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'.

After a first-hand experience with a witch, author and AWC graduate Inessa Jackson started researching the real world Wiccan community, and the result was her debut crime/thriller novel, Devil Mountain. In this episode, Inessa generously shares her quirky writing process, her experience learning the craft, publishing timeline and more!

00:00 Welcome
04:17 Graduate spotlight
10:21 Writing tip: Name your characters
14:07 Writers in the wild
16:35 WIN: The Divorce by Freida McFadden
18:11 Word of the week: ‘Derrick’
18:58 Interview with: Inessa Jackson
20:00 Inessa describes Devil Mountain
21:13 Inspirations for the book
23:00 Themes of the novel
24:30 Researching witches for the book
26:04 The timeline to writing the novel
28:00 What drew Inessa to the crime-thriller genre?
29:30 Inessa’s experience with AWC
30:47 Her Write Your Novel experience
32:22 Crime and structure courses
33:22 Post-It note plotting
34:53 Daily writing routine
36:52 Getting the publishing deal
41:34 What readers take away
44:29 Inessa’s writing tip
46:53 Book recommendations
48:28 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

After a first-hand experience with a witch, author and AWC graduate Inessa Jackson started researching the real world Wiccan community, and the result was her debut crime/thriller novel, Devil Mountain. In this episode, Inessa generously shares her quirky writing process, her experience learning the craft, publishing timeline and more!
00:00 Welcome 04:17 Graduate spotlight 10:21 Writing tip: Name your characters 14:07 Writers in the wild 16:35 WIN: The Divorce by Freida McFadden 18:11 Word of the week: &lsquo;Derrick&rsquo; 18:58 Interview with: Inessa Jackson 20:00 Inessa describes Devil Mountain 21:13 Inspirations for the book 23:00 Themes of the novel 24:30 Researching witches for the book 26:04 The timeline to writing the novel 28:00 What drew Inessa to the crime-thriller genre? 29:30 Inessa&rsquo;s experience with AWC 30:47 Her Write Your Novel experience 32:22 Crime and structure courses 33:22 Post-It note plotting 34:53 Daily writing routine 36:52 Getting the publishing deal 41:34 What readers take away 44:29 Inessa&rsquo;s writing tip 46:53 Book recommendations 48:28 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-723/">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 723: Inessa Jackson and her crime-thriller novel, 'Devil Mountain'

Is food your love language? It certainly is for bestselling author and AWC graduate Anna Johnston – brought to life through her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life. In this episode, Anna dishes up the inspiration and character creation for this latest book and the challenges, strategies and superpowers of being an author with ADHD. She also shares how she deals with writing tough scenes, her writing workflow, and advice for writers.

00:00 Welcome
11:18 Writing tip: Cut the Starting Scene
13:24 Writers in the wild
14:51 WIN: The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton
16:42 Word of the week: Jakes
17:14 Writer in residence: Anna Johnston
18:16 Anna explains new book, When Lemons Give You Life
20:21 Story themes and origins
24:02 Research and authenticity
27:10 POV structure and flashbacks
29:22 Editing and deadlines
32:45 What she learned from AWC courses
35:20 ADHD writing strategies
38:06 Letting characters go
41:34 Organising notes and workflow
43:25 Balancing writing life
44:39 Publicity and events
46:40 Next book plans
47:26 Anna’s advice for writers
49:28 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Is food your love language? It certainly is for bestselling author and AWC graduate Anna Johnston &ndash; brought to life through her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life. In this episode, Anna dishes up the inspiration and character creation for this latest book and the challenges, strategies and superpowers of being an author with ADHD. She also shares how she deals with writing tough scenes, her writing workflow, and advice for writers.
00:00 Welcome 11:18 Writing tip: Cut the Starting Scene 13:24 Writers in the wild 14:51 WIN: The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton 16:42 Word of the week: Jakes 17:14 Writer in residence: Anna Johnston 18:16 Anna explains new book, When Lemons Give You Life 20:21 Story themes and origins 24:02 Research and authenticity 27:10 POV structure and flashbacks 29:22 Editing and deadlines 32:45 What she learned from AWC courses 35:20 ADHD writing strategies 38:06 Letting characters go 41:34 Organising notes and workflow 43:25 Balancing writing life 44:39 Publicity and events 46:40 Next book plans 47:26 Anna&rsquo;s advice for writers 49:28 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-722/">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 722: Anna Johnston dishes up her latest novel, 'When Lemons Give You Life'

Australia is experiencing a golden age of crime and thriller writing right now and Christine Gregory is a part of that. Her latest novel, The Informant, explores the world of bikie gangs, and in this episode, Christine discusses how she went about researching this subject, and how she balances dark themes as an author. And we love that she is an AWC graduate!

00:00 Welcome
04:25 Writers in the wild
05:52 Writing tip: Cut the first paragraph!
07:14 WIN!: Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu
09:15 Word of the week ‘Plicate’
10:02 Writer in residence: Christine Gregory
10:53 Plot of new book, The Informant
12:28 Why bikey gangs fascinate
14:28 On-location research
16:20 Standalone sequels and balancing story
18:39 Writing process and deadlines
20:06 Why Australia suits crime
23:46 Challenges writing the book
24:02 Taming story rabbit holes
24:51 Choosing the right POV
25:29 How she became an author
27:17 Courses that improved her skills|
29:13 A realistic writing routine
31:14 Day job and dark themes
33:16 Writing without lecturing
35:55 Practical advice for writers
37:57 Book recommendations
39:33 What‘s next?
40:28 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Australia is experiencing a golden age of crime and thriller writing right now and Christine Gregory is a part of that. Her latest novel, The Informant, explores the world of bikie gangs, and in this episode, Christine discusses how she went about researching this subject, and how she balances dark themes as an author. And we love that she is an AWC graduate!
00:00 Welcome 04:25 Writers in the wild 05:52 Writing tip: Cut the first paragraph! 07:14 WIN!: Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu 09:15 Word of the week &lsquo;Plicate&rsquo; 10:02 Writer in residence: Christine Gregory 10:53 Plot of new book, The Informant 12:28 Why bikey gangs fascinate 14:28 On-location research 16:20 Standalone sequels and balancing story 18:39 Writing process and deadlines 20:06 Why Australia suits crime 23:46 Challenges writing the book 24:02 Taming story rabbit holes 24:51 Choosing the right POV 25:29 How she became an author 27:17 Courses that improved her skills| 29:13 A realistic writing routine 31:14 Day job and dark themes 33:16 Writing without lecturing 35:55 Practical advice for writers 37:57 Book recommendations 39:33 What&lsquo;s next? 40:28 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-721/">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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