Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences.

00:00 Introduction
00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman
02:53 Storyboarding for writers
06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett
08:14 Word of the week: Palmy
09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour
21:19 From financial journalism to fiction
21:46 First foray into fiction
23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym
24:52 Finding the right genre
25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train
27:48 Dealing with success and pressure
30:12 Writing process and challenges
40:34 Advice for aspiring writers
43:02 Fun fact: apophony

Read the show notes

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

Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences.
00:00 Introduction 00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman 02:53 Storyboarding for writers 06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett 08:14 Word of the week: Palmy 09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour 21:19 From financial journalism to fiction 21:46 First foray into fiction 23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym 24:52 Finding the right genre 25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train 27:48 Dealing with success and pressure 30:12 Writing process and challenges 40:34 Advice for aspiring writers 43:02 Fun fact: apophony
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-633/">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;

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