You asked some pretty personal and deep questions - and Valerie went there! She's answered them here.

Read the show notes

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

You asked some pretty personal and deep questions - and Valerie went there! She's answered them here.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-521/">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> | <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 521: All your questions answered!

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that’s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell – and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de Sévigné. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.

00:00 Welcome
03:21 Writing tip: Don’t limit your writing identity
07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura & Marie Kondo
08:45 Word of the week: ‘Manel’
10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell
11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence
12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de Sévigné
15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother
18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing
20:00 Telling a personal version of events
22:27 The timeline of writing this book
25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft
26:14 The publishing experience
28:36 The process of writing the book
34:44 The story of three women across time
36:45 Living between two worlds
37:28 The double life is possible
40:40 Future plans for writing
41:32 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that&rsquo;s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell &ndash; and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute;. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.
00:00 Welcome 03:21 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t limit your writing identity 07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura &amp; Marie Kondo 08:45 Word of the week: &lsquo;Manel&rsquo; 10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell 11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence 12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute; 15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother 18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing 20:00 Telling a personal version of events 22:27 The timeline of writing this book 25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft 26:14 The publishing experience 28:36 The process of writing the book 34:44 The story of three women across time 36:45 Living between two worlds 37:28 The double life is possible 40:40 Future plans for writing 41:32 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-707/">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 707: Sheryle Bagwell on writing 'Letter from Provence'

What’s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it’s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that’s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad – exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing these kinds of ‘behind the scenes’ industry books and how he ended up with the publishing relationship that has yielded 20 books to date. He also explains how he chooses the stories to go in his books and some of the more surprising entries.

00:00 Welcome
06:11 Writing tip: Associative triggers
11:00 WIN!: Diaries of Note by Shaun Usher
13:02 Word of the week: ‘Deuteragonist’
15:12 Writer in residence: Alex Johnson
16:00 Alex explains his latest book, When Books Go Bad
16:55 Why he wrote this book
19:58 Journalistic not academic
21:51 Starting his relationship with the British Library
24:00 Compiling the material for the book
25:09 Authors and their naughty and odd tendencies
28:20 Pitching and publishing books
32:57 The editing process
36:21 Illustrations and book design
38:06 Surprising stories from the book
41:34 Publicity and social media
43:06 Upcoming projects and tips
44:39 A writing tip
46:20 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What&rsquo;s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it&rsquo;s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that&rsquo;s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad &ndash; exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing these kinds of &lsquo;behind the scenes&rsquo; industry books and how he ended up with the publishing relationship that has yielded 20 books to date. He also explains how he chooses the stories to go in his books and some of the more surprising entries.
00:00 Welcome 06:11 Writing tip: Associative triggers 11:00 WIN!: Diaries of Note by Shaun Usher 13:02 Word of the week: &lsquo;Deuteragonist&rsquo; 15:12 Writer in residence: Alex Johnson 16:00 Alex explains his latest book, When Books Go Bad 16:55 Why he wrote this book 19:58 Journalistic not academic 21:51 Starting his relationship with the British Library 24:00 Compiling the material for the book 25:09 Authors and their naughty and odd tendencies 28:20 Pitching and publishing books 32:57 The editing process 36:21 Illustrations and book design 38:06 Surprising stories from the book 41:34 Publicity and social media 43:06 Upcoming projects and tips 44:39 A writing tip 46:20 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-706/">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 706: Alex Johnson explores 'When Books Go Bad'

We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this episode Sam shares the turning points that got him to this stage – including completing a particular AWC course – and the inspiration for telling this particular story. He also shares advice for other aspiring writers and the importance of a writing community.

00:00 Welcome
03:45 Writing tip: Check your Notes app
07:41 WIN!: The Violin Maker’s Secret by Evie Woods
09:07 Word of the week: ‘Ditheism’
10:41 Writer in residence: Sam Elliott
11:55 Sam describes his debut crime thriller, Haze
14:00 Sam’s history of writing
16:45 The inspirations for the bushfire storyline
18:03 Creating and developing characters
19:02 Writing about cults
20:55 The experience of completing the AWC course
22:20 Finding a last writing community
24:29 Advice for aspiring writers
25:54 Making peace with the publishing journey 
27:40 Writing the book and securing an agent
30:30 Getting the offer and how surreal it was
32:53 Research for this book
36:44 The best and worst part of writing the book
38:10 Being on the other side of interviews
39:55 Balancing writing with life
41:37 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this episode Sam shares the turning points that got him to this stage &ndash; including completing a particular AWC course &ndash; and the inspiration for telling this particular story. He also shares advice for other aspiring writers and the importance of a writing community.
00:00 Welcome 03:45 Writing tip: Check your Notes app 07:41 WIN!: The Violin Maker&rsquo;s Secret by Evie Woods 09:07 Word of the week: &lsquo;Ditheism&rsquo; 10:41 Writer in residence: Sam Elliott 11:55 Sam describes his debut crime thriller, Haze 14:00 Sam&rsquo;s history of writing 16:45 The inspirations for the bushfire storyline 18:03 Creating and developing characters 19:02 Writing about cults 20:55 The experience of completing the AWC course 22:20 Finding a last writing community 24:29 Advice for aspiring writers 25:54 Making peace with the publishing journey 27:40 Writing the book and securing an agent 30:30 Getting the offer and how surreal it was 32:53 Research for this book 36:44 The best and worst part of writing the book 38:10 Being on the other side of interviews 39:55 Balancing writing with life 41:37 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-705/">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 521: All your questions answered!

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