Two writing apps to help develop your story. And meet AWC alumna Penelope Janu, who has just released her eighth novel! And win Bret Easton Ellis’s latest novel The Shards.

Read the show notes

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

Two writing apps to help develop your story. And meet AWC alumna Penelope Janu, who has just released her eighth novel! And win Bret Easton Ellis’s latest novel The Shards.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-522/">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 522: Penelope Janu on her eighth novel 'Shelter from the Storm'

Do you love true-crime podcasts? Author A.L. Tait got obsessed with them for a while and pulled those themes into her latest middle-grade crime-thriller novel Danger Road. She joins us to discuss her experience writing and publishing this one, along with her busy year of writing, her process and how she found her unique voice.

00:00 Welcome
02:51 Writing tip: ‘Geolocating writing prompts’
06:26 WIN!: Lights, Camera, Love by Natalie Murray
09:36 Word of the week: ‘Objurgate’
10:13 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait
12:00 The inspirations for Danger Road
16:41 Creating distinctive voices
20:07 A busy year of writing.
23:48 The importance of continuous writing
24:41 Challenges of underwriting
27:21 How Tait found her storytelling voice
30:09 The ‘Your Kid’s Next Read’ community
34:43 On writing nonfiction and ghostwriting
36:00 Say yes to new writing avenues and genres
38:18 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 love true-crime podcasts? Author A.L. Tait got obsessed with them for a while and pulled those themes into her latest middle-grade crime-thriller novel Danger Road. She joins us to discuss her experience writing and publishing this one, along with her busy year of writing, her process and how she found her unique voice.
00:00 Welcome 02:51 Writing tip: &lsquo;Geolocating writing prompts&rsquo; 06:26 WIN!: Lights, Camera, Love by Natalie Murray 09:36 Word of the week: &lsquo;Objurgate&rsquo; 10:13 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait 12:00 The inspirations for Danger Road 16:41 Creating distinctive voices 20:07 A busy year of writing. 23:48 The importance of continuous writing 24:41 Challenges of underwriting 27:21 How Tait found her storytelling voice 30:09 The &lsquo;Your Kid&rsquo;s Next Read&rsquo; community 34:43 On writing nonfiction and ghostwriting 36:00 Say yes to new writing avenues and genres 38:18 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-677/">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 677: A.L. Tait introduces her tween crime-thriller, 'Danger Road'

How do you go about adapting a stage play into a compelling murder mystery novel? For acclaimed actor and playwright Toby Schmitz, this was his challenge in creating his debut, The Empress Murders – set on the high seas amid the glamour and clamour 1920s. In this episode, Toby shares his inspirations, aspirations and perspirations in bringing his story to the page.

00:00 Welcome
02:29 Writing tip: ‘Magazine apps to combat doomscrolling’
07:32 WIN!: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
10:30 Word of the week: ‘Vicissitude’
11:11 The world of words: Tack vs. Tact
12:59 Writer in residence: Toby Schmitz
14:02 Toby describes The Empress Murders
16:06 Storytelling in the 1920s
18:11 Themes of colonialism
20:19 How the story started as a play
22:05 Defining what an Australian story is
26:17 The journey from play to novel
27:01 Finding freedom in novel writing
27:22 Crafting the story with index cards
28:13 Maintaining the playwright's touch
29:32 Exploring colonial guilt
30:30 Switching genres throughout
32:32 Inspirations for Toby
35:36 Navigating historical authenticity
37:16 The research process
39:11 The emotional experience of publishing
43:10 Reflections on feedback and notes
45:08 Hopes for the reader's experience
46:36 Acknowledging influences and support
49:19 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

How do you go about adapting a stage play into a compelling murder mystery novel? For acclaimed actor and playwright Toby Schmitz, this was his challenge in creating his debut, The Empress Murders &ndash; set on the high seas amid the glamour and clamour 1920s. In this episode, Toby shares his inspirations, aspirations and perspirations in bringing his story to the page.
00:00 Welcome 02:29 Writing tip: &lsquo;Magazine apps to combat doomscrolling&rsquo; 07:32 WIN!: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova 10:30 Word of the week: &lsquo;Vicissitude&rsquo; 11:11 The world of words: Tack vs. Tact 12:59 Writer in residence: Toby Schmitz 14:02 Toby describes The Empress Murders 16:06 Storytelling in the 1920s 18:11 Themes of colonialism 20:19 How the story started as a play 22:05 Defining what an Australian story is 26:17 The journey from play to novel 27:01 Finding freedom in novel writing 27:22 Crafting the story with index cards 28:13 Maintaining the playwright's touch 29:32 Exploring colonial guilt 30:30 Switching genres throughout 32:32 Inspirations for Toby 35:36 Navigating historical authenticity 37:16 The research process 39:11 The emotional experience of publishing 43:10 Reflections on feedback and notes 45:08 Hopes for the reader's experience 46:36 Acknowledging influences and support 49:19 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-676/">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 676: Toby Schmitz welcomes us aboard The Empress Murders

When award-winning author Demet Divaroren decided to write a fantasy novel, she went down a completely different path first, before finally arriving at what would become Blood Moon Bride. In this discussion, Demet shares the inspiration for this YA fantasy novel, the creative freedom of writing in this genre and how motherhood changed her perspective on storytelling.

00:00 Welcome
04:51 Writing tip: ‘Tinder for writers’
08:45 WIN!: A Passion for Passion by Alice Fraser
11:53 Word of the week: ‘Kickshaw’
12:25 Writer in residence: Demet Divaroren
16:00 Starting with a different book
19:45 Creating a fantasy world
22:13 Writing for young adults
25:42 Balancing writing and life
26:12 How motherhood changed her writing
29:14 The publishing journey
32:07 The magic of writing
33:08 Promoting the book
35:16 Future projects 
37:00 Demet shares a writing tip
38:05 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

When award-winning author Demet Divaroren decided to write a fantasy novel, she went down a completely different path first, before finally arriving at what would become Blood Moon Bride. In this discussion, Demet shares the inspiration for this YA fantasy novel, the creative freedom of writing in this genre and how motherhood changed her perspective on storytelling.
00:00 Welcome 04:51 Writing tip: &lsquo;Tinder for writers&rsquo; 08:45 WIN!: A Passion for Passion by Alice Fraser 11:53 Word of the week: &lsquo;Kickshaw&rsquo; 12:25 Writer in residence: Demet Divaroren 16:00 Starting with a different book 19:45 Creating a fantasy world 22:13 Writing for young adults 25:42 Balancing writing and life 26:12 How motherhood changed her writing 29:14 The publishing journey 32:07 The magic of writing 33:08 Promoting the book 35:16 Future projects&nbsp; 37:00 Demet shares a writing tip 38:05 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-675/">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 522: Penelope Janu on her eighth novel 'Shelter from the Storm'

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