Meet Scott Ryder, a former Australian commando, who discusses his memoir Forged in Fire, detailing his 22-year military career and the transition to civilian life. Forged in Fire takes us inside the secretive world of the commandos.

00:00 Introduction
01:18 Nat Newman’s writing tip
09:15 Giveaway: The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu
11:31 Word of the week: lenitive
12:11 Creative nonfiction
13:44 Interview with Scott Ryder
25:06 Reflecting on military life and writing
26:04 The writing process: Chronology and challenges
27:36 Confronting memories and emotional transparency
29:27 The impact of writing on personal growth
33:13 Transitioning to civilian life
41:57 Fact-checking and authenticity in memoir writing
43:29 Future plans and final thoughts
48:43 Fun fact: Words that only exist in plural form
49:39 Closing remarks

Read the show notes

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

Meet Scott Ryder, a former Australian commando, who discusses his memoir Forged in Fire, detailing his 22-year military career and the transition to civilian life. Forged in Fire takes us inside the secretive world of the commandos.
00:00 Introduction 01:18 Nat Newman’s writing tip 09:15 Giveaway: The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu 11:31 Word of the week: lenitive 12:11 Creative nonfiction 13:44 Interview with Scott Ryder 25:06 Reflecting on military life and writing 26:04 The writing process: Chronology and challenges 27:36 Confronting memories and emotional transparency 29:27 The impact of writing on personal growth 33:13 Transitioning to civilian life 41:57 Fact-checking and authenticity in memoir writing 43:29 Future plans and final thoughts 48:43 Fun fact: Words that only exist in plural form 49:39 Closing remarks
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-628/">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 628: Meet Scott Ryder, a former Australian commando, on his memoir 'Forged in Fire'.

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 628: Meet Scott Ryder, a former Australian commando, on his memoir 'Forged in Fire'.

So You Want to be a Writer

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