Every day we experience ‘sliding doors moments’ – those decisions we make that unwittingly affect the future. In this episode, bestselling author Petronella McGovern explores this concept through her own life and via the plot of her latest novel, Every Time She Wakes. As well as sharing the inspiration and research into this story, she also shares the evolution of her life as a writer and advice for writers wanting to grow their wordcount.

00:00 Welcome
09:04 Writing tip: Stop thinking, start writing
11:20 Writers in the wild
14:26 WIN: When the Party’s Over by Katie Hoskins
15:56 Word of the Week: ‘Futz’
16:51 Interview with: Petronella McGovern
18:57 Elevator pitch for Every Time She Wakes
20:44 Inspiration for the novel
22:54 Bushfire setting 
26:45 Structure and research
29:38 The mind-bending rules of time travel
30:37 Suze’s identity
34:54 Editing a time loop story
36:01 Evolving as a writer
38:58 Personal sliding doors moments
41:48 Early reading and writing influences
44:41 Petronella’s writing routine
47:08 Craft tip to beat perfectionism
49:01 Book recommendations and one last question
52:14 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Every day we experience &lsquo;sliding doors moments&rsquo; &ndash; those decisions we make that unwittingly affect the future. In this episode, bestselling author Petronella McGovern explores this concept through her own life and via the plot of her latest novel, Every Time She Wakes. As well as sharing the inspiration and research into this story, she also shares the evolution of her life as a writer and advice for writers wanting to grow their wordcount.
00:00 Welcome 09:04 Writing tip: Stop thinking, start writing 11:20 Writers in the wild 14:26 WIN: When the Party&rsquo;s Over by Katie Hoskins 15:56 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Futz&rsquo; 16:51 Interview with: Petronella McGovern 18:57 Elevator pitch for Every Time She Wakes 20:44 Inspiration for the novel 22:54 Bushfire setting 26:45 Structure and research 29:38 The mind-bending rules of time travel 30:37 Suze&rsquo;s identity 34:54 Editing a time loop story 36:01 Evolving as a writer 38:58 Personal sliding doors moments 41:48 Early reading and writing influences 44:41 Petronella&rsquo;s writing routine 47:08 Craft tip to beat perfectionism 49:01 Book recommendations and one last question 52:14 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-727/">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 727: Petronella McGovern relives her latest thriller, 'Every Time She Wakes'

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 728: Tom Rob Smith explores love and marriage in 'Twenty Years Together'

Do you believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy – about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames ‘Good Boy’. Michelle talks about the story’s inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more.

00:00 Welcome
07:55 Writing tip: Call yourself a writer!
11:15 Writers in the wild
13:59 WIN: Whistler by Ann Patchett
15:19 Word of the week: ‘Glabrous’
16:16 Interview with: Michelle Wright
16:59 Overview of new book, Good Boy
18:08 Origins and prison research
21:10 Planning process
23:52 ‘Beat sheet’ method
25:27 Why set it in 1997?
27:56 Naming Good Boy’
30:36 Why short stories matter
33:33 Short vs. novel ideas
36:24 Michelle’s publishing breakthrough
38:09 Redefining writer success
39:44 Next novel plans
41:10 Tip: Find your own process
43:05 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Do you believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy &ndash; about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames &lsquo;Good Boy&rsquo;. Michelle talks about the story&rsquo;s inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more.
00:00 Welcome 07:55 Writing tip: Call yourself a writer! 11:15 Writers in the wild 13:59 WIN: Whistler by Ann Patchett 15:19 Word of the week: &lsquo;Glabrous&rsquo; 16:16 Interview with: Michelle Wright 16:59 Overview of new book, Good Boy 18:08 Origins and prison research 21:10 Planning process 23:52 &lsquo;Beat sheet&rsquo; method 25:27 Why set it in 1997? 27:56 Naming Good Boy&rsquo; 30:36 Why short stories matter 33:33 Short vs. novel ideas 36:24 Michelle&rsquo;s publishing breakthrough 38:09 Redefining writer success 39:44 Next novel plans 41:10 Tip: Find your own process 43:05 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-726/">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 726: Michelle Wright shares her new book, 'Good Boy'

Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 – including his latest novel, The Damned, as well as some unique writing methods he employs in his routine and much much more!

00:00 Welcome
03:39 Graduate spotlight
07:55 Writing tip: Don’t give up after your start!
12:12 WIN: Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay
14:20 Word of the Week: ‘Accoutre’
15:07 Interview with: Matt Rogers
16:19 Matt’s early writing origins
18:28 Self-publishing breakthrough
22:02 Transcribing for craft
25:33 Prolific output and bookstores
29:15 Influences and endorsements
32:47 Self-publishing hustle
35:41 From indie to bookstores
37:55 Matt describes his new books
41:02 Embedding philosophy inside thrillers
44:21 Ideas and writing routine
47:24 Editing workflow and wordcounts
50:13 Self versus traditional publishing
53:33 Writing advice and reading recommendations
57:22 What’s next?
58:20 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 &ndash; including his latest novel, The Damned, as well as some unique writing methods he employs in his routine and much much more!
00:00 Welcome 03:39 Graduate spotlight 07:55 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t give up after your start! 12:12 WIN: Murder Most Delicious by Danielle Postel-Vinay 14:20 Word of the Week: &lsquo;Accoutre&rsquo; 15:07 Interview with: Matt Rogers 16:19 Matt&rsquo;s early writing origins 18:28 Self-publishing breakthrough 22:02 Transcribing for craft 25:33 Prolific output and bookstores 29:15 Influences and endorsements 32:47 Self-publishing hustle 35:41 From indie to bookstores 37:55 Matt describes his new books 41:02 Embedding philosophy inside thrillers 44:21 Ideas and writing routine 47:24 Editing workflow and wordcounts 50:13 Self versus traditional publishing 53:33 Writing advice and reading recommendations 57:22 What&rsquo;s next? 58:20 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-725/">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 727: Petronella McGovern relives her latest thriller, 'Every Time She Wakes'

So You Want to be a Writer

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