So You Want to be a Writer

Every day we experience ‘sliding doors moments’ – those decisions we make that unwittingly affect the future. In this episode, bestselling author Petronella McGovern explores this concept through her own life and via the plot of her latest novel, Every Time She Wakes. As well as sharing the inspiration and research into this story, she also shares the evolution of her life as a writer and advice for writers wanting to grow their wordcount.
00:00 Welcome
09:04 Writing tip: Stop thinking, start writing
11:20 Writers in the wild
14:26 WIN: When the Party’s Over by Katie Hoskins
15:56 Word of the Week: ‘Futz’
16:51 Interview with: Petronella McGovern
18:57 Elevator pitch for Every Time She Wakes
20:44 Inspiration for the novel
22:54 Bushfire setting
26:45 Structure and research
29:38 The mind-bending rules of time travel
30:37 Suze’s identity
34:54 Editing a time loop story
36:01 Evolving as a writer
38:58 Personal sliding doors moments
41:48 Early reading and writing influences
44:41 Petronella’s writing routine
47:08 Craft tip to beat perfectionism
49:01 Book recommendations and one last question
52:14 Final thoughts
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Do you believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy – about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames ‘Good Boy’. Michelle talks about the story’s inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more.
00:00 Welcome
07:55 Writing tip: Call yourself a writer!
11:15 Writers in the wild
13:59 WIN: Whistler by Ann Patchett
15:19 Word of the week: ‘Glabrous’
16:16 Interview with: Michelle Wright
16:59 Overview of new book, Good Boy
18:08 Origins and prison research
21:10 Planning process
23:52 ‘Beat sheet’ method
25:27 Why set it in 1997?
27:56 Naming Good Boy’
30:36 Why short stories matter
33:33 Short vs. novel ideas
36:24 Michelle’s publishing breakthrough
38:09 Redefining writer success
39:44 Next novel plans
41:10 Tip: Find your own process
43:05 Final thoughts
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Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 – including his latest novel, The Damned, as well as some unique writing methods he employs in his routine and much much more!
00:00 Welcome
03:39 Graduate spotlight
07:55 Writing tip: Don’t give up after your start!
12:12 WIN: Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay
14:20 Word of the Week: ‘Accoutre’
15:07 Interview with: Matt Rogers
16:19 Matt’s early writing origins
18:28 Self-publishing breakthrough
22:02 Transcribing for craft
25:33 Prolific output and bookstores
29:15 Influences and endorsements
32:47 Self-publishing hustle
35:41 From indie to bookstores
37:55 Matt describes his new books
41:02 Embedding philosophy inside thrillers
44:21 Ideas and writing routine
47:24 Editing workflow and wordcounts
50:13 Self versus traditional publishing
53:33 Writing advice and reading recommendations
57:22 What’s next?
58:20 Final thoughts
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We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin’s latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book’s themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip!
00:00 Welcome
02:54 Graduate spotlight
08:35 Writing tip: Keep things happening
11:02 Writers in the wild
12:20 WIN: Code Name Funnel Web by Camille Booker
14:05 Word of the Week: ‘Glyph’
15:32 Interview with: Emily Austin
16:38 Inspiration for her library-themed book
18:45 Emily’s writing process at the beginning
22:02 Exploring the breakdown of the main character
28:14 Dyslexia and reading hacks
30:17 Libraries under fire
33:26 Emily’s publishing journey
36:20 Writing in manic sprints
37:47 Introvert on publicity
39:45 What’s next?
40:56 Emily’s random writing tip
42:37 Final thoughts
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After a first-hand experience with a witch, author and AWC graduate Inessa Jackson started researching the real world Wiccan community, and the result was her debut crime/thriller novel, Devil Mountain. In this episode, Inessa generously shares her quirky writing process, her experience learning the craft, publishing timeline and more!
00:00 Welcome
04:17 Graduate spotlight
10:21 Writing tip: Name your characters
14:07 Writers in the wild
16:35 WIN: The Divorce by Freida McFadden
18:11 Word of the week: ‘Derrick’
18:58 Interview with: Inessa Jackson
20:00 Inessa describes Devil Mountain
21:13 Inspirations for the book
23:00 Themes of the novel
24:30 Researching witches for the book
26:04 The timeline to writing the novel
28:00 What drew Inessa to the crime-thriller genre?
29:30 Inessa’s experience with AWC
30:47 Her Write Your Novel experience
32:22 Crime and structure courses
33:22 Post-It note plotting
34:53 Daily writing routine
36:52 Getting the publishing deal
41:34 What readers take away
44:29 Inessa’s writing tip
46:53 Book recommendations
48:28 Final thoughts
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.