How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must Remember This and his unique journey bringing a story of dementia to the page.

00:00 Introduction
07:36 Writing tip: Goodreads trolling
09:36 WIN! Perspectives by Laurent Binet
11:40 Word of the week: ‘Leaguer’
12:18 Writer in residence: Sean Wilson
14:25 Why Sean wanted to tell this story
15:40 Writing child characters
17:00 Self-care while writing
19:06 Crafting authentic secondary characters
21:01 Storytelling the challenges of ageing
23:09 How Sean drew inspiration from real life events
25:35 The prevalence of dementia
27:48 From play to novel: The writing journey
31:19 Crafting a nonlinear narrative
35:37 Publishing journey and future projects
38:45 The art of writing across different forms
42:34 Future projects
46:37 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must Remember This and his unique journey bringing a story of dementia to the page.
00:00 Introduction 07:36 Writing tip: Goodreads trolling 09:36 WIN! Perspectives by Laurent Binet 11:40 Word of the week: &lsquo;Leaguer&rsquo; 12:18 Writer in residence: Sean Wilson 14:25 Why Sean wanted to tell this story 15:40 Writing child characters 17:00 Self-care while writing 19:06 Crafting authentic secondary characters 21:01 Storytelling the challenges of ageing 23:09 How Sean drew inspiration from real life events 25:35 The prevalence of dementia 27:48 From play to novel: The writing journey 31:19 Crafting a nonlinear narrative 35:37 Publishing journey and future projects 38:45 The art of writing across different forms 42:34 Future projects 46:37 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-653/">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 653: Sean Wilson and his powerful novel, 'You Must Remember This'

War stories are often famously told by the victors. But what of the stories of civilians caught up in the conflict? These themes intersect in World-War-II-era Hong Kong in AWC graduate Emma Pei Yin’s debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake – and in this episode she shares her inspirations, the book’s themes and the publishing process, including a fascinating connection with the cover designer.

00:00 Welcome
03:41 Writing tip: Avoiding info dumping
07:05 WIN!: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
08:39 Word of the week: ‘Gimcrack’
12:03 Writer in residence: Emma Pei Yin
13:05 Emma explains When Sleeping Women Wake
13:53 Why this story?
16:20 Influences and inspirations for the book
17:35 Balancing historical fiction and fact
19:10 The research process
21:20 The note collection process
22:27 Telling the authentic voices of Chinese people
23:39 Character development and their unique resistance
25:55 Class structure and historical contexts
27:35 Language and authenticity in this story
29:03 Morally ambiguous choices in war
30:49 The publishing process
34:51 Cover designs and market differences
38:04 Promoting the book and meeting readers
39:44 The importance of solidarity in telling niche stories
40:52 Emma’s advice for writers
42:03 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

War stories are often famously told by the victors. But what of the stories of civilians caught up in the conflict? These themes intersect in World-War-II-era Hong Kong in AWC graduate Emma Pei Yin&rsquo;s debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake &ndash; and in this episode she shares her inspirations, the book&rsquo;s themes and the publishing process, including a fascinating connection with the cover designer.
00:00 Welcome 03:41 Writing tip: Avoiding info dumping 07:05 WIN!: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave 08:39 Word of the week: &lsquo;Gimcrack&rsquo; 12:03 Writer in residence: Emma Pei Yin 13:05 Emma explains When Sleeping Women Wake 13:53 Why this story? 16:20 Influences and inspirations for the book 17:35 Balancing historical fiction and fact 19:10 The research process 21:20 The note collection process 22:27 Telling the authentic voices of Chinese people 23:39 Character development and their unique resistance 25:55 Class structure and historical contexts 27:35 Language and authenticity in this story 29:03 Morally ambiguous choices in war 30:49 The publishing process 34:51 Cover designs and market differences 38:04 Promoting the book and meeting readers 39:44 The importance of solidarity in telling niche stories 40:52 Emma&rsquo;s advice for writers 42:03 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-701/">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>

Writing Podcast Episode 701: Emma Pei Yin discusses her wartime novel, 'When Sleeping Women Wake'

A lot of old bands these days seem to be reforming for reunion tours – allowing older fans to reminisce (usually while sipping wine and sitting in a comfy picnic chair). This idea fascinated author Rebecca Heath, so in her new book The Last Encore, she decided to not only get a fictional old-school band back together but add a documentary crew and a dead body into the mix! In this episode, Rebecca shares the real-life music inspirations for the book, her editing insights and much more!

00:00 Welcome
04:09 Writing tip: Watch Shrek
07:39 WIN!: Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath
09:30 Word of the week: ‘Cucumiform’
13:59 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath
14:34 Rebecca outlines The Last Encore
17:55 Music inspirations for the book
20:00 Defining what a ‘boy band’ is
22:28 Exploring the theme of secrets
23:55 Publishing journey insights
24:52 Writing process and routine
27:52 Balancing writing and editing
29:00 Deciding whodunnit
31:22 What to cut
34:21 The role of community in writing
37:23 Future projects and staying on brand
41:04 Rebecca’s tip for writers
43:00 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

A lot of old bands these days seem to be reforming for reunion tours &ndash; allowing older fans to reminisce (usually while sipping wine and sitting in a comfy picnic chair). This idea fascinated author Rebecca Heath, so in her new book The Last Encore, she decided to not only get a fictional old-school band back together but add a documentary crew and a dead body into the mix! In this episode, Rebecca shares the real-life music inspirations for the book, her editing insights and much more!
00:00 Welcome 04:09 Writing tip: Watch&nbsp;Shrek 07:39 WIN!: Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath 09:30 Word of the week: &lsquo;Cucumiform&rsquo; 13:59 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath 14:34 Rebecca outlines The Last Encore 17:55 Music inspirations for the book 20:00 Defining what a &lsquo;boy band&rsquo; is 22:28 Exploring the theme of secrets 23:55 Publishing journey insights 24:52 Writing process and routine 27:52 Balancing writing and editing 29:00 Deciding whodunnit 31:22 What to cut 34:21 The role of community in writing 37:23 Future projects and staying on brand 41:04 Rebecca&rsquo;s tip for writers 43:00 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-700/">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>

Writing Podcast Episode 700: Rebecca Heath mixes music and murder in 'The Last Encore'

It was a single photo of AWC graduate William J. Byrne’s grandmother standing outside a ramshackle home that formed the spark that inspired this self-confessed history buff to explore stories of his past and the experiences of Aboriginal people leading up to the 1960s. The result is his debut novel, The Warrumbar – spanning half a century and casting light on a lesser-told chapter of Australia. In this episode, William shares his inspirations and publishing journey, and the AWC course that made all the difference.

00:00 Welcome
04:03 Writing tip: Enter writing competitions
07:18 WIN!: What Happened That Night by Nicci French
09:55 Word of the week: ‘Puissance’
10:45 Writer in residence: William J. Byrne
11:05 What The Warrumbar is about
12:58 Why he wrote for this time frame
15:00 What inspired William to write the book
16:45 Stories from family members
18:00 Writing a teenage character
19:00 Balancing research with family stories
21:12 The note-taking process
22:23 Moses as a lens for the Aboriginal experience
23:38 Australia's historical awareness
25:44 The path to publication
29:11 Completing a writing course with AWC
30:50 The importance of writing communities
33:42 Major themes of the book
35:55 Advice for writers
36:34 Future writing projects
37:59 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

It was a single photo of AWC graduate William J. Byrne&rsquo;s grandmother standing outside a ramshackle home that formed the spark that inspired this self-confessed history buff to explore stories of his past and the experiences of Aboriginal people leading up to the 1960s. The result is his debut novel, The Warrumbar &ndash; spanning half a century and casting light on a lesser-told chapter of Australia. In this episode, William shares his inspirations and publishing journey, and the AWC course that made all the difference.
00:00 Welcome 04:03 Writing tip: Enter writing competitions 07:18 WIN!: What Happened That Night by Nicci French 09:55 Word of the week: &lsquo;Puissance&rsquo; 10:45 Writer in residence: William J. Byrne 11:05 What The Warrumbar is about 12:58 Why he wrote for this time frame 15:00 What inspired William to write the book 16:45 Stories from family members 18:00 Writing a teenage character 19:00 Balancing research with family stories 21:12 The note-taking process 22:23 Moses as a lens for the Aboriginal experience 23:38 Australia's historical awareness 25:44 The path to publication 29:11 Completing a writing course with AWC 30:50 The importance of writing communities 33:42 Major themes of the book 35:55 Advice for writers 36:34 Future writing projects 37:59 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-699/">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 653: Sean Wilson and his powerful novel, 'You Must Remember This'

So You Want to be a Writer

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