What kind of life-spanning damage can parents do to their children? Award-winning author Barry Jonsberg explores this and themes of masculinity in his latest YA novel, Darkest Night, Brightest Star. Barry joins the podcast to share his inspiration for the story and insights into his writing process.

00:00 Welcome
04:18 Writing tip: Supporting other writers
07:32 WIN!: Best Left Buried by Neil A. White
10:04 Word of the week: ‘Hyperborean’
11:39 Writer in residence: Barry Johnsberg
12:12 Describing of Darkest Night, Brightest Star
17:00 Writing quieter characters like Morgan
20:54 The theme of toxic masculinity
22:04 Understanding Morgan's father
23:38 Crafting Three-Dimensional Characters
25:10 The writing process from draft to publication
27:26 Challenges of commissioned writing
30:04 Writing for Young Adults
34:09 Balancing full-time writing and life
36:50 Current and future projects
39:57 Advice for aspiring writers
42:34 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

What kind of life-spanning damage can parents do to their children? Award-winning author Barry Jonsberg explores this and themes of masculinity in his latest YA novel, Darkest Night, Brightest Star. Barry joins the podcast to share his inspiration for the story and insights into his writing process.
00:00 Welcome 04:18 Writing tip: Supporting other writers 07:32 WIN!: Best Left Buried by Neil A. White 10:04 Word of the week: &lsquo;Hyperborean&rsquo; 11:39 Writer in residence: Barry Johnsberg 12:12 Describing of Darkest Night, Brightest Star 17:00 Writing quieter characters like Morgan 20:54 The theme of toxic masculinity 22:04 Understanding Morgan's father 23:38 Crafting Three-Dimensional Characters 25:10 The writing process from draft to publication 27:26 Challenges of commissioned writing 30:04 Writing for Young Adults 34:09 Balancing full-time writing and life 36:50 Current and future projects 39:57 Advice for aspiring writers 42:34 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-667/">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 667: Barry Jonsberg explores masculinity in his YA novel, 'Darkest Night, Brightest Star'

How much research is too much when writing historical fiction? This is just one of the topics that bestselling author Emilia Hart discusses in this episode as she shares details of her latest novel, The Sirens – a blend of nautical history and fantasy across two stories separated by time and distance.

00:00 Welcome
04:23 Writing tip: ‘The Most Dangerous Writing App’
07:25 WIN!: The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs
08:51 Word of the week: ‘Luthier’
11:01 Writer in residence: Emilia Hart
12:48 Inspirations for the books two timelines
19:45 Writing about Australia during the pandemic
20:24 Exploring the themes of distance and journey
22:17 Researching convict history
25:00 Note taking methods
25:59 The importance of her day job in her writing  
28:11 Deleting 300,000 words
30:00 There’s no such thing as a perfect draft
30:32 Learning to sail for the book
31:20 The book deal and publishing process
32:50 Balancing writing with public engagement
35:10 Emilia’s writing tips
37:29 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

How much research is too much when writing historical fiction? This is just one of the topics that bestselling author Emilia Hart discusses in this episode as she shares details of her latest novel, The Sirens &ndash; a blend of nautical history and fantasy across two stories separated by time and distance.
00:00 Welcome 04:23 Writing tip: &lsquo;The Most Dangerous Writing App&rsquo; 07:25 WIN!: The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs 08:51 Word of the week: &lsquo;Luthier&rsquo; 11:01 Writer in residence: Emilia Hart 12:48 Inspirations for the books two timelines 19:45 Writing about Australia during the pandemic 20:24 Exploring the themes of distance and journey 22:17 Researching convict history 25:00 Note taking methods 25:59 The importance of her day job in her writing&nbsp; 28:11 Deleting 300,000 words 30:00 There&rsquo;s no such thing as a perfect draft 30:32 Learning to sail for the book 31:20 The book deal and publishing process 32:50 Balancing writing with public engagement 35:10 Emilia&rsquo;s writing tips 37:29 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-671/">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 671: Emilia Hart discusses her latest bestselling novel, The Sirens

Should all picture books rhyme? Why use animals as characters? And what’s the deal with working with an illustrator? Picture book author (of more than 15 books) Rory H. Mather joins the podcast in this episode to discuss all of these things, as well as his own journey into the industry, and his latest titles, Laugh in the Bath and Mumma Bear.

00:00 Welcome
04:20 Writing tip: Learn to play an instrument (sort of)
08:23 WIN!: The CIA Book Club by Charlie English
11:40 Word of the week: ‘Psephology’
12:30 The world of words: Capitalising the seasons
14:05 Writer in residence: Rory H. Mather
15:00 Rory explains his love of writing picture books
18:45 How Rory got his start
22:55 Where he gets his ideas from
26:30 Why writing animals can be a good thing
27:47 The importance of curiosity
29:40 A discussion about picture books that rhyme
31:39 Who is the picture book audience?
32:30 Working with illustrators
37:00 Selling books to publishers
40:48 Remembering the first book he signed
41:30 The economics of picture book writing
42:30 Telling succinct stories
45:05 Writing longer books
47:33 More books coming up
49:30 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Should all picture books rhyme? Why use animals as characters? And what&rsquo;s the deal with working with an illustrator? Picture book author (of more than 15 books) Rory H. Mather joins the podcast in this episode to discuss all of these things, as well as his own journey into the industry, and his latest titles, Laugh in the Bath and Mumma Bear.
00:00 Welcome 04:20 Writing tip: Learn to play an instrument (sort of) 08:23 WIN!: The CIA Book Club by Charlie English 11:40 Word of the week: &lsquo;Psephology&rsquo; 12:30 The world of words: Capitalising the seasons 14:05 Writer in residence: Rory H. Mather 15:00 Rory explains his love of writing picture books 18:45 How Rory got his start 22:55 Where he gets his ideas from 26:30 Why writing animals can be a good thing 27:47 The importance of curiosity 29:40 A discussion about picture books that rhyme 31:39 Who is the picture book audience? 32:30 Working with illustrators 37:00 Selling books to publishers 40:48 Remembering the first book he signed 41:30 The economics of picture book writing 42:30 Telling succinct stories 45:05 Writing longer books 47:33 More books coming up 49:30 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-670/">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 670: Rory H. Mather and his prolific picture book writing career

How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The Thrill of It. Mandy discusses her inspiration for the book, unique stylistic and narrative choices she made, and more.

00:00 Welcome
03:04 Writing tip: What to do while ‘changing eyeballs’
06:38 WIN!: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith
08:07 Word of the week: ‘Falderal’
11:23 Writer in residence: Mandy Beaumont
12:20 Overview of The Thrill of It
13:10 Mandy’s true crime inspirations
17:55 Choosing a unique narrative style
20:13 Researching and organising the details
24:50 The publishing journey with Hachette
28:17 Mandy’s writing process and routine
32:13 Balancing writing with other jobs
33:26 Short stories versus novels
35:08 Publicity and promotion
37:14 Upcoming projects and inspirations
38:56 Mandy’s writing tips
41:14 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The Thrill of It. Mandy discusses her inspiration for the book, unique stylistic and narrative choices she made, and more.
00:00 Welcome 03:04 Writing tip: What to do while &lsquo;changing eyeballs&rsquo; 06:38 WIN!: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith 08:07 Word of the week: &lsquo;Falderal&rsquo; 11:23 Writer in residence: Mandy Beaumont 12:20 Overview of The Thrill of It 13:10 Mandy&rsquo;s true crime inspirations 17:55 Choosing a unique narrative style 20:13 Researching and organising the details 24:50 The publishing journey with Hachette 28:17 Mandy&rsquo;s writing process and routine 32:13 Balancing writing with other jobs 33:26 Short stories versus novels 35:08 Publicity and promotion 37:14 Upcoming projects and inspirations 38:56 Mandy&rsquo;s writing tips 41:14 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-669/">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 667: Barry Jonsberg explores masculinity in his YA novel, 'Darkest Night, Brightest Star'

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