When Emma Warrender started writing her debut novel, she knew she wanted to do everything possible to give it the best chance of being published. So she enrolled in the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Creative Writing Stage 1 course to build her craft – and to find her people. That investment paid off in spectacular fashion. Emma’s debut novel, Driven – a sexy, high-octane romance set in a street racing world – is out with Hachette Australia.
“I’m an ‘all in’ type of girl,” Emma says. “When I have my mind set on something, I will do absolutely anything to make it happen. My end goal was to publish this book, so I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to increase the chances of that happening. Investing in myself and my craft was a priority.”
Building the craft and finding her people
Emma had just started her first draft when she decided to enrol in Creative Writing Stage 1. A self-described pantser, she didn’t have a solid plan, but she knew where she wanted to take her novel.
“Creative Writing Stage 1 was perfect for understanding the building blocks of a novel, and I’m really grateful for the relationships I made with fellow writers,” she says.
She loved the practical format of the course. “I loved that every lesson came with written homework and an audio class. It meant I could make banana bread (always a multitasker) while listening to the class before sitting down and doing the work!”
But it was the community that made the biggest impact. “The absolute best thing this course gave me was camaraderie. I met a beautiful friend, Alex, during this course, and she became the best beta reader and cheerleader! I’m not sure my novel would have made it past the drafting stage, let alone be my debut, if it weren’t for support like hers.”
Characters that wouldn't leave her alone
Driven follows Gianna Brooks, who puts her life on the line street-racing cars in the tropical town of Booker Bay. When her father dies, Gianna relies heavily on her brother Jace and his best friend Ryker Edwards. But when Jace is murdered and
Ryker disappears, the only thing that makes Gianna feel alive is racing her father’s grey Mustang. She’s determined to fulfil her late father’s dream by saving up enough money to buy the out-of-commission local speedway – and then Ryker Edwards returns.
Emma gave herself a deadline to finish her first draft, and as a former journalist, she was determined to make it. “What really helped was having excitement and passion for my characters and their story,” she says. “Once it came into my mind they would not leave me alone! They bothered me in my dreams, when I woke, when I was driving or showering. It was non-stop! So I knew it was a burning desire to write this story.”
Into the query trenches
After finishing her first draft, Emma threw herself into the editing process – reviewing her manuscript, cutting scenes, moving things around, sending it to beta readers, and editing another four times before she felt ready to query.
She paired up with a trusted writer friend, Lindsay, to enter the query trenches together. “If I can recommend anything, it really is to have a trusted writer friend that can help you craft everything you need to be submission-ready,” Emma says. “Another tip I have is to create a list of agents and send your package out in small batches. This way, you can test if your query letter is hitting the way you want it to. And, of course, take care when receiving rejections. Everyone is going to handle rejections differently, but if times get tough, just remember why you started.”
More than one offer
When the offers started coming in, Emma could barely believe it. “My agent was really transparent with timeframes to expect an answer, and it was the most nerve-racking time because there’s really not a single thing you can do about it,” she says. “I had received a few rejections, and one evening she called and I was preparing for the worst, but it was a call to say we had our first offer!
“A few days later it became more than just one offer, and it was a situation of meetings and choosing who I wanted to be published with. It was the most surreal experience, and I couldn’t have even dreamed about it.”
Being published was always Emma’s goal, but the speed at which it happened still surprises her. “It’s really surreal to have it actually happen and so quickly,” she says. “I think I’m most proud of the fact that my Ridgeback, Chuckie, is a character in this novel. He’s no longer with me, but I’m so happy I can honour his life this way. Now everyone will know a best friend like him exists.”
Tea, a laptop, and the late hours of the night
Emma still works in her day job in the communications team at her local council, and writes whenever she can. “As long as I have a laptop I can write anywhere! Though I do prefer the late hours of the night while I’m snuggled up on the couch with a tea,” she says. “Many, many cups of tea assisted in the creation of Driven.”
And her advice for anyone thinking about investing in their writing? “Investing in your craft is one of the best things you can do, and the connection to like-minded people is invaluable!”
You can follow Emma’s writing journey on Instagram. She currently lives in Newcastle, NSW.
Course taken at AWC:
