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!'

What is a ‘palate cleanser’ book? Author Lynette Noni has written one – pivoting from writing fantasy to a stand-alone contemporary YA romance Wandering Wild, and in this episode she discusses why she chose to write it, her experience researching its plot, her process and more.

00:00 Welcome
03:38 Writing tip: Public Domain Review
05:44 WIN!: All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson
07:31 Word of the week: ‘Sequacious’
08:45 Writer in residence: Lynette Noni
09:23 Lynette’s journey to writing Wandering Wild
12:23 Moving from fantasy to this book
19:32 Writing in dual POV and real-world building
22:00 Researching adventure and survival
25:18 Balancing fiction and reality
26:45 Character development
29:57 The importance of writing healthy friendships
35:06 Lynette’s full time writing routine
37:14 Engaging with readers through events
41:18 Upcoming projects
43:43 Lynette’s top tips for writers
45:38 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What is a &lsquo;palate cleanser&rsquo; book? Author Lynette Noni has written one &ndash; pivoting from writing fantasy to a stand-alone contemporary YA romance Wandering Wild, and in this episode she discusses why she chose to write it, her experience researching its plot, her process and more.
00:00 Welcome 03:38 Writing tip: <a href="https://publicdomainreview.org/">Public Domain Review</a> 05:44 WIN!:&nbsp;All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson 07:31 Word of the week: &lsquo;Sequacious&rsquo; 08:45 Writer in residence: Lynette Noni 09:23 Lynette&rsquo;s journey to writing Wandering Wild 12:23 Moving from fantasy to this book 19:32 Writing in dual POV and real-world building 22:00 Researching adventure and survival 25:18 Balancing fiction and reality 26:45 Character development 29:57 The importance of writing healthy friendships 35:06 Lynette&rsquo;s full time writing routine 37:14 Engaging with readers through events 41:18 Upcoming projects 43:43 Lynette&rsquo;s top tips for writers 45:38 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-665/">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 665: Lynette Noni pivots to contemporary YA romance with Wandering Wild

What does homelessness look like to you? In this episode, author Michelle Prak tells her latest story – thriller novel Barren Cape – through the lens of the housing affordability crisis. Michelle chats to us about the book's inspiration, her own writing beginnings and much more!

00:00 Welcome
03:20 Writing tip: Visit museums for inspiration
06:24 WIN!: Invisible Woman by Katia Lief
08:15 Word of the week: ‘Koan’
11:27 The World of words: Compliment vs complement
13:31 Writer in residence: Michelle Prak
14:33 Overview of the novel Barren Cape
16:20 The explosion of the Aussie crime genre
17:21 Author inspirations
19:32 The little red typewriter
21:39 Balancing writing and life responsibilities
23:25 Exploring themes of homelessness in Barren Cape
27:54 Inspiration behind the setting and characters
31:04 Writing multiple perspectives
33:10 On writing younger characters
36:57 Michelle’s daily writing habits and process
39:16 Upcoming projects 
40:35 Advice for aspiring thriller writers
41:52 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What does homelessness look like to you? In this episode, author Michelle Prak tells her latest story &ndash; thriller novel Barren Cape &ndash; through the lens of the housing affordability crisis. Michelle chats to us about the book's inspiration, her own writing beginnings and much more!
00:00 Welcome 03:20 Writing tip: Visit museums for inspiration 06:24 WIN!: Invisible Woman by Katia Lief 08:15 Word of the week: &lsquo;Koan&rsquo; 11:27 The World of words: Compliment vs complement 13:31 Writer in residence: Michelle Prak 14:33 Overview of the novel Barren Cape 16:20 The explosion of the Aussie crime genre 17:21 Author inspirations 19:32 The little red typewriter 21:39 Balancing writing and life responsibilities 23:25 Exploring themes of homelessness in Barren Cape 27:54 Inspiration behind the setting and characters 31:04 Writing multiple perspectives 33:10 On writing younger characters 36:57 Michelle&rsquo;s daily writing habits and process 39:16 Upcoming projects 40:35 Advice for aspiring thriller writers 41:52 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-664/">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 664: Michelle Prak discusses her thriller novel, 'Barren Cape'

Ever wondered what an 18th century mashup of two fairytales would look like? AWC alumna and fantasy author Kell Woods did – and the result is her latest adult fantasy novel, Upon a Starlit Tide. Kell discusses her experience writing the book, online tools, research trips and more!

00:00 Welcome
04:27 Writing tip: Don’t aim for perfection
05:58 WIN!: Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang
07:21 Word of the week: ‘Geologise’
09:10 Writer in residence: Kell Woods
10:15 Describing her latest book, Upon a Starlit Tide
12:45 Mixing the ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’
16:20 A very busy year – book one to book two
19:00 Overcoming impostor syndrome
20:45 The publishing experience
24:22 Balancing writing and promoting
25:40 Writing to deadlines
28:30 Kell’s research and writing tools 
30:44 Becoming a ‘bestselling author’
32:31 The impact of book subscription services
35:12 Research and using libraries
38:54 International research trips and using video
43:14 Balancing writing and marketing
44:11 Future projects and writing timelines
51:08 Advice for aspiring writers
53:47 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Ever wondered what an 18th century mashup of two fairytales would look like? AWC alumna and fantasy author Kell Woods did &ndash; and the result is her latest adult fantasy novel, Upon a Starlit Tide. Kell discusses her experience writing the book, online tools, research trips and more!
00:00 Welcome 04:27 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t aim for perfection 05:58 WIN!: Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang 07:21 Word of the week: &lsquo;Geologise&rsquo; 09:10 Writer in residence: Kell Woods 10:15 Describing her latest book, Upon a Starlit Tide 12:45 Mixing the &lsquo;Cinderella&rsquo; and &lsquo;The Little Mermaid&rsquo; 16:20 A very busy year &ndash; book one to book two 19:00 Overcoming impostor syndrome 20:45 The publishing experience 24:22 Balancing writing and promoting 25:40 Writing to deadlines 28:30 Kell&rsquo;s research and writing tools 30:44 Becoming a &lsquo;bestselling author&rsquo; 32:31 The impact of book subscription services 35:12 Research and using libraries 38:54 International research trips and using video 43:14 Balancing writing and marketing 44:11 Future projects and writing timelines 51:08 Advice for aspiring writers 53:47 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-663/">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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