So You Want to be a Writer

Meet Amanda Willimott, who talks about her historical fiction novel Winter of the Wolf, informed by extensive research. Amanda reveals how she got her book deal with Penguin Random House and the power of persistence, planning and mentorship. 00:00 Introduction03:56 Writing tip: Attend events07:19 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight09:25 Word of the week: Riparian10:48 Interview with Amanda Willimott, author of Winter of the Wolf25:24 Deciding to write a novel26:12 Setting goals and overcoming challenges27:56 The importance of planning and research29:35 Writing discipline and tracking progress36:04 Editing and refining the manuscript37:58 The path to publication41:19 Celebrating success and future plans45:11 Final thoughts and advice for aspiring writers47:13 Fun fact: What is a circadian novel? Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet bestselling author and screenwriter Christian White on his novel The Ledge and writing the Netflix hit Clickbait. his writing process, and his transition from books to screenwriting, including his work on TV shows like Clickbait and Apartment 7A. 00:00 Welcome to episode 63501:46 Nat Newman's writing tip02:41 Nat's creative writing journey04:34 The importance of elevator pitches09:07 Win: Cherrywood by Jock Serong11:20 Word of the week: Panoply14:01 Interview with Christian White, author of The Ledge31:43 The journey to Clickbait33:15 Balancing success and stress35:16 Appreciating the moment36:11 From Clickbait to Apartment 7A41:36 The collaborative process45:43 Balancing writing and family life55:30 Tips for aspiring writers01:01:29 Conclusion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Ariane Beeston, who shares insights into her powerful memoir Because I'm Not Myself, You See, exploring postpartum psychosis, her writing journey, and the therapeutic yet challenging process of recounting personal experiences. This memoir is brave and beautifully written. As a graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, we’re so thrilled for Ariane. 00:00 Introduction00:19 Using prompts to discover your character03:39 Nat Newman’s writing tip08:32 Setting writing goals11:23 Win: The Paris Gown by Christine Wells14:22 Word of the week: Vestige6:22 Interview with Ariane Beeston, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See28:03 The proposal journey28:17 Navigating rejections and acceptances29:01 The challenge of writing a book29:26 Creative Nonfiction insights30:00 Seamlessly weaving research and personal story31:14 Overcoming personal obstacles32:35 The emotional toll of writing33:36 The urgency to finish34:58 Post-writing reflections35:49 The writing timeline36:52 Managing deadlines and mental health39:52 Reliving the past through writing42:04 Ethics and accuracy in memoir writing46:20 The book's impact and reader responses48:18 Top tips for writing a memoir54:02 Conclusion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences. 00:00 Introduction00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman02:53 Storyboarding for writers06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett08:14 Word of the week: Palmy09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour21:19 From financial journalism to fiction21:46 First foray into fiction23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym24:52 Finding the right genre25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train27:48 Dealing with success and pressure30:12 Writing process and challenges40:34 Advice for aspiring writers43:02 Fun fact: apophony Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.