We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin’s latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book’s themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip!

00:00 Welcome
02:54 Graduate spotlight
08:35 Writing tip: Keep things happening
11:02 Writers in the wild
12:20 WIN: Code Name Funnel Web by Camille Booker
14:05 Word of the Week: ‘Glyph’
15:32 Interview with: Emily Austin
16:38 Inspiration for her library-themed book
18:45 Emily’s writing process at the beginning
22:02 Exploring the breakdown of the main character
28:14 Dyslexia and reading hacks
30:17 Libraries under fire
33:26 Emily’s publishing journey
36:20 Writing in manic sprints
37:47 Introvert on publicity
39:45 What’s next?
40:56 Emily’s random writing tip
42:37 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin&rsquo;s latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book&rsquo;s themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip!
00:00 Welcome 02:54 Graduate spotlight 08:35 Writing tip: Keep things happening 11:02 Writers in the wild 12:20 WIN: Code Name Funnel Web by Camille Booker 14:05 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Glyph&rsquo; 15:32 Interview with: Emily Austin 16:38 Inspiration for her library-themed book 18:45 Emily&rsquo;s writing process at the beginning 22:02 Exploring the breakdown of the main character 28:14 Dyslexia and reading hacks 30:17 Libraries under fire 33:26 Emily&rsquo;s publishing journey 36:20 Writing in manic sprints 37:47 Introvert on publicity 39:45 What&rsquo;s next? 40:56 Emily&rsquo;s random writing tip 42:37 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-724/">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

Writing Podcast Episode 724: Emily Austin asks the question, 'Is This a Cry for Help?'

Ever wanted a step-by-step insight into building a novel? Well, in this episode, you have access to bestselling author Kate Forsyth’s note-taking, research and writing process in the creation of her latest novel, The Changeling! It’s a fascinating look into the actual nuts and bolts of crafting a story, from idea to finished edit – including mistakes made along the way! Kate generously shares her methods in this special episode and a bonus Q&A session, with a link to the video available in the show notes.

00:00 Welcome
05:44 Writers in the wild
06:56 WIN: Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins
08:25 Word of the week: ‘Pyroclastic’
09:22 Kate Forsyth: Behind the scenes of The Changeling
12:56 Beginnings
14:10 Stage one of the process
18:58 Timelines
23:00 Building the protagonist’s story
26:01 Relevance to today
27:00 Asking questions
30:32 Key dates and weaving the story into them
31:48 On location research
34:06 New beginnings
36:38 Narrative structure
40:00 Thematic structure
41:48 Building the word count
43:55 The editing process
48:03 Q&A
62:35 Final thoughts

You can access a free video version of Kate’s session, go here.

Read the show notes

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

Ever wanted a step-by-step insight into building a novel? Well, in this episode, you have access to bestselling author Kate Forsyth&rsquo;s note-taking, research and writing process in the creation of her latest novel, The Changeling! It&rsquo;s a fascinating look into the actual nuts and bolts of crafting a story, from idea to finished edit &ndash; including mistakes made along the way! Kate generously shares her methods in this special episode and a bonus Q&amp;A session, with a link to the video available in the show notes.
00:00 Welcome 05:44 Writers in the wild 06:56 WIN: Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins 08:25 Word of the week: &lsquo;Pyroclastic&rsquo; 09:22 Kate Forsyth: Behind the scenes of The Changeling 12:56 Beginnings 14:10 Stage one of the process 18:58 Timelines 23:00 Building the protagonist&rsquo;s story 26:01 Relevance to today 27:00 Asking questions 30:32 Key dates and weaving the story into them 31:48 On location research 34:06 New beginnings 36:38 Narrative structure 40:00 Thematic structure 41:48 Building the word count 43:55 The editing process 48:03 Q&amp;A 62:35 Final thoughts
You can access a free video version of Kate&rsquo;s session, go <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/inside-the-making-of-a-novel/">here</a>.
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-730/">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 730: Kate Forsyth goes behind the scenes of her new book, 'The Changeling'

Train platforms are fascinating people-watching locations. And if you’ve ever sat and imagined the lives of the strangers standing next to you, UK-based author Ilona Bannister’s new psychological thriller Five may be for you. In this podcast episode, Ilona discusses her inspiration for the book and her own path to writing, along with insights into her daily writing practice.

00:00 Welcome
03:09 Writing tip: Hobbies help you write better
07:38 Writers in the wild
09:06 WIN: Nutcote: Home of May Gibbs by Fiona Starr
11:45 Word of the week: ‘Irredentism’
12:42 Interview with: Ilona Bannister
13:16 The premise of Five
15:56 Why a train platform?
18:15 Building the five characters
20:20 Creating a strong narrative voice
23:30 Morally ‘grey’ characters
24:52 Writing for readers
26:33 London versus New York
28:20 Finding the ending
30:21 Ilona’s path from lawyer to novelist
36:09 Publishing during lockdown
38:10 Writing routines as a parent
39:48 Networking and its benefits
43:10 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Train platforms are fascinating people-watching locations. And if you&rsquo;ve ever sat and imagined the lives of the strangers standing next to you, UK-based author Ilona Bannister&rsquo;s new psychological thriller Five may be for you. In this podcast episode, Ilona discusses her inspiration for the book and her own path to writing, along with insights into her daily writing practice.
00:00 Welcome 03:09 Writing tip: Hobbies help you write better 07:38 Writers in the wild 09:06 WIN: Nutcote: Home of May Gibbs by Fiona Starr 11:45 Word of the week: &lsquo;Irredentism&rsquo; 12:42 Interview with: Ilona Bannister 13:16 The premise of Five 15:56 Why a train platform? 18:15 Building the five characters 20:20 Creating a strong narrative voice 23:30 Morally &lsquo;grey&rsquo; characters 24:52 Writing for readers 26:33 London versus New York 28:20 Finding the ending 30:21 Ilona&rsquo;s path from lawyer to novelist 36:09 Publishing during lockdown 38:10 Writing routines as a parent 39:48 Networking and its benefits 43:10 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-729/">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 729: Ilona Bannister discusses her darkly thrilling novel, 'Five'

Same-sex couples fought long for marriage equality, but finally getting it didn’t necessarily equate to ‘happily ever after’. That’s the area UK-based bestselling author Tom Rob Smith explores in his new novel Twenty Years Together – inspired by how legalisation of gay marriage changed the psychology of long-term relationships. In this episode, Tom discusses the inspiration behind telling this nuanced love story and his own journey as a writer.

00:00 Welcome
04:24 Writing tip: Active vs. Reactive characters
10:04 WIN: The Warrumbar by William J. Byrne
11:48 Word of the Week: ‘Incrassate’
12:37 Interview with: Tom Rob Smith
13:45 Twenty Years Together premise
15:24 Defining the genre
19:17 Plotting and outlining process
21:54 Finding the right ending
23:24 Queer love story influences
26:48 Midlife marriage thought experiment
31:50 Publishing his debut Child 44
35:45 Success and self doubt
39:02 Balancing books and TV
43:37 Disciplined writing routine
46:55 Connecting with readers
48:50 Tom shares a writing tip
51:33 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Same-sex couples fought long for marriage equality, but finally getting it didn&rsquo;t necessarily equate to &lsquo;happily ever after&rsquo;. That&rsquo;s the area UK-based bestselling author Tom Rob Smith explores in his new novel Twenty Years Together &ndash; inspired by how legalisation of gay marriage changed the psychology of long-term relationships. In this episode, Tom discusses the inspiration behind telling this nuanced love story and his own journey as a writer.
00:00 Welcome 04:24 Writing tip: Active vs. Reactive characters 10:04 WIN: The Warrumbar by William J. Byrne 11:48 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Incrassate&rsquo; 12:37 Interview with: Tom Rob Smith 13:45 Twenty Years Together premise 15:24 Defining the genre 19:17 Plotting and outlining process 21:54 Finding the right ending 23:24 Queer love story influences 26:48 Midlife marriage thought experiment 31:50 Publishing his debut Child 44 35:45 Success and self doubt 39:02 Balancing books and TV 43:37 Disciplined writing routine 46:55 Connecting with readers 48:50 Tom shares a writing tip 51:33 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-728/">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 724: Emily Austin asks the question, 'Is This a Cry for Help?'

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