Writing Podcast Episode 722: Anna Johnston dishes up her latest novel, ‘When Lemons Give You Life’

Is food your love language? It certainly is for bestselling author and AWC graduate Anna Johnston – brought to life through her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life. In this episode, Anna dishes up the inspiration and character creation for this latest book and the challenges, strategies and superpowers of being an author with ADHD. She also shares how she deals with writing tough scenes, her writing workflow, and advice for writers.

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00:00 Welcome
11:18 Writing tip: Cut the Starting Scene
13:24 Writers in the wild
14:51 WIN: The Bookshop of Buried Pasts by Sarah Clutton
16:42 Word of the week: Jakes
17:14 Writer in residence: Anna Johnston
18:16 Anna explains new book, When Lemons Give You Life
20:21 Story themes and origins
24:02 Research and authenticity
27:10 POV structure and flashbacks
29:22 Editing and deadlines
32:45 What she learned from AWC courses
35:20 ADHD writing strategies
38:06 Letting characters go
41:34 Organising notes and workflow
43:25 Balancing writing life
44:39 Publicity and events
46:40 Next book plans
47:26 Anna’s advice for writers
49:28 Final thoughts

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Anna Johnston

Anna Johnston is a former baby, aspiring octogenarian and emerging Australian author with a love for the heartfelt and hilarious. She grew up in country Victoria before moving to Melbourne where she lives joyously with her husband and daughters by the beach. Anna left an imminent career in medicine to follow her heart into her grandfather’s nursing home where she became the social support coordinator, taking great delight in shaking up the usual program. When injury left her unable to continue working in aged care, she began to write about it, channelling her love for older people onto the page. Anna has enjoyed a lifelong passion for theatre, screenplay, travel, and creative writing.

You can also meet Anna on our blog.

Follow Anna on Instagram.

Follow Penguin Books Australia on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Dare to Dream.

 

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

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