Meet Sandhya Parappukkaran, a picture book author with four wonderful books that have all been shortlisted or have won Premier’s Literary awards. This is a huge achievement for this former food technologist who started writing picture books on a whim not that long ago! Sandhya discusses her journey to becoming an award-winning writer, the inspiration behind her stories, and shares valuable tips for aspiring picture book writers.

00:00 Introduction to the podcast
00:20 Special series on children's authors
01:48 Weekly app tip: Submittable
07:53 Interview with Sandhya Parappukkaran
09:14 Sandhya's journey to writing picture books
14:40 The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name: From idea to book deal
23:55 Exploring Sandhya's recent works
33:12 Tips for aspiring picture book writers
37:59 Conclusion

Read the show notes

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

Meet Sandhya Parappukkaran, a picture book author with four wonderful books that have all been shortlisted or have won Premier’s Literary awards. This is a huge achievement for this former food technologist who started writing picture books on a whim not that long ago! Sandhya discusses her journey to becoming an award-winning writer, the inspiration behind her stories, and shares valuable tips for aspiring picture book writers.
00:00 Introduction to the podcast 00:20 Special series on children's authors 01:48 Weekly app tip: Submittable 07:53 Interview with Sandhya Parappukkaran 09:14 Sandhya's journey to writing picture books 14:40 The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name: From idea to book deal 23:55 Exploring Sandhya's recent works 33:12 Tips for aspiring picture book writers 37:59 Conclusion
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-627/">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 627: Award-winning picture book author Sandhya Parappukkaran

Meet Amanda Willimott, who talks about her historical fiction novel Winter of the Wolf, informed by extensive research. Amanda reveals how she got her book deal with Penguin Random House and the power of persistence, planning and mentorship.

00:00 Introduction
03:56 Writing tip: Attend events
07:19 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight
09:25 Word of the week: Riparian
10:48 Interview with Amanda Willimott, author of Winter of the Wolf
25:24 Deciding to write a novel
26:12 Setting goals and overcoming challenges
27:56 The importance of planning and research
29:35 Writing discipline and tracking progress
36:04 Editing and refining the manuscript
37:58 The path to publication
41:19 Celebrating success and future plans
45:11 Final thoughts and advice for aspiring writers
47:13 Fun fact: What is a circadian novel?

Read the show notes

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

Meet Amanda Willimott, who talks about her historical fiction novel Winter of the Wolf, informed by extensive research. Amanda reveals how she got her book deal with Penguin Random House and the power of persistence, planning and mentorship.
00:00 Introduction 03:56 Writing tip: Attend events 07:19 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight 09:25 Word of the week: Riparian 10:48 Interview with Amanda Willimott, author of Winter of the Wolf 25:24 Deciding to write a novel 26:12 Setting goals and overcoming challenges 27:56 The importance of planning and research 29:35 Writing discipline and tracking progress 36:04 Editing and refining the manuscript 37:58 The path to publication 41:19 Celebrating success and future plans 45:11 Final thoughts and advice for aspiring writers 47:13 Fun fact: What is a circadian novel?
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-636/">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 636: Amanda Willimott on her novel 'Winter of the Wolf' and how she got her book deal. 

Meet bestselling author and screenwriter Christian White on his novel The Ledge and writing the Netflix hit Clickbait. his writing process, and his transition from books to screenwriting, including his work on TV shows like Clickbait and Apartment 7A.

00:00 Welcome to episode 635
01:46 Nat Newman's writing tip
02:41 Nat's creative writing journey
04:34 The importance of elevator pitches
09:07 Win: Cherrywood by Jock Serong
11:20 Word of the week: Panoply
14:01 Interview with Christian White, author of The Ledge
31:43 The journey to Clickbait
33:15 Balancing success and stress
35:16 Appreciating the moment
36:11 From Clickbait to Apartment 7A
41:36 The collaborative process
45:43 Balancing writing and family life
55:30 Tips for aspiring writers
01:01:29 Conclusion

Read the show notes

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

Meet bestselling author and screenwriter Christian White on his novel The Ledge and writing the Netflix hit Clickbait. his writing process, and his transition from books to screenwriting, including his work on TV shows like Clickbait and Apartment 7A.
00:00 Welcome to episode 635 01:46 Nat Newman's writing tip 02:41 Nat's creative writing journey 04:34 The importance of elevator pitches 09:07 Win: Cherrywood by Jock Serong 11:20 Word of the week: Panoply 14:01 Interview with Christian White, author of The Ledge 31:43 The journey to Clickbait 33:15 Balancing success and stress 35:16 Appreciating the moment 36:11 From Clickbait to Apartment 7A 41:36 The collaborative process 45:43 Balancing writing and family life 55:30 Tips for aspiring writers 01:01:29 Conclusion
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-635/">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 635: Meet Christian White on his novel 'The Ledge' – and writing the Netflix hit ‘Clickbait’.

Meet Ariane Beeston, who shares insights into her powerful memoir Because I'm Not Myself, You See, exploring postpartum psychosis, her writing journey, and the therapeutic yet challenging process of recounting personal experiences. This memoir is brave and beautifully written. As a graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, we’re so thrilled for Ariane.

00:00 Introduction
00:19 Using prompts to discover your character
03:39 Nat Newman’s writing tip
08:32 Setting writing goals
11:23 Win: The Paris Gown by Christine Wells
14:22 Word of the week: Vestige
6:22 Interview with Ariane Beeston, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See
28:03 The proposal journey
28:17 Navigating rejections and acceptances
29:01 The challenge of writing a book
29:26 Creative Nonfiction insights
30:00 Seamlessly weaving research and personal story
31:14 Overcoming personal obstacles
32:35 The emotional toll of writing
33:36 The urgency to finish
34:58 Post-writing reflections
35:49 The writing timeline
36:52 Managing deadlines and mental health
39:52 Reliving the past through writing
42:04 Ethics and accuracy in memoir writing
46:20 The book's impact and reader responses
48:18 Top tips for writing a memoir
54:02 Conclusion

Read the show notes

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

Meet Ariane Beeston, who shares insights into her powerful memoir Because I'm Not Myself, You See, exploring postpartum psychosis, her writing journey, and the therapeutic yet challenging process of recounting personal experiences. This memoir is brave and beautifully written. As a graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, we’re so thrilled for Ariane.
00:00 Introduction 00:19 Using prompts to discover your character 03:39 Nat Newman’s writing tip 08:32 Setting writing goals 11:23 Win: The Paris Gown by Christine Wells 14:22 Word of the week: Vestige 6:22 Interview with Ariane Beeston, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See 28:03 The proposal journey 28:17 Navigating rejections and acceptances 29:01 The challenge of writing a book 29:26 Creative Nonfiction insights 30:00 Seamlessly weaving research and personal story 31:14 Overcoming personal obstacles 32:35 The emotional toll of writing 33:36 The urgency to finish 34:58 Post-writing reflections 35:49 The writing timeline 36:52 Managing deadlines and mental health 39:52 Reliving the past through writing 42:04 Ethics and accuracy in memoir writing 46:20 The book's impact and reader responses 48:18 Top tips for writing a memoir 54:02 Conclusion
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-634/">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 627: Award-winning picture book author Sandhya Parappukkaran

So You Want to be a Writer

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