So You Want to be a Writer

Discover common plot holes and how to fix them. Val and Al discuss the art of the paragraph. We are giving away the opportunity to become a master dream interpreter with ’The Dream Handbook’. Plus, you’ll meet Eliza Henry-Jones, author of ‘P is for Pearl’. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | Allis...

How to turn your story ideas into amazing stories and how writers organise their personal libraries. We have 3 copies of 'Quark's Academy' by Catherine Pelosi to giveaway. Plus: meet Sally Hepworth, author of ‘The Family Next Door’. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See om...

A new project that hopes to have you fall in love with books at the first chapter. How to write for yourself when you write for a living and should you show a first draft to your agent? Plus: meet children’s author Catherine Pelosi. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See omnystud...

How to find your fiction writer’s voice when you’ve been working as a journalist. Allison Tait’s tips for author blogging and how one writer won $125,000 in a literary prize. A budget airline is running a rather quirky poetry competition. Plus: you’ll meet Jack Heath, bestselling author of ‘The Hangman’. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podc...

We go behind the scenes of ‘The Woman Who Fooled the World: Belle Gibson’s Cancer Con’ by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. Plus, there are 3 copies of 'Rooms with a View: The Secret Life of Grand Hotels' by Adrian Mourby to be won. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com   See...

We made the list for best websites for writers in 2018! Hear some of our favourite freelance writing tips, and polish up your manuscript because the Text Prize for young adult and children’s writing is now open! We also have a two-book pack of rural fiction to give away. Discover ‘The Written World’ by Martin Puchner and much more. Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Al...

Valerie and Allison discuss 10 writing tips from some of their favourite interviews with authors. We have 10 double passes to  The Commuter  starring Liam Neeson to give away, learn the origin of “to make no bones”, and much more.  Read the show notes .  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au . WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com...

What name was given to Ice Age fossils found in an LA subway? 3 ways to uncover your character’s true motivation. What does it really mean to be a best-selling author? Go in the draw to win our 12 books of Christmas. Authors you should follow on social media and travel writer Sue White reveals how you can write travel articles without leaving your home town. Read the show notes .  Email...

An AWC graduate is on the Indie Book Awards Longlist! We answer what is middle grade fiction and how do you know when your manuscript is finished? Discover your chance to win ‘Dogs with Jobs’ by Laura Greaves. And meet Brett Battles, who is earning more than six figures through his indie novels.  Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the p...

Discover how to write a great police procedural and why even new writers need author bios. We send out freelance writer Nat to uncover the curious business of naming colours. We're giving away a signed copy of Tom Hanks’ ‘Uncommon Type’. And meet AWC graduate and crime thriller novelist Sarah Bailey. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the p...

Why you should enter literary prizes and 3 questions Allison Tait has never been asked. Scrivener gets a huge update and Annie Proulx gives a truly great speech at the National Book Awards. Discover your chance to win ‘Uncommon Type’ signed by Tom Hanks. And meet Jackie French, author of over 200 books.  Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in th...

Discover how to write your second book and 5 ways to start your story that aren’t boring. Learn how an underdog author has been nominated for a prestigious literary prize. And meet children’s author Lesley Gibbes. 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...

Tips for how to pick the perfect book title. Plus: how you can promote your book and build a mailing list, even before your book is published. 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.

Why NaNoWriMo is a great time to draft your novel. Discover a site dedicated to discounted ebook deals and perks. British author Ian Rankin says crime writing is dead. Should unpublished authors have a website? And meet Lexi Landsman, author of ‘The Perfect Couple’. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit Writer...

How to find time to write during NaNoWriMo. Enter this new critic award, and discover 10 books that were written on a bet. Meet bestseller Deborah Rodriguez, author of ‘The Zanzibar Wife’. 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...

‘The Book of Secrets’ is featured in the Kids’ Reading Guide! Discover how to write authentic American dialogue. What you need to do to become a full time freelance writer. A creative writing fellowship at Stanford is up for grabs! Plus, you’ll meet Jaclyn Moriarty, author of ‘The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone’ and much more.  Read...

Discover what makes a good children’s book. We share with you a beginner’s guide to NaNoWriMo as well as tips for filling up your social media as a writer. You’ll also meet content writing expert Kath Walters. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com...

Learn how to write media releases. We chat about Tom Hanks’s new book ‘Uncommon Type’, and how one woman turned her side hustle into a career. Discover how Kelly Exeter funds her creative life. Plus, we chat to actor and author Steve Bisley about his memoir 'All the Burning Bridges'.  Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast comm...

We share tips on how to get clients as a ghostwriter. We answer the question, “do cover blurbs work?”. Plus, strategies on how to write a young male protagonist when you are a female author. 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/listen...

We unpack what should you supply a literary agent and how to world-build through your character’s eyes. A new print magazine is about to launch. And you'll meet executive director of NaNoWriMo Grant Faulkner, author of ‘Pep Talks for Writers’. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au |...

You'll meet internationally best selling author Kate Forsyth! Plus, we have a surprise guest copywriter who undertook a smart strategy 10 years ago that has kept him rolling in clients ever since. 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...

How to approach agents, especially when they all seem to say not accepting “unsolicited manuscripts”. Valerie and Allison share their “go to” writing apps. You’ll discover tips on how to tailor your writing to YA readers. And, does the editing process get easier the more you write? Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast...

Tips for avoiding information dumping in dialogue and strategies for researching your historical novel. One editor reveals big freelance pitching mistakes she sees every day. And meet Torre DeRoche, author of ‘The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World’. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCent...

How to teach your kids to write a good story, why social media advice for authors can be tricky, and why freelancers should sample office life from time to time. Plus: meet Tristan Bancks, author of the thriller book for kids, ’The Fall’. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait...

Allison new book 'The Book of Secrets' is out now! What is it like to be Obama’s speechwriter? Discover more apps to help with your writing and social media tips for authors. Your chance to win a copy of the latest Candice Fox and James Patterson book 'Fifty Fifty'. Meet Shankari Chandran, author of 'The Barrier. Read the show notes .  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the...