Would YOU do anything to protect your 18-year-old child? That’s core to the premise behind AWC graduate Alex Dook’s outback thriller novel, Gunpowder Creek – and in this episode, he shares the milestones and research that led to this latest successful book.

00:00 Welcome
07:12 Writing tip: Turn jealousy into inspiration
13:11 WIN!: The Occupation by Chloe Adams
14:56 Word of the week: ‘Cynosure’
18:34 The world of words: ‘Bated vs baited’
19:59 Writer in residence: Alex Dook
20:38 Describing his debut book, Gunpowder Creek
22:15 Alex’s writing history
25:30 The reason to keep persisting
27:10 The pitching process
29:33 The invisible threshold of becoming published
31:00 Editing and polishing tip
32:08 Advice for aspiring writers
33:54 Using AWC’s‘Anatomy of a Crime course
36:44 Research road tripping
38:00 Discovering the titular Gunpowder Creek town
42:40 Alex’s writing process
46:20 The second book experience
48:30 Alex’s book recommendation
49:34 Thoughts on persistence and passion
51:06 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 do anything to protect your 18-year-old child? That&rsquo;s core to the premise behind AWC graduate Alex Dook&rsquo;s outback thriller novel, Gunpowder Creek &ndash; and in this episode, he shares the milestones and research that led to this latest successful book.
00:00 Welcome 07:12 Writing tip: Turn jealousy into inspiration 13:11 WIN!: The Occupation by Chloe Adams 14:56 Word of the week: &lsquo;Cynosure&rsquo; 18:34 The world of words: &lsquo;Bated vs baited&rsquo; 19:59 Writer in residence: Alex Dook 20:38 Describing his debut book, Gunpowder Creek 22:15 Alex&rsquo;s writing history 25:30 The reason to keep persisting 27:10 The pitching process 29:33 The invisible threshold of becoming published 31:00 Editing and polishing tip 32:08 Advice for aspiring writers 33:54 Using AWC&rsquo;s&lsquo;Anatomy of a Crime course 36:44 Research road tripping 38:00 Discovering the titular Gunpowder Creek town 42:40 Alex&rsquo;s writing process 46:20 The second book experience 48:30 Alex&rsquo;s book recommendation 49:34 Thoughts on persistence and passion 51:06 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-684/">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;