Tina Strachan’s wild ride to publication
For former zookeeper Tina Strachan, writing had long been a passion, but she never imagined she would ever see her own work published ‘in the
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This Week in Writing: Killer comps, six-figure deals and poetic inspiration everywhere
Ready to stab the page? The 32nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards are now open! Crime-fiend storytellers, sharpen your pens – Australia’s top short story competition for
AWC graduate Natalie Murray’s path from journalist to successful romance author
The moment journalist Natalie Murray started writing short romance stories, she fell in love! Having discovered her new passion for writing fiction, Natalie decided to write a novel – but first she needed to learn the basics.
Writing Podcast Episode 672: Linguistic legend David Crystal and his new title, ‘Bookish Words’
What effect has the internet, social media and AI had on language? Should you judge a book by its cover? This week, linguistic legend and
WIN ‘Audition’ by Katie Kitamura
This week, we’re giving away three copies of Audition by Katie Kitamura. In Audition, a lunch between an actress and a mysterious younger man becomes
How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author
Having worked for years in the visual effects and animation industry, Richard Pritchard knew a lot about storytelling. But when he wanted to write a middle grade novel, he felt that he needed solid guidance, so he turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre.
This Week in Writing: Open doors, good news, and a brand new festival
From open submission windows to exciting success stories, here’s what’s making news in the writing world this week. Penguin Random House opens submissions for children’s
Writing Podcast Episode 671: Emilia Hart discusses her latest bestselling novel, The Sirens
How much research is too much when writing historical fiction? This is just one of the topics that bestselling author Emilia Hart discusses in this
Holly Brunnbauer took the ideal pathway to publishing success
When Holly Brunnbauer decided to write a book, she turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre. And the result is her debut novel, ‘What Did I Miss?’
The course that changed Jess Horn’s life
Jess Horn was a busy working parent with no time for hobbies, but she decided she could just squeeze in a few minutes to enter the Furious Fiction competition at the Australian Writers’ Centre. After that, she was hooked. With her childhood love of writing rekindled, Jess enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1 and then dived into Writing Picture Books.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Retirement Plan’ by Sue Hincenbergs
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs. In this wickedly clever debut, four longtime friends, fed up with
This Week in Writing: Competitions, festivals, and fresh reads
Richell Prize for Emerging Writers: deadline approaching The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers 2025 is nearing its submission deadline on 13 July 2025. This prize,
How Karen Wasson became a picture of publishing success
Karen Wasson changed careers to write for kids, and as a graduate of the Australian Writers’ Centre has found success with her graphic novel and picture book.
Writing Podcast Episode 670: Rory H. Mather and his prolific picture book writing career
Should all picture books rhyme? Why use animals as characters? And what’s the deal with working with an illustrator? Picture book author (of more than
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The CIA Book Club ‘ by Charlie English
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The CIA Book Club by Charlie English. The CIA Book Club is a taut psychological thriller about
COPYWRITER 091: How to build your YouTube following with Lachlan & Austin Macfarlane
What if your side hobby could land you on the set of How to Train Your Dragon or in the same room as Timothée Chalamet?
Q&A: The orgin of ‘boycott’
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
Furious Fiction: June 2025 Story Showcase
Welcome to the June creative showcase – a chance to celebrate some of the stories we received this month and to inspire you in your
This week in writing: BookTok changes the rules
From a Netflix reboot of a beloved Aussie classic to a national writing comp for young storytellers, the writing world has been busy this week.
Writing Podcast Episode 669: Mandy Beaumont and her true-crime inspired novel, ‘The Thrill of It’
How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Wrong Daughter’ by Dandy Smith
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith. When a woman claiming to be Olivia reappears decades after vanishing,
Bidding war as Emma Pei Yin publishes ‘When Sleeping Women Wake’
Emma Pei Yin has always loved stories, and she was constantly creating characters and worlds in her head. When she went looking for those stories on bookshelves, however, she discovered that there were hardly any Asian voices being published. So she decided to write her own – and the result is her debut novel, When Sleeping Women Wake – releasing in 2025 in Australia through publishers Hachette, in the UK via Quercus Books, and in the US through Ballantine.
Q&A: ‘Mettle’ vs ‘Metal’
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its
Jenny Marshall turns her passion into a career
After completing more than 10 courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre, graduate Jenny Marshall is now a copywriter and a self-published picture book author.
Ali Berg’s successful publishing double act remains on track
AWC courses completed:
Creative Writing Stage 1
Creative Writing Stage 1
When Ali (on the right above) gave up her job in advertising at the age of 24 to travel the world, little did she realise it would culminate in an innovative career built around books and a two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Australia and The Book Ninja (Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus, 2018) in bookstores around the world. Ali and Michelle’s second novel, While You Were Reading followed in 2019, and their latest book Fancy Meeting You Here launched with rave reviews.
This Week in Writing: Killer comps, six-figure deals and poetic inspiration everywhere
Ready to stab the page? The 32nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards are now open! Crime-fiend storytellers, sharpen your pens – Australia’s top short story competition for women’s crime fiction is back! The 32nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards, hosted by Sisters in Crime, is open for entries until 31 August 2025, with more
AWC graduate Natalie Murray’s path from journalist to successful romance author
The moment journalist Natalie Murray started writing short romance stories, she fell in love! Having discovered her new passion for writing fiction, Natalie decided to write a novel – but first she needed to learn the basics.
Writing Podcast Episode 672: Linguistic legend David Crystal and his new title, ‘Bookish Words’
What effect has the internet, social media and AI had on language? Should you judge a book by its cover? This week, linguistic legend and British OBE recipient David Crystal joins us to discuss all things words, idioms, dialects and the curious facts he found while researching his latest publication, Bookish
Tina Strachan’s wild ride to publication
For former zookeeper Tina Strachan, writing had long been a passion, but she never imagined she would ever see her own work published ‘in the wild’. It would take a writing competition to reignite the spark and set her on track to telling stories that drew heavily from her own
WIN ‘Audition’ by Katie Kitamura
This week, we’re giving away three copies of Audition by Katie Kitamura. In Audition, a lunch between an actress and a mysterious younger man becomes a quiet unraveling of identity and intimacy. Through shifting perspectives, Katie Kitamura explores how performance, memory, and desire shape who we are to others–and ourselves.
How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author
Having worked for years in the visual effects and animation industry, Richard Pritchard knew a lot about storytelling. But when he wanted to write a middle grade novel, he felt that he needed solid guidance, so he turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre.
This Week in Writing: Open doors, good news, and a brand new festival
From open submission windows to exciting success stories, here’s what’s making news in the writing world this week. Penguin Random House opens submissions for children’s and YA manuscripts during July 2025 Penguin Random House Australia is now accepting unsolicited submissions for children’s and young adult manuscripts throughout July. Submit 50–100
Writing Podcast Episode 671: Emilia Hart discusses her latest bestselling novel, The Sirens
How much research is too much when writing historical fiction? This is just one of the topics that bestselling author Emilia Hart discusses in this episode as she shares details of her latest novel, The Sirens – a blend of nautical history and fantasy across two stories separated by time
Holly Brunnbauer took the ideal pathway to publishing success
When Holly Brunnbauer decided to write a book, she turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre. And the result is her debut novel, ‘What Did I Miss?’
The course that changed Jess Horn’s life
Jess Horn was a busy working parent with no time for hobbies, but she decided she could just squeeze in a few minutes to enter the Furious Fiction competition at the Australian Writers’ Centre. After that, she was hooked. With her childhood love of writing rekindled, Jess enrolled in Creative Writing Stage 1 and then dived into Writing Picture Books.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Retirement Plan’ by Sue Hincenbergs
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs. In this wickedly clever debut, four longtime friends, fed up with their failing marriages and bleak retirements, hatch a deadly plan to cash in on their husbands’ life insurance policies. But the husbands have their own
This Week in Writing: Competitions, festivals, and fresh reads
Richell Prize for Emerging Writers: deadline approaching The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers 2025 is nearing its submission deadline on 13 July 2025. This prize, established in memory of Hachette Australia’s CEO Matt Richell, offers unpublished writers of adult fiction and narrative non-fiction a chance to win $10,000 and a
How Karen Wasson became a picture of publishing success
Karen Wasson changed careers to write for kids, and as a graduate of the Australian Writers’ Centre has found success with her graphic novel and picture book.
Writing Podcast Episode 670: Rory H. Mather and his prolific picture book writing career
Should all picture books rhyme? Why use animals as characters? And what’s the deal with working with an illustrator? Picture book author (of more than 15 books) Rory H. Mather joins the podcast in this episode to discuss all of these things, as well as his own journey into the
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The CIA Book Club ‘ by Charlie English
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The CIA Book Club by Charlie English. The CIA Book Club is a taut psychological thriller about buried secrets and a woman confronted by the daughter she thought was dead. Gripping and emotionally charged, it explores the dark edges of identity, memory,
COPYWRITER 091: How to build your YouTube following with Lachlan & Austin Macfarlane
What if your side hobby could land you on the set of How to Train Your Dragon or in the same room as Timothée Chalamet? That’s the wild reality for Lachlan and Austin Macfarlane – aka the Macfarlane Brothers – two self-taught filmmakers whose short-form videos have clocked more than
Q&A: The orgin of ‘boycott’
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, cold shoulders and hot potatoes…
Furious Fiction: June 2025 Story Showcase
Welcome to the June creative showcase – a chance to celebrate some of the stories we received this month and to inspire you in your own writing. (Speaking of inspiring, check out our SALE happening right now!) June’s prompts were a little different: ALPHA, BRAVO, CHARLIE, DELTA, ECHO, FOXTROT, GOLF,
This week in writing: BookTok changes the rules
From a Netflix reboot of a beloved Aussie classic to a national writing comp for young storytellers, the writing world has been busy this week. BookTok reshapes publishing strategy If you have been resisting TikTok, you might want to check it out. Although, I warn you that it’s a rabbit
Writing Podcast Episode 669: Mandy Beaumont and her true-crime inspired novel, ‘The Thrill of It’
How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The Thrill of It. Mandy discusses her inspiration for the book, unique stylistic and narrative choices she made, and more. You can listen to the episode
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Wrong Daughter’ by Dandy Smith
This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith. When a woman claiming to be Olivia reappears decades after vanishing, her sister Caitlin is forced to confront the traumatic night she disappeared—and the secrets she’s kept ever since. But is this really Olivia? And what
Bidding war as Emma Pei Yin publishes ‘When Sleeping Women Wake’
Emma Pei Yin has always loved stories, and she was constantly creating characters and worlds in her head. When she went looking for those stories on bookshelves, however, she discovered that there were hardly any Asian voices being published. So she decided to write her own – and the result is her debut novel, When Sleeping Women Wake – releasing in 2025 in Australia through publishers Hachette, in the UK via Quercus Books, and in the US through Ballantine.
Q&A: ‘Mettle’ vs ‘Metal’
Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, metal heads… Q: Hi AWC,
Jenny Marshall turns her passion into a career
After completing more than 10 courses at the Australian Writers’ Centre, graduate Jenny Marshall is now a copywriter and a self-published picture book author.
Ali Berg’s successful publishing double act remains on track
AWC courses completed:
Creative Writing Stage 1
Creative Writing Stage 1
When Ali (on the right above) gave up her job in advertising at the age of 24 to travel the world, little did she realise it would culminate in an innovative career built around books and a two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Australia and The Book Ninja (Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus, 2018) in bookstores around the world. Ali and Michelle’s second novel, While You Were Reading followed in 2019, and their latest book Fancy Meeting You Here launched with rave reviews.
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