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>

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

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>

Writing Podcast Episode 727: Petronella McGovern relives her latest thriller, 'Every Time She Wakes'

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 729: Ilona Bannister discusses her darkly thrilling novel, 'Five'

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