Meet Bec Nanayakkara who discusses her journey to becoming a published picture book author. Bec reveals how she got her book deals, her writing techniques, the illustration process, and much more. Also discover how our app recommendation can help you keep track of submissions.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:20 Special Series on Children's Authors
01:55 App Tip of the Week
06:56 Course Spotlight: Writing Picture Books
09:07 Interview with Bec Nanayakkara
09:53 Bec's Journey to Publication
10:32 The Book Star: Inspiration and Process
16:02 Grow Big Little Seed: Themes and Illustrations
23:15 Future Projects 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 Bec Nanayakkara who discusses her journey to becoming a published picture book author. Bec reveals how she got her book deals, her writing techniques, the illustration process, and much more. Also discover how our app recommendation can help you keep track of submissions. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast 00:20 Special Series on Children's Authors 01:55 App Tip of the Week 06:56 Course Spotlight: Writing Picture Books 09:07 Interview with Bec Nanayakkara 09:53 Bec's Journey to Publication 10:32 The Book Star: Inspiration and Process 16:02 Grow Big Little Seed: Themes and Illustrations 23:15 Future Projects and Final Thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-625/">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 625: Bec Nanayakkara on her picture books 'Grow Big Little Seed' and 'The Book Star'.

If you love fantasy, you’ll love our delightful interview with author Madeline Te Whiu, who shares her journey from writing her first book The Assassin Thief to completing her trilogy with her latest release, The Queen Thief. Madeline talks about her experience writing while working full-time, her planning process, harnessing social media and advice for aspiring writers. 

00:00 Introduction
03:29 Holiday book recommendations
08:33 Nat’s writing tip: Structure
12:24 WIN! The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin
13:51 Word of the week: ‘Chrestomathy’
16:51 Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu
27:05 Finding time for writing
28:56 The journey to getting published
31:05 Madeline’s experience pitching her trilogy
31:58 Experiencing reader reactions
35:36 Writing the second and third books
37:15 Overcoming writer's block
43:11 Balancing writing and full-time work
45:36 Madeline’s approach to social media
53:21 Advice for aspiring authors
56:07 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

If you love fantasy, you&rsquo;ll love our delightful interview with author Madeline Te Whiu, who shares her journey from writing her first book&nbsp;The Assassin Thief to completing her trilogy with her latest release, The Queen Thief. Madeline talks about her experience writing while working full-time, her planning process, harnessing social media and advice for aspiring writers.&nbsp;
00:00 Introduction 03:29 Holiday book recommendations 08:33 Nat&rsquo;s writing tip: Structure 12:24 WIN! The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin 13:51 Word of the week: &lsquo;Chrestomathy&rsquo; 16:51 Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu 27:05 Finding time for writing 28:56 The journey to getting published 31:05 Madeline&rsquo;s experience pitching her trilogy 31:58 Experiencing reader reactions 35:36 Writing the second and third books 37:15 Overcoming writer's block 43:11 Balancing writing and full-time work 45:36 Madeline&rsquo;s approach to social media 53:21 Advice for aspiring authors 56:07 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-642/">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 642: Madeline Te Whiu on her trilogy and latest book, ‘The Queen Thief’

Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative. 

00:00 Introduction
03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip
08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber
11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’
12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston
21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism
27:25 The evolution of journalism
28:04 The pressure of producing quality content
29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion
31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception
34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book
37:28 Research versus the writing process
42:34 Future plans and new ventures
49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors
50:50 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative. 
00:00 Introduction 03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip 08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber 11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’ 12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston 21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism 27:25 The evolution of journalism 28:04 The pressure of producing quality content 29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion 31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception 34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book 37:28 Research versus the writing process 42:34 Future plans and new ventures 49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors 50:50 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-641/">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 641: Joe Aston on his tell-all book on Qantas, ‘The Chairman’s Lounge’

Meet Susannah Glenn, author of Between Husbands and Wives. Susannah discusses her writing process, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of setting and character development. She highlights the impact of persistence, learning from setbacks, and taking writing courses.

00:00 Introduction
01:53 The importance of doing the work
07:07 Writing tip: Keep it simple
11:13 WIN! Literary Journeys by John McMurtrie
13:07 Word of the week: pedicular
14:26 Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn
21:57 The writing process: Finding the sweet spot
22:35 Character development
24:23 Balancing writing with everyday life
25:51 From manuscript to book deal
31:54 The importance of writing routines
37:38 Navigating the emotional roller coaster of writing
44:45 Top writing tips for aspiring authors
46:57 Conclusion

Read the show notes

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

Meet Susannah Glenn, author of Between Husbands and Wives. Susannah discusses her writing process, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of setting and character development. She highlights the impact of persistence, learning from setbacks, and taking writing courses.
00:00 Introduction 01:53 The importance of doing the work 07:07 Writing tip: Keep it simple 11:13 WIN! Literary Journeys by John McMurtrie 13:07 Word of the week: pedicular 14:26 Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn 21:57 The writing process: Finding the sweet spot 22:35 Character development 24:23 Balancing writing with everyday life 25:51 From manuscript to book deal 31:54 The importance of writing routines 37:38 Navigating the emotional roller coaster of writing 44:45 Top writing tips for aspiring authors 46:57 Conclusion
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-640/">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 625: Bec Nanayakkara on her picture books 'Grow Big Little Seed' and 'The Book Star'.

So You Want to be a Writer

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