Podcast: So You Want to be a Writer

Meet author Kell Woods, who discusses her approach to writing, her novel After the Forest, a sequel to Hansel and Gretel, and the blend of history and fantasy in her work. Kell shares insights on the research and discipline required to weave together historical accuracy and compelling storytelling. You can

Meet Carrie Sun, whose memoir Private Equity explores her journey from a high-paced finance role to embracing a writing career. Carrie discusses her writing process, the challenges of memoir writing, and the transformation she underwent during her time in the finance industry. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple

Is indie publishing right for you. Discover the intricacies of indie publishing with author Jodi Gibson. Delve into Jodi’s journey across traditional and independent publishing avenues for her novels. She highlights the distinct processes involved in each. Jodi shares valuable tips for indie authors, ranging from understanding why you want

Meet Charlotte Barkla, who discusses her latest novel 11 Ruby Road: 1900, a series set over a hundred years in the same house, capturing the essence of family, friendship, community, and historical events. Charlotte shares her journey from engineering and teaching to becoming a children’s author, the challenges and joys

Meet author and ghostwriter Liam Pieper about his latest novel Appreciation. The novel centres around a famous artist trying to rehabilitate his fame with the help of a ghostwriter. Liam also discusses his “day job” as a ghostwriter, the importance of getting along with the client and shaping their narrative

Meet Karina May, author of Never Ever Forever, who talks about author branding, the business of writing and publishing 3 books in 15 months. Host Valerie Khoo also chats to author Nat Newman on her writing tip for the week, Valerie’s involvement in the 100-day project, a global initiative that

Meet Jane Tara, who discusses her latest novel Tilda is Visible, where the female protagonist is diagnosed with invisibility as she progresses into her 50s. Jane discusses experiences of feeling invisible, implications on self-perception, the way society views aging, and the healing journey of self-discovery. You can listen to the

Meet Jamelle Wells, author of The Outback Court Reporter. Both a newsreader and senior court reporter for ABC, Jamelle reveals the intricate and sometimes unexpected dynamics witnessed during her time covering diverse cases in city and rural courts. She chats about the cultural differences, compelling cases, struggles of court reporting,

Meet author Natalie Murray on her journey to becoming a writer and her contemporary romance novel, Love, Just In. Natalie discusses how she’s co-written novels, tips on how to work on characters and plot lines, and the benefits of doing courses at Australian Writers’ Centre. You can listen to the

Liz Foster shares her journey from discovering writing as a creative outlet during recovery from breast cancer, to becoming a published author with The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices. The podcast episode explores Liz’s habits and strategies for success, including the importance of setting micro-goals, maintaining a daily

Stepping into Success with Author Jenna Lo Bianco. Are you ready for the upcoming special writing event on Romance writing? Meet special guest Jenna Lo Bianco, author of The Italian Marriage, discusses her journey from aspiring writer enduring rejections to being a successful author. Jenna shares her strategic approach to

Developing Skills and Techniques as an Aspiring Writer: Interview with novelist Jo Riccioni. Host Valerie Khoo and Jo discuss Jo’s latest novel The Rising, the process of writing a duology, her love for fantasy writing, and the importance of cultivating a detailed and authentic world in fantasy literature. Jo also

Meet author Michelle Upton who shares her journey to becoming a writer after the passing of her father, which led her to question her life’s purpose. Michelle speaks about the process of writing her novels Emergency Exit Only and Terms of Inheritance, focusing on dealing with rejection, having perseverance, and

Meet Michael Thompson, a journalist, producer, media executive, and author of the novel How To Be Remembered. He shares his journey from being a journalist to becoming a published novelist, his inspiration behind his unique book premise, tackling numerous rejections, the movie deal for his novel, his writing process, and

Meet author Vikki Conley. As an award-winning author with 11 internationally published picture books, Vikki shares her journey starting from her childhood experiences, writing career in marketing and journalism to her success as a writer. She discusses the themes and inspirations behind her books and also provides valuable advice for

How to navigate the challenges that often emerge towards the end of the year. Valerie also discusses her own personal career reinvention from accountant to writer. An interview with leading Australian crime author Chris Hammer, where Chris discusses his latest best-selling novel, The Seven, and his approach to telling stories

Meet Alli Parker, author of the Australian historical fiction novel, At the Foot of the Cherry Tree. The novel is based on the real-life story of Alli’s grandparents, who were among the first Australian-Japanese couples after the Second World War. The discussion covers Alli’s journey as a writer, her transition

We chat to award-winning stand-up comedian and author, Benjamin Stevenson, about his latest novel, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect and the success of his previous novel, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Benjamin discusses his unique skill set of being both a mystery writer and a comedian,

We chat to best-selling author Jillian Cantor. Jillian shares her experiences with the writing process, and her newest book The Fiction Writer. Discussing her transition from historical to contemporary fiction, how she develops characters, and her writing routine. She also shares her top three tips for aspiring writers. Additionally, Valerie

In episode 578 of ‘So You Want To Be A Writer’, Valerie Khoo, the CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre, talks about her passion for fostering a love of reading in young people, her Christmas shopping struggles, and ongoing writing projects. Special guest Nat Newman shares her experiences with theatre