Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of 'The Boy from the Mish'. Discover the fab writers behind 'Lighthouse', an anthology of short stories. There's a new writers' festival happening on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Rebel Without a Clause' by Susan Butler to give away.

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

Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of 'The Boy from the Mish'. Discover the fab writers behind 'Lighthouse', an anthology of short stories. There's a new writers' festival happening on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Rebel Without a Clause' by Susan Butler to give away.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-387/">Read the show notes</a>
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="https://allisontait.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 387: Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of 'The Boy from the Mish'.

Do you believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy – about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames ‘Good Boy’. Michelle talks about the story’s inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more.

00:00 Welcome
07:55 Writing tip: Call yourself a writer!
11:15 Writers in the wild
13:59 WIN: Whistler by Ann Patchett
15:19 Word of the week: ‘Glabrous’
16:16 Interview with: Michelle Wright
16:59 Overview of new book, Good Boy
18:08 Origins and prison research
21:10 Planning process
23:52 ‘Beat sheet’ method
25:27 Why set it in 1997?
27:56 Naming Good Boy’
30:36 Why short stories matter
33:33 Short vs. novel ideas
36:24 Michelle’s publishing breakthrough
38:09 Redefining writer success
39:44 Next novel plans
41:10 Tip: Find your own process
43:05 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 believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy &ndash; about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames &lsquo;Good Boy&rsquo;. Michelle talks about the story&rsquo;s inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more.
00:00 Welcome 07:55 Writing tip: Call yourself a writer! 11:15 Writers in the wild 13:59 WIN: Whistler by Ann Patchett 15:19 Word of the week: &lsquo;Glabrous&rsquo; 16:16 Interview with: Michelle Wright 16:59 Overview of new book, Good Boy 18:08 Origins and prison research 21:10 Planning process 23:52 &lsquo;Beat sheet&rsquo; method 25:27 Why set it in 1997? 27:56 Naming Good Boy&rsquo; 30:36 Why short stories matter 33:33 Short vs. novel ideas 36:24 Michelle&rsquo;s publishing breakthrough 38:09 Redefining writer success 39:44 Next novel plans 41:10 Tip: Find your own process 43:05 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-726/">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 726: Michelle Wright shares her new book, 'Good Boy'

Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 – including his latest novel, The Damned, as well as some unique writing methods he employs in his routine and much much more!

00:00 Welcome
03:39 Graduate spotlight
07:55 Writing tip: Don’t give up after your start!
12:12 WIN: Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay
14:20 Word of the Week: ‘Accoutre’
15:07 Interview with: Matt Rogers
16:19 Matt’s early writing origins
18:28 Self-publishing breakthrough
22:02 Transcribing for craft
25:33 Prolific output and bookstores
29:15 Influences and endorsements
32:47 Self-publishing hustle
35:41 From indie to bookstores
37:55 Matt describes his new books
41:02 Embedding philosophy inside thrillers
44:21 Ideas and writing routine
47:24 Editing workflow and wordcounts
50:13 Self versus traditional publishing
53:33 Writing advice and reading recommendations
57:22 What’s next?
58:20 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 &ndash; including his latest novel, The Damned, as well as some unique writing methods he employs in his routine and much much more!
00:00 Welcome 03:39 Graduate spotlight 07:55 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t give up after your start! 12:12 WIN: Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay 14:20 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Accoutre&rsquo; 15:07 Interview with: Matt Rogers 16:19 Matt&rsquo;s early writing origins 18:28 Self-publishing breakthrough 22:02 Transcribing for craft 25:33 Prolific output and bookstores 29:15 Influences and endorsements 32:47 Self-publishing hustle 35:41 From indie to bookstores 37:55 Matt describes his new books 41:02 Embedding philosophy inside thrillers 44:21 Ideas and writing routine 47:24 Editing workflow and wordcounts 50:13 Self versus traditional publishing 53:33 Writing advice and reading recommendations 57:22 What&rsquo;s next? 58:20 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-725/">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 725: Matt Rogers introduces his latest thriller novel, 'The Damned'

We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin’s latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book’s themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip!

00:00 Welcome
02:54 Graduate spotlight
08:35 Writing tip: Keep things happening
11:02 Writers in the wild
12:20 WIN: Code Name Funnel Web by Camille Booker
14:05 Word of the Week: ‘Glyph’
15:32 Interview with: Emily Austin
16:38 Inspiration for her library-themed book
18:45 Emily’s writing process at the beginning
22:02 Exploring the breakdown of the main character
28:14 Dyslexia and reading hacks
30:17 Libraries under fire
33:26 Emily’s publishing journey
36:20 Writing in manic sprints
37:47 Introvert on publicity
39:45 What’s next?
40:56 Emily’s random writing tip
42:37 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin&rsquo;s latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book&rsquo;s themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip!
00:00 Welcome 02:54 Graduate spotlight 08:35 Writing tip: Keep things happening 11:02 Writers in the wild 12:20 WIN: Code Name Funnel Web by Camille Booker 14:05 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Glyph&rsquo; 15:32 Interview with: Emily Austin 16:38 Inspiration for her library-themed book 18:45 Emily&rsquo;s writing process at the beginning 22:02 Exploring the breakdown of the main character 28:14 Dyslexia and reading hacks 30:17 Libraries under fire 33:26 Emily&rsquo;s publishing journey 36:20 Writing in manic sprints 37:47 Introvert on publicity 39:45 What&rsquo;s next? 40:56 Emily&rsquo;s random writing tip 42:37 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-724/">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 387: Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of 'The Boy from the Mish'.

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