So You Want to be a Writer cover art

So You Want to be a Writer

By: Australian Writers' Centre
  • Summary

  • 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.

    2024 Australian Writers' Centre
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Episodes
  • WRITER 604: Explore the world of ghostwriting with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt
    May 27 2024

    Explore the world of ghostwriting with Radek Sali and ghostwriter Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, discussing challenges, the process of ghostwriting, the importance of capturing emotional depth in storytelling, and the profound impact of building a purpose-driven business. The episode touches on effective writing strategies, including the importance of starting your day with creative work and offers listeners a chance to win three copies of The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.

    00:00 Welcome to the podcast & upcoming seminar announcement
    00:16 Deep dive into writing chapters
    02:24 Nat Newman's writing tips & personal journey
    13:29 Win The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.
    17:57 Meeting Radek Sali and his ghostwriter Bernadette Schwerdt
    21:50 From idea to ghostwriter
    22:32 Challenges, editors, and finding the right partner
    24:02 Bernadette's approach: From manuscript assessment to starting fresh
    24:57 Crafting the narrative via nterviews, structure, and voice
    37:01 The business of ghostwriting: Financials and working with publishers
    40:08 Insights on ghostwriting
    47:38 Reflections and future directions

    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.

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    52 mins
  • WRITER 603: Picture book author Megan Daley on how to nurture your children to become readers.
    May 20 2024

    Meet Megan Daley, author of The Beehive. Megan talks about her passion for children’s literature, her role as a teacher librarian, and her picture book The Beehive. She also discusses her book Raising Readers, which emphasises the importance of instilling a love of reading in children from a young age and offers practical advice for parents.

    00:00 Welcome to the world of writing and publishing
    00:22 Unlocking creativity with story seeds
    03:48 Nat Newman's writing tip
    07:54 Crafting engaging openings in writing
    14:58 Megan Daley: A passion for children's literature and bees
    21:30 The journey from blog to book: Unveiling a love for reading
    23:01 Empowering reading habits: Tips for parents and educators
    23:48 A creative approach to encouraging reading
    29:34 Encouraging savvy teen readers in a digital age
    32:41 The path to becoming a teacher librarian
    34:02 From educator to children's book author
    36:28 Strategies for busy creatives
    42:34 From writing dreams to picture book reality
    44:22 A dive into the history of the exclamation mark

    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.

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    47 mins
  • WRITER 602: Meet Jo Peck, author of the memoir 'Suddenly Single at Sixty'.
    May 13 2024

    Meet Jo Peck, whose memoir Suddenly Single at Sixty details her journey through divorce and rediscovery. Jo discusses her writing process, the therapeutic value of journalling, the challenges of constructing a memoir , and her inspirations. She also offers advice for writers on being honest in their writing and the importance of self-analysis.

    00:00 Welcome to the podcast & updates
    02:03 Nat Newman’s writing tip
    05:15 Crafting secondary characters
    07:44 Book giveaway: Ghost Cities by Siang Lu
    10:39 Word of the week: Desultory
    11:26 Writer in residence: Jo Peck on Suddenly Single at Sixty
    24:23 The journey of writing a memoir
    25:58 From school gate to bookshelf
    29:12 Structuring a memoir
    34:16 Jo’s writing process
    38:18 Exploring future writing projects and reflections
    41:09 Receiving feedback and sharing advice for aspiring writers
    46:27 Closing thoughts and fun facts

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    48 mins

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