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;