So You Want to be a Writer

Meet Kate Simpson, author of 'Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King'. Discover how to stay connected and learn while you're at home and the joy of artistic collaboration. You'll hear industry insider tips for writing non-fiction for kids. Plus, there are 3 copies of 'The Love That Remains' by AWC alumna Susan Francis to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and list...

Meet Sandie Docker, author of 'The Banksia Bay Beach Shack'. Learn how to balance freelance and creative writing. Your Kid's Next Read is hosting a massive book giveaway. Discover tips on where to find ideas when writing for kids. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'The Banksia Bay Beach Shack' to give away.  Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on F...

Meet Susan Francis, author of the memoir 'The Love that Remains'. Learn how to avoid social media burnout as a writer. Allison shares the cover reveal for her next book. Plus, there are 3 copies of 'Death in the Ladies' Goddess Club' by Julian Leatherdale to win. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | Alliso...

Meet Julian Leatherdale, author of 'Death in the Ladies' Goddess Club'. What do you do if you're on an author panel? Should you have a website if you're not published yet? Plus, there are 3 copies of 'The Mothers' by Genevieve Gannon to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | Vale...

Meet Andrew Stafford, author of 'Something To Believe In', a memoir of music, madness and love. What you should NOT expect from an agent. The Children's Book Council of Australia announces Book of the Year Notables 2020. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Cops, Drugs, Lawyer X and Me' by Paul Dale and Vikki Petraitis to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podc...

Meet Lian Hearn, multi-million-copy bestselling author of the 'Children of the Otori' series. Also, check out Berbay Books' callout for chapter books and junior fiction. Discover your chance to meet Allison! Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Mrs Groff's Mischievous Book of Motherhood Management' by Maggie Groff to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast c...

You'll meet Charlotte Barkla, author of 'All Bodies Are Good Bodies' and 'Edie's Experiments'. We share 12 things we've learnt from judging Furious Fiction. You'll learn how to market your book through guest posting. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Death of a Typographer' by Nick Gadd to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visi...

Meet Kirsten Alexander, author of 'Riptides'. Discover scientifically proven ways to beat writer's block and Allison has an exciting fundraiser announcement (and teaser for her next book). Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Platform Seven' by Louise Doughty to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | Alliso...

Meet Sue McPherson, author of 'Brontide'. Learn why some people are calling for a boycott of the new 50 pence coin. Discover top ways you can reinvent yourself in 2020. Plus, there are three copies of 'Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family' by Mitch Albom to win. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook V...

Meet Pamela Cook, author of Cross My Heart . Here's your short story plan of action for this year! Discover 20 words to inspire you to write in 2020. Plus, you could win one of 3 copies of Inner Worlds Outer Spaces: Working Lives of Others  by Ceridwen Dovey.  Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au |...

Meet Nick Gadd, author of  Death of a Typographer . Hear about the demise of the Apostrophe Protection Society and discover what #authorsforfireys is all about. Plus, we have three copies of  That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea  by Marc Randolph to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast communi...

Happy 2020! Meet Tony Jones, former Q&A host, journalist and author of 'In Darkness Visible'. Plus, there are three copies of '488 Rules for Life' by Kitty Flanagan to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Val and Al wrap up 2019, reveal their top 10 interviews for the year and wish you a wonderful holiday season! Plus, you could win one of three copies of 'The Strayan Dictionary' by Dominic Knight. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Are you a planster? Meet the best-selling author of The Family Upstairs , Lisa Jewell. Allison shares her top 10 posts about writing for 2019. Plus, there are copies of Last Christmas by Greg Wise and Emma Thompson to be won. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnyst...

Want to enter a short story comp about food and drink? Meet Jodi Gibson, author of 'The Memories We Hide'. We have tips to stop procrastinating. Plus, there are five double passes to 'The Truth' (thanks to Palace Films) to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com Se...

Learn exercises for writers you can do at your desk. You'll meet Elliot  Perlman, author of 'Maybe the Horse Will Talk'. Discover gift vouchers for writers. Plus, we have three copies of 'The Truants' by Kate Weinberg to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com...

Discover what to buy the other writers in your life. You'll meet K.M. Levis, author of 'The Search for Adarna'. We found a list of writing competitions you can still enter for 2019, and we have three copies of 'Magical Maths' by Eddie Woo to giveaway. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com |...

Learn tips to overcome your shyness at literary events. Meet Christian White, author of 'The Wife and the Widow'. Discover how you could win a $10,000 advance for your manuscript. We also have three copies of  'Salvation Lost' by Britain's number one science-fiction writer, Peter F. Hamilton, to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast communit...

Discover scholarships for young writers. You'll meet Kirli Saunders, author of 'The Incredible Freedom Machines'. Are you a late night or early morning writer? And vote in our poll on whether you prefer coffee or tea when writing.  Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com...

Stay in Stephen King's house and write! Meet Melanie Cheng, author of 'Room for a Stranger'. Discover the biggest mistake newbie travel writers make. And we have three copies of 'The Island at the Edge of the World' by Deborah Rodriguez to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | V...

Discover how to get the words written. Meet Nicola Moriarty, author of 'The Ex'. Val and Al discuss what you can learn from hanging out in a bookshop. Plus, we have three copies of 'In Darkness Visible' by Tony Jones to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See o...

Discover top tips for surviving a structural edit, and meet Sarfraz Manzoor, author of ‘Greetings from Bury Park’, now a hit movie. 13 Australian authors share their creative rituals. Plus, we have three copies of 'Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister' by Jung Chang to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit...

Why does writing books get tougher instead of easier? You'll meet Stephanie Wood, author of 'Fake: A startling true story of love in a world of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies'. Plus, you could win a copy of 'Gotta Get Theroux This' by Louis Theroux. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au |...

You'll meet middle-grade author Pip Harry, author of 'The Little Wave', and our Furious Fiction superfans. What does 'prodigal' really mean? (Possibly, not what you think!). Plus, there are three copies of 'The Weekend' by Charlotte Wood to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com |...

We celebrate 300 episodes! You'll meet journalist, author and podcaster Caroline Overington. Discover ideas to help you revise a book's first draft. Plus, you could win a cracker of a prize for our 300th episode celebration. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystu...