Word of the week: Asperity
Asperity (noun) [as’peruhtee] This means sharpness or harshness of temper. So you might say: “The teacher was frustrated with the Year 9 class and spoke to
Q&A: One nation?
Q: Is a country a singular or plural entity? A: Good question. After all, a nation can be both a united front but also made
Writing Podcast Episode 198 We chat to Jacqueline Harvey, author of the Alice-Miranda series
In Episode 198 of So you want to be a writer: Useful writing tips from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and how to balance freelancing with creative writing.
COMP CLOSED: WIN What’s YOUR favourite number?
This week we’re celebrating the success of one of our AWC alumni by giving away a set of her new series of picture books –
Writing Podcast Episode 197 Is my memoir interesting enough?
In Episode 197 of So you want to be a writer: Is my memoir interesting enough? How to give feedback on horror when you don’t read
Win $5000 with ELLE magazine’s short story competition
ELLE magazine have launched their first ever writing competition (for short stories up to 4000 words). Not only is there $5000 up for grabs for
Q&A: Tricks of the trade
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 196 Meet Garry Disher, author of ‘Her’
In Episode 196 of So you want to be a writer: Take part in our awesome ‘So you want to be a writer’ community survey. The curious
COMP CLOSED: WIN What’s your favourite “-oke” word?
This week we’re giving away the new book from award-winning Australian author Sofie Laguna. Her previous novel, The Eye of the Sheep, won the prestigious
$80,000 fellowship for mid-late career authors is back!
Each year, the Copyright Council opens up its rather handsome annual Author Fellowship. This fellowship will give you the financial help you need to finish
Stella Prize 2018 now open
The Stella Prize returns! The Stella Prize celebrates women’s contribution to literature and has been awarded annually since 2014. The 2018 prize is now open
Word of the week: Comstockery
Comstockery (noun) [kom’stokuhree] According to the Macquarie Dictionary, this is: “the overzealous censorship of the fine arts and literature, often mistaking outspokenly honest works for salacious ones.”
Writing Podcast Episode 195 Do I need a travel blog?
In Episode 195 of So you want to be a writer:Do you need a travel blog to be a travel writer and tips on converting typewritten
Q&A: Plane vs plain
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 194 Meet Sophie Green, author of ‘The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club’
In Episode 194 of So you want to be a writer: Discover lawyers who moonlight as romance writers. The intriguing case of a crime writer arrested for
COMP CLOSED: Win double passes to “Maudie” starring Ethan Hawke
Thanks to Transmission Films, we have 10 double passes to Maudie starring Sally Hawkins in the title role and Ethan Hawke as her initially reluctant
COMP CLOSED: Win Father’s Day 2-book pack!
Being the first Sunday in September, Father’s Day often stealthily sneaks up on us. But not this year, because we’re getting this giveaway completed before
Word of the week: Magisterial
Magisterial (adjective) [majuhs’tearreeuh] You might think this sounds like it comes from majesty, but it doesn’t. It actually comes from the word that gave us magistrate,
The secrets to writing successful short stories
Back in 2002, an author you may have heard of by the name of Stephen King said that “there are few pleasures so excellent as
Q&A: Cue vs queue
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 193 Meet Catherine Jinks, author of ‘Charlatan’
In Episode 193 of So you want to be a writer: How to use subplots to bring your story together and commuters can enjoy stories from
COMP CLOSED: Win Matt Haig’s “How to Stop Time”
This week’s book is an epic that spans a lifetime. Except that this particular lifetime just happens to include Shakespeare’s England, jazz age Paris and
Word of the week: Amanuensis
Amanuensis (noun) [uhmanyooh’ensuhs] Did you know this is a fancy word for “secretary”? It comes from Ancient Rome when an amanuensis was employed to take dictation
Writing Podcast Episode 192 Can you submit to multiple publishers as the same time?
In this minisode of So you want to be a writer: Can you submit your manuscript to multiple publishers as the same time? Tips on how to
Writing Podcast Episode 191 We chat to Patti Miller on her new book ‘Writing True Stories’
In Episode 191 of So you want to be a writer: The freelancing life and mental health. Writing movie ‘tie-in’ books as a path to publication.
Word of the week: Asperity
Asperity (noun) [as’peruhtee] This means sharpness or harshness of temper. So you might say: “The teacher was frustrated with the Year 9 class and spoke to them with asperity.” Listen to Valerie and Allison chat more about this and more on the world of writing, blogging and publishing.
Q&A: One nation?
Q: Is a country a singular or plural entity? A: Good question. After all, a nation can be both a united front but also made up of millions of people. Q: Exactly! So, is it “Australia play Thailand in the next soccer qualifier” or “Australia PLAYS Thailand”? A: Well, it
Writing Podcast Episode 198 We chat to Jacqueline Harvey, author of the Alice-Miranda series
In Episode 198 of So you want to be a writer: Useful writing tips from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and how to balance freelancing with creative writing. Freelance writing skills you can use to write your novel and Google’s most-searched “how-to” questions capture all the magic and struggle of being human. What writing for
COMP CLOSED: WIN What’s YOUR favourite number?
This week we’re celebrating the success of one of our AWC alumni by giving away a set of her new series of picture books – the ideal gift for the tiniest person in your life. This five-book series by Shelly Unwin is aimed at readers from age one right up
Writing Podcast Episode 197 Is my memoir interesting enough?
In Episode 197 of So you want to be a writer: Is my memoir interesting enough? How to give feedback on horror when you don’t read it. Which laptop should I buy? Click play below to listen to the podcast. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher Radio.
Win $5000 with ELLE magazine’s short story competition
ELLE magazine have launched their first ever writing competition (for short stories up to 4000 words). Not only is there $5000 up for grabs for the winner, their story will also be published in the January 2018 edition of ELLE. From the ELLE website: We’re on the lookout for fiction’s
Q&A: Tricks of the trade
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 learning the tricks of
Writing Podcast Episode 196 Meet Garry Disher, author of ‘Her’
In Episode 196 of So you want to be a writer: Take part in our awesome ‘So you want to be a writer’ community survey. The curious case of whether someone scammed a book’s way onto The New York Times Bestseller List. Plus, how to find time to write and cool character
COMP CLOSED: WIN What’s your favourite “-oke” word?
This week we’re giving away the new book from award-winning Australian author Sofie Laguna. Her previous novel, The Eye of the Sheep, won the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2015 – and her latest is The Choke. The Choke is a haunting novel about a child navigating a dark
$80,000 fellowship for mid-late career authors is back!
Each year, the Copyright Council opens up its rather handsome annual Author Fellowship. This fellowship will give you the financial help you need to finish that project. After all, authors have to eat, pay the bill and all those other things required by mere mortals. From the Copyright Council website:
Stella Prize 2018 now open
The Stella Prize returns! The Stella Prize celebrates women’s contribution to literature and has been awarded annually since 2014. The 2018 prize is now open for entries and the winner will receive $50,000. What is the Stella Prize and how did it come about? From the website: “Dreams of the
Word of the week: Comstockery
Comstockery (noun) [kom’stokuhree] According to the Macquarie Dictionary, this is: “the overzealous censorship of the fine arts and literature, often mistaking outspokenly honest works for salacious ones.” And it is named after Anthony Comstock, a US moralist. So you might say “The conservative lobby encouraged comstockery when they were deciding on which
Writing Podcast Episode 195 Do I need a travel blog?
In Episode 195 of So you want to be a writer:Do you need a travel blog to be a travel writer and tips on converting typewritten pages into Word documents. Plus: should you mention to publishers when you’re submitting that you have other manuscripts underway? Click play below to listen to
Q&A: Plane vs plain
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 keeping it plain and
Writing Podcast Episode 194 Meet Sophie Green, author of ‘The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club’
In Episode 194 of So you want to be a writer: Discover lawyers who moonlight as romance writers. The intriguing case of a crime writer arrested for alleged murder, plus short story writing tips from Cathie Tasker. And meet Sophie Green, author of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club.
COMP CLOSED: Win double passes to “Maudie” starring Ethan Hawke
Thanks to Transmission Films, we have 10 double passes to Maudie starring Sally Hawkins in the title role and Ethan Hawke as her initially reluctant employer. This beautifully shot biopic tells the story of Maud Lewis – a Canadian folk artist living on Nova Scotia in the mid-20th century. Check
COMP CLOSED: Win Father’s Day 2-book pack!
Being the first Sunday in September, Father’s Day often stealthily sneaks up on us. But not this year, because we’re getting this giveaway completed before 3 September to allow our winners to choose to either gift it or keep the books for themselves! We have THREE packs to give away,
Word of the week: Magisterial
Magisterial (adjective) [majuhs’tearreeuh] You might think this sounds like it comes from majesty, but it doesn’t. It actually comes from the word that gave us magistrate, which incidentally used to be schoolteacher. So magisterial means when something is done in the manner of a domineering school teacher. So you might say:
The secrets to writing successful short stories
Back in 2002, an author you may have heard of by the name of Stephen King said that “there are few pleasures so excellent as sitting in my favorite chair on a cold night with a hot cup of tea, listening to the wind outside and reading a good story
Q&A: Cue vs queue
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, cue the “queue & A”…
Writing Podcast Episode 193 Meet Catherine Jinks, author of ‘Charlatan’
In Episode 193 of So you want to be a writer: How to use subplots to bring your story together and commuters can enjoy stories from short story vending machines. Plus, how NOT to bury your lede. Meet Catherine Jinks, author of Charlatan: The Dishonest Life and Dishonoured Loves of Thomas
COMP CLOSED: Win Matt Haig’s “How to Stop Time”
This week’s book is an epic that spans a lifetime. Except that this particular lifetime just happens to include Shakespeare’s England, jazz age Paris and surfing in Byron Bay. The book is How to Stop Time – the latest novel by bestselling author Matt Haig, and it has been described
Word of the week: Amanuensis
Amanuensis (noun) [uhmanyooh’ensuhs] Did you know this is a fancy word for “secretary”? It comes from Ancient Rome when an amanuensis was employed to take dictation or copy manuscripts. These days it can refer to any kind of secretary or assistant that helps with words. So you might say: “My manuscript
Writing Podcast Episode 192 Can you submit to multiple publishers as the same time?
In this minisode of So you want to be a writer: Can you submit your manuscript to multiple publishers as the same time? Tips on how to drag yourself out of a rut when it feels like your novel is going nowhere. Plus: a new Facebook group for the So you want
Writing Podcast Episode 191 We chat to Patti Miller on her new book ‘Writing True Stories’
In Episode 191 of So you want to be a writer: The freelancing life and mental health. Writing movie ‘tie-in’ books as a path to publication. Creating a CV for your protagonist and tips on how to be prolific. Introducing a brand new Facebook group. Why you should make it easy
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