“Please sir, can I have some more Dickens?” In this episode, author Kathy George discusses her latest novel, The Scent of Oranges – a retelling of the classic Dickens story Oliver Twist from the perspective of character Nancy. Kathy shares her love for gothic literature and why she chose this story to rewrite.

00:00 Introduction
04:46 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Character milestones
08:36 WIN! The Hidden Hand by Stella Rimington
10:30 Word of the week: ‘Susurrous’
13:02 Writer in residence: Kathy George
16:25 Getting the narrative voice right
22:22 Researching Nancy’s character
24:51 Kathy’s love for gothic literature
25:53 Understanding what “gothic” means
28:39 Thoughts on Dickens' female characters
30:24 On fleshing out Nancy's story
33:01 Retelling classic stories
36:48 Writing process and discipline
40:26 Kathy’s advice for aspiring writers
44:35 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

&ldquo;Please sir, can I have some more Dickens?&rdquo; In this episode, author Kathy George discusses her latest novel,&nbsp;The Scent of Oranges &ndash; a retelling of the classic Dickens story Oliver Twist from the perspective of character Nancy. Kathy shares her love for gothic literature and why she chose this story to rewrite.
00:00 Introduction 04:46 Nat Newman&rsquo;s writing tip: Character milestones 08:36 WIN! The Hidden Hand by Stella Rimington 10:30 Word of the week: &lsquo;Susurrous&rsquo; 13:02 Writer in residence: Kathy George 16:25 Getting the narrative voice right 22:22 Researching Nancy&rsquo;s character 24:51 Kathy&rsquo;s love for gothic literature 25:53 Understanding what &ldquo;gothic&rdquo; means 28:39 Thoughts on Dickens' female characters 30:24 On fleshing out Nancy's story 33:01 Retelling classic stories 36:48 Writing process and discipline 40:26 Kathy&rsquo;s advice for aspiring writers 44:35 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-645/">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>

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 645: Kathy George on her classic Dickens retelling, 'The Scent of Oranges'

Would you like to reinvent yourself as a writer? In this episode, accomplished author Karina May shares her advice on how to grow and setting yourself up for a successful author career. Karina also discusses her third print book, That Island Feeling, staying accountable as a writer, using social media, music playlists and more!

00:00 Introduction
06:05 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Desk love!
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
12:10 Word of the week: ‘Inanition’
12:48 Writer in residence: Karina May
19:06 Advice for setting yourself up for success
22:20 Adjusting goals and rewards
24:01 Finding accountability buddies
25:56 Connecting with fellow writers
27:20 Building an online presence
30:20 Reading outside your genre
31:29 The importance of having a routine
32:30 How Karina uses a playlist
36:34 Ensuring you have the right tools
39:58 Progress on the next book
40:54 Reflecting on the writing journey
43:24 Attention bad spellers! 
44:30 Inspiring final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Would you like to reinvent yourself as a writer? In this episode, accomplished author Karina May shares her advice on how to grow and setting yourself up for a successful author career. Karina also discusses her third print book, That Island Feeling, staying accountable as a writer, using social media, music playlists and more!
00:00 Introduction 06:05 Nat Newman&rsquo;s writing tip: Desk love! 10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey 12:10 Word of the week: &lsquo;Inanition&rsquo; 12:48 Writer in residence: Karina May 19:06 Advice for setting yourself up for success 22:20 Adjusting goals and rewards 24:01 Finding accountability buddies 25:56 Connecting with fellow writers 27:20 Building an online presence 30:20 Reading outside your genre 31:29 The importance of having a routine 32:30 How Karina uses a playlist 36:34 Ensuring you have the right tools 39:58 Progress on the next book 40:54 Reflecting on the writing journey 43:24 Attention bad spellers! 44:30 Inspiring final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-644/">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 644: Karina May on 'That Island Feeling' and how to set yourself up for success as a writer

Described as a ‘memoir with a message’, This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch deals with many themes including celebrity obsession and shame. In this episode, author Tabitha Carvan discusses her experience writing this uniquely personal story, as well as offering advice for aspiring memoir writers.

00:00 Introduction
06:20 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Editing
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
11:22 Word of the week: ‘Thalassic’
13:40 Writer in residence: Tabitha Carvan
16:01 How the book came about
20:35 Defining the book's genre
22:47 Incorporating other perspectives
26:00 Exploring the concept of shame
28:10 Writing process and tools
34:41 Publicity and promotion
40:54 Advice for aspiring memoir writers
43:20 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Described as a &lsquo;memoir with a message&rsquo;, This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch deals with many themes including celebrity obsession and shame. In this episode, author Tabitha Carvan discusses her experience writing this uniquely personal story, as well as offering advice for aspiring memoir writers.
00:00 Introduction 06:20 Nat Newman&rsquo;s writing tip: Editing 10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey 11:22 Word of the week: &lsquo;Thalassic&rsquo; 13:40 Writer in residence: Tabitha Carvan 16:01 How the book came about 20:35 Defining the book's genre 22:47 Incorporating other perspectives 26:00 Exploring the concept of shame 28:10 Writing process and tools 34:41 Publicity and promotion 40:54 Advice for aspiring memoir writers 43:20 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-643/">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 643: Tabitha Carvan discusses her memoir, ‘This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch’

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 645: Kathy George on her classic Dickens retelling, 'The Scent of Oranges'

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