Are YOU a middle child? Author and AWC grad Seetha Dodd is, and that’s just one of the parallels between her life and the characters in her debut junior-fiction novel, Myra in the Middle – a fabulous take on finding your place in your family, and the world. In this episode, Seetha discusses how she found her way back to writing and her experience bringing this book and its characters to life.

00:00 Welcome
06:28 Writing tip: Take part in Furious Fiction!
09:02 WIN: Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli
10:18: Word of the week: “Darkle”
11:11 Interview with Seetha Dodd
13:55 Furious Fiction beginnings
19:23 Courses and confidence
24:28 The importance of community
27:25 About her book, Myra in the Middle
28:53 Culture on the page
31:05 The book’s themes
32:42 Working with an illustrator
34:03 The pitching, editing and publication timeline
38:56 Writing picture books
43:20 Writing advice
44:34 Book recommendations
47:00 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 a middle child? Author and AWC grad Seetha Dodd is, and that&rsquo;s just one of the parallels between her life and the characters in her debut junior-fiction novel, Myra in the Middle &ndash; a fabulous take on finding your place in your family, and the world. In this episode, Seetha discusses how she found her way back to writing and her experience bringing this book and its characters to life.
00:00 Welcome 06:28 Writing tip: Take part in Furious Fiction! 09:02 WIN: Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli 10:18: Word of the week: &ldquo;Darkle&rdquo; 11:11 Interview with Seetha Dodd 13:55 Furious Fiction beginnings 19:23 Courses and confidence 24:28 The importance of community 27:25 About her book, Myra in the Middle 28:53 Culture on the page 31:05 The book&rsquo;s themes 32:42 Working with an illustrator 34:03 The pitching, editing and publication timeline 38:56 Writing picture books 43:20 Writing advice 44:34 Book recommendations 47:00 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-740/">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 740: Seetha Dodd and her junior fiction debut, 'Myra in the Middle'

Glasses are a necessity for some, a curiosity for others, and even a status symbol in other contexts. So when Sydney-based academic Adam Geczy was tasked with writing about this ubiquitous item for the Object Lessons book series, how did he go about it (without making a spectacle of himself)? In this episode, Adam discusses the experience researching and writing Glasses, along with insights from an academic POV on the craft of writing in general.

00:00 Welcome
09:08 Writing tip: Make time to read
12:26 WIN: Garden of Lost Girls by A.L. Tait
13:46 Word of the week “Adsorb”
14:36 Interview with Adam Geczy
15:15 What Glasses Is about
17:49 Pitching for the Object Lessons series
22:11 Adam’s writing process and editing
28:38 Style and voice shifts
30:57 Staying adaptable
32:55 Writing without fear
35:40 Time discipline ‘hacks’
38:34 Linear drafting method
41:59 Manual research workflow
43:09 Owning your craft
45:09 Publicity and marketing
46:25 What’s next?
49:52 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Glasses are a necessity for some, a curiosity for others, and even a status symbol in other contexts. So when Sydney-based academic Adam Geczy was tasked with writing about this ubiquitous item for the Object Lessons book series, how did he go about it (without making a spectacle of himself)? In this episode, Adam discusses the experience researching and writing Glasses, along with insights from an academic POV on the craft of writing in general.
00:00 Welcome 09:08 Writing tip: Make time to read 12:26 WIN: Garden of Lost Girls by A.L. Tait 13:46 Word of the week &ldquo;Adsorb&rdquo; 14:36 Interview with Adam Geczy 15:15 What Glasses Is about 17:49 Pitching for the Object Lessons series 22:11 Adam&rsquo;s writing process and editing 28:38 Style and voice shifts 30:57 Staying adaptable 32:55 Writing without fear 35:40 Time discipline &lsquo;hacks&rsquo; 38:34 Linear drafting method 41:59 Manual research workflow 43:09 Owning your craft 45:09 Publicity and marketing 46:25 What&rsquo;s next? 49:52 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-739/">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 739: Adam Geczy looks through the lens of his new book, 'Glasses'

Some authors dream of writing when they’re young but leave it behind to focus on another career. But not Bridie Blake, who instead quit university and made her work fit around her publishing aspirations. After pivoting from YA to romance, she published her debut rom-com novel, The Boyfriend Clause, and in this episode, AWC grad Bridie shares the writing courses that changed her fortunes and her experience seeing her book on the shelves.

00:00 Welcome
10:23 Writing tip: Explore art
13:16 WIN: The Lady with the Dog by Carrie Tiffany
14:32 Word of the Week “Reify”
15:20 Interview with Bridie Blake
16:42 Explaining The Boyfriend Clause
17:49 Early writing dreams
20:12 Day jobs and persistence
22:09 AWC courses and getting feedback
25:36 Pivoting to adult rom-com
27:25 Romance course lessons
29:47 Bridie’s writing process
30:59 Morning writer mindset
33:15 Balancing humour and heart
34:12 Choosing Australian publishing
37:33 The “yes” email moment
39:45 Promoting her books
40:52 What’s next?
41:49 Her writing technique evolution
45:51 Bridie’s writing tip
47:15 Theme of the book
48:13 Book recommendations
49:57 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Some authors dream of writing when they&rsquo;re young but leave it behind to focus on another career. But not Bridie Blake, who instead quit university and made her work fit around her publishing aspirations. After pivoting from YA to romance, she published her debut rom-com novel,&nbsp;The Boyfriend Clause, and in this episode, AWC grad Bridie shares the writing courses that changed her fortunes and her experience seeing her book on the shelves.
00:00 Welcome 10:23 Writing tip: Explore art 13:16 WIN: The Lady with the Dog by Carrie Tiffany 14:32 Word of the Week &ldquo;Reify&rdquo; 15:20 Interview with Bridie Blake 16:42 Explaining The Boyfriend Clause 17:49 Early writing dreams 20:12 Day jobs and persistence 22:09 AWC courses and getting feedback 25:36 Pivoting to adult rom-com 27:25 Romance course lessons 29:47 Bridie&rsquo;s writing process 30:59 Morning writer mindset 33:15 Balancing humour and heart 34:12 Choosing Australian publishing 37:33 The &ldquo;yes&rdquo; email moment 39:45 Promoting her books 40:52 What&rsquo;s next? 41:49 Her writing technique evolution 45:51 Bridie&rsquo;s writing tip 47:15 Theme of the book 48:13 Book recommendations 49:57 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-738/">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 738: Bridie Blake and her debut rom-com, 'The Boyfriend Clause'

Imagine being married to one of literature’s most famous wordsmiths and having him describe your life as “a blank”. This is the reputation that Charles Dickens’ wife Kate of 22 years – with whom he had 10 children – has endured for 150 years. But in author Emily Howes’ new novel Mrs Dickens, she seeks to fill in those blanks. In this episode, Emily shares her inspirations for choosing this historical figure and the challenges of reimagining history.

00:00 Welcome
08:28 Writing Tip: Try something new
11:55 WIN: The German Ward by Pip Williams
13:16 Word of the Week: “Pertinacious”
14:14 Interview with Emily Howes
15:02 Why Mrs Dickens matters
16:50 Inspirations for the novel
22:23 Researching her life
24:01 Turning facts into fiction
25:35 What stayed and what was cut
30:02 Second POV character: Anne
35:57 Balancing work and writing
38:48 Emily’s writing breakthrough
43:22 What’s next?
45:48 Writing tip
47:31 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Imagine being married to one of literature&rsquo;s most famous wordsmiths and having him describe your life as &ldquo;a blank&rdquo;. This is the reputation that Charles Dickens&rsquo; wife Kate of 22 years &ndash; with whom he had 10 children &ndash; has endured for 150 years. But in author Emily Howes&rsquo; new novel Mrs Dickens, she seeks to fill in those blanks. In this episode, Emily shares her inspirations for choosing this historical figure and the challenges of reimagining history.
00:00 Welcome 08:28 Writing Tip: Try something new 11:55 WIN: The German Ward by Pip Williams 13:16 Word of the Week: &ldquo;Pertinacious&rdquo; 14:14 Interview with Emily Howes 15:02 Why Mrs Dickens matters 16:50 Inspirations for the novel 22:23 Researching her life 24:01 Turning facts into fiction 25:35 What stayed and what was cut 30:02 Second POV character: Anne 35:57 Balancing work and writing 38:48 Emily&rsquo;s writing breakthrough 43:22 What&rsquo;s next? 45:48 Writing tip 47:31 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-737/">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 740: Seetha Dodd and her junior fiction debut, 'Myra in the Middle'

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