Explore every episode of the podcast So You Want to be a Writer
Dive into the complete episode list for So You Want to be a Writer. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Writing Podcast Episode 722: Anna Johnston dishes up her latest novel, 'When Lemons Give You Life'
22 Jun 2026
00:52:33
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.
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
Writing Podcast Episode 721: Christine Gregory uncovers her new novel, 'The Informant'
15 Jun 2026
00:45:48
Australia is experiencing a golden age of crime and thriller writing right now and Christine Gregory is a part of that. Her latest novel, The Informant, explores the world of bikie gangs, and in this episode, Christine discusses how she went about researching this subject, and how she balances dark themes as an author. And we love that she is an AWC graduate!
00:00 Welcome 04:25 Writers in the wild 05:52 Writing tip: Cut the first paragraph! 07:14 WIN!: Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu 09:15 Word of the week ‘Plicate’ 10:02 Writer in residence: Christine Gregory 10:53 Plot of new book, The Informant 12:28 Why bikey gangs fascinate 14:28 On-location research 16:20 Standalone sequels and balancing story 18:39 Writing process and deadlines 20:06 Why Australia suits crime 23:46 Challenges writing the book 24:02 Taming story rabbit holes 24:51 Choosing the right POV 25:29 How she became an author 27:17 Courses that improved her skills| 29:13 A realistic writing routine 31:14 Day job and dark themes 33:16 Writing without lecturing 35:55 Practical advice for writers 37:57 Book recommendations 39:33 What‘s next? 40:28 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 720: Fiona Hardy challenges you to 'Old Games'
08 Jun 2026
00:47:43
Do you spend your weekends visiting cliffs with your child to find out which ones would be deadliest? Well, that’s something Fiona Hardy did in researching her new ‘cosy crime’ novel, Old Games! In this episode, Fiona joins us to discuss the inspiration for this latest book, her own writing process and how she went from kids to adult fiction!
00:00 Welcome 06:31 Writers in the wild 11:06 Writing tip: Metrics of success 14:31 WIN!: The Clueless Guide to Solving a Mystery by Samera Kamaleddine & Hykie Breeze 16:10 Word of the week: ’Obstreperous’ 16:57 Writer in residence: Fiona Hardy 17:50 What is her new book ‘Old Games’ all about? 20:09 Plotting and pitching this second novel 23:25 Cosy crime without a murder 26:19 Writing fight scenes 27:41 Realistic consequences 28:28 Setting the story in Victoria 30:23 Researching crime and cliffs 32:42 Balancing bookselling and writing 34:11 Daily writing process and goals 35:31 Publicity, creating socials and anxiety 39:17 How Fiona moved from kids to adult books 40:34 Future projects 43:39 Writing tip 45:10 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 719: Allison Tait talks 'The Last Word' and YKNR series
01 Jun 2026
00:53:37
She’s baaaaack! Any chance to chat with my former podcast co-host Allison Tait (who writes as A.L Tait) is a good day, and she’s back with yet another book hitting shelves – tween romance, The Last Word. Allison also discusses some of the other exciting projects including curating a new series of books through her Your Kids Next Read community.
00:00 Welcome 06:05 Writers in the wild 09:23 Writing tip: Do NOT self-censor in a memoir draft 11:28 WIN!: Simply Beside Herself by Judith Katherine 13:06 Word of the week: ’Recondite’ 13:48 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait 14:52 Allison discusses new book, The Last Word 17:52 What makes tween romance? 21:55 Allison’s ‘romance’ origins 25:33 Character-driven romance 27:31 Books coming up 28:00 Your Next Read fiction series 30:20 Writing small word counts 30:45 Finding new lanes 33:36 Writing for different age levels 37:24 One project at a time! 39:48 From CLEO magazine to writing 41:35 Writing around kids 43:30 Allison’s YKNR podcast role 46:30 Just show up and write! 49:52 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 718: Mary-Lou Stephens welcomes you to 'The Hobart Hotel'
25 May 2026
00:51:00
Do you love historical fiction? I have to admit to being a sucker for a different time and place – and both are on offer in Mary-Lou Stephens’ latest novel, The Hobart Hotel. In this episode, Mary-Lou discusses her unique approach to research and the challenges of writing about Uruguay in the 1940s, as well as why she loves writing historical fiction so much.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writers in the Wild 10:08 Writing tip: Find balance in your creative life 13:15 WIN!: The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott 15:07 Word of the week: ’Patalous’ 15:45 Writer in residence: Mary-Lou Stephens 17:19 Describing The Hobart Hotel 19:16 Inspiration and research 20:57 The dual timeline process 22:36 Capturing the Uruguay wartime vibe 27:24 Why Historical Fiction? 30:32 Mary-Lou’s ‘slow travel’ writing life 34:40 Writing while traveling 37:17 Memoir and meditation 43:10 What’s next? 44:58 Promoting her books 46:07 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 717: Katie Hoskins and her new book, 'When the Party’s Over'
18 May 2026
00:48:49
OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins’ debut novel, When the Party’s Over! In so many ways, it’s the PERFECT book – nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginner to a two-book Pan Macmillan deal, including the AWC courses that helped her hone her structure, subplot, distinct voices and more.
00:00 Welcome 09:33 Writing tip: Don’t avoid the tough scenes 11:43 WIN!: When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston 14:12 Word of the week: ’Imprimatur’ 14:45 Writer in residence: Katie Hoskins 16:12 Plot and inspiration for When the Party’s Over 20:23 Dreaming of being an author 21:16 From journalism to fiction 22:58 AWC courses that sparked the shift 25:01 Writing her novel 26:22 The usefulness of workshopping 27:11 Nailing story structure 29:57 Balancing subplot arcs 33:01 Distinct voices 36:06 Landing the book deal 39:30 Advice for aspiring writers 42:29 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'
11 May 2026
00:43:57
Australian bestselling crime author Sarah Barrie has a dozen books to her name, with her latest standalone thriller Dark Sanctuary, exploring the nuanced world of mental health support, prisons and more. In this episode, Sarah shares the serendipitous inspiration for this novel, the research process and POV choices she made, as well as turning back the clock to give insights into her equally serendipitous start into the world of writing!
00:00 Welcome 07:35 Writing tip: Put your writing out there! 10:20 WIN!: The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier 13:06 Word of the week: ’Crepuscular’ 13:38 Writer in residence: Sarah Barrie 14:49 Dark Sanctuary overview 15:46 Inspiration and themes 17:59 Three POV structure 19:11 Podcast character angle 20:49 Setting and research 21:45 Prisons – psychology and programs 24:34 Research and the findings 25:30 Writing the detective character 27:47 Editing and deadlines 28:20 Farm life writing 30:07 Mental health themes 32:59 Sarah’s origin story 34:56 Publishing breakthrough 38:50 Advice for writers 40:16 What’s next? 41:29 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 715: India-Rose Bower’s folk horror novel, 'We Call Them Witches'
04 May 2026
00:34:24
British writer and librarian India-Rose Bower’s folk horror debut novel, We Call Them Witches explores the concept of ‘eldritch’ creatures in a surreal post-apocalyptic world. In this episode, India-Rose discusses her surprising inspirations for the novel, what ‘eldritch’ actually means and a unique writing tip we should all try!
00:00 Welcome 06:45 Writing tip: Don’t use AI for a pitch! 08:05 WIN!: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon 9:57 Word of the week: ‘Mélange’ 10:17 Writer in residence: India-Rose Bower 11:04 What is her book, We Call Them Witches about? 12:22 Origins of the story 15:02 Designing the eldritch ‘witches’ 17:02 Creating the first draft 18:42 Entering a competition and securing an agent 21:07 Selling yourself and the book 22:21 Publicity and author life 23:35 Writing around work and health issues 25:29 Next book and research habits} 28:41 India-Rose’s unique writing tip 30:58 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series
27 Apr 2026
00:51:45
Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series – with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator.
00:00 Welcome 06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around 11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club by Gabbie Stroud 12:57 Word of the week: ‘Spicate’ 13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan 15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview 17:20 Tina’s favourite koala fun fact 18:19 Wildlife career origins 21:54 The role of zoos and conservation 25:05 Turning point to getting into writing 27:02 Building a daily habit 27:37 Entering a CYA competition 31:22 Connecting with a publisher 33:03 From samples to a series 35:12 Courses and gaining confidence 36:55 Building her author website 38:25 Writing routine and its evolution 42:07 School visits and writing festivals 42:57 Illustrator collaboration 44:52 Next books 47:08 Tina shares some writing advice 49:11 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
20 Apr 2026
00:49:59
Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp’s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing.
00:00 Welcome 10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback 15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey 17:29 Word of the week: ‘Mensal’ 18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp 18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about 19:47 Origins and influences 21:54 Novel versus script 23:27 The differences between the two 27:21 Defining the age range 30:48 Small town limitations 34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices 37:01 Acting skills in writing 39:43 George’s writing routine 42:54 The publication process 45:54 Editing collaboration 48:25 A writing tip 50:13 Next projects 51:03 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'
13 Apr 2026
00:38:31
Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And ‘What Rhymes with Murder?’ – the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey’s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library’s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book!
00:00 Welcome 04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters 08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 10:37 Word of the week: ‘Weltschmerz’ 11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey 12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder? 12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book 14:39 The quirky title 15:32 The decision to write her first adult book 17:36 The writing process and plotting 18:38 Librarian life in the novel 20:31 Building a cosy cast 21:07 The timeline of writing the book 21:50 Penny’s writing routine 22:30 The biggest challenge 23:41 Having for researching the book 24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher 27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues 29:39 The overall themes of the book 31:29 Next projects ahead 32:02 Genre switching advice 33:33 Cosy crime specific advice 34:28 Librarian book pick 35:58 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 711: Emma Styles dives into her new crime thriller, 'The Shark'
06 Apr 2026
00:47:29
Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together. She also explores the publishing journey and shares a top tip for writers.
00:00 Welcome 05:33 Writing tip: Don’t put off your writing dream 08:28 WIN!: The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee 11:15 Word of the week: ‘Shallop’ 13:04 Writer in residence: Emma Styles 14:42 Inspiration for the book 18:00 Crafting characters 21:21 Writing unlikable women 24:30 Complex crime characters 25:19 Why two young women? 28:02 Alternating POV method 29:22 Planning vs pantsing 32:22 Adult crime not YA 34:18 Landing The Shark book deal 36:11 The supportive publishing world 37:39 Writing about Australia from UK 40:38 The setting for her next book 43:10 Trusting your instincts 44:16 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 710: Candice Fox and the cold case that inspired 'Redbelly Crossing'
30 Mar 2026
00:51:05
With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders – and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim’s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.
00:00 Welcome 06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention 09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn 11:49 Word of the week: ‘Ylem’ 13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox 14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel 16:25 Candice’s mum’s encounter with a possible killer 20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn’t make a true-crime podcast 26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two? 26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands & making hard edits 28:50 Pitching the project to her agent 32:23 The novel’s elevator pitch 34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved 37:02 What readers should take away 39:55 Career reflections – 20 books in 12 years 42:19 Candice’s writing routine and finding ideas 45:25 Top tips for crime writers 47:39 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 709: Derek Pedley shares his true crime story 'The Postcard Bandit'
23 Mar 2026
00:52:51
Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner ‘The Postcard Bandit’. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later – with Abbott still in prison – a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series have put the story back into the spotlight, and Derek has released an updated version of his book, The Postcard Bandit. In this episode, Derek shares the timeline and why it made sense to update the story now.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writing tip: Breaking down a novel into sessions 08:28 WIN!: Iluka by Cassie Stroud 10:08 Word of the week: ‘Stochastic’ 12:54 Writer in residence: Derek Pedley 15:27 The story of Brenden Abbott – the ‘postcard bandit’ 18:30 Brenden’s bank robbing style 19:51 How Derek became involved in Brenden’s story 23:00 Frustrations writing the first account 24:10 Gaining access to Abbott 26:16 Frustrations publishing the second account 28:59 20 years later – returning to the project 30:30 A new angle to the story 32:10 Turning it into a TV series and documentary 36:45 Updates with the new book 40:55 Finally meeting Brenden 42:10 Why change the book’s name? 43:23 Derek’s tip for writing crime stories 46:30 Future book projects 47:43 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 708: Former ambassador Ian Kemish and his novel, 'Two Islands'
16 Mar 2026
00:52:21
The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands, during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life characters and how to capture the nuances of the story and the decade. What do you do after you retire from a celebrated 25-year diplomatic career? Play golf? Take up birdwatching? No, you write your first novel.
00:00 Welcome 07:26 Writing tip: Ask “why?” to being blocked 10:31 WIN!: Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight 12:15 Word of the week: ‘Absquatulate’ 16:16 Writer in residence: Ian Kemish 17:14 Ian describes what Two Islands is about 19:34 What are the two islands in question? 22:04 Remembering Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland 23:30 Inspiration for the novel 25:53 Why the Balkans? 27:35 The inspiration for the Australian character, Anita 30:01 Writing about the 1990s: distance before the internet 31:22 How the story took shape 34:07 Researching the book 38:15 From bad poetry to diplomacy: finding his writing voice 40:52 The challenges of writing fiction for the first time 45:28 Landing the publishing deal 47:54 What’s next? 49:09 Ian’s tip for writers 50:32 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 707: Sheryle Bagwell on writing 'Letter from Provence'
09 Mar 2026
00:45:17
How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that’s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell – and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de Sévigné. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.
00:00 Welcome 03:21 Writing tip: Don’t limit your writing identity 07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura & Marie Kondo 08:45 Word of the week: ‘Manel’ 10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell 11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence 12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de Sévigné 15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother 18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing 20:00 Telling a personal version of events 22:27 The timeline of writing this book 25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft 26:14 The publishing experience 28:36 The process of writing the book 34:44 The story of three women across time 36:45 Living between two worlds 37:28 The double life is possible 40:40 Future plans for writing 41:32 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 706: Alex Johnson explores 'When Books Go Bad'
02 Mar 2026
00:48:41
What’s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it’s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that’s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad – exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing these kinds of ‘behind the scenes’ industry books and how he ended up with the publishing relationship that has yielded 20 books to date. He also explains how he chooses the stories to go in his books and some of the more surprising entries.
00:00 Welcome 06:11 Writing tip: Associative triggers 11:00 WIN!: Diaries of Note by Shaun Usher 13:02 Word of the week: ‘Deuteragonist’ 15:12 Writer in residence: Alex Johnson 16:00 Alex explains his latest book, When Books Go Bad 16:55 Why he wrote this book 19:58 Journalistic not academic 21:51 Starting his relationship with the British Library 24:00 Compiling the material for the book 25:09 Authors and their naughty and odd tendencies 28:20 Pitching and publishing books 32:57 The editing process 36:21 Illustrations and book design 38:06 Surprising stories from the book 41:34 Publicity and social media 43:06 Upcoming projects and tips 44:39 A writing tip 46:20 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 705: Sam Elliott and his debut crime/thriller novel, 'Haze'
23 Feb 2026
00:44:11
We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this episode Sam shares the turning points that got him to this stage – including completing a particular AWC course – and the inspiration for telling this particular story. He also shares advice for other aspiring writers and the importance of a writing community.
00:00 Welcome 03:45 Writing tip: Check your Notes app 07:41 WIN!: The Violin Maker’s Secret by Evie Woods 09:07 Word of the week: ‘Ditheism’ 10:41 Writer in residence: Sam Elliott 11:55 Sam describes his debut crime thriller, Haze 14:00 Sam’s history of writing 16:45 The inspirations for the bushfire storyline 18:03 Creating and developing characters 19:02 Writing about cults 20:55 The experience of completing the AWC course 22:20 Finding a last writing community 24:29 Advice for aspiring writers 25:54 Making peace with the publishing journey 27:40 Writing the book and securing an agent 30:30 Getting the offer and how surreal it was 32:53 Research for this book 36:44 The best and worst part of writing the book 38:10 Being on the other side of interviews 39:55 Balancing writing with life 41:37 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'
16 Feb 2026
00:42:57
The cosy crime genre has exploded in recent years, with older protagonists featuring heavily (they tend to have more time on their hands for solving mysteries, you see). But what happens when your older protagonist has a murderous past? That’s the hilarious set up for British actor, comedian and author Fergus Craig’s new ‘cracked cosy’ whodunnit I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home. In this episode, Fergus talks about how he started writing crime books, the joys and challenges of bringing his latest novel to life, its international bidding war, and why he decided to walk from the UK to New Zealand.
00:00 Welcome 03:59 Writing tip: Keep track of your stories 07:29 WIN!: On the Edge by Kate Horan 09:47 Word of the week: ‘Infuscate’ 12:05 Writer in residence: Fergus Craig 13:00 Fergus explains I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home 15:30 The attraction of cosy crime 16:55 Getting a book deal via social media 17:54 The appeal of a whodunnit plot 22:42 The writing process: Planning vs. improvisation 24:27 Challenges and joys of writing the book 26:04 Differences between writing for TV and books 28:02 Fergus’s daily writing routine 29:49 Publishing journey and success 32:59 Advice on writing comedy 35:32 Promoting the book and social media success 39:20 Extra tips about writing 40:46 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak'
09 Feb 2026
00:40:16
Two thousand years ago in Britain, the historical figure of Boudicca famously revolted against the Roman Empire and carved a path across the land. This later sparked many myths and stories – including the new historical fantasy novel Nightshade and Oak by author Molly O’Neill. In this episode, Molly discusses her inspirations for telling this story and the experience of writing and editing it. She also shares her take on blending science and creativity and the joys of writing under contract.
00:00 Welcome 06:18 Writing tip: Block in time for your writing 08:12 WIN!: The Ironbark Promise by Léonie Kelsall 9:56 Word of the week: ‘Parvenu’ 10:22 Writer in residence: Molly O’Neill 10:57 Molly explains her new book, Nightshade and Oak 12:42 Landing on the point of view character 18:08 How Molly fits writing into her geologist life 21:53 Balancing science and creativity 23:04 The importance of accurate physics in writing 23:53 Molly’s prolific reading and reviewing pastime 25:44 Backing yourself as an author 26:40 Landing her first publishing deal 28:10 The pressure of writing under contract 30:19 Engaging with readers and book clubs 31:34 Upcoming projects and genre exploration 33:23 A writing tip on editing 34:26 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 702: Souvankham Thammavongsa and her award-winning 'Pick a Colour'
02 Feb 2026
00:47:08
There are three short words you’re often told when you first walk into a nail salon – and they form the title of award-winning Laotian Canadian poet and author Souvankham Thammavongsa’s new novel Pick a Colour. In this episode, Souvankham explains how the novel came about, its unusual inspiration and timeframe as well as the cultural and power dynamics it explores.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writing tip: Dealing with rejection| 08:58 WIN!: Staged by John M. Green 10:44 Word of the week: ‘Lactometer’ 13:19 Writer in residence: Souvankham Thammavongsa 14:33 Explaining the story of Pick a Colour 15:25 The Seinfeld episode inspiration! 18:10 How her characters see the world 19:40 The boxing inspiration 21:41 Setting limitations on the story 23:26 Language and cultural identity 25:07 From short stories to the novel 27:31 Writing techniques and influences 29:41 Character dynamics and power themes 33:14 The writing process and Souvankham’s backstory 37:00 Awards and recognition 40:55 Discussing the work done in the margins 43:47 Advice for aspiring writers 45:11 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 701: Emma Pei Yin discusses her wartime novel, 'When Sleeping Women Wake'
26 Jan 2026
00:44:30
War stories are often famously told by the victors. But what of the stories of civilians caught up in the conflict? These themes intersect in World-War-II-era Hong Kong in AWC graduate Emma Pei Yin’s debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake – and in this episode she shares her inspirations, the book’s themes and the publishing process, including a fascinating connection with the cover designer.
00:00 Welcome 03:41 Writing tip: Avoiding info dumping 07:05 WIN!: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave 08:39 Word of the week: ‘Gimcrack’ 12:03 Writer in residence: Emma Pei Yin 13:05 Emma explains When Sleeping Women Wake 13:53 Why this story? 16:20 Influences and inspirations for the book 17:35 Balancing historical fiction and fact 19:10 The research process 21:20 The note collection process 22:27 Telling the authentic voices of Chinese people 23:39 Character development and their unique resistance 25:55 Class structure and historical contexts 27:35 Language and authenticity in this story 29:03 Morally ambiguous choices in war 30:49 The publishing process 34:51 Cover designs and market differences 38:04 Promoting the book and meeting readers 39:44 The importance of solidarity in telling niche stories 40:52 Emma’s advice for writers 42:03 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 700: Rebecca Heath mixes music and murder in 'The Last Encore'
19 Jan 2026
00:44:48
A lot of old bands these days seem to be reforming for reunion tours – allowing older fans to reminisce (usually while sipping wine and sitting in a comfy picnic chair). This idea fascinated author Rebecca Heath, so in her new book The Last Encore, she decided to not only get a fictional old-school band back together but add a documentary crew and a dead body into the mix! In this episode, Rebecca shares the real-life music inspirations for the book, her editing insights and much more!
00:00 Welcome 04:09 Writing tip: Watch Shrek 07:39 WIN!: Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath 09:30 Word of the week: ‘Cucumiform’ 13:59 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath 14:34 Rebecca outlines The Last Encore 17:55 Music inspirations for the book 20:00 Defining what a ‘boy band’ is 22:28 Exploring the theme of secrets 23:55 Publishing journey insights 24:52 Writing process and routine 27:52 Balancing writing and editing 29:00 Deciding whodunnit 31:22 What to cut 34:21 The role of community in writing 37:23 Future projects and staying on brand 41:04 Rebecca’s tip for writers 43:00 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 699: William J. Byrne and his historical novel, 'The Warrumbar'
12 Jan 2026
00:39:46
It was a single photo of AWC graduate William J. Byrne’s grandmother standing outside a ramshackle home that formed the spark that inspired this self-confessed history buff to explore stories of his past and the experiences of Aboriginal people leading up to the 1960s. The result is his debut novel, The Warrumbar – spanning half a century and casting light on a lesser-told chapter of Australia. In this episode, William shares his inspirations and publishing journey, and the AWC course that made all the difference.
00:00 Welcome 04:03 Writing tip: Enter writing competitions 07:18 WIN!: What Happened That Night by Nicci French 09:55 Word of the week: ‘Puissance’ 10:45 Writer in residence: William J. Byrne 11:05 What The Warrumbar is about 12:58 Why he wrote for this time frame 15:00 What inspired William to write the book 16:45 Stories from family members 18:00 Writing a teenage character 19:00 Balancing research with family stories 21:12 The note-taking process 22:23 Moses as a lens for the Aboriginal experience 23:38 Australia's historical awareness 25:44 The path to publication 29:11 Completing a writing course with AWC 30:50 The importance of writing communities 33:42 Major themes of the book 35:55 Advice for writers 36:34 Future writing projects 37:59 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 698: Emma Sloley welcomes you to 'The Island of Last Things'
05 Jan 2026
00:45:21
When was the last time you visited a zoo? Well, now imagine you’re visiting the last zoo on Earth and you have the premise for Emma Sloley’s new book, The Island of Last Things. In this episode, Emma shares the inspiration, research and publishing experience for this book and some of the larger themes this piece of fiction evokes.
00:00 Welcome 04:10 Writing tip: Aim for rejections! 08:30 WIN!: Tom Clancy Executive Power by Andrews & Wilson 11:22 Word of the week: ‘Pelf’ 11:56 Writer in residence: Emma Sloley 13:03 What is The Island of Last Things about? 13:50 How Emma got the idea for the book 16:00 Discussing the term ‘climate fiction’ 19:00 Researching Alcatraz for the book 21:37 Gathering insights from zookeepers 24:19 Transition to American characters 25:35 Publishing journey and agent experiences 28:34 Editing process with agents and editors 31:34 Balancing writing and travel 34:39 Current writing projects 38:40 Tips for aspiring writers 41:06 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 697: Matt Cooke and his inspirational new book, 'Beyond Wanting'
29 Dec 2025
01:05:45
Are YOU ready to unlock your potential in 2026? Join us for a special ‘manifestation’ episode of the podcast, as Valerie is joined by Matt Cooke, author of Beyond Wanting: The Art of True Manifestation. Matt shares his personal story into manifestation – from skeptic to believer AND how he manifested his book deal – and some key ideas you can use immediately in taking actionable steps towards achieving goals. It’s a positive blend of inspiration and practical advice for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in the year ahead!
00:00 Welcome 03:25 Practical steps and skepticism 04:34 Valerie's personal connection to goal setting 07:53 Writer in residence: Matt Cooke 09:06 Understanding ‘Beyond Wanting’ and manifestation 13:35 Common manifestation mistakes 17:10 Matt’s own journey 17:50 Getting the book deal of his dreams – literally 26:01 How Matt got into manifestation 33:40 The power of gratitude for future events 34:20 The science of reality 39:23 Signs and synchronicities to look for 43:20 The numerical significance of 2026 48:18 Manifestation stories and lessons 57:07 Practical steps for the year ahead 1:03:01 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 696: Susannah Fullerton talks 'Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them'
22 Dec 2025
00:53:39
We’ve all heard of the ‘muse’ but what about the ‘mewwwws’? That’s the sound of authors' cats, and in this episode, Susannah Fullerton discusses her wonderfully titled book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them – exploring the unique relationships between famous authors and their feline companions. Susannah shares how she researched the topic, choosing the authors and the magical publishing story, as well as offering tips to aspiring nonfiction writers.
00:00 Welcome 07:26 Writing tip: Follow the formatting guidelines 09:36 WIN!: Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson 12:24 Word of the week: ‘Clerisy’ 12:59 Writer in residence: Susannah Fullerton 14:10 Explaining her book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them 14:45 The inspiration for the book 17:50 Choosing and placing authors in the book 19:30 Animal protection and authors 22:30 Research methods 24:40 Organising all her notes 26:41 The timeline of writing the book 27:35 The pitching process 30:01 The joy of getting published 32:22 Publicity and promotion of the book 36:34 Merchandising and collaborations 37:27 Balancing lecturing and writing 38:22 Where her ideas come from 42:51 The timeless appeal of classics 46:32 Advice for aspiring nonfiction writers 48:58 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 695: Joanna Nell discusses her new novel, 'The Funeral Crashers'
15 Dec 2025
00:43:28
We’ve heard of crashing weddings, but what about funerals? That’s the topic that bestselling author Joanna Nell has tackled for her sixth book, The Funeral Crashers. In this episode, she joins us to discuss the experience behind writing this latest novel as well as the turning point in her life that got her publishing her first book in her fifties.
00:00 Welcome 06:44 Writing tip: Overcoming technology distractions 11:16 WIN!: A Complete Fiction by R.L. Maizes 12:46 Word of the week: ‘Emolument’ 13:22 Writer in residence: Joanna Nell 15:05 What her latest book, The Funeral Crashers, is about 18:36 Patients inspiring her writing 22:06 Rediscovering a passion for writing 24:58 The joy of finding a writing community 26:23 Lessons learned from a decade of writing 29:29 A word about writing short fiction 31:23 A day in the life of a full-time writer 33:40 Writing retreats 35:22 Creating memorable characters 40:06 Promoting the latest novel 41:02 Future Projects 41:58 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 694: Candice Chung and her book, 'Chinese Parents Don’t Say I Love You'
08 Dec 2025
00:57:15
How do you go about writing a personal memoir that heavily features your very-much-alive parents? Author Candice Chung grappled with this and her culturally private family while curating her book, Chinese Parents Don’t Say I Love You. In this episode, she joins us to discuss the inspiration for a book that uses food as a storytelling device, some of the rituals around dining and the story behind the title of her book!
00:00 Welcome 07:10 Writing tip: Developing your own editing checklist 12:44 WIN!: How to Live an Artful Life by Katy Hessel 14:17 Word of the week: ‘Anhedonia’ 14:49 Writer in residence: Candice Chung 15:05 Writing about food rituals 17:25 Inspiration for writing the book 20:20 Selling the book to publishers 22:15 The story behind the title 26:29 Telling parents about the book 31:33 Fact checking emotional details 34:05 Grappling with sharing personal thoughts 38:20 Why Candice decided to get into journalism 42:37 The ‘frozen sandwiches’ anecdote 44:21 Literary inspirations for the book 49:24 Future projects 51:14 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 693: Belinda Castles walks us through her new book, Walking Sydney
01 Dec 2025
00:50:46
Do ideas come to you while you’re out walking? There’s a unique connection between writers and walking – and in this episode, Belinda Castles shares the inspiration and experience in creating her new book, Walking Sydney. The book is a curated collection of talks had while on walks with authors around various parts of the city and exploring the concepts of nostalgia, change and a sense of place.
00:00 Welcome 03:59 Writing tip: Dictionary of Australian Words 06:11 WIN! Jack Reacher Book Pack Giveaway 08:58 Word of the week: ‘Catenary’ 09:37 Writer in residence: Belinda Castles 10:22 What Walking Sydney is about 11:09 Inspiration for writing this book 13:04 How the book came together 18:18 The connection between writers and walking 24:50 Writing and the connection to place 28:57 Reader experience and audience 31:18 Why there are no maps in this book 32:31 The armchair travel experience 34:12 Balancing writing with teaching 36:06 The writing process and time management 41:58 The book trailer and filmmaking experience 44:56 A tip from Belinda for writers 46:48 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 692: Special episode with Allison Tait on your writing roadmap
25 Nov 2025
00:57:07
In this special bonus episode of 'So You Want to Be a Writer,' Valerie is joined by her original podcast co-host Allison Tait in a live-streamed event celebrating 20 years of the Australian Writer Centre. Together, they discuss important topics for all writers – including goal-setting, overcoming writing obstacles, and structuring one's writing career. They also reflect on their own writing journeys, give writing tips, and offer valuable advice on managing impostor syndrome, planning writing schedules, understanding genre requirements and MORE!
00:00 Welcome 02:24 Reunion with original co-host A.L.Tait. 08:55 Writing Roadmap: Setting Goals and Overcoming Obstacles 19:00 Giving yourself writing rewards 21:44 Overcoming common obstacles 26:46 The importance of discipline in writing 31:04 Networking and community in writing 34:41 Understanding your genre 37:15 The role of revision in writing 41:54 Flexibility and pivoting in writing 48:48 Q&A session 52:53 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 691: Holly Brunnbauer and her romance novel, 'What Did I Miss?'
24 Nov 2025
00:39:24
If you found yourself newly single after not dating since being a teenager, what would you do? Author and AWC graduate Holly Brunnbauer asks that question in her award-winning romance novel, What Did I Miss? –and in this episode she shares what inspired her to write it, her exciting story about getting an agent and book deal, plus the unusual window of time she writes in during each day!
00:00 Welcome 02:00 Our SALE is on 05:21 WIN!: ‘Every Day I Read’ by Hwang Bo-reum 06:54 Word of the week: ‘Orrery’ 07:58 Writer in residence: Holly Brunnbauer 09:07 What is What Did I Miss? about? 10:20 What inspired Holly to write the book 12:50 The experience writing it 14:55 Holly’s year of writing a novel 16:27 Discovering the AWC courses 17:15 Getting an agent and a book deal 21:44 Pitching to screen professionals 24:00 Balancing writing with a busy life 26:24 Planning and Structuring a Novel 28:55 Documentation 31:50 The joy of writing and future plans 33:53 Publication surprises and realities 35:28 Bonus short interview with Charlotte Barkla 38:09 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 690: Ian Scott explores the weird and wonderful world of literary 'Pen Names'
17 Nov 2025
00:55:53
When Ian Scott and Kirsty McHugh – curators at the National Library of Scotland – created an exhibition on pen names, they never imagined it would become a book. But that’s exactly what happened, and in this episode, Ian joins to discuss some of the curious motivations and stories behind some of the world’s most famous and infamous pseudonyms in their book Pen Names – including examples of authors who fully immersed themselves in their imaginary personas!
00:00 Welcome 00:18 Rewriting your personal narrative 07:06 Writing tip: Tracking your time 10:05 WIN!: The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell 13:33 Word of the week: ‘Edentulous’ 14:14 The world of words: Short forms of ‘until’ 16:10 Writer in residence: Ian Scott 16:57 The inspiration for the book Pen Names 18:42 An exhibition on pen names 23:00 The stories behind the stories 27:00 Common reasons for pen names 27:58 Gender bias in literature 31:55 Other reasons for not using your own name 32:10 Famous examples 34:55 Authors wanting to be judged independently 38:47 Deceptive use of a pen name: Fiona Macleod 40:55 Modern pen names and marketability 43:19 Collaborative writing under one name 45:01 Authors like Lee Child and book cover real estate 46:49 Would Ian choose a pen name for himself? 48:45 Wait – is his co-writer Kirsty McHugh even real? 50:30 Is his book in his own library? 53:02 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 689: Zanni L. Arnot’s new novel, 'A Guide to Falling Off the Map'
10 Nov 2025
00:55:52
Author Zanni L. Arnot has carved out a prolific career as a children's author – publishing more than 40 books in the past decade as ‘Zanni Louise’. In this episode, Zanni discusses how she got into writing children's books and her first YA novel, A Guide to Falling Off the Map. She also shares the differences between different age range stories, juggling multiple projects, plus provides insights and advice for aspiring authors.
00:00 Welcome 00:28 How a setting can become a character 07:53 Writing tip: Learn to love grammar and punctuation 13:42 WIN!: Reacher by Lee Child 17:14 Word of the week: ‘Headwork’ 17:48 Writer in Residence: Zanni L. Arnot 18:46 An overview of her new book 21:03 Why a YA novel? 23:43 How Zanni got into writing 26:52 Discovering a passion for writing 27:30 Building a writing community 28:16 On creating 41 books in ten years! 30:47 Crafting stories for different age groups 32:57 Balancing writing with a busy life 34:15 Navigating the multiple projects 35:33 The process of writing the story 39:42 Is adult fiction next? 41:11 Advice for managing your time 43:30 Zanni’s approach to social media 45:44 Keeping track of ideas and choosing the next one 48:19 Promoting books from overseas 50:15 Advice for authors looking to try YA 53:16 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 688: Ben Macintyre shares insights on his latest book, 'The Siege'
03 Nov 2025
01:00:41
The Iranian Embassy siege that unfolded in the UK in 1980 was a huge world event at the time, although perhaps lost in the fog of history today. Prolific British author Ben Macintyre brings it back into focus in his latest book, The Siege: The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama and he joins us to discuss his writerly beginnings, turning real-world espionage into captivating reads and how he balances the personal and factual details in his stories.
00:00 Welcome 00:48 The power of constraints in writing 11:30 Writing tip: The iceberg theory 13:52 WIN!: Torn by Nicole Madigan 15:26 Word of the week: ‘Nonpareil’ 16:11 Writer in residence: Ben Macintyre 17:05 Ben gives an overview of The Siege 21:00 His personal experience with the events 25:43 Ben’s background in writing 28:33 Exploring the SAS archive 32:05 The TV series Rogue Heroes 33:20 Character depth and authenticity 35:20 Challenges of taking an oral history 37:40 Pacing and structuring the book 40:15 Real life being stranger than fiction 42:18 Research and writing process 45:27 From book to screen 51:05 Advice for aspiring writers 54:22 Balancing sensory and factual details 57:12 Ben’s upcoming project 58:13 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 687: Moreno Giovannoni discusses his new novel 'The Immigrants'
27 Oct 2025
00:56:26
The search for ‘a better life’ is the classic motivation for immigrants arriving in a new country and so often we hear about the success stories. But author Moreno Giovannoni wanted to tell the more overlooked migrant stories for his latest novel, The Immigrants – drawing on his family’s own experiences in Australia. Giovannoni shares his approach to writing, his thoughts on translating, as well as past and future projects.
00:00 Welcome 04:47 Writing tip: Creative Mottos 07:46 WIN!: The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies 10:20 Word of the week: ‘Gibbous’ 11:46 Writer in residence: Moreno Giovannoni 12:20 What his new book The Immigrants is about 16:30 Fiction versus the real life inspirations 20:10 Bringing his style to the Australian setting 23:25 The research and notetaking 26:20 Structuring the book 29:31 Fitting the seven key events into the story 31:35 The publishing journey 33:22 The writing process and challenges 34:56 A typical writing day 37:40 Balancing writing and translating 41:33 Publicising the book 43:33 Future writing plans and pure fiction 50:32 Moreno Giovannoni’s writing tip 52:48 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 686: Amy Hutton and her saucy, spooky new book, 'Ghosted'
20 Oct 2025
00:44:38
Halloween is just around the corner, so what better way to mark the occasion than by celebrating AWC grad Amy Hutton’s latest book – a paranormal romance novel, Ghosted! In this episode, Amy shares her writing process, how she wound up writing paranormal romance, afterworld-building and much more!
00:00 Welcome 06:39 Writing tip: Work with teachers and mentors 10:06 WIN!: Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan 12:29 Word of the week: ‘Bodacious’ 13:52 Writer in residence: Amy Hutton 15:09 What her latest book Ghosted is about 16:30 What inspired this topic of paranormal romance? 19:48 Edits to the story 21:05 Amy’s approach to (after) world building 23:13 Pacing the story and unravelling the mystery 24:16 Writing short stories as a writer’s block strategy 28:10 Amy’s first break 29:22 The thing she didn’t know when she started 32:45 The one thing you can control 33:38 Amy’s average writing day and how it has differed over time 37:25 Freaking herself out in her own writing 39:54 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 685: Tegan Bennett Daylight takes us back with her YA novel, How to Survive 1985
13 Oct 2025
00:52:34
If there were ever a decade that evoked such a strong emotional resonance, the 1980s would surely be it! Author Tegan Bennett Daylight channels this in her new time-travelling YA novel, How to Survive 1985, in all its neon-coloured, acid-washed glory, and in this episode, she shares her experience bringing that time period to life and some tips for aspiring writers.
00:00 Welcome 06:52 Writing tip: Grounding details in world-building 09:31 WIN!: The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation edited by Jennie Orchard 11:20 Word of the week: ‘Noisome’ 13:22 Writer in residence: Tegan Bennett Daylight 14:18 Describing her book How to Survive 1985 17:13 Research vs lived experience of the time period 20:00 Why 1985? 21:59 Writing about motherhood now and then 25:51 Navigating the publishing world 26:33 Early writing experiences 28:14 Tegan’s first children’s book 29:42 Challenges and successes in writing 31:49 The reality of being a writer and inspiring new writers 36:25 The appeal of writing for young adults 40:43 Tegan’s writing routine 43:10 An easy early morning tip for writers 44:38 Engaging with the writing community 45:45 Upcoming projects 47:40 Writing tip and the Spotify playlist 50:17 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 684: Alex Dook discusses his new outback thriller, 'Gunpowder Creek'
06 Oct 2025
00:54:28
Would YOU do anything to protect your 18-year-old child? That’s core to the premise behind AWC graduate Alex Dook’s outback thriller novel, Gunpowder Creek – and in this episode, he shares the milestones and research that led to this latest successful book.
00:00 Welcome 07:12 Writing tip: Turn jealousy into inspiration 13:11 WIN!: The Occupation by Chloe Adams 14:56 Word of the week: ‘Cynosure’ 18:34 The world of words: ‘Bated vs baited’ 19:59 Writer in residence: Alex Dook 20:38 Describing his debut book, Gunpowder Creek 22:15 Alex’s writing history 25:30 The reason to keep persisting 27:10 The pitching process 29:33 The invisible threshold of becoming published 31:00 Editing and polishing tip 32:08 Advice for aspiring writers 33:54 Using AWC’s‘Anatomy of a Crime course 36:44 Research road tripping 38:00 Discovering the titular Gunpowder Creek town 42:40 Alex’s writing process 46:20 The second book experience 48:30 Alex’s book recommendation 49:34 Thoughts on persistence and passion 51:06 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 683: Philip Howell tours English bar-rooms in his latest book, 'Pub'
29 Sep 2025
00:56:32
We’ve all been to a pub. They’re places to meet friends, meet lovers, to celebrate, commiserate and even do weekly trivia. But do you REALLY know pubs? This is the question author Philip Howell poses and attempts to answer in his latest book, the aptly named Pub. Philip joins us to discuss the inspiration for this book, the pitching process, researching topics and his overwhelming love of one particular app!
00:00 Welcome 05:12 Writing tip: Night-time whiteboards 07:49 WIN!: The Butterfly Thief by Walter Marsh 10:09 Word of the week: ‘Vexillology’ 12:10 Writer in residence: Philip Howell 12:55 Describing ‘Pub’ as a concept and book 14:00 History vs Geography in this book 15:33 Inspirations for writing this book 19:06 The pitching process 21:53 The structure of the book 23:30 Choosing what to leave out 28:05 Range of writing topics and side hustles 30:42 The social dynamics of pubs 32:52 Writing popular geography vs academic 34:49 Research methods and tools 36:53 The importance of readability in writing 37:21 Love of Scrivener 40:35 Repurposing cut content 42:41 Australian pubs? 43:20 On being an expert in ‘pubs’ 45:40 Future projects 48:31 Philip’s writing tip 52:17 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 682: Clayton Zane Comber & Conor McCammon dive into 'The Marvellous Submarine'
22 Sep 2025
00:47:24
Collaborative writing is fairly rare in the world of publishing – and writing while working alongside each other in a bookshop cafe is even rarer! But that was exactly how friends and workmates Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon went about co-authoring their new junior fiction illustrated adventure, The Marvellous Submarine. In this episode, they share their experience creating the story together, illustrating it and getting it published.
00:00 Welcome 05:32 Writing tip: Using paintings as a writing prompt 06:54 WIN!: The Verifiers by Jane Pek 09:27 Word of the week: ‘Blatherskite’ 10:40 The world of words: ‘Thank you’ 12:25 Writers in residence: Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon 13:40 Describing The Marvellous Submarine 14:30 The inspiration for the project 17:33 Writing for a particular age group 19:59 How sharing the writing worked 24:53 The inconsistencies of bizarre worlds 25:49 Conor on illustrating the book 29:27 The defining moment of the project 31:49 Their publishing journey 35:30 The book promotion experience 39:53 Advice for aspiring authors 42:45 Upcoming projects 44:44 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 681: Francesca de Tores and her historical novel, 'Saltblood'
15 Sep 2025
00:47:06
Arrrr me hearties! That’s right, landlubbers – this week we walk the plank to delve into the intriguing real history of female pirates as Francesca de Tores discusses her new historical fiction novel, 'Saltblood.' Francesca goes into her meticulous research process, spanning everything from nautical details to the lives of real historical figures, plus shares a surprising ‘Comic Sans’ tip for writers!
00:00 Welcome 07:36 Writing tip: Social media for writers 11:15 WIN!: When We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven 12:55 Word of the week: ‘Virga’ 16:19 Writer in residence: Francesca de Tores 17:07 Francesca outlines ‘Saltblood’ 18:20 What drew her to writing about female pirates 19:42 The public perception of pirates 21:55 Francesca’s pirate research for the book 25:21 Nautical research and influences 28:23 Transition to historical fiction 30:37 Publishing journey and challenges 33:45 Using a different pen name 36:32 Writing routine and tips 38:34 Upcoming projects and inspirations 41:37 Francesca shares her writing tips 44:38 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 680: Graci Kim blends Korean myth and fantasy in 'Dreamslinger'
08 Sep 2025
00:55:58
Have you noticed how everything Korean is so hot right now? From Squid Game to KPop Demon Hunters, the world is enamoured. Of course, for bestselling Korean-Kiwi author and AWC graduate Graci Kim, trends had nothing to do with her choice to mix stories from childhood with fantasy in her new novel, Dreamslinger. In this episode, Graci discusses the many experiences and inspirations that led her to this point, her writing process, advice and much more!
00:00 Welcome 03:29 Writing tip: Reread a book you hated 07:02 WIN!: We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida 09:01 Word of the week: ‘Pantechnicon’ 10:40 The world of words: ‘Practice vs Practise’ 12:38 Writer in residence: Graci Kim 13:30 Graci’s fascinating pre-writing lives 21:07 Her relationship with writing over the years 22:59 Rediscovering childhood stories and purpose 25:40 Embracing her Korean name and heritage 27:19 Graci’s journey into writing YA Fantasy 31:21 Discovering a community through AWC 32:00 The value of the Novel Writing Essentials course 33:54 How Graci went about getting an agent 37:13 Joining ‘Rick Riordan Presents’ 38:54 Introducing her new book, Dreamslinger 40:35 What she did differently in this series. 42:22 Graci’s world-building process 43:33 Fun extras and connecting with fans 48:06 Her writing routine and her creative process 49:50 Advice for aspiring writers 53:23 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 679: Laila Lalami discusses her latest novel, 'The Dream Hotel'
01 Sep 2025
00:44:43
What if you could be locked away simply for having disturbing dreams? That’s part of the premise in internationally acclaimed author Laila Lalami’s latest novel, The Dream Hotel. In this episode, Laila discusses the themes that inspired and eventually mirrored her book, along with her background in writing, her daily routine, writing tips and more.
00:00 Welcome 04:50 Writing tip: Avoid clichés! 07:58 WIN!: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan 09:35 Word of the week: ‘Apophenia’ 10:03 Writer in residence: Laila Lalami 11:02 Laila outlines The Dream Hotel 12:17 Speculative Fiction and real-world parallels 14:20 The language of this near future world 19:40 Dreams and their cultural significance 21:58 Speculative Fiction and dreams as data 22:50 Researching the novel 27:17 The role of algorithms in society 30:11 Laila’s journey to becoming a writer 34:33 Balancing teaching and writing 37:27 The challenges of book promotion 39:20 Future writing projects 40:59 Laila’s writing tips 42:43 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 678: Christine Keighery explores cults in 'We’re Not Us Without You'
25 Aug 2025
00:49:59
With more than 35 books under her belt, Australian author Christine Keighery has written across a range of age groups and genres. In this episode, she shares some insights from that time, along with details about writing her latest adult thriller, We’re Not Us Without You – all about modern day cults.
00:00 Welcome 03:58 Writing tip: ‘Your best friend’s work’ 07:58 WIN!: The Bourne Escape by Brian Freeman 10:55 Word of the week: ‘Desideratum’ 11:28 The world of words: Riband vs. Ribbon 13:33 Writer in residence: Christine Keighery 15:15 Christine’s fascination with cults 17:17 Getting to know her characters 20:20 Writing four perspectives 22:00 Having great editors 23:40 Religion vs cults 25:20 The ingredients of a good thriller 26:13 Balancing character and plot 27:05 Transitioning from junior fiction to adult fiction 28:27 Writing the Go Girl series 33:02 The importance of character in all writing 36:21 Christine's writing process 40:56 Advice for aspiring writers 45:28 What's next for Christine? 47:04 Final thoughts
Do you love true-crime podcasts? Author A.L. Tait got obsessed with them for a while and pulled those themes into her latest middle-grade crime-thriller novel Danger Road. She joins us to discuss her experience writing and publishing this one, along with her busy year of writing, her process and how she found her unique voice.
00:00 Welcome 02:51 Writing tip: ‘Geolocating writing prompts’ 06:26 WIN!: Lights, Camera, Love by Natalie Murray 09:36 Word of the week: ‘Objurgate’ 10:13 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait 12:00 The inspirations for Danger Road 16:41 Creating distinctive voices 20:07 A busy year of writing. 23:48 The importance of continuous writing 24:41 Challenges of underwriting 27:21 How Tait found her storytelling voice 30:09 The ‘Your Kid’s Next Read’ community 34:43 On writing nonfiction and ghostwriting 36:00 Say yes to new writing avenues and genres 38:18 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 676: Toby Schmitz welcomes us aboard The Empress Murders
11 Aug 2025
00:52:13
How do you go about adapting a stage play into a compelling murder mystery novel? For acclaimed actor and playwright Toby Schmitz, this was his challenge in creating his debut, The Empress Murders – set on the high seas amid the glamour and clamour 1920s. In this episode, Toby shares his inspirations, aspirations and perspirations in bringing his story to the page.
00:00 Welcome 02:29 Writing tip: ‘Magazine apps to combat doomscrolling’ 07:32 WIN!: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova 10:30 Word of the week: ‘Vicissitude’ 11:11 The world of words: Tack vs. Tact 12:59 Writer in residence: Toby Schmitz 14:02 Toby describes The Empress Murders 16:06 Storytelling in the 1920s 18:11 Themes of colonialism 20:19 How the story started as a play 22:05 Defining what an Australian story is 26:17 The journey from play to novel 27:01 Finding freedom in novel writing 27:22 Crafting the story with index cards 28:13 Maintaining the playwright's touch 29:32 Exploring colonial guilt 30:30 Switching genres throughout 32:32 Inspirations for Toby 35:36 Navigating historical authenticity 37:16 The research process 39:11 The emotional experience of publishing 43:10 Reflections on feedback and notes 45:08 Hopes for the reader's experience 46:36 Acknowledging influences and support 49:19 Final thoughts
Writing Podcast Episode 675: Demet Divaroren discusses her YA fantasy, 'Blood Moon Bride'
04 Aug 2025
00:40:47
When award-winning author Demet Divaroren decided to write a fantasy novel, she went down a completely different path first, before finally arriving at what would become Blood Moon Bride. In this discussion, Demet shares the inspiration for this YA fantasy novel, the creative freedom of writing in this genre and how motherhood changed her perspective on storytelling.
00:00 Welcome 04:51 Writing tip: ‘Tinder for writers’ 08:45 WIN!: A Passion for Passion by Alice Fraser 11:53 Word of the week: ‘Kickshaw’ 12:25 Writer in residence: Demet Divaroren 16:00 Starting with a different book 19:45 Creating a fantasy world 22:13 Writing for young adults 25:42 Balancing writing and life 26:12 How motherhood changed her writing 29:14 The publishing journey 32:07 The magic of writing 33:08 Promoting the book 35:16 Future projects 37:00 Demet shares a writing tip 38:05 Final thoughts
WRITER 674: Toby Walsh demystifies his new book, 'The Shortest History of AI'
28 Jul 2025
00:48:35
When Toby Walsh wrote his first book on AI, he figured he’d said all he had to say. But just a handful of years later, this British computer scientist and current Chief Scientist at UNSW Sydney’s AI Institute is here to discuss his FIFTH book, The Shortest History of AI – how it came about and some of the challenges around explaining this subject to a general audience.
00:00 Welcome 10:05 Writing tip: ‘Just start writing’ 12:52 WIN!: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer 14:39 Word of the week: ‘Psithurism’ 15:09 Writer in residence: Toby Walsh 15:55 Explaining The Shortest History of AI 17:00 Deciding on the six ideas for the book 18:25 How Toby developed his writing voice 20:06 Balancing the academia and hysteria 22:37 The purpose of writing AI books 23:24 The challenges of writing for the public 25:00 On becoming an accidental science communicator 28:03 The secret circle of science communicators 29:58 Untimely deaths in the timeline of AI 30:30 Adding his expertise to the ‘Shortest’ series 32:20 On designing his book cover and subtitle 35:48 The role of great editors in writing 37:24 Toby’s late night writing process 38:55 His next book project 39:59 A pivot to writing fiction? 42:07 Toby’s tip for writers 43:23 Final thoughts
WRITER 673: Sarah Clutton reveals 'The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains'
21 Jul 2025
00:43:18
Self-confessed writing course junkie and former lawyer Sarah Clutton’s central character literally appeared at the door while she was busy writing another book at the end of the world. In this episode, Sarah elaborates on this unusual inspiration and her writing process for her new novel, The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains.
00:00 Welcome 05:54 Writing tip: ‘Number your pages!’ 09:35 WIN!: Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You by Candice Chung 11:09 Word of the week: ‘AA Lava’ 13:09 The world of words: ‘Filling out vs Filling in’ 14:46 Writer in residence: Sarah Clutton 15:35 Explaining The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains 17:30 Sarah’s early years 19:00 Getting started as a writer via lawyering up 22:01 Taking courses with the Australian Writers’ Centre 24:37 On creating Alfie Bains: inspirations and challenges 27:09 Turning 50 and crafting a witchy thriller in Tasmania 31:08 Alfie comes knocking at the door 34:51 Sarah’s writing process – have a deadline! 37:58 What it’s like living in a book town 39:07 Sarah’s next book: a sneak peek 40:06 Themes and messages of the book 41:43 Final thoughts