Allison Tait’s ‘The Book of Answers’ is nearly here! HarperCollins announces a new fiction prize for Australian writers. We share tips for kicking out a first draft fast. Find out more about the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. And meet true crime author Campbell McConachie.

Read the show notes. 

Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au.

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

Allison Tait&rsquo;s &lsquo;The Book of Answers&rsquo; is nearly here! HarperCollins announces a new fiction prize for Australian writers. We share tips for kicking out a first draft fast. Find out more about the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. And meet true crime author Campbell McConachie.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-226/">Read the show notes</a>.&nbsp;
Email Valerie and Allison <a href="mailto:podcast@writerscentre.com.au">podcast@writerscentre.com.au</a>.
<a href="http://writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> | <a href="http://allisontait.com/">AllisonTait.com</a> | <a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>&nbsp;

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 226: Meet true crime author Campbell McConachie, author of 'The Fatalist'

With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders – and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim’s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.

00:00 Welcome
06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention
09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn
11:49 Word of the week: ‘Ylem’
13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox
14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel
16:25 Candice’s mum’s encounter with a possible killer
20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn’t make a true-crime podcast
26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two?
26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands & making hard edits
28:50 Pitching the project to her agent
32:23 The novel’s elevator pitch
34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved
37:02 What readers should take away
39:55 Career reflections – 20 books in 12 years
42:19 Candice’s writing routine and finding ideas
45:25 Top tips for crime writers
47:39 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders &ndash; and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim&rsquo;s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.
00:00 Welcome 06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention 09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn 11:49 Word of the week: &lsquo;Ylem&rsquo; 13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox 14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel 16:25 Candice&rsquo;s mum&rsquo;s encounter with a possible killer 20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn&rsquo;t make a true-crime podcast 26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two? 26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands &amp; making hard edits 28:50 Pitching the project to her agent 32:23 The novel&rsquo;s elevator pitch 34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved 37:02 What readers should take away 39:55 Career reflections &ndash; 20 books in 12 years 42:19 Candice&rsquo;s writing routine and finding ideas 45:25 Top tips for crime writers 47:39 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-710/">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 710: Candice Fox and the cold case that inspired 'Redbelly Crossing'

Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner ‘The Postcard Bandit’. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later – with Abbott still in prison – a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series have put the story back into the spotlight, and Derek has released an updated version of his book, The Postcard Bandit. In this episode, Derek shares the timeline and why it made sense to update the story now.

00:00 Welcome
06:03 Writing tip: Breaking down a novel into sessions
08:28 WIN!: Iluka by Cassie Stroud
10:08 Word of the week: ‘Stochastic’
12:54 Writer in residence: Derek Pedley
15:27 The story of Brenden Abbott – the ‘postcard bandit’
18:30 Brenden’s bank robbing style
19:51 How Derek became involved in Brenden’s story
23:00 Frustrations writing the first account
24:10 Gaining access to Abbott
26:16 Frustrations publishing the second account
28:59 20 years later – returning to the project
30:30 A new angle to the story
32:10 Turning it into a TV series and documentary
36:45 Updates with the new book
40:55 Finally meeting Brenden
42:10 Why change the book’s name?
43:23 Derek’s tip for writing crime stories
46:30 Future book projects
47:43 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner &lsquo;The Postcard Bandit&rsquo;. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later &ndash; with Abbott still in prison &ndash; a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series have put the story back into the spotlight, and Derek has released an updated version of his book, The Postcard Bandit. In this episode, Derek shares the timeline and why it made sense to update the story now.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writing tip: Breaking down a novel into sessions 08:28 WIN!: Iluka by Cassie Stroud 10:08 Word of the week: &lsquo;Stochastic&rsquo; 12:54 Writer in residence: Derek Pedley 15:27 The story of Brenden Abbott &ndash; the &lsquo;postcard bandit&rsquo; 18:30 Brenden&rsquo;s bank robbing style 19:51 How Derek became involved in Brenden&rsquo;s story 23:00 Frustrations writing the first account 24:10 Gaining access to Abbott 26:16 Frustrations publishing the second account 28:59 20 years later &ndash; returning to the project 30:30 A new angle to the story 32:10 Turning it into a TV series and documentary 36:45 Updates with the new book 40:55 Finally meeting Brenden 42:10 Why change the book&rsquo;s name? 43:23 Derek&rsquo;s tip for writing crime stories 46:30 Future book projects 47:43 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-709/">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 709: Derek Pedley shares his true crime story 'The Postcard Bandit'

The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands, during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life characters and how to capture the nuances of the story and the decade. What do you do after you retire from a celebrated 25-year diplomatic career? Play golf? Take up birdwatching? No, you write your first novel.

00:00 Welcome
07:26 Writing tip: Ask “why?” to being blocked
10:31 WIN!: Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight
12:15 Word of the week: ‘Absquatulate’
16:16 Writer in residence: Ian Kemish
17:14 Ian describes what Two Islands is about
19:34 What are the two islands in question?
22:04 Remembering Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland
23:30 Inspiration for the novel
25:53 Why the Balkans?
27:35 The inspiration for the Australian character, Anita
30:01 Writing about the 1990s: distance before the internet
31:22 How the story took shape
34:07 Researching the book
38:15 From bad poetry to diplomacy: finding his writing voice
40:52 The challenges of writing fiction for the first time
45:28 Landing the publishing deal
47:54 What’s next?
49:09 Ian’s tip for writers
50:32 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands, during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life characters and how to capture the nuances of the story and the decade. What do you do after you retire from a celebrated 25-year diplomatic career? Play golf? Take up birdwatching? No, you write your first novel.
00:00 Welcome 07:26 Writing tip: Ask &ldquo;why?&rdquo; to being blocked 10:31 WIN!: Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight 12:15 Word of the week: &lsquo;Absquatulate&rsquo; 16:16 Writer in residence: Ian Kemish 17:14 Ian describes what Two Islands is about 19:34 What are the two islands in question? 22:04 Remembering Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland 23:30 Inspiration for the novel 25:53 Why the Balkans? 27:35 The inspiration for the Australian character, Anita 30:01 Writing about the 1990s: distance before the internet 31:22 How the story took shape 34:07 Researching the book 38:15 From bad poetry to diplomacy: finding his writing voice 40:52 The challenges of writing fiction for the first time 45:28 Landing the publishing deal 47:54 What&rsquo;s next? 49:09 Ian&rsquo;s tip for writers 50:32 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-708/">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 226: Meet true crime author Campbell McConachie, author of 'The Fatalist'

In 1 playlist(s)

So You Want to be a Writer

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips