Australian Writers' Centre

So You Want to be a Writer

Arts EN ↓ 724 episodes

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.

Author

Australian Writers' Centre

Episodes

WRITER 574: Lucy Lever on how she got a book deal for her novel 'Mystic Ridge'. 02.11.2023 34:40

Lucy Lever on her novel Mystic Ridge. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 573: Literary agent Samuel Bernard on what agents are looking for 30.10.2023 48:11

Literary agent Samuel Bernard on what agents are looking for. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 572: Vikki Marmaras scores three book deals and reveals the process behind her latest book, I Spy Treasure. 26.10.2023 39:38

Vikki Marmaras scores three book deals and reveals the process behind her latest book, I Spy Treasure. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 571: Hedley Thomas on justice, journalism and his memoir 'The Teacher's Pet'. 23.10.2023 59:51

Hedley Thomas on justice, journalism and his memoir The Teacher's Pet. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 570: Lauren Jackson on how she went viral on TikTok and scored her book deals. 19.10.2023 39:56

Lauren Jackson on how she went viral on TikTok and scored her book deals. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 569: Suzie Miller on transforming her award-winning play 'Prima Facie' into a novel. 16.10.2023 46:19

Suzie Miller on transforming her award-winning play Prima Facie into a novel. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 568: Lang Leav on her novel 'Others Were Emeralds' 12.10.2023 31:22

Poet and novelist Lang Leav on Others Were Emeralds . Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 567: How Stacey McEwan harnessed the power of TikTok and her latest novel 'Chasm'. 09.10.2023 54:14

When Stacey McEwan's musings on books and writing went viral on TikTok, publishers came knocking. She talks about how it happened, tips for authors looking to use social media, and her latest novel Chasm . Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 566: Joanne Speirs on her novel 'Second Chance Love in Point Perry'. 05.10.2023 25:20

Joanne Speirs on how her publishing dreams came true and her novel Second Chance Love in Point Perry . Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 565: Kate Gray on landing her six-figure book deal for the psychological thriller The Honeymoon. 02.10.2023 45:35

Kate Gray on landing her six-figure book deal for the The Honeymoon . And how she transitioned from rom coms to psychological thrillers. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 564: Claire Thompson on her picture book 'Lily The Inventor' 28.09.2023 22:43

Claire Thompson on her picture book about the true story of Lily The Inventor. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 563: Bestselling author Sophie Green on 'Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Society'. 25.09.2023 38:50

Bestselling author Sophie Green on Weekends With The Sunshine Gardening Society. Should you read other books while you're writing your own? And win Storytellers: Questions, Answers and the Craft of Journalism by Leigh Sales. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

WRITER 562: Heidi Walkinshaw on reinventing her life as a picture book author and copywriter 21.09.2023 31:57

This is Heidi Walkinshaw's inspiring story on how she reinvented her life, transitioning away from a career that no longer served her to become a picture book author and copywriter. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 561: Simon Higgins on his novel Dragons of Dusk and Dawn 18.09.2023 1:11:45

Simon Higgins on his novel Dragons of Dusk and Dawn. Using moodboards to help create your characters. And win 'The Chasm' by Bronwyn Hall. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 560: Jo Dabrowski on scoring three book deals 14.09.2023 36:25

Jo Dabrowski scored not one, not two, but THREE book deals. She has published two picture books: Higher! and Have Your Seen My Friend? And has now released her middle grade novel Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

WRITER 559: Sarah Ogilvie on 'The Dictionary People'. 11.09.2023 1:02:28

Sarah Ogilvie on The Dictionary People , the fascinating story of the unsung people who helped create the Oxford English Dictionary. Word lovers: this is a must-listen! And your chance to win: Oh Miriam! by Miriam Margolyes. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

WRITER 558: Chenée Marrapodi on her novel 'One Wrong Turn'. 07.09.2023 44:19

Chenée Marrapodi on her journey to publication for her novel One Wrong Turn . Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 557: Craig Semple on his memoir 'The Cop Who Fell to Earth' 04.09.2023 53:47

Craig Semple on his memoir The Cop Who Fell to Earth. What really makes a story? And win The Fraud by Zadie Smith. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 556: Zewlan Moor on her first two picture books: Nothing Alike and The Bill Dup. 31.08.2023 41:48

Zewlan Moor on her first two picture books: Nothing Alike and The Bill Dup . Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 555: Veronica Lando on 'The Drowning Girls' and what to expect from your first year as an author. 28.08.2023 45:29

Veronica Lando on The Drowning Girls and what to expect from your first year as an author. The benefits of using a whiteboard and win Writing for Busy Readers by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 554: Tim Booth, author of 'You Called An Ambulance for What?' 21.08.2023 44:06

Tim Booth, author of You Called An Ambulance for What? Strange, Serious and Silly Stories of Life as a Paramedic . How to find writing partners and win Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 553: Lesley Gibbes, author of 'Dinosaur Dads to the Rescue' 14.08.2023 44:42

Lesley Gibbes, author of Dinosaur Dads to the Rescue . How to write like you're at Hogwarts. And much more. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 552: David Meagher, author of 'Secrets and Lies' 07.08.2023 50:30

David Meagher on his memoir Secrets and Lies . How the Pomodoro technique can help your writing. Why do American pronounce aluminium the way they do? And win After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 551: A.L. Tait, author of 'The First Summer of Callie McGee' 31.07.2023 51:08

Allison Tait (A.L. Tait) talks about her latest novel The First Summer of Callie McGee . Also, techniques to look at your writing in a completely new way. Win My Mother, The Spy by Cindy Dobbin and Freda Marnie Nicholls. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

WRITER 550: Fiona Lloyd, author of 'Being Jimmy Baxter'. 24.07.2023 35:27

Meet Fiona Lloyd, author of Being Jimmy Baxter . We also discuss what to consider when naming characters. And win The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson by Karen Brooks. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.