So You Want to be a Writer

If you love fantasy, you’ll love our delightful interview with author Madeline Te Whiu, who shares her journey from writing her first book The Assassin Thief to completing her trilogy with her latest release, The Queen Thief. Madeline talks about her experience writing while working full-time, her planning process, harnessing social media and advice for aspiring writers.  00:00 Introduction03:29 Holiday book recommendations08:33 Nat’s writing tip: Structure12:24 WIN! The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin13:51 Word of the week: ‘Chrestomathy’16:51 Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu27:05 Finding time for writing28:56 The journey to getting published31:05 Madeline’s experience pitching her trilogy31:58 Experiencing reader reactions35:36 Writing the second and third books37:15 Overcoming writer's block43:11 Balancing writing and full-time work45:36 Madeline’s approach to social media53:21 Advice for aspiring authors56:07 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative.  00:00 Introduction03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism27:25 The evolution of journalism28:04 The pressure of producing quality content29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book37:28 Research versus the writing process42:34 Future plans and new ventures49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors50:50 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Susannah Glenn, author of Between Husbands and Wives. Susannah discusses her writing process, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of setting and character development. She highlights the impact of persistence, learning from setbacks, and taking writing courses. 00:00 Introduction01:53 The importance of doing the work07:07 Writing tip: Keep it simple11:13 WIN! Literary Journeys by John McMurtrie13:07 Word of the week: pedicular14:26 Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn21:57 The writing process: Finding the sweet spot22:35 Character development24:23 Balancing writing with everyday life25:51 From manuscript to book deal31:54 The importance of writing routines37:38 Navigating the emotional roller coaster of writing44:45 Top writing tips for aspiring authors46:57 Conclusion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Sebastian Smee, a Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic, who discusses his new book Paris in Ruins, its historical context, and the challenges of writing it. He also touches upon his previous book The Art of Rivalry, how to approach writing art criticism, and tips for aspiring writers. Sebastian now writes for The Washington Post, but got his start writing for The Sydney Morning Herald. He then went on to write for The Boston Globe, The Spectator, The Guardian, The Australian and more. 00:00 Introduction02:35 Nat Newman’s writing tip10:28 Win Endgame by Sarah Barrie12:44 Word of the week: Hypnagogic16:47 Interview with Sebastian Smee20:27 Diving into historical context20:59 Early career and education21:49 Breaking into art criticism23:55 Writing art reviews25:50 Journey to America27:34 The Art of Rivalry31:02 Crafting Paris in Ruins38:30 Challenges and reflections42:21 Advice for aspiring art critics47:57 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Mitch Jennings, author of A Town Called Treachery, who shares his journey to becoming a novelist and his advice for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction00:27 Reinvention04:02 Writing opportunities and taking chances07:58 Writing tip: The Pomodoro Technique14:23 WIN: Everyone this Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson15:12 Word of the week: Claque18:32 Mitch Jennings and his page-turning novel A Town Called Treachery26:16 Balancing writing and family life28:00 Discovering writing process during COVID29:26 The role of mentorship and courses32:30 Crafting the story of A Town Called Treachery37:40 Journalism's influence on writing44:24 Entering and winning the Banjo Prize50:34 Advice for aspiring writers53:30 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet New York Times bestselling author Laura Dave, who talks about her latest novel The Night We Lost Him, her writing process, and adapting her hit novel The Last Thing He Told Me for television. Laura shares her approach to character development, writing routines, and advice for aspiring writers. She talks about the importance of dedication, routine, and what you need to do before seeking publication. 00:00 Introduction03:00 Nat Newman's writing tip05:46 Writing opportunities and tips10:51 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight13.01 Word of the week: piacular16:16 Laura Dave, with of The Last Thing He Told Me and The Night We Lost Him23:26 From novel to screen24:57 The success and future of the series25:46 The role of music in writing29:12 Crafting characters and storylines40:44 Writing routine and research46:36 Advice for aspiring writers48:51 Fun fact Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Amanda Willimott, who talks about her historical fiction novel Winter of the Wolf, informed by extensive research. Amanda reveals how she got her book deal with Penguin Random House and the power of persistence, planning and mentorship. 00:00 Introduction03:56 Writing tip: Attend events07:19 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight09:25 Word of the week: Riparian10:48 Interview with Amanda Willimott, author of Winter of the Wolf25:24 Deciding to write a novel26:12 Setting goals and overcoming challenges27:56 The importance of planning and research29:35 Writing discipline and tracking progress36:04 Editing and refining the manuscript37:58 The path to publication41:19 Celebrating success and future plans45:11 Final thoughts and advice for aspiring writers47:13 Fun fact: What is a circadian novel? Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet bestselling author and screenwriter Christian White on his novel The Ledge and writing the Netflix hit Clickbait. his writing process, and his transition from books to screenwriting, including his work on TV shows like Clickbait and Apartment 7A. 00:00 Welcome to episode 63501:46 Nat Newman's writing tip02:41 Nat's creative writing journey04:34 The importance of elevator pitches09:07 Win: Cherrywood by Jock Serong11:20 Word of the week: Panoply14:01 Interview with Christian White, author of The Ledge31:43 The journey to Clickbait33:15 Balancing success and stress35:16 Appreciating the moment36:11 From Clickbait to Apartment 7A41:36 The collaborative process45:43 Balancing writing and family life55:30 Tips for aspiring writers01:01:29 Conclusion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this engaging discussion, Ariane Beeston, author and psychologist, shares her journey of crafting her brave memoir, 'Because I'm Not Myself, You See,' which tackles the complexities of postpartum psychosis. She reveals the emotional challenges faced while reliving her experiences and the therapeutic power of storytelling. Alongside Nat Newman, writing expert, they discuss critical insights on memoir writing, managing mental health during the process, and the importance of addressing perinatal mental health. Ariane emphasizes the need for understanding and awareness surrounding postpartum challenges.

Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences. 00:00 Introduction00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman02:53 Storyboarding for writers06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett08:14 Word of the week: Palmy09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour21:19 From financial journalism to fiction21:46 First foray into fiction23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym24:52 Finding the right genre25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train27:48 Dealing with success and pressure30:12 Writing process and challenges40:34 Advice for aspiring writers43:02 Fun fact: apophony Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.