This 'inbetweenisode' is part of our Story Sessions series featuring 'The Performance' by Claire Thomas. As bushfires rage outside the city, three women watch a performance of Samuel Beckett's play 'Happy Days'. As the performance unfolds, so does each woman’s story. By the time the curtain falls, they will all have a new understanding of the world beyond the stage. We bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this intimate and engaging novel.

Read the show notes

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

This 'inbetweenisode' is part of our Story Sessions series featuring 'The Performance' by Claire Thomas. As bushfires rage outside the city, three women watch a performance of Samuel Beckett's play 'Happy Days'. As the performance unfolds, so does each woman&rsquo;s story. By the time the curtain falls, they will all have a new understanding of the world beyond the stage. We bring bookshop browsing to you in this episode with the first chapter of this intimate and engaging novel.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-394/">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 394: Claire Thomas's 'The Performance' [Story Sessions 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>

Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'

Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together. She also explores the publishing journey and shares a top tip for writers.

00:00 Welcome
05:33 Writing tip: Don’t put off your writing dream
08:28 WIN!: The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee
11:15 Word of the week: ‘Shallop’
13:04 Writer in residence: Emma Styles
14:42 Inspiration for the book
18:00 Crafting characters
21:21 Writing unlikable women
24:30 Complex crime characters
25:19 Why two young women?
28:02 Alternating POV method
29:22 Planning vs pantsing
32:22 Adult crime not YA
34:18 Landing The Shark book deal
36:11 The supportive publishing world
37:39 Writing about Australia from UK
40:38 The setting for her next book
43:10 Trusting your instincts
44:16 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together. She also explores the publishing journey and shares a top tip for writers.
00:00 Welcome 05:33 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t put off your writing dream 08:28 WIN!: The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee 11:15 Word of the week: &lsquo;Shallop&rsquo; 13:04 Writer in residence: Emma Styles 14:42 Inspiration for the book 18:00 Crafting characters 21:21 Writing unlikable women 24:30 Complex crime characters 25:19 Why two young women? 28:02 Alternating POV method 29:22 Planning vs pantsing 32:22 Adult crime not YA 34:18 Landing The Shark book deal 36:11 The supportive publishing world 37:39 Writing about Australia from UK 40:38 The setting for her next book 43:10 Trusting your instincts 44:16 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-711/">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 394: Claire Thomas's 'The Performance' [Story Sessions series]

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