COMP CLOSED: ‘The Tour’ by Andrew Mackie
This week, we have three copies of The Tour up for grabs – the debut novel from Transmission Films distributor and producer, Andrew Mackie. The
How to run an effective writing group
There’s no better way to improve your writing than to share and workshop it with other writers. This idea can terrify some people, but once
Q&A: Why is it called a spelling bee?
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
Writing Podcast Episode 388 Meet Kelli Hawkins, author of ‘Other People’s Houses’.
In Episode 388 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Kelli Hawkins, author of Other People’s Houses. Discover manuscript awards you should enter in 2021. Our sister podcast So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt is here. A.L. Tait’s The Fire Star makes the CBCA list of notables for 2021. Plus, we have 3 copies of Space Hopper by Helen Fisher to give away.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Space Hopper’ by Helen Fisher
This week, we’re excited to be giving away Space Hopper – the debut novel from UK author Helen Fisher and a book that legendary author
Copywriting Podcast Episode 006: How former teacher Tanya Enright reinvented her life to become a copywriter
In Episode 006 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: After a workplace injury left her unable to teach again, Tanya Enright turned to copywriting as a new career. It delivered in spades. 4 months after completing our short course, she packed up her bags, hit the road with her partner and three dogs, and has not looked back. In this episode, she tells us how she did it, why she did it, and how she managed to create a flourishing copywriting career so quickly.
The Australian Book Industry Awards 2021 longlist announced
The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) longlist for 2021 has been released, ahead of the shortlist announcement in April. Regular listeners of the So you
Larrikin House publishes Aussie picture books with humour and heart
In the world of publishing, new houses occasionally pop up to fill a niche. One such new publisher is Larrikin House, created by James Layton
Congrats to the AWC presenters and alumni on the 2021 CBCA Notables list!
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has released its list of Notable books for 2021 and we are quite chuffed to see the names
Q&A: “Wonderous” vs “wondrous” vs “wonderful”
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 February 2021 winner and shortlist
It was a happy third birthday to Furious Fiction this month (be sure to check out our “stories behind the stories” collection) and to celebrate
Copywriting Podcast Episode 005: Partnership expert Katrina McCarter on how to find new copywriting clients (without picking up the phone)
In Episode 005 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: How good would it be if others could find your copywriting clients for you? What about getting paid to write your own book? What about generating thousands of new subscribers without spending a cent? All this and more is possible with partnerships – but not your average partnerships.
Writing Podcast Episode 387 Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of ‘The Boy from the Mish’.
In Episode 387 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of The Boy from the Mish. Discover the fab writers behind Lighthouse, an anthology of short stories. There’s a new writers’ festival happening on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Plus, we have 3 copies of Rebel Without a Clause by Susan Butler to give away.
COMP CLOSED ‘Rebel Without a Clause’ by Susan Butler
Do you like books that explore the absurdity of the English language? If so, then you’ll want to get your hands on one of our
Copywriting Podcast Episode 004: Catch.com.au co-founder Gabby Leibovich on how to build a billion-dollar online business
In Episode 004 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: How do two Israeli brothers with no money, basic tech skills and patchy English build some of Australia’s most successful online businesses, with a combined exit valued of more than $1 billion? You may not know their faces but you’ll certainly know the brands they build – catch.com.au, Menulog, Scoopon and Luxury Escapes. What’s more, they did it on a budget and spent virtually zero on marketing. How did they do it? With great copywriting, an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion to create a successful business.
5 tips for finding your ‘write’ people
It took me a while to find my people, but when I did things really started happening…fast!
I went from my world of “one” where no one other than my non-writing family and friends knew about my creative writing projects – to sharing my work with a community of like-minded writers. Here’s how you can fast track your way to finding your people…
Q&A: “In the box seat”
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
Copywriting Podcast Episode 003: How much should a copywriter charge?
In Episode 003 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: People love being a copywriter for lots of reasons – it’s portable, you can write from anywhere, you don’t need a degree in writing and it doesn’t matter how old you are. But the real reason why people like writing copy is because it’s so well paid, especially when compared to traditional writing work like journalism, creative writing and feature writing.
Furious Fiction – the stories behind the stories
In February 2021, our monthly short story competition Furious Fiction celebrated three years in existence. And while the hope of taking home the top prize
New writers’ festival launches on the Central Coast
Do you want to escape to the Central Coast, NSW for a writers’ festival? Maybe you already call the Central Coast home and are looking
Copywriting Podcast Episode 002: Former Clemenger Creative Director Ben Keenan on how to find freelance copywriting work
In Episode 002 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: Ben Keenan is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists, creative directors and copywriters. He also happens to have got his start in advertising by completing my copywriting short course over 15 years ago! Which just goes to show what can happen if you hang in there and persist!
Writing Podcast Episode 386 Meet Pip Drysdale, author of ‘The Paris Affair’.
In Episode 386 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Pip Drysdale, author of The Paris Affair and discover hot tips for writing arguments. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Speechwriter by Martin McKenzie-Murray to give away.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Speechwriter’ by Martin McKenzie-Murray
“The ‘Black Mirror’ Australian politics has been waiting for.” – Zan Rowe This week’s giveaway book is the fiction debut of erstwhile speechwriter and Saturday
Copywriting Podcast Episode 001: How to become a highly paid copywriter
In Episode 001 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: What is copywriting? Why are so many people interested in becoming one? What does it take to become a successful copywriter? Is it possible to make a living from copywriting? How can you get started as a freelance or ad agency copywriter?
Q&A: “A shot or stab in the dark?”
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
COMP CLOSED: ‘The Tour’ by Andrew Mackie
This week, we have three copies of The Tour up for grabs – the debut novel from Transmission Films distributor and producer, Andrew Mackie. The Age says, ‘The Tour is good fun – a gossipy, behind-the-scenes romp featuring vivid dialogue and characters, set in a bygone Australia.’ We’re intrigued! Here’s
How to run an effective writing group
There’s no better way to improve your writing than to share and workshop it with other writers. This idea can terrify some people, but once you conquer your fear, you’ll find it invaluable. However, you need to find the right group for you, and your writing group should have clear
Q&A: Why is it called a spelling bee?
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, we’re having a spelling bee…
Writing Podcast Episode 388 Meet Kelli Hawkins, author of ‘Other People’s Houses’.
In Episode 388 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Kelli Hawkins, author of Other People’s Houses. Discover manuscript awards you should enter in 2021. Our sister podcast So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt is here. A.L. Tait’s The Fire Star makes the CBCA list of notables for 2021. Plus, we have 3 copies of Space Hopper by Helen Fisher to give away.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Space Hopper’ by Helen Fisher
This week, we’re excited to be giving away Space Hopper – the debut novel from UK author Helen Fisher and a book that legendary author Marian Keyes describes as “an unusual intriguing novel… the first in ages that actually *interested* me”. So, what’s got Marian all excited? Why has it
Copywriting Podcast Episode 006: How former teacher Tanya Enright reinvented her life to become a copywriter
In Episode 006 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: After a workplace injury left her unable to teach again, Tanya Enright turned to copywriting as a new career. It delivered in spades. 4 months after completing our short course, she packed up her bags, hit the road with her partner and three dogs, and has not looked back. In this episode, she tells us how she did it, why she did it, and how she managed to create a flourishing copywriting career so quickly.
The Australian Book Industry Awards 2021 longlist announced
The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) longlist for 2021 has been released, ahead of the shortlist announcement in April. Regular listeners of the So you want to be a writer podcast will recognise many of the names on the list, as the authors have featured as our Writers in Residence,
Larrikin House publishes Aussie picture books with humour and heart
In the world of publishing, new houses occasionally pop up to fill a niche. One such new publisher is Larrikin House, created by James Layton after he identified a need for more Aussie picture books. Like any traditional publishing house, Larrikin’s focus is on high-quality stories that resonate with readers.
Congrats to the AWC presenters and alumni on the 2021 CBCA Notables list!
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has released its list of Notable books for 2021 and we are quite chuffed to see the names of so many of our presenters and graduates. No fewer than 10 members of the AWC family have been recognised for their books – as
Q&A: “Wonderous” vs “wondrous” vs “wonderful”
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, wonders will never cease… Q:
Furious Fiction February 2021 winner and shortlist
It was a happy third birthday to Furious Fiction this month (be sure to check out our “stories behind the stories” collection) and to celebrate turning three, every story had to begin with the word THREE. That wasn’t all though: Each story had to be set in a SCHOOL. Each
Copywriting Podcast Episode 005: Partnership expert Katrina McCarter on how to find new copywriting clients (without picking up the phone)
In Episode 005 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: How good would it be if others could find your copywriting clients for you? What about getting paid to write your own book? What about generating thousands of new subscribers without spending a cent? All this and more is possible with partnerships – but not your average partnerships.
Writing Podcast Episode 387 Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of ‘The Boy from the Mish’.
In Episode 387 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Gary Lonesborough, author of The Boy from the Mish. Discover the fab writers behind Lighthouse, an anthology of short stories. There’s a new writers’ festival happening on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Plus, we have 3 copies of Rebel Without a Clause by Susan Butler to give away.
COMP CLOSED ‘Rebel Without a Clause’ by Susan Butler
Do you like books that explore the absurdity of the English language? If so, then you’ll want to get your hands on one of our copies of this week’s giveaway book – Rebel Without a Clause by Susan Butler. The English language is changing constantly. We invent new words and
Copywriting Podcast Episode 004: Catch.com.au co-founder Gabby Leibovich on how to build a billion-dollar online business
In Episode 004 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: How do two Israeli brothers with no money, basic tech skills and patchy English build some of Australia’s most successful online businesses, with a combined exit valued of more than $1 billion? You may not know their faces but you’ll certainly know the brands they build – catch.com.au, Menulog, Scoopon and Luxury Escapes. What’s more, they did it on a budget and spent virtually zero on marketing. How did they do it? With great copywriting, an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion to create a successful business.
5 tips for finding your ‘write’ people
It took me a while to find my people, but when I did things really started happening…fast!
I went from my world of “one” where no one other than my non-writing family and friends knew about my creative writing projects – to sharing my work with a community of like-minded writers. Here’s how you can fast track your way to finding your people…
Q&A: “In the box seat”
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, we have bums on seats…
Copywriting Podcast Episode 003: How much should a copywriter charge?
In Episode 003 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: People love being a copywriter for lots of reasons – it’s portable, you can write from anywhere, you don’t need a degree in writing and it doesn’t matter how old you are. But the real reason why people like writing copy is because it’s so well paid, especially when compared to traditional writing work like journalism, creative writing and feature writing.
Furious Fiction – the stories behind the stories
In February 2021, our monthly short story competition Furious Fiction celebrated three years in existence. And while the hope of taking home the top prize or being featured in the short and longlists each month is a big part of the fun, we also regularly hear from people who are
New writers’ festival launches on the Central Coast
Do you want to escape to the Central Coast, NSW for a writers’ festival? Maybe you already call the Central Coast home and are looking for something to do in June. The Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival is a brand new writers’ festival taking place over the June long
Copywriting Podcast Episode 002: Former Clemenger Creative Director Ben Keenan on how to find freelance copywriting work
In Episode 002 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: Ben Keenan is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists, creative directors and copywriters. He also happens to have got his start in advertising by completing my copywriting short course over 15 years ago! Which just goes to show what can happen if you hang in there and persist!
Writing Podcast Episode 386 Meet Pip Drysdale, author of ‘The Paris Affair’.
In Episode 386 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Pip Drysdale, author of The Paris Affair and discover hot tips for writing arguments. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Speechwriter by Martin McKenzie-Murray to give away.
COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Speechwriter’ by Martin McKenzie-Murray
“The ‘Black Mirror’ Australian politics has been waiting for.” – Zan Rowe This week’s giveaway book is the fiction debut of erstwhile speechwriter and Saturday Paper journalist Martin McKenzie-Murray. In The Speechwriter, he takes us on a frantic, funny, and surreal journey through the corridors of power. Here’s a quick
Copywriting Podcast Episode 001: How to become a highly paid copywriter
In Episode 001 of So You Want To Be A Copywriter: What is copywriting? Why are so many people interested in becoming one? What does it take to become a successful copywriter? Is it possible to make a living from copywriting? How can you get started as a freelance or ad agency copywriter?
Q&A: “A shot or stab in the dark?”
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, we’re taking a shot in
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