Dictionary of “English Down The Ages” by Linda and Roger Flavell. Meet novelist and film director Shirley Barrett and find out if an unctuous cup of coffee is a good thing. Plus: the Pink Fibro Book Club, and 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.
Nov 6, 2015 • 1h 7min
WRITER 085: Meet publishing sensation AG Riddle, author of 'Departure'
Reprint of book one of Allison Tait’s “The Mapmaker Chronicles”, how freelance writers price their work, why you don’t need tragedy in your story, things you can do to save money on editing, #NaNoSix - inspirational six word writing tips, win a copy of Larissa Dubecki’s hilarious book “Prick with a Fork”. Also: 10 novels that were written in about a month, a self-published sensation, AG Riddle, whose books are being turned into Hollywood movies, the motivating writing app Write or Die, should you put footnotes in your articles, and 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.
Nov 3, 2015 • 1h 19min
WRITER 084: Meet Tristan Bancks, author of 'Two Wolves'
The rise of freelance writers, is a co-working space better than working from home? How to trim your manuscript to a workable size, the book “Story” by Robert McKee, writing advice from AWC presenters, Writer in Residence children’s author Tristan Bancks, a new writing app to inspire flow, further advice on writing your author bio, download Allison’s top ten tips, and 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.
