Discover the Wattpad sensation that turned into a Netflix hit and the five mistakes that new writers make (as told by an editor). Learn all about pacing and beat sheets! Submissions for a new anthology, Growing Up Queer in Australia, are now open. Allison Tait’s new course Creative Writing Quest for Kids is officially open for enrolments (kicking off 9 July)! You’ll also meet Belinda Castles, author of Bluebottle.

Read the show notes. 

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

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

Discover the Wattpad sensation that turned into a Netflix hit and the five mistakes that new writers make (as told by an editor). Learn all about pacing and beat sheets! Submissions for a new anthology,&nbsp;Growing Up Queer in Australia,&nbsp;are now open. Allison Tait&rsquo;s new course&nbsp;Creative Writing Quest for Kids is officially open for enrolments (kicking off 9 July)!&nbsp;You&rsquo;ll also meet Belinda Castles, author of&nbsp;Bluebottle.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-238/">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 238: Meet Belinda Castles, author of 'Bluebottle'.

Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series – with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator.

00:00 Welcome
06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around
11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club  by Gabbie Stroud
12:57 Word of the week: ‘Spicate’
13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan
15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview
17:20 Tina’s favourite koala fun fact
18:19 Wildlife career origins
21:54 The role of zoos and conservation
25:05 Turning point to getting into writing
27:02 Building a daily habit
27:37 Entering a CYA competition
31:22 Connecting with a publisher
33:03 From samples to a series
35:12 Courses and gaining confidence
36:55 Building her author website 
38:25 Writing routine and its evolution
42:07 School visits and writing festivals
42:57 Illustrator collaboration
44:52 Next books
47:08 Tina shares some writing advice
49:11 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series &ndash; with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator.
00:00 Welcome 06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around 11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club&nbsp; by Gabbie Stroud 12:57 Word of the week: &lsquo;Spicate&rsquo; 13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan 15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview 17:20 Tina&rsquo;s favourite koala fun fact 18:19 Wildlife career origins 21:54 The role of zoos and conservation 25:05 Turning point to getting into writing 27:02 Building a daily habit 27:37 Entering a CYA competition 31:22 Connecting with a publisher 33:03 From samples to a series 35:12 Courses and gaining confidence 36:55 Building her author website 38:25 Writing routine and its evolution 42:07 School visits and writing festivals 42:57 Illustrator collaboration 44:52 Next books 47:08 Tina shares some writing advice 49:11 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-714/">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 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series

Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp’s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing.

00:00 Welcome
10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback
15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey
17:29 Word of the week: ‘Mensal’
18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp
18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about
19:47 Origins and influences
21:54 Novel versus script
23:27 The differences between the two
27:21 Defining the age range 
30:48 Small town limitations
34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices
37:01 Acting skills in writing
39:43 George’s writing routine
42:54 The publication process
45:54 Editing collaboration
48:25 A writing tip
50:13 Next projects
51:03 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp&rsquo;s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing.
00:00 Welcome 10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback 15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey 17:29 Word of the week: &lsquo;Mensal&rsquo; 18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp 18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about 19:47 Origins and influences 21:54 Novel versus script 23:27 The differences between the two 27:21 Defining the age range 30:48 Small town limitations 34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices 37:01 Acting skills in writing 39:43 George&rsquo;s writing routine 42:54 The publication process 45:54 Editing collaboration 48:25 A writing tip 50:13 Next projects 51:03 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-713/">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 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'

Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And ‘What Rhymes with Murder?’ – the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey’s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library’s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book!

00:00 Welcome
04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters
08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
10:37 Word of the week: ‘Weltschmerz’
11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey
12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder?
12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book
14:39 The quirky title
15:32 The decision to write her first adult book
17:36 The writing process and plotting
18:38 Librarian life in the novel
20:31 Building a cosy cast
21:07 The timeline of writing the book
21:50 Penny’s writing routine
22:30 The biggest challenge
23:41 Having for researching the book
24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher
27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues
29:39 The overall themes of the book
31:29 Next projects ahead
32:02 Genre switching advice
33:33 Cosy crime specific advice
34:28 Librarian book pick
35:58 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And &lsquo;What Rhymes with Murder?&rsquo; &ndash; the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey&rsquo;s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library&rsquo;s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book!
00:00 Welcome 04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters 08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 10:37 Word of the week: &lsquo;Weltschmerz&rsquo; 11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey 12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder? 12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book 14:39 The quirky title 15:32 The decision to write her first adult book 17:36 The writing process and plotting 18:38 Librarian life in the novel 20:31 Building a cosy cast 21:07 The timeline of writing the book 21:50 Penny&rsquo;s writing routine 22:30 The biggest challenge 23:41 Having for researching the book 24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher 27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues 29:39 The overall themes of the book 31:29 Next projects ahead 32:02 Genre switching advice 33:33 Cosy crime specific advice 34:28 Librarian book pick 35:58 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-712/">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 238: Meet Belinda Castles, author of 'Bluebottle'.

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