Join host Pamela Cook on the Writes4Women Convo Couch with thia week's guest Katherine Collette.

They chat about Catherine's adult novels The Helpline (2018) and The Competition (2022), plus two illustrated middle-grade books set around a small Victorian town, discuss debut publication misconceptions, second-book pressure, writing routines, using Scrivener, and spreadsheets, and a whole lot more.

Catherine also reflects on what she learnt as the co-host of the popular podcast The First Time as well as her work as a writing coach.

1:43 Host Updates

03:06 Writing Projects

04:57 Courses And Community

06:48 Reading Recommendations

07:36 Meet Catherine Collette

08:47 Career Origins

09:46 Debut Reality Check

12:13 Second Book Pressure

15:06 Middle Grade Shift

15:47 Cartooning Challenge

20:13 Kids Books Marketing

23:23 Illustration Workflow

26:59 New Darker Novel

27:38 Cruise Ship Research

30:46 Writing Routine Progress

31:05 Writing Focus Limits

31:37 Daily Routine Pomodoros

32:06 Story Structure Tools

33:21 Scrivener Workflow Tips

34:15 Crime Plot Spreadsheets

35:54 Genre Hopping Pressures

37:51 Coaching Long Game

40:24 Mindset For Success

43:16 Craft Fixes Openings

48:55 Podcast Career Boost

54:36 Fast Four Wrap Up

59:55 Closing Thanks Outro

 

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

Katherine Collette

Website: click here

Instagram: click here

 

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: click here

Twitter: click here 

Instagram: click here

Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here

 

This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.

 

 

 

Join host Pamela Cook on the Writes4Women Convo Couch with thia week's guest Katherine Collette.
They chat about Catherine's adult novels The Helpline (2018) and The Competition (2022), plus two illustrated middle-grade books set around a small Victorian town, discuss debut publication misconceptions, second-book pressure, writing routines, using Scrivener, and spreadsheets, and a whole lot more.
Catherine also reflects on what she learnt as the co-host of the popular podcast The First Time as well as her work as a writing coach.
1:43 Host Updates
03:06 Writing Projects
04:57 Courses And Community
06:48 Reading Recommendations
07:36 Meet Catherine Collette
08:47 Career Origins
09:46 Debut Reality Check
12:13 Second Book Pressure
15:06 Middle Grade Shift
15:47 Cartooning Challenge
20:13 Kids Books Marketing
23:23 Illustration Workflow
26:59 New Darker Novel
27:38 Cruise Ship Research
30:46 Writing Routine Progress
31:05 Writing Focus Limits
31:37 Daily Routine Pomodoros
32:06 Story Structure Tools
33:21 Scrivener Workflow Tips
34:15 Crime Plot Spreadsheets
35:54 Genre Hopping Pressures
37:51 Coaching Long Game
40:24 Mindset For Success
43:16 Craft Fixes Openings
48:55 Podcast Career Boost
54:36 Fast Four Wrap Up
59:55 Closing Thanks Outro
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writes4women.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGsoqHkpPpyoq3HyqGd7t_wqWjIxA">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
Katherine Collette
Website: click <a href="https://katherinecollette.com/">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katherinecollettewriter/">here</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pamelacook.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHX6jiL_wYjUMAktl7S_8rTUNUAEw">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor?ref=hl">here</a>
Twitter: click <a href="https://twitter.com/pamelacookau">here&nbsp;</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamelacookwrites/">here</a>
Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click <a href="https://writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/courses/online-feedback-fiction-2/">here</a>
&nbsp;
This episode produced by&nbsp; Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. It's about writing the voice, reading the voice and being the voice. Every week host Pamela Cook, or a special guest host, interviews an outstanding female, trans or non-binary author about their books, writing process and life. Transcript available via the Writes4Women website. Video of most episodes available on the Writes4Women youtube channel. You can find out more about Writes4Women at www.writes4women.com

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. It's about writing the voice, reading the voice and being the voice. Every week host Pamela Cook, or a special guest host, interviews an outstanding female, trans or non-binary author about their books, writing process and life. Transcript available via the Writes4Women website. Video of most episodes available on the Writes4Women youtube channel. You can find out more about Writes4Women at www.writes4women.com

Celebrating Women's Voices and Supporting Women Writers

Writes4Women

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. In weekly episodes women's fiction author Pamela Cook and an all-star cast of guest hosts talk to women writers about the craft, business and heart of writing, along with a monthly feature on a new release author. If you're a writer you'll love the writing conversation and tips shared by the talented guests and if you're a reader you'll get a great insight into the writing process. Subscribe to the PamelaCook/Writes4Women mailing list via the website and check out the Patreon bonuses while you're there. And don't forget to follow the podcast on your favourite platform or find the audio and video wt writes4women.com

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. In weekly episodes women's fiction author Pamela Cook and an all-star cast of guest hosts talk to women writers about the craft, business and heart of writing, along with a monthly feature on a new release author. If you're a writer you'll love the writing conversation and tips shared by the talented guests and if you're a reader you'll get a great insight into the writing process. Subscribe to the PamelaCook/Writes4Women mailing list via the website and check out the Patreon bonuses while you're there. And don't forget to follow the podcast on your favourite platform or find the audio and video wt writes4women.com

Join host Pamela Cook on the Writes4Women Convo Couch with this week's guest Katherine Collette.

On The Convo Couch with Katherine Collette

Welcome to a new season of Writes4Women!

Each fortnight, On the Convo Couch will bring you author-based interviews and invite listener requests and questions. In this episode host Pamela Cook interviews bestselling Australian author Tricia Stringer, who discusses The Road Trip’s strong sales (30,000) and long tail, her upcoming novel The Paradise Resort set in the Kimberley, and her writing routine. 

Tricia reflects on moving across genres, the importance of voice, managing revisions, industry changes including AI and copyright concerns, and memorable career milestones like winning the Ruby for Queen of the Road.

Pam also suggests three new release books for your reading enjoyment: Five Stages of Grace by Casey Nott, The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson, Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu.

00:00 Own Your Voice

00:23 Season Kickoff0

2:46 Workshops And Events

04:29 Pamela Writing Update

06:00 New Release Roundup

08:58 Meet Tricia Stringer

10:47 Welcome To The Couch

11:26 Life In Wallaroo

12:03 New Book Paradise Resort

16:39 Road Trip Success

20:11 From Kids To Romance

25:29 Finding Story Ideas

29:07 Ideas Find Their Writer

30:26 First Draft Routine

32:16 Word Counts And Consistency

35:07 Cleaner Drafts And Outside Eyes

37:16 Over Revising Fixes

40:36 Publishing Shifts And AI

44:58 Genre Pivots And Older Heroes

49:30 Milestones And Final Advice

53:20 Fast Four And Wrap Up

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

Tricia Stringer

Website: click here

Instagram: click here

Facebook: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: click here

Twitter: click here 

Instagram: click here

 

This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.

 

 

 

Welcome to a new season of Writes4Women!
Each fortnight, On the Convo Couch will bring you author-based interviews and invite listener requests and questions. In this episode host Pamela Cook interviews bestselling Australian author Tricia Stringer, who discusses The Road Trip&rsquo;s strong sales (30,000) and long tail, her upcoming novel The Paradise Resort set in the Kimberley, and her writing routine.&nbsp;
Tricia reflects on moving across genres, the importance of voice, managing revisions, industry changes including AI and copyright concerns, and memorable career milestones like winning the Ruby for Queen of the Road.
Pam also suggests three new release books for your reading enjoyment: Five Stages of Grace by Casey Nott, The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson, Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu.
00:00 Own Your Voice
00:23 Season Kickoff0
2:46 Workshops And Events
04:29 Pamela Writing Update
06:00 New Release Roundup
08:58 Meet Tricia Stringer
10:47 Welcome To The Couch
11:26 Life In Wallaroo
12:03 New Book Paradise Resort
16:39 Road Trip Success
20:11 From Kids To Romance
25:29 Finding Story Ideas
29:07 Ideas Find Their Writer
30:26 First Draft Routine
32:16 Word Counts And Consistency
35:07 Cleaner Drafts And Outside Eyes
37:16 Over Revising Fixes
40:36 Publishing Shifts And AI
44:58 Genre Pivots And Older Heroes
49:30 Milestones And Final Advice
53:20 Fast Four And Wrap Up
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writes4women.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGsoqHkpPpyoq3HyqGd7t_wqWjIxA">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
Tricia Stringer
Website: click <a href="https://www.triciastringer.com.au/">here</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/triciastringerauthor">here</a>
Facebook: click<a href="https://www.facebook.com/triciastringerauthor"> here</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/writingquietly"></a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pamelacook.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHX6jiL_wYjUMAktl7S_8rTUNUAEw">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor?ref=hl">here</a>
Twitter: click <a href="https://twitter.com/pamelacookau">here&nbsp;</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamelacookwrites/">here</a>
&nbsp;
This episode produced by&nbsp; Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

 In this episode host Pamela Cook interviews bestselling Australian author Tricia Stringer.

On The Convo Couch with Tricia Stringer

Pamela Cook shares a Rewind episode of Writes4Women featuring novelist Sarah Winman discussing her 2021 novel Still Life, alongside Winman’s background from acting to writing and her earlier books When God Was a Rabbit, A Year of Marvelous Ways, and Tin Man. 

Winman describes how she began writing through adult education classes, found an agent, and learned to trust creative instinct. She outlines Still Life as a four-decade story beginning with a 1944 meeting in Tuscany between art historian Evelyn Skinner and soldier/globe maker Ulysses Temper, later exploring postwar London, Florence, found family, art, beauty, class, love, and unity.

Inspiration came from learning about Florence’s 1966 flood and the “mud angels,” with Brexit influencing her “joy as resistance” tone. She details researching as needed, writing nonlinearly through many drafts, using ensemble viewpoints, and receiving crucial art guidance from Florentine art historian Stella Rudolph, and offers writing advice on finishing drafts, careful feedback, rereading great writers, and accepting doubt.

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast

 

Sarah Winman

Instagram: click here

Facebook: click here

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook: click here

Twitter: click here 

Instagram: click here

 

This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.

 

 

 

Pamela Cook shares a Rewind episode of Writes4Women featuring novelist Sarah Winman discussing her 2021 novel Still Life, alongside Winman&rsquo;s background from acting to writing and her earlier books When God Was a Rabbit, A Year of Marvelous Ways, and Tin Man.&nbsp;
Winman describes how she began writing through adult education classes, found an agent, and learned to trust creative instinct. She outlines Still Life as a four-decade story beginning with a 1944 meeting in Tuscany between art historian Evelyn Skinner and soldier/globe maker Ulysses Temper, later exploring postwar London, Florence, found family, art, beauty, class, love, and unity.
Inspiration came from learning about Florence&rsquo;s 1966 flood and the &ldquo;mud angels,&rdquo; with Brexit influencing her &ldquo;joy as resistance&rdquo; tone. She details researching as needed, writing nonlinearly through many drafts, using ensemble viewpoints, and receiving crucial art guidance from Florentine art historian Stella Rudolph, and offers writing advice on finishing drafts, careful feedback, rereading great writers, and accepting doubt.
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.writes4women.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGsoqHkpPpyoq3HyqGd7t_wqWjIxA">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast
&nbsp;
Sarah Winman
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahwinman/?hl=en">here</a>
Facebook: click<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahWinman"> here</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/writingquietly"></a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.pamelacook.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1614498304853000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHX6jiL_wYjUMAktl7S_8rTUNUAEw">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook: click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PamelaCookAuthor?ref=hl">here</a>
Twitter: click <a href="https://twitter.com/pamelacookau">here&nbsp;</a>
Instagram: click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pamelacookwrites/">here</a>
&nbsp;
This episode produced by&nbsp; Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Pamela Cook shares a Rewind episode of Writes4Women featuring novelist Sarah Winman. 

Rewind Episode with Sarah Winman

Pamela Cook introduces a Writes for Women Rewind episode featuring award-winning Victorian author Favel Parrett discussing her novel There Was Still Love, inspired by family memories and set across Czechoslovakia and Australia from 1938–1981.

Parrett explains her “simple on the page, layered underneath” style built through extensive drafting (often 15 drafts per scene), using memory as non-linear snapshots, and writing in a child’s voice to preserve gaps and subtext. 

The conversation covers dialogue that relies on silence and mood, weaving motifs like suitcases and food, creating embodied emotion, the intensity of a reclusive routine while writing, and Parrett’s four writing tips: focus on the work first, believe it’s possible, seek feedback at the right time, and read.

 

SHOW NOTES:

Writes4Women

www.writes4women.com

Facebook @writes4women

Instagram @w4wpodcast 

 

Favel Parrett 

https://www.favelparrett.com.au

 

Hachette Publishing "There Was Still Love" 

https://www.hachette.com.au/favel-parrett/there-was-still-love

 

Pamela Cook

www.pamelacook.com.au

Facebook @pamelacookauthor

Instagram @pamelacookwrites

 

 

 

 

Pamela Cook introduces a Writes for Women Rewind episode featuring award-winning Victorian author Favel Parrett discussing her novel There Was Still Love, inspired by family memories and set across Czechoslovakia and Australia from 1938&ndash;1981.
Parrett explains her &ldquo;simple on the page, layered underneath&rdquo; style built through extensive drafting (often 15 drafts per scene), using memory as non-linear snapshots, and writing in a child&rsquo;s voice to preserve gaps and subtext.&nbsp;
The conversation covers dialogue that relies on silence and mood, weaving motifs like suitcases and food, creating embodied emotion, the intensity of a reclusive routine while writing, and Parrett&rsquo;s four writing tips: focus on the work first, believe it&rsquo;s possible, seek feedback at the right time, and read.
&nbsp;
SHOW NOTES:
Writes4Women
<a href="http://www.writes4women.com/">www.writes4women.com</a>
Facebook @writes4women
Instagram @w4wpodcast&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Favel Parrett&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.favelparrett.com.au">https://www.favelparrett.com.au</a>
&nbsp;
Hachette Publishing "There Was Still Love"&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hachette.com.au/favel-parrett/there-was-still-love">https://www.hachette.com.au/favel-parrett/there-was-still-love</a>
&nbsp;
Pamela Cook
<a href="http://www.pamelacook.com.au/">www.pamelacook.com.au</a>
Facebook @pamelacookauthor
Instagram @pamelacookwrites
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Pamela Cook introduces a Writes for Women rewind episode featuring award-winning Victorian author Favel Parrett discussing her novel There Was Still Love.

On The Convo Couch with Katherine Collette

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