Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer – Australian Writers' Centre

Writing Podcast Episode 646: Rebecca Heath invites you to ‘The Wedding Party’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:00:15 +0000

Want to know the formula to writing success? In this episode, scientist-turned-author Rebecca Heath discusses her latest domestic thriller novel, The Wedding Party and her unique journey from the laboratory to the library, as well as how she crafts each story and the importance of building a writing community.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
03:43 Nat Newman’s writing tip: the art of writing
06:45 WIN! More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
09:12 Word of the week: ‘Psychrophile’
10:36 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath
13:10 Rebecca’s scientific beginnings
17:33 Making the move to fiction and thrillers
18:55 Discovering the Australian Writers’ Centre
19:20 Building a community of likeminded writers
21:15 How Rebecca wrote The Wedding Party
23:34 The writing timeline, routine and sprints
27:19 Character development and observations
30:43 How walking and recording works for her
33:05 Rebecca’s challenges and joys in this book
34:13 Future plans
37:35 Rebecca’s advice for authors
40:22 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath

Rebecca Heath studied science at university, worked in hospitality and teaching, and wrote obsessively whenever she could find the time. She wrote several young adult novels as Beck Nicholas, published in Australia and Germany. She lives in Adelaide, Australia, halfway between the city and the sea with her husband, three children and a much-loved border collie. She spent her childhood summers at a remote beach not unlike where The Summer Party is set. The Summer Party is her debut adult novel.

Follow Rebecca on Twitter and Instagram.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 645: Kathy George on her classic Dickens retelling, ‘The Scent of Oranges’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:00:44 +0000

“Please sir, can I have some more Dickens?” In this episode, author Kathy George discusses her latest novel, The Scent of Oranges – a retelling of the classic Dickens story Oliver Twist from the perspective of character Nancy. Kathy shares her love for gothic literature and why she chose this story to rewrite.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
04:46 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Character milestones
08:36 WIN! The Hidden Hand by Stella Rimington
10:30 Word of the week: ‘Susurrous’
13:02 Writer in residence: Kathy George
16:25 Getting the narrative voice right
22:22 Researching Nancy’s character
24:51 Kathy’s love for gothic literature
25:53 Understanding what “gothic” means
28:39 Thoughts on Dickens' female characters
30:24 On fleshing out Nancy's story
33:01 Retelling classic stories
36:48 Writing process and discipline
40:26 Kathy’s advice for aspiring writers
44:35 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Kathy George

Kathy George is the author of The Scent of Oranges, Estella and Sargasso, and has a master’s degree in Australian Gothic Literature. She has won the Hal Porter Short Story Award, been short-listed in a string of short story competitions, and been published in numerous literary journals including Meanjin, The Big Issue, Award Winning Australian Writing, and Margaret River Press anthologies. Kathy is represented by Sally Bird of Calidris Literary Agency.

Follow Kathy on Instagram.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 644: Karina May on ‘That Island Feeling’ and how to set yourself up for success as a writer

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:00:27 +0000

Would you like to reinvent yourself as a writer? In this episode, accomplished author Karina May shares her advice on how to grow and setting yourself up for a successful author career. Karina also discusses her third print book, That Island Feeling, staying accountable as a writer, using social media, music playlists and more!

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
06:05 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Desk love!
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
12:10 Word of the week: ‘Inanition’
12:48 Writer in residence: Karina May
19:06 Advice for setting yourself up for success
22:20 Adjusting goals and rewards
24:01 Finding accountability buddies
25:56 Connecting with fellow writers
27:20 Building an online presence
30:20 Reading outside your genre
31:29 The importance of having a routine
32:30 How Karina uses a playlist
36:34 Ensuring you have the right tools
39:58 Progress on the next book
40:54 Reflecting on the writing journey
43:24 Attention bad spellers!
44:30 Inspiring final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Karina May

Karina May is Australia’s brightest new voice in women’s commercial fiction. Her debut print novel, Duck a l’Orange for Breakfast (April 2023) was longlisted in the 2024 Indie Book Awards for Best Debut Fiction, with her second, Never Ever Forever (December 2023), hailed “a slickly written and highly entertaining summer read”.

Karina, alongside her friend and author Clare Fletcher, is the founder and co-host of the successful That Rom Com Pod.

When Karina’s not writing or interviewing fellow authors for the pod, she can be found researching her next travel adventure or sipping champagne at bookish events – all in the name of research of course.

Follow Karina on Instagram.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 643: Tabitha Carvan discusses her memoir, ‘This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:00:28 +0000

Described as a ‘memoir with a message’, This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch deals with many themes including celebrity obsession and shame. In this episode, author Tabitha Carvan discusses her experience writing this uniquely personal story, as well as offering advice for aspiring memoir writers.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
06:20 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Editing
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
11:22 Word of the week: ‘Thalassic’
13:40 Writer in residence: Tabitha Carvan
16:01 How the book came about
20:35 Defining the book's genre
22:47 Incorporating other perspectives
26:00 Exploring the concept of shame
28:10 Writing process and tools
34:41 Publicity and promotion
40:54 Advice for aspiring memoir writers
43:20 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Tabitha Carvan

Tabitha Carvan is a science writer for the Australian National University and a freelance features writer on the side, focusing on issues of identity, family and pop culture. Her writing has appeared in over a dozen different publications from Crikey to Junkee; Overland to Offbeat Home; Popula to MamaMia. She lives in Canberra.

Follow Tabitha on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow HarperCollins Aus on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Dare to Dream.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 642: Madeline Te Whiu on her trilogy and latest book, ‘The Queen Thief’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:00:57 +0000

If you love fantasy, you’ll love our delightful interview with author Madeline Te Whiu, who shares her journey from writing her first book The Assassin Thief to completing her trilogy with her latest release, The Queen Thief. Madeline talks about her experience writing while working full-time, her planning process, harnessing social media and advice for aspiring writers.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
03:29 Holiday book recommendations
08:33 Nat’s writing tip: Structure
12:24 WIN! The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin
13:51 Word of the week: ‘Chrestomathy’
16:51 Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu
27:05 Finding time for writing
28:56 The journey to getting published
31:05 Madeline’s experience pitching her trilogy
31:58 Experiencing reader reactions
35:36 Writing the second and third books
37:15 Overcoming writer's block
43:11 Balancing writing and full-time work
45:36 Madeline’s approach to social media
53:21 Advice for aspiring authors
56:07 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu

Madeline Te Whiu is a veterinary nurse based in Perth, Western Australia. Her passion for books began when she was growing up in rural South Australia. Her youngest memory of books is sitting on the lounge room floor while her mum read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

She has always had a love for reading with some of her favourite authors being Peter V Brett, Kristin Cashore, and C.L Wilson, just to name a few. Madeline was shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Prize for Emerging Writers 2023.

Follow Madeline on Instagram.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 641: Joe Aston on his tell-all book on Qantas, ‘The Chairman’s Lounge’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:00:42 +0000

Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip
08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber
11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’
12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston
21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism
27:25 The evolution of journalism
28:04 The pressure of producing quality content
29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion
31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception
34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book
37:28 Research versus the writing process
42:34 Future plans and new ventures
49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors
50:50 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Joe Aston

Joe Aston is one of Australia’s most influential commentators on business, finance and politics.

For 12 years he struck fear into the hearts of the nation’s political and corporate leaders with his must-read column Rear Window in The Australian Financial Review.

He interrogated some of the country’s biggest business stories including Rio Tinto’s Juukan Gorge scandal; CPA Australia and its Naked CEO Alex Malley; the decline and fall of both Magellan Financial Group and Alan Joyce’s Qantas. In 2023, Joe and his AFR colleagues won a Walkley Award for their coverage of the PwC tax leaks scandal.

AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury says Aston “turned a gossip column into a form of journalism like never before seen in Australia, and arguably the world.”

In 2024 he became a best-selling author with the publication of his first book, The Chairman’s Lounge.

He lives in Sydney.

Follow Joe on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Simon & Schuster AU on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Freelance Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 640: Susannah Glenn on her novel ‘Between Husbands and Wives’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:07:35 +0000

Meet Susannah Glenn, author of Between Husbands and Wives. Susannah discusses her writing process, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of setting and character development. She highlights the impact of persistence, learning from setbacks, and taking writing courses.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
01:53 The importance of doing the work
07:07 Writing tip: Keep it simple
11:13 WIN! Literary Journeys by John McMurtrie
13:07 Word of the week: pedicular
14:26 Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn
21:57 The writing process: Finding the sweet spot
22:35 Character development
24:23 Balancing writing with everyday life
25:51 From manuscript to book deal
31:54 The importance of writing routines
37:38 Navigating the emotional roller coaster of writing
44:45 Top writing tips for aspiring authors
46:57 Conclusion

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn

The nomadic early years of Susannah’s life were spent exploring the remote towns and backroads of regional Australia, her home a caravan towed behind her father’s prized possession, a 1957 Land Rover. New places and faces ignited her already active imagination, instilling a love of reading, story-writing and a dream of one day becoming a full-time novelist.

While her family eventually settled on the mid north coast of NSW, Susannah never lost her desire to venture further afield to explore career opportunities as a writer. After studying at the University of Newcastle, Susannah moved to Sydney to put her communications degree to good use. Never shy of hard work, Susannah rose from rooky journalist to editor, managing editor, and magazine publisher with News Limited, Fairfax, Macquarie Publications and Australian Provincial Newspapers.

During her early thirties, motherhood imposed two short breaks on her working life and prompted a career change into corporate communication. With a job offer in the South Pacific, Susannah and her then-husband relocated their young family to Fiji for several years, where she worked closely with 12 island nations to share their unique cultural stories with the world.

Several moves later (Brisbane, Port Douglas and Coffs Harbour), Susannah found herself back in her home town, where her career diversified into major regional development projects, including a highway bypass, a cinema complex, a flying school and an offical Guinness World Record for the most number of people – almost 2000 – wearing an Akubra hat in one place at one time, all while raising two teenage children now on her own.

Meanwhile, Susannah’s life-long desire to write a novel continued to burn. When her children left home for university, she made a now-or-never decision to walk away from corporate life and begin writing fiction full-time.

Her first novel, Between Husbands and Wives, will be published by Pantera Press on July 30, 2024. Susannah has also self-published a collection of short stories, Out of the Vault.

Susannah is currently working on her second novel, to be published by Pantera Press in 2025.

Follow Susannah on Instagram.

Follow Pantera Press on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Writing Stage 1.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 639: Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sebastian Smee on his latest book ‘Paris in Ruins’

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:00:05 +0000

Meet Sebastian Smee, a Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic, who discusses his new book Paris in Ruins, its historical context, and the challenges of writing it. He also touches upon his previous book The Art of Rivalry, how to approach writing art criticism, and tips for aspiring writers. Sebastian now writes for The Washington Post, but got his start writing for The Sydney Morning Herald. He then went on to write for The Boston Globe, The Spectator, The Guardian, The Australian and more.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
02:35 Nat Newman’s writing tip
10:28 Win Endgame by Sarah Barrie
12:44 Word of the week: Hypnagogic
16:47 Interview with Sebastian Smee
20:27 Diving into historical context
20:59 Early career and education
21:49 Breaking into art criticism
23:55 Writing art reviews
25:50 Journey to America
27:34 The Art of Rivalry
31:02 Crafting Paris in Ruins
38:30 Challenges and reflections
42:21 Advice for aspiring art critics
47:57 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Sebastian Smee

Born in 1972 in Adelaide, Sebastian Smee is now a Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic at the Washington Post. He has written widely about art, and is the author of The Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art. He lives in Boston.

Follow Sebastian on Instagram.

Follow Text Publishing on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Creative Non-fiction.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 638: Mitch Jennings on his page-turning novel ‘A Town Called Treachery’.

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:00:22 +0000

Meet Mitch Jennings, author of A Town Called Treachery, who shares his journey to becoming a novelist and his advice for aspiring writers.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
00:27 Reinvention
04:02 Writing opportunities and taking chances
07:58 Writing tip: The Pomodoro Technique
14:23 WIN: Everyone this Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson
15:12 Word of the week: Claque
18:32 Mitch Jennings and his page-turning novel A Town Called Treachery
26:16 Balancing writing and family life
28:00 Discovering writing process during COVID
29:26 The role of mentorship and courses
32:30 Crafting the story of A Town Called Treachery
37:40 Journalism's influence on writing
44:24 Entering and winning the Banjo Prize
50:34 Advice for aspiring writers
53:30 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Mitch Jennings

Mitch Jennings is a writer, journalist, radio host, sports commentator, podcaster and comedian. His debut novel A Town Called Treachery was shortlisted for the 2022 HarperCollins Banjo Prize. He was raised on the beautiful Mid North Coast of New South Wales and now lives and works on Dharawal Country in Wollongong with his wife, Angela, their son and their French bulldog, Guinness.

Follow Mitch on Instagram.

Follow HarperCollins Aus on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

Writing Podcast Episode 637: New York Times bestselling author Laura Dave on ‘The Night We Lost Him’ and ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’.

Australian Writers' Centre Team — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:00:20 +0000

Meet New York Times bestselling author Laura Dave, who talks about her latest novel The Night We Lost Him, her writing process, and adapting her hit novel The Last Thing He Told Me for television. Laura shares her approach to character development, writing routines, and advice for aspiring writers. She talks about the importance of dedication, routine, and what you need to do before seeking publication.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.

00:00 Introduction
03:00 Nat Newman's writing tip
05:46 Writing opportunities and tips
10:51 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight
13.01 Word of the week: piacular
16:16 Laura Dave, with of The Last Thing He Told Me and The Night We Lost Him
23:26 From novel to screen
24:57 The success and future of the series
25:46 The role of music in writing
29:12 Crafting characters and storylines
40:44 Writing routine and research
46:36 Advice for aspiring writers
48:51 Fun fact

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Laura Dave

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He Told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes and other novels.

Her books have been published in thirty-eight languages and have been chosen by Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, Indie Next, Book of the Month Club, The Richard and Judy Book Club, Best of Amazon, and Best of Apple Books. The Last Thing He Told Me was chosen as the Goodreads Mystery & Thriller of the Year for 2021. The Last Thing He Told Me is now a series on Apple TV+, co-created by Laura.

She resides in Santa Monica, California.

Follow Laura on Instagram.

Follow Penguin Books Australia on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).