So You Want to be a Writer

Australian literary festivals to add to your diary. Meet Jenna Guillaume, AWC alumni and former Buzzfeed editor-at-large and author of 'What I Like About Me'. Valerie tries to impress Allison with more 'Word of the Week' prowess.  Plus, we have three copies of 'Gravity is the Thing' by bestselling author Jaclyn Moriarty to give away. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison...

We chat to Karen Viggers, author of the bestselling book 'The Lightkeeper's Wife' and 'The Orchardist's Daughter'. Allison goes surfing (yes, really). You’ll learn tips for doubling your freelance writing income. So you want to be a writer is going to be at Vivid Sydney 2019 and tickets are now available. Plus, we have a book pack to giveaway and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valer...

Meet Bren MacDibble, author of 'The Dog Runner'. She chats about how she writes award-winning fiction under two names! Allison and Valerie talk about the perils you might face when your book is translated into another language and you have the chance to win tickets to ‘Sometimes Always Never’ and much more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com...

Dervla McTiernan, author of 'The Scholar' shares her thoughts around writing, plotting and and the best (and worst) day of Dervla’s life. Discover when the next round of Furious Fiction is happening. Plus, we have 3 copies of ‘The Orchardist's Daughter’ by Karen Viggers to give away. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentr...

Author and musician Penny Flanagan, author of 'Surviving Hal' and one half of acclaimed folk-pop duo Club Hoy chats to Valerie and Allison. Discover your kid’s next read and we have 3 copies of ‘Mr Bambuckle's Remarkables: On the Lookout’ to giveaway.  Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait...

J.P. Pomare, author of the psychological thriller 'Call Me Evie' discusses plotting, setting and how shaving your legs can help you get into the head of your character. Allison and Valerie talk about how your book covers can impact your sales.  Discover examples of great author Facebook pages, find out how you can win a copy of Candice Fox’s new thriller ‘Gone by Midnight’ a...

Children’s author R.A. Spratt joins us. Allison and Valerie talk about crime writing for the young adult market. We also have 5 copies of ‘Baby’  –  a sunburnt psychological thriller of obsession and escape by Annaleese Jochems to give away. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait...

Meet Laura Sieveking, author of the children's series 'Amelia Chamelia' who shares how she writes for writes for one publisher while working for another. Allison and Valerie confess the mistakes they've made and what they've learnt from them. We also have 10 double passes to give away to 'If Beale Street Could Talk'. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writersce...

Meet Barbara Lasserre, author of 'Words That Go Ping'. We discuss when does self-publishing become a first choice? Discover which new podcast Valerie’s been hosting. And we have 5 copies of ‘Death on the Derwent’ by Robin Bowles to give away.  Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | Valerie...

Meet Jane Harper, author of 'The Dry' and 'The Lost Man'. We have 3 copies of ‘Three Little Lies’ by Laura Marshall to giveaway. Plus, you’ll learn how to avoid a saggy middle in your manuscript and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listener...

Happy new year! You’ll meet Fiona McIntosh, author of 'The Pearl Thief' and 'How to Write Your Blockbuster'. Val and Al answer more of your listener questions. Plus, we have 3 copies of ‘Rewording the Brain’ by David Astle to give away.  Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieK...

Val and Al open up the podcast to your questions in an “Ask Us Anything” Christmas special! And, have you entered the 12-book summer reading pack competition yet? Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover a whole heap of literary gifts for Christmas. Meet Bernadette Schwerdt, SEO copywriter and author of 'How to Build an Online Business'. Plus we have a 12-book giveaway up for grabs. Don’t miss out. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Discover planning tips for the next year and meet Alice Pung, author of ‘Close to Home’. We have a HUGE stash of books to give away to one lucky winner. Plus, the Newcastle Short Story Award is now open and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listene...

Tips on how to find and afford good editors. Meet B.M. Carroll, author of 'The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy'. Discover your chance to win a copy of the inaugural 'Australian Literary Diary' and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Meet Stuart Coupe, author of ‘Roadies: The Secret History of Australian Rock 'n' Roll’. Congratulations to AWC graduate Frances Chapman for winning the 2018 Ampersand Prize. How to get invited to writers’ festivals and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omny...

Do you have NaNoWriMoFoMo? Meet DM Cameron, author of ‘Beneath the Mother Tree’ and discover your chance to win a copy of ‘Believe Me ’  by JP Delaney. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn the art of knowing when your manuscript is finished. You’ll meet Karen Foxlee, author of ‘Lenny’s Book of Everything’. Discover your chance to enter the Moth Poetry Prize or win a double pass to the new film ‘The Old Man & The Gun’ and more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | Alli...

Discover tips for first time authors and writing advice from Barbara Kingsolver. You’ll meet Joanna Nell, author of ‘The Single Ladies of the Jacaranda Retirement Village’. Our brand new online Fiction Essentials course on Characters has now launched and we’re giving away 3 copies of ‘Rocky Road: The incredible true story of the fractured family behind the Darrel...

Meet John Purcell, author of ‘The Girl on the Page’. Discover how to rock an author reading. Val and Al chat about the upcoming film ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ based on the true story of celebrity biographer Lee Israel. And you can impress your friends by dropping the word 'encomium' in casual conversation. Plus, we have 10x double passes to ‘Beautiful Boy’ star...

Meet Di Morrissey, author of ‘Arcadia’. Ebury Press is looking for unagented authors and Val and Al chat to Myf Warhurst on Radio National. Shout out to Tasmin Janu, who has been shortlisted for the 2018 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Plus, discover our new course an online Fiction Essentials course on Characters! Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@w...

Meet Eleanor Limprecht, author of ‘The Passengers’. How US listeners can get their hands on a copy of The Mapmaker Chronicles book 4. Join us for Unblocktober, where we cast aside any writing roadblocks and get back on the path to success. Discover how to develop a writing community and more.  Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . Wri...

Meet Sarah Bailey, bestselling author of ‘Into the Night’. Do you know which two words are deadly to your writing career? Discover why you should write for 15 minutes a day and recommended books for 13/14 year old boys. Thanks to all those who took part in Furious Fiction September and congrats to the winner! Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.c...

Meet AWC graduate Margaret Morgan, author of ‘The Second Cure’. Discover why you need an author persona and learn about your chance to win a copy of ‘Amazing Australian Women’ by Pamela Freeman (AWC's awesome Director of Creative Writing). Val and Al will be at the SCBWI Conference in Sydney. What you need to know about author newsletters.   Read the show notes .&...

Meet Robert Wainwright, author of ‘Rocky Road: The Incredible True Story of the Fractured Family Behind the Darrell Lea Chocolate Empire’. Discover the difference between content writing and copywriting and how a romance author is accused of killing her husband. Plus, learn about your chance to win a copy of ‘A Letter From Paris’ by Louisa Deasey.  Read the show notes...