What do you get when you mix house-sitting frenemies with a big lovable dog? You get My Hot Housemate – the latest rom-com from Susannah Hardy, who joins us to discuss the characters and the writing process behind the book.

00:00 Welcome
03:19 Writing tip: Reference managers
06:03 WIN!: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire
07:48 Word of the week: ‘Overweening’
08:29 The world of words: Ordering adjectives
12:16 Writer in residence: Susannah Hardy
13:02 Overview of My Hot Housemate
14:47 Writing about the acting world
17:46 Adding a dog character to the story
20:17 Showing off Sydney
21:36 Tips on writing comedy
22:41 Writing authentic dialogue
24:00 Character development and relationships
25:38 The rise of rom-coms
27:44 Writing process and challenges
29:39 Balancing writing with life
33:38 Having other creative interests 
35:32 Importance of mentors and community
37:42 General writing tips
40:17 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What do you get when you mix house-sitting frenemies with a big lovable dog? You get My Hot Housemate &ndash; the latest rom-com from Susannah Hardy, who joins us to discuss the characters and the writing process behind the book.
00:00 Welcome 03:19 Writing tip: Reference managers 06:03 WIN!: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire 07:48 Word of the week: &lsquo;Overweening&rsquo; 08:29 The world of words: Ordering adjectives 12:16 Writer in residence: Susannah Hardy 13:02 Overview of My Hot Housemate 14:47 Writing about the acting world 17:46 Adding a dog character to the story 20:17 Showing off Sydney 21:36 Tips on writing comedy 22:41 Writing authentic dialogue 24:00 Character development and relationships 25:38 The rise of rom-coms 27:44 Writing process and challenges 29:39 Balancing writing with life 33:38 Having other creative interests 35:32 Importance of mentors and community 37:42 General writing tips 40:17 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-660/">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;