New York Times bestselling author of 20 books, Lisa Unger on Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. Having a multi-passionate career and how to use diacritical writing marks! And win Why We Sing by Julia Hollander.

Read the show notes

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

New York Times bestselling author of 20 books, Lisa Unger on Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. Having a multi-passionate career and how to use diacritical writing marks! And win Why We Sing by Julia Hollander.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-523/">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 523: New York Times bestselling author of 20 books, Lisa Unger on Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

Arrrr me hearties! That’s right, landlubbers – this week we walk the plank to delve into the intriguing real history of female pirates as Francesca de Tores discusses her new historical fiction novel, 'Saltblood.' Francesca goes into her meticulous research process, spanning everything from nautical details to the lives of real historical figures, plus shares a surprising ‘Comic Sans’ tip for writers!

00:00 Welcome
07:36 Writing tip: Social media for writers
11:15 WIN!: When We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven
12:55 Word of the week: ‘Virga’
16:19 Writer in residence: Francesca de Tores
17:07 Francesca outlines ‘Saltblood’
18:20 What drew her to writing about female pirates
19:42 The public perception of pirates
21:55 Francesca’s pirate research for the book
25:21 Nautical research and influences
28:23 Transition to historical fiction
30:37 Publishing journey and challenges
33:45 Using a different pen name
36:32 Writing routine and tips
38:34 Upcoming projects and inspirations
41:37 Francesca shares her writing tips
44:38 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Arrrr me hearties! That&rsquo;s right, landlubbers &ndash; this week we walk the plank to delve into the intriguing real history of female pirates as Francesca de Tores discusses her new historical fiction novel, 'Saltblood.' Francesca goes into her meticulous research process, spanning everything from nautical details to the lives of real historical figures, plus shares a surprising &lsquo;Comic Sans&rsquo; tip for writers!
00:00 Welcome 07:36 Writing tip: Social media for writers 11:15 WIN!: When We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven 12:55 Word of the week: &lsquo;Virga&rsquo; 16:19 Writer in residence: Francesca de Tores 17:07 Francesca outlines &lsquo;Saltblood&rsquo; 18:20 What drew her to writing about female pirates 19:42 The public perception of pirates 21:55 Francesca&rsquo;s pirate research for the book 25:21 Nautical research and influences 28:23 Transition to historical fiction 30:37 Publishing journey and challenges 33:45 Using a different pen name 36:32 Writing routine and tips 38:34 Upcoming projects and inspirations 41:37 Francesca shares her writing tips 44:38 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-681/">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 681: Francesca de Tores and her historical novel, 'Saltblood'

Have you noticed how everything Korean is so hot right now? From Squid Game to KPop Demon Hunters, the world is enamoured. Of course, for bestselling Korean-Kiwi author and AWC graduate Graci Kim, trends had nothing to do with her choice to mix stories from childhood with fantasy in her new novel, Dreamslinger. In this episode, Graci discusses the many experiences and inspirations that led her to this point, her writing process, advice and much more!

00:00 Welcome
03:29 Writing tip: Reread a book you hated
07:02 WIN!: We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida
09:01 Word of the week: ‘Pantechnicon’
10:40 The world of words: ‘Practice vs Practise’
12:38 Writer in residence: Graci Kim
13:30 Graci’s fascinating pre-writing lives
21:07 Her relationship with writing over the years
22:59 Rediscovering childhood stories and purpose
25:40 Embracing her Korean name and heritage
27:19 Graci’s journey into writing YA Fantasy
31:21 Discovering a community through AWC
32:00 The value of the Novel Writing Essentials course
33:54 How Graci went about getting an agent
37:13 Joining ‘Rick Riordan Presents’
38:54 Introducing her new book, Dreamslinger
40:35 What she did differently in this series.
42:22 Graci’s world-building process
43:33 Fun extras and connecting with fans
48:06 Her writing routine and her creative process
49:50 Advice for aspiring writers
53:23 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Have you noticed how everything Korean is so hot right now? From Squid Game to KPop Demon Hunters, the world is enamoured. Of course, for bestselling Korean-Kiwi author and AWC graduate Graci Kim, trends had nothing to do with her choice to mix stories from childhood with fantasy in her new novel, Dreamslinger. In this episode, Graci discusses the many experiences and inspirations that led her to this point, her writing process, advice and much more!
00:00 Welcome 03:29 Writing tip: Reread a book you hated 07:02 WIN!: We&rsquo;ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida 09:01 Word of the week: &lsquo;Pantechnicon&rsquo; 10:40 The world of words: &lsquo;Practice vs Practise&rsquo; 12:38 Writer in residence: Graci Kim 13:30 Graci&rsquo;s fascinating pre-writing lives 21:07 Her relationship with writing over the years 22:59 Rediscovering childhood stories and purpose 25:40 Embracing her Korean name and heritage 27:19 Graci&rsquo;s journey into writing YA Fantasy 31:21 Discovering a community through AWC 32:00 The value of the Novel Writing Essentials course 33:54 How Graci went about getting an agent 37:13 Joining &lsquo;Rick Riordan Presents&rsquo; 38:54 Introducing her new book, Dreamslinger 40:35 What she did differently in this series. 42:22 Graci&rsquo;s world-building process 43:33 Fun extras and connecting with fans 48:06 Her writing routine and her creative process 49:50 Advice for aspiring writers 53:23 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-680/">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 680: Graci Kim blends Korean myth and fantasy in 'Dreamslinger'

What if you could be locked away simply for having disturbing dreams? That’s part of the premise in internationally acclaimed author Laila Lalami’s latest novel, The Dream Hotel. In this episode, Laila discusses the themes that inspired and eventually mirrored her book, along with her background in writing, her daily routine, writing tips and more.

00:00 Welcome
04:50 Writing tip: Avoid clichés!
07:58 WIN!: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
09:35 Word of the week: ‘Apophenia’
10:03 Writer in residence: Laila Lalami
11:02 Laila outlines The Dream Hotel
12:17 Speculative Fiction and real-world parallels
14:20 The language of this near future world
19:40 Dreams and their cultural significance
21:58 Speculative Fiction and dreams as data
22:50 Researching the novel
27:17 The role of algorithms in society
30:11 Laila’s journey to becoming a writer
34:33 Balancing teaching and writing
37:27 The challenges of book promotion
39:20 Future writing projects
40:59 Laila’s writing tips
42:43 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What if you could be locked away simply for having disturbing dreams? That&rsquo;s part of the premise in internationally acclaimed author Laila Lalami&rsquo;s latest novel, The Dream Hotel. In this episode, Laila discusses the themes that inspired and eventually mirrored her book, along with her background in writing, her daily routine, writing tips and more.
00:00 Welcome 04:50 Writing tip: Avoid clich&eacute;s! 07:58 WIN!: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan 09:35 Word of the week: &lsquo;Apophenia&rsquo; 10:03 Writer in residence: Laila Lalami 11:02 Laila outlines&nbsp;The Dream Hotel 12:17 Speculative Fiction and real-world parallels 14:20 The language of this near future world 19:40 Dreams and their cultural significance 21:58 Speculative Fiction and dreams as data 22:50 Researching the novel 27:17 The role of algorithms in society 30:11 Laila&rsquo;s journey to becoming a writer 34:33 Balancing teaching and writing 37:27 The challenges of book promotion 39:20 Future writing projects 40:59 Laila&rsquo;s writing tips 42:43 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-679/">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 523: New York Times bestselling author of 20 books, Lisa Unger on Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

In 1 playlist(s)

So You Want to be a Writer

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips