The Word Count

Annndddd… we’re back! We hope you missed us! 💛 It’s been five weeks, dearest listeners, since we were last in your ears. So… what have we been up to? This episode tells all, including our Accountability (what were our goals back in May??? 🤔) and some shiny new goals for the next two weeks. Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication: Jo Dixon - bestselling author of...

It’s the final episode of Season 5, dear listeners… and we’re getting very honest. What happens when writing plans fall apart? In this episode:  ✍️ Jo shares the reality of where things are at with Book 4  ✍️ Fiona talks about finally breaking through a month-long writing block  ✍️ Jacq attempts to wrangle her 2000+ book collection into some kind of order! Plus our usual segments — 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆...

It’s the news we’vel been bursting to share for months…  Jo spills all the behind-the-scenes details of her HUGE FOUR-BOOK DEAL with Poisoned Pen Press! 🤯📚 Jo shares:  💛 How the deal actually came about  💛 Why having an agent changed everything  💛 What happened when “the call” finally came  💛 And whether she’s come down from cloud nine yet! Plus our usual segments — 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 and 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦...

This one’s for every writer who hasn’t cracked the 3% club — because only 3% of people who start a book actually finish… and right now, Fiona is trying to become one of them.  In response to her honest and relatable cry for help, Jo and Jacq share their best advice on getting to the end, drawing on their own writing experiences and what’s worked for them. Plus our usual segments — 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 a...

After three weeks of R&R, we’re back in your ears, dear listeners! In this episode:  💛 Jo returns from her idyllic island interlude  💛 Jacq shares her publishing date!  💛 Fiona has recovered from surgery… but how close is she to finishing? Plus our usual segments — 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 and 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 — as we talk about getting back to the writing after a break. Follow us from 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡...

It’s been a big few weeks here at The Word Count… we hosted our inaugural Writers Retreat — and it was nothing short of incredible. In this episode, we’re sharing all the highlights (and yes, we’re still riding the post-retreat glow) — along with our usual segments: 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 and 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. If we sound a little worn out, it’s because we are… which may explain why this is the shortest episo...

One of us has finished a 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁! You’ll need to listen to find out who. This episode, we’re getting ready to host our inaugural writing retreat down in Tassie , sharing book recommendations (many in the case of Jacq!) and talking accountability, goals, and the realities of writing life. ✍️ Are you drafting, editing or stuck right now? Follow us from 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜...

Dear Listeners,    We owe you an apology 😬    This episode was inspired by Jo sending a message to our group chat that read:    “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨… 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺!”    Now that is an episode we’d listen to!    Unfortunately, we didn’t arrive with a tidy list of solutions to getting unstuck. But misery loves company, so if you’re feeling stuck too, welcome to the gan...

In this episode... 🎧 Listen to Jo confess that she has 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 where her book is going after throwing plotting — and her beloved Post-it notes — out the window. 🎧 Listen to Fiona admit her book is 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 not finished, and that she’s seriously considering rescuing Jo’s abandoned Post-its and actually doing some plotting. 🎧 And Jacq? Well… Jacq tells a story about when beloved Tassie series Roseha...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝟱𝟮 Annnnd… we’re back, dear listeners! After a restorative holiday break, we’re back at our desks, in front of our microphones, and ready for another year of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 . 💛 Did Jo finish a first draft of Book 4?  💛 Did Fiona finish a first draft of Book 1?  💛 Did Jacq… well, Jacq was just going to see what happens — so maybe that’s a given 😄 Along with accountability, we’re sharing...

✨ Closing The Book on 2025 ✨ Our final episode of the year is live, and it’s a big, heart-squeezy one. We kicked things off with our usual accountability chat and set some bold (and slightly terrifying) goals for our six-week break. Then we reflected on the year that was — our favourite moments, our lowest moments, and the one thing each of us absolutely wouldn’t change. It’s equal parts honest,...

🎉 It’s our 50th episode!!! 🎉 To celebrate this glorious milestone, we’ve thrown the rulebook out the window. Jo and Jacq have staged a hostile (but fabulous) takeover, while Fiona takes a well-earned back seat after moving house the day before. What follows is pure, unfiltered chaos — gin, bubbles, and a whole lot of fun, with our signature touch of honesty. We had an absolute blast recording it...

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens before, during, and after a book launch, Jo spills all the behind-the-scenes details from her tour for A Disappearing Act . 💛 Did we hit the goals we set last episode?  💛 What are our new ones?  💛 And why is getting three co-hosts into one promo photo basically an Olympic sport? 😂 All this and more in this episode. Follow @ 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙥𝙤𝙙 so you nev...

Fiona returns from her daughter’s wedding with stories and big news: 70,000 words and counting! Jo shares her pub-day plans for A Disappearing Act (out 28 Oct), and Jacq reports on festival and anthology work.  Goal setting, messy-middle talk, and tips for writers.  Follow @thewordcountpod so you never miss an episode! Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication: Jo D...

✨ New Episode — Happy 2nd Birthday! 🎉 Two years ago we hit record on our writing journeys… and here we are, celebrating TWO YEARS of The Word Count podcast! 💛 In this special episode, we look back at what’s changed since our first birthday — new books, agents, deals, retreats, and plenty of laughter (and bubbles 🍾). We’re nearly at 50 episodes, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU — our li...

This week on The Word Count , we leaned into life’s big moments — the ones that pull us away from the page and remind us that writing doesn’t always get to be the priority. With less than a month to Fiona’s daughter’s wedding, she’s fully in her Mother of the Bride era 👰💐 (yes, with the t-shirt to prove it!).  Jo opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her beautiful Frankie 🐾, and Jacq talks...

💥 This episode is going to give you ALL the feels! You’ve got 24 hours to listen (it’s only 30 minutes — perfect for your commute, walk, school run, or lunch break) before we share the BIG BIG news with the world. 💛 Pretty please don’t spoil it for others until tomorrow, when we’ll be posting ALL about it! But… if you’ve listened, we’d love you to comment or send us a message. ⚠️ If you haven’t...

We’re already halfway through August, and it’s been a busy two weeks for The Word Count crew - what with it being Fiona’s birthday month (Jacq calls it Fionaugust), beach holidays, plane trips, bookseller dinners, book launches, and workshops - but was any writing done? We tell all! We are also talking about metaphoric sharks in the water - those moments when you’re treading water, trying to stay...

In this episode, we are all doing different things, but we are all writing. Which just goes to show that writing looks different for everyone! 💛 Jacq finishes up her 2-week KSP Fellowship 💛 Fiona is busy writing (and rewriting) 💛Jo is drafting BOOK 4 As always, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨  🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode. Follow 3 Australian wr...

 In this episode, we talk about what comes after you hit "send"—when the final proofread is done, the manuscript is locked, and the book is officially out of your hands.  💛 Jo shares how it feels to finish Book 3 💛 Fiona contemplates the two-thirds mark 💛Jacq reminds us there’s always another story to tell. Of course, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals...

We probably should have called this episode “The One Where Jo Lets The Secret Out Of The Bag” (listen to the end, you’ll understand 😜😂) 💛 We discuss pitching - what works and what doesn’t  💛 Fiona and Jacq commit to entering Pitchable at @qldwriters 💛 Jo and Jacq talk about doing their nudie solstice swim! Of course, we have your favourite segments: Accountability and Setting Goals ✨  🔔 Fol...

We’re celebrating our 40th episode by answering 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 burning questions — about us, the podcast, writing… and more! PLUS, we announce the lucky dear listener who’s won an 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼 ’ 𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 – 𝗔 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁 – along with 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵 , 𝗮 @ 𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆𝘀 . 𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 , and the newest obsession: 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 - 𝗶𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀! And of course, your favourite segments: Accountability and Setti...

Aaaannnddd… we’re back! It’s been SEVEN LONG WEEKS since we were last in your ears, dear listeners - and we hope you missed us! 😉  We've chatted a little longer than usual because it's been so long since the last episode, but it's still under 40 minutes!  This episode is (fittingly) all about Brainstorms : 💛 Jo shares how her brain surgery went  💛 Fiona tries to brainstorm her wa...

Learning how to manage the messy middle of your manuscript is all part of writing a novel. Fiona is at 55,000 words and calls on Jo and Jacq this episode to share their wisdom on managing writing forward when feeling lost.  🔔 Don’t forget to follow us so you never miss an episode. Huge thanks to Postie for producing this ep, and to Phil for lending his fabulous voice to our intros! 🙏 Follow 3 Au...

We’ve had a one-week medical break but… we’re baaaack! And you know we’ve always promised to keep things real on THE WORD COUNT —so this episode is all about why we needed the break and what it means for us going forward. 💛 WHO ended up in hospital?  💛 DID we hit our creative goals?  💛 WHAT are our Easter plans? 🔔 Don’t forget to follow us so you never miss an episode. Huge thanks to Postie fo...