Q&A: What does MOOT actually mean?
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: Win “The Natural Way of Things” and Dendy Direct gift card
Thanks to our friends over at Dendy Direct, we have FIVE prizes to send to happy homes this week. Each contains a copy of Charlotte
Word of the week: Nicotine
Before this week’s word, a special mention to the Build Your Author Platform graduate Facebook group, who each week have been trying their best to
Q&A: Pronunciation vs Enunciation vs Elocution
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
What we’re reading this month – June 2016
Each month, we share what we’re reading – fiction or nonfiction. (And you can do the same – details at the end of this post.)
Q&A: Understanding bullet lists
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 113 Meet author Belinda Murrell, writer of ‘The Lost Sapphire’
In Episode 113 of So you want to be a writer: What was the defining moment that made you become a writer? Find out why women are
Using crowdfunding with Unbound to get your novel published
Guest post by Claire Scobie This a story about how I’m using crowdfunding to get my novel The Pagoda Tree published in the UK. I’m
Word of the week: Milquetoast
Milquetoast (noun) “I first heard this word when my friend referred to someone by saying: “She’s milquetoast”. At first, I thought she was saying milk
He’s written the “Perfect” picture book…
Children’s book author Danny Parker (also one of our fabulous AWC presenters) recently made the shortlist of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of
Writing Podcast Episode 112 Meet romance writer Kylie Scott, author of ‘Dirty’
In Episode 112 of So you want to be a writer: Grammar mistakes you should correct, visit a book store with no books, and Chuck Palahniuk releases
Victorian Community History Awards are open for 2016
The Victorian Community History Awards for 2016 are now open! According to the Royal Historical Society of Victoria: “The Awards recognise excellence in historical storytelling.
Q&A: It’s all gone pear-shaped
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
Sue Whiting: the biggest mistakes people make writing children’s books
Sue Whiting is a successful Australian author writing for children and young adults. She also now teaches at the Australian Writers’ Centre, so we cornered
4 competitions for short story writers
Writing competitions can be a great motivational tool. Do you have a story idea that you would love to explore further? A neglected draft patiently
Word of the week: Bucolic
Bucolic (adjective) “As AWC team member Dean pointed out, this words sounds unpleasant – and almost sounds like bubonic (as in the plague) – but
Novelist Natasha Lester on how she uses Scrivener
Bestselling author and AWC presenter Natasha Lester discovered Scrivener after becoming fed up with Word, and hasn’t looked back! Check out this interview excerpt from our Facebook
Melanie Dower: Freelancing from Finland
When Melanie Dower (pictured) relocated from Auckland, New Zealand to Helsinki, Finland to join her husband in his dream job, it turned her whole world
How to be a better business writer
Do you spend eight hours a day in front of your computer at work? Maybe you’re sending emails. Perhaps you’re writing proposals or recommendations. The
Writing Podcast Episode 111 Meet Steve Lewis, co-author of ‘Secret City’
In Episode 111 of So you want to be a writer: Find out which authors took more than five years to write their books, why Judy Blume
Q&A: Biannual, bimonthly and biweekly
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
Word of the week: Avuncular
Avuncular (adjective) “When I first heard this word, my friend was describing an older gentleman that she worked with. It’s an adjective that means ‘like
Writing Podcast Episode 110 Meet Anna Spargo-Ryan, author of ‘The Paper House’
In Episode 110 of So you want to be a writer: The worst ways to begin your novel and things authors should know. Discover how to
Enter the Overland Short Story Prize for your chance to win $6000
Australian and New Zealand short story writers, this competition is for you. The Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for new and emerging writers is
Word of the week: Stultify
Stultify (verb) “One meaning is to make a person appear stupid or foolish. But mainly it means to lose all enthusiasm due to a boring
Q&A: What does MOOT actually mean?
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, our moot is on point…
COMP CLOSED: Win “The Natural Way of Things” and Dendy Direct gift card
Thanks to our friends over at Dendy Direct, we have FIVE prizes to send to happy homes this week. Each contains a copy of Charlotte Wood’s The Natural Way of Things plus a $10 Dendy Direct gift card to watch Charlotte’s favourite films, and other new release movies and TV! This
Word of the week: Nicotine
Before this week’s word, a special mention to the Build Your Author Platform graduate Facebook group, who each week have been trying their best to incorporate Valerie’s word of the week (mentioned on podcast and here) into something they write that week. Some very creative uses so far! Nicotine (noun)
Q&A: Pronunciation vs Enunciation vs Elocution
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 charged up as we
What we’re reading this month – June 2016
Each month, we share what we’re reading – fiction or nonfiction. (And you can do the same – details at the end of this post.) Here’s what some of us at AWC have been reading in June: Bec: Memories of Silk and Straw: A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan by
Q&A: Understanding bullet lists
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, it’s time to bite the
Writing Podcast Episode 113 Meet author Belinda Murrell, writer of ‘The Lost Sapphire’
In Episode 113 of So you want to be a writer: What was the defining moment that made you become a writer? Find out why women are killing it in crime writing and the reason why essay writing services are booming. Impress your friends with the origin of the word ‘nicotine’. Meet
Using crowdfunding with Unbound to get your novel published
Guest post by Claire Scobie This a story about how I’m using crowdfunding to get my novel The Pagoda Tree published in the UK. I’m using Unbound, a UK publishing model with a distinguished past. Once known as “subscription publishing”, in 1688 the first edition of Milton’s Paradise Lost was
Word of the week: Milquetoast
Milquetoast (noun) “I first heard this word when my friend referred to someone by saying: “She’s milquetoast”. At first, I thought she was saying milk (as in the white stuff you drink) and “toast” and was thinking it was some kind of breakfast thing! But it’s milquetoast and it means
He’s written the “Perfect” picture book…
Children’s book author Danny Parker (also one of our fabulous AWC presenters) recently made the shortlist of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Awards 2016 as well as last month’s Australian Book Industry Awards shortlist – for his picture book, titled Perfect. With the book set
Writing Podcast Episode 112 Meet romance writer Kylie Scott, author of ‘Dirty’
In Episode 112 of So you want to be a writer: Grammar mistakes you should correct, visit a book store with no books, and Chuck Palahniuk releases a colouring book for adults. Find out which six dialogue habits are killing your story and discover the meaning of milquetoast. Also: meet romance writer Kylie
Victorian Community History Awards are open for 2016
The Victorian Community History Awards for 2016 are now open! According to the Royal Historical Society of Victoria: “The Awards recognise excellence in historical storytelling. The range of award categories reflects the variety of formats that can be used to reach and enrich the lives of Victorians through history.” Last
Q&A: It’s all gone pear-shaped
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 pare back the pair vs
Sue Whiting: the biggest mistakes people make writing children’s books
Sue Whiting is a successful Australian author writing for children and young adults. She also now teaches at the Australian Writers’ Centre, so we cornered her at the water cooler and threw some questions her way. Hi Sue. Your background is in primary school teaching. Was there a spark or
4 competitions for short story writers
Writing competitions can be a great motivational tool. Do you have a story idea that you would love to explore further? A neglected draft patiently waiting for you on your computer? Why not enter these short story competitions and use the submission deadline to your advantage. You may even find
Word of the week: Bucolic
Bucolic (adjective) “As AWC team member Dean pointed out, this words sounds unpleasant – and almost sounds like bubonic (as in the plague) – but is actually an adjective describing a lovely scene, usually in a rustic or rural settings. So you might say ‘The country house had a bucolic
Novelist Natasha Lester on how she uses Scrivener
Bestselling author and AWC presenter Natasha Lester discovered Scrivener after becoming fed up with Word, and hasn’t looked back! Check out this interview excerpt from our Facebook Live stream with Natasha at our recent Sydney meet-up, where she discusses how Scrivener was a game-changer for her novel writing process. From being able to
Melanie Dower: Freelancing from Finland
When Melanie Dower (pictured) relocated from Auckland, New Zealand to Helsinki, Finland to join her husband in his dream job, it turned her whole world upside down. Here, on the other side of the globe, she struggled to find a job on par with her previous field as she wasn’t
How to be a better business writer
Do you spend eight hours a day in front of your computer at work? Maybe you’re sending emails. Perhaps you’re writing proposals or recommendations. The reality is that many of us spend much of our day doing some form of written communication. So it’s vital to understand a few simple
Writing Podcast Episode 111 Meet Steve Lewis, co-author of ‘Secret City’
In Episode 111 of So you want to be a writer: Find out which authors took more than five years to write their books, why Judy Blume opened a book shop at age 78, and what really goes on in an author’s day. Plus: learn the meaning of “bucolic”, meet Steve Lewis,
Q&A: Biannual, bimonthly and biweekly
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 look twice at “bi”…
Word of the week: Avuncular
Avuncular (adjective) “When I first heard this word, my friend was describing an older gentleman that she worked with. It’s an adjective that means ‘like an uncle’ and when I met her colleague it made total sense. Because he was very kind towards her and looked out for her. Please
Writing Podcast Episode 110 Meet Anna Spargo-Ryan, author of ‘The Paper House’
In Episode 110 of So you want to be a writer: The worst ways to begin your novel and things authors should know. Discover how to turn your “off” writing days into “on” days and how to refill your creative well. How a “mommy blog” ruined the blogger’s life. You’ll learn
Enter the Overland Short Story Prize for your chance to win $6000
Australian and New Zealand short story writers, this competition is for you. The Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for new and emerging writers is now open for the fifth consecutive year. They are welcoming pieces no longer than 3,000 words. To qualify, you must not have published more than
Word of the week: Stultify
Stultify (verb) “One meaning is to make a person appear stupid or foolish. But mainly it means to lose all enthusiasm due to a boring routine. So you might say that being in prison was stultifying if you had nothing to do. Or that the stultifying job meant you were
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