In episode 578 of 'So You Want To Be A Writer', Valerie Khoo, the CEO of the Australian Writers' Centre, talks about her passion for fostering a love of reading in young people, her Christmas shopping struggles, and ongoing writing projects. Special guest Nat Newman shares her experiences with theatre and film productions, and offers advice on correct dialogue punctuation. And an inspiring interview with Christos Tsiolkas – novelist, playwright and screenwriter – who provides valuable tips for aspiring writers on reading widely, adopting effective work ethics, and maintaining loyalty in the publishing world. Plus win 'Kill Your Husbands' by Jack Heath.

Read the show notes

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

In episode 578 of 'So You Want To Be A Writer', Valerie Khoo, the CEO of the Australian Writers' Centre, talks about her passion for fostering a love of reading in young people, her Christmas shopping struggles, and ongoing writing projects. Special guest Nat Newman shares her experiences with theatre and film productions, and offers advice on correct dialogue punctuation. And an inspiring interview with Christos Tsiolkas – novelist, playwright and screenwriter – who provides valuable tips for aspiring writers on reading widely, adopting effective work ethics, and maintaining loyalty in the publishing world. Plus win 'Kill Your Husbands' by Jack Heath.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-578/">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 578: Christos Tsiolkas on his latest novel 'The In-Between'.

Meet Petronella McGovern, author of The Last Trace. Petronella shares her top 5 tips on creating narrative tension and so that readers keep turning the page. You'll discover techniques on character development, the challenges of editing, writing cliffhangers, ensuring you have internal and external conflicts and much more.

00:00 Introduction and welcome
00:18 TV series based on books
02:28 Nat Newman's writing tips on writing accents
10:46 WIN: Lies & Weddings by Kevin Kwan
13:51 Word of the week: Psephology
15:12 Interview with Petronella McGovern, author of The Last Trace
23:09 Introducing the multi-generational characters
23:46 Crafting emotional connections with characters
24:55 Narrative tension and point of view decisions
26:40 Internal and external conflicts
27:56 Writing realistic teenagers
30:41 Drip feeding secrets and foreshadowing
34:18 The importance of cliffhangers
35:15 The evolution of writing process
39:52 Balancing subplots and multiple POVs
42:25 Final thoughts and future projects
45:16 Conclusion and fun fact

Read the show notes

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

Meet Petronella McGovern, author of The Last Trace. Petronella shares her top 5 tips on creating narrative tension and so that readers keep turning the page. You'll discover techniques on character development, the challenges of editing, writing cliffhangers, ensuring you have internal and external conflicts and much more.
00:00 Introduction and welcome 00:18 TV series based on books 02:28 Nat Newman's writing tips on writing accents 10:46 WIN: Lies &amp; Weddings by Kevin Kwan 13:51 Word of the week: Psephology 15:12 Interview with Petronella McGovern, author of The Last Trace 23:09 Introducing the multi-generational characters 23:46 Crafting emotional connections with characters 24:55 Narrative tension and point of view decisions 26:40 Internal and external conflicts 27:56 Writing realistic teenagers 30:41 Drip feeding secrets and foreshadowing 34:18 The importance of cliffhangers 35:15 The evolution of writing process 39:52 Balancing subplots and multiple POVs 42:25 Final thoughts and future projects 45:16 Conclusion and fun fact
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-612/">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>

WRITER 612: Meet Petronella McGovern, author of 'The Last Trace', on how to build narrative tension and keep readers turning the page.

Meet award-winning poet, novelist, and translator Lia Hills. Lia reveals her innovative approach of narrating her novel, The Desert Knows Her Name, using voice recognition software while on location in the desert. She completed her first draft in TWO WEEKS! You’ll discover Lia’s methodology, challenges, and the profound connection between place and narrative.

00:00 Introduction and host's update
02:00 Nat Newman’s writing tips
05:51 Words at Dawn writing community
08:00 Keep it simple
10:21 Useful apps for writers
12:31 Book giveaway: The Haters by Robyn Harding
14:53 Word of the week: Imbroglio
15:35 Interview with Lia Hills
27:01 Immersing in character narration
28:23 Writing in the desert
29:11 Specific writing spaces
31:50 Challenges and reflections
34:39 Community engagement and research
38:47 Editing and software tips
49:23 Future writing methods
51:17 Final thoughts and tips
53:42 Podcast conclusion and resources

Read the show notes

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

Meet award-winning poet, novelist, and translator Lia Hills. Lia reveals her innovative approach of narrating her novel, The Desert Knows Her Name, using voice recognition software while on location in the desert. She completed her first draft in TWO WEEKS! You’ll discover Lia’s methodology, challenges, and the profound connection between place and narrative.
00:00 Introduction and host's update 02:00 Nat Newman’s writing tips 05:51 Words at Dawn writing community 08:00 Keep it simple 10:21 Useful apps for writers 12:31 Book giveaway: The Haters by Robyn Harding 14:53 Word of the week: Imbroglio 15:35 Interview with Lia Hills 27:01 Immersing in character narration 28:23 Writing in the desert 29:11 Specific writing spaces 31:50 Challenges and reflections 34:39 Community engagement and research 38:47 Editing and software tips 49:23 Future writing methods 51:17 Final thoughts and tips 53:42 Podcast conclusion and resources
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-611/">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>

WRITER 611: Lia Hills, author of The Desert Knows Her Name, on how she wrote her first draft in two weeks using a voice software!

Meet Kyra Geddes, author of The Story Thief. Kyra discusses her journey from idea to publication, the importance of research, and the challenges of editing her manuscript. The episode concludes with writing tips and a book giveaway: The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe.

00:00 Introduction
01:33 Nat Newman’s writing tips
09:10 Book giveaway: The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe
11:20 Word of the week: Fuscous
11:54 Interview with Kyra Geddes
28:48 The journey to starting the manuscript
29:53 Overcoming the fear of the blank page
30:56 The long writing process
31:54 The path to publication
32:51 Facing rejections and manuscript assessments
34:06 Pitching to publishers
35:45 The epiphany: Switching to first person
37:58 Securing a publishing deal
42:38 The structural edit challenge
50:01 Future writing plans
51:33 Top tips for aspiring writers
53:28 Conclusion and final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Meet Kyra Geddes, author of The Story Thief. Kyra discusses her journey from idea to publication, the importance of research, and the challenges of editing her manuscript. The episode concludes with writing tips and a book giveaway: The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe.
00:00 Introduction 01:33 Nat Newman’s writing tips 09:10 Book giveaway: The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe 11:20 Word of the week: Fuscous 11:54 Interview with Kyra Geddes 28:48 The journey to starting the manuscript 29:53 Overcoming the fear of the blank page 30:56 The long writing process 31:54 The path to publication 32:51 Facing rejections and manuscript assessments 34:06 Pitching to publishers 35:45 The epiphany: Switching to first person 37:58 Securing a publishing deal 42:38 The structural edit challenge 50:01 Future writing plans 51:33 Top tips for aspiring writers 53:28 Conclusion and final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-610/">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>

WRITER 578: Christos Tsiolkas on his latest novel 'The In-Between'.

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