Have you started your book in the right place? And meet picture book author and AWC alumni Shelly Unwin.

Read the show notes. 

Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook

Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com

Have you started your book in the right place? And meet picture book author and AWC alumni Shelly Unwin.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-185/">Read the show notes</a>.&nbsp;
Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a>
Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> | <a href="http://allisonttait.com/">AllisonTait.com</a> | <a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

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. 

Everything you&rsquo;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 &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;

So You Want to be a Writer

WRITER 185: Meet picture book author and AWC alumni Shelly Unwin, author of 'You're Five!'

She’s baaaaack! Any chance to chat with my former podcast co-host Allison Tait (who writes as A.L Tait) is a good day, and she’s back with yet another book hitting shelves – tween romance, The Last Word. Allison also discusses some of the other exciting projects including curating a new series of books through her Your Kids Next Read community.

00:00 Welcome
06:05 Writers in the wild
09:23 Writing tip: Do NOT self-censor in a memoir draft
11:28 WIN!: Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine
13:06 Word of the week: ’Recondite’
13:48 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait
14:52 Allison discusses new book, The Last Word
17:52 What makes tween romance?
21:55 Allison’s ‘romance’ origins
25:33 Character-driven romance
27:31 Books coming up
28:00 Your Next Read fiction series
30:20 Writing small word counts
30:45 Finding new lanes
33:36 Writing for different age levels
37:24 One project at a time!
39:48 From CLEO magazine to writing
41:35 Writing around kids
43:30 Allison’s YKNR podcast role
46:30 Just show up and write!
49:52 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

She&rsquo;s baaaaack! Any chance to chat with my former podcast co-host Allison Tait (who writes as A.L Tait) is a good day, and she&rsquo;s back with yet another book hitting shelves &ndash; tween romance, The Last Word. Allison also discusses some of the other exciting projects including curating a new series of books through her Your Kids Next Read community.
00:00 Welcome 06:05 Writers in the wild 09:23 Writing tip: Do NOT self-censor in a memoir draft 11:28 WIN!: Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine 13:06 Word of the week: &rsquo;Recondite&rsquo; 13:48 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait 14:52 Allison discusses new book, The Last Word 17:52 What makes tween romance? 21:55 Allison&rsquo;s &lsquo;romance&rsquo; origins 25:33 Character-driven romance 27:31 Books coming up 28:00 Your Next Read fiction series 30:20 Writing small word counts 30:45 Finding new lanes 33:36 Writing for different age levels 37:24 One project at a time! 39:48 From CLEO magazine to writing 41:35 Writing around kids 43:30 Allison&rsquo;s YKNR podcast role 46:30 Just show up and write! 49:52 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-719/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Writing Podcast Episode 719: Allison Tait talks 'The Last Word' and YKNR series

Do you love historical fiction? I have to admit to being a sucker for a different time and place – and both are on offer in Mary-Lou Stephens’ latest novel, The Hobart Hotel. In this episode, Mary-Lou discusses her unique approach to research and the challenges of writing about Uruguay in the 1940s, as well as why she loves writing historical fiction so much.

00:00 Welcome
06:03 Writers in the Wild
10:08 Writing tip: Find balance in your creative life
13:15 WIN!: The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott
15:07 Word of the week: ’Patalous’
15:45 Writer in residence: Mary-Lou Stephens
17:19 Describing The Hobart Hotel
19:16 Inspiration and research
20:57 The dual timeline process
22:36 Capturing the Uruguay wartime vibe
27:24 Why Historical Fiction?
30:32 Mary-Lou’s ‘slow travel’ writing life
34:40 Writing while traveling
37:17 Memoir and meditation
43:10 What’s next?
44:58 Promoting her books
46:07 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Do you love historical fiction? I have to admit to being a sucker for a different time and place &ndash; and both are on offer in Mary-Lou Stephens&rsquo; latest novel, The Hobart Hotel. In this episode, Mary-Lou discusses her unique approach to research and the challenges of writing about Uruguay in the 1940s, as well as why she loves writing historical fiction so much.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writers in the Wild 10:08 Writing tip: Find balance in your creative life 13:15 WIN!: The Secret Lives of Murderers&rsquo; Wives by Elizabeth Arnott 15:07 Word of the week: &rsquo;Patalous&rsquo; 15:45 Writer in residence: Mary-Lou Stephens 17:19 Describing The Hobart Hotel 19:16 Inspiration and research 20:57 The dual timeline process 22:36 Capturing the Uruguay wartime vibe 27:24 Why Historical Fiction? 30:32 Mary-Lou&rsquo;s &lsquo;slow travel&rsquo; writing life 34:40 Writing while traveling 37:17 Memoir and meditation 43:10 What&rsquo;s next? 44:58 Promoting her books 46:07 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-718/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Writing Podcast Episode 718: Mary-Lou Stephens welcomes you to 'The Hobart Hotel'

OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins’ debut novel, When the Party’s Over! In so many ways, it’s the PERFECT book – nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginner to a two-book Pan Macmillan deal, including the AWC courses that helped her hone her structure, subplot, distinct voices and more. 

00:00 Welcome
09:33 Writing tip: Don’t avoid the tough scenes
11:43 WIN!: When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston
14:12 Word of the week: ’Imprimatur’
14:45 Writer in residence: Katie Hoskins
16:12 Plot and inspiration for When the Party’s Over
20:23 Dreaming of being an author
21:16 From journalism to fiction
22:58 AWC courses that sparked the shift
25:01 Writing her novel
26:22 The usefulness of workshopping
27:11 Nailing story structure
29:57 Balancing subplot arcs
33:01 Distinct voices
36:06 Landing the book deal
39:30 Advice for aspiring writers
42:29 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins&rsquo; debut novel, When the Party&rsquo;s Over! In so many ways, it&rsquo;s the PERFECT book &ndash; nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginner to a two-book Pan Macmillan deal, including the AWC courses that helped her hone her structure, subplot, distinct voices and more.&nbsp;
00:00 Welcome 09:33 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t avoid the tough scenes 11:43 WIN!: When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston 14:12 Word of the week: &rsquo;Imprimatur&rsquo; 14:45 Writer in residence: Katie Hoskins 16:12 Plot and inspiration for When the Party&rsquo;s Over 20:23 Dreaming of being an author 21:16 From journalism to fiction 22:58 AWC courses that sparked the shift 25:01 Writing her novel 26:22 The usefulness of workshopping 27:11 Nailing story structure 29:57 Balancing subplot arcs 33:01 Distinct voices 36:06 Landing the book deal 39:30 Advice for aspiring writers 42:29 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-717/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

WRITER 185: Meet picture book author and AWC alumni Shelly Unwin, author of 'You're Five!'

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