Episoder
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What do you get when you mix house-sitting frenemies with a big lovable dog? You get My Hot Housemate – the latest rom-com from Susannah Hardy, who joins us to discuss the characters and the writing process behind the book.
00:00 Welcome
03:19 Writing tip: Reference managers
06:03 WIN!: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire
07:48 Word of the week: ‘Overweening’
08:29 The world of words: Ordering adjectives
12:16 Writer in residence: Susannah Hardy
13:02 Overview of My Hot Housemate
14:47 Writing about the acting world
17:46 Adding a dog character to the story
20:17 Showing off Sydney
21:36 Tips on writing comedy
22:41 Writing authentic dialogue
24:00 Character development and relationships
25:38 The rise of rom-coms
27:44 Writing process and challenges
29:39 Balancing writing with life
33:38 Having other creative interests
35:32 Importance of mentors and community
37:42 General writing tips
40:17 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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What does ‘neighbourhood noir’ look like as a genre? Author Maryrose Cuskelly knows, and she discusses her latest novel The Campers, blending crime and psychological elements as well as contemporary issues.
00:00 Welcome
04:43 Writing tip: The importance of practice
10:26 WIN!: The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler
13:01 Word of the week: ‘Galligaskins’
15:00 Writer in residence: Maryrose Cuskelly
18:01 Inspirations for The Campers
21:38 Defining the genre
22:12 Maryrose’s research and writing process
26:43 Bringing the setting to life
28:08 Incorporating COVID into the story
29:35 Character development and choices
31:09 Homelessness and social issues
33:04 The writing process and fellowships
36:29 Balancing writing and life
38:48 Publicity and new projects
44:36 Tips for crime writers
45:58 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Manglende episoder?
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There’s plenty to love about France and food, and author Victoria Brownlee has cleverly combined them both in her latest rom-com novel, Eat Your Heart Out. She joins us to discuss the timeless appeal of Paris, writing dual perspectives, sexy cheeses and much more!
00:00 Welcome
04:17 Writing tip: Do a course!
08:21 WIN: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens
10:05 Word of the week: “Lissom”
12:12 World of words: “Fewer” vs “Less”
13:58 Writer in Residence: Victoria Brownlee
15:56 Victoria’s obsession with food
17:30 Landing in Paris
18:40 Optioning her first book as a film
21:00 The sexiness of cheese
21:45 Introducing Eat Your Heart Out
23:12 Writing dual perspectives
26:48 Balancing food and story
28:44 The romance of Paris and France
30:55 Victoria’s writing process
31:32 The influence of Emily in Paris
34:46 Bloggers and influencers in writing
37:25 The ingredients of a good rom-com novel
38:48 Upcoming projects
40:07 Tips for writers
43:20 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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When the Spin Doctors sang about ‘Two Princes’, perhaps they were thinking about author Cale Dietrich’s new young adult novel, The Rules of Royalty! Cale chats about writing the book and current trends in the genre.
00:00 Welcome
05:20 Writing tip: Be curious
08:13 WIN! London Uncanny by Clive Bloom
09:48 Word of the week: ‘Mansuetude’
10:58 Writer in Residence: Cale Dietrich
13:12 The appeal of queer royal fiction
15:15 Cale’s writing process
18:39 Researching the royal aspects
19:37 Going from pitch to contract
20:45 How collaborative writing works
22:49 Planning and structure
24:36 Character development – nice boys
26:11 Balancing work and writing
27:25 Publicity and social media
29:34 Cale’s upcoming projects
32:05 Advice for aspiring YA writers
33:38 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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What secrets do you have hiding in YOUR family tree? Every family has them, and in AWC graduate Kate Horan’s new mystery, The Inheritance, DNA-testing shines a light on two women and previously unspoken truths. Kate shares her experience writing the book including inspirations and real life research.
00:00 Welcome
05:21 Writing tip: StoryGraph app
09:28 WIN!: Twist by Colum McCann
11:10 Word of the week: ‘harbinger’
12:51 Word Insights with Dean Koorey: ‘hone vs home’
15:55 Writer in residence: Kate Horan
18:00 On writing two very different characters
20:11 Geographic and DNA inspirations
24:20 The many meanings of ‘inheritance’
26:13 Inspiration from Who Do You Think You Are?
26:40 Complicated family dynamics
28:19 Kate’s writing process and balancing life
29:18 Managing time and prioritising as a writer
31:15 Journey to publication via an agent
35:00 Importance of structural edits
37:09 AWC courses and learning the craft
40:09 Kate’s writing tips and investing in your skills
41:33 Building a writing community
44:18 Surreal experience of getting published
45:17 Upcoming projects and future plans
47:45 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Capturing the nostalgia of ’90s horror flicks, This Stays Between Us is the latest novel by Margot McGovern. In this episode, Margot shares her inspiration for telling this kind of story, writing her cast of characters and her experience publishing the novel.
00:00 Introduction
09:13 Writing tip: Scheduling time for reading
13:53 WIN!: 2 Sisters Murder Investigations by Candice Fox and James Patterson
15:28 Word of the week: ‘Lycanthrope’
17:00 Writer in residence: Margot McGovern
19:40 The attraction of horror stories
21:00 Representing and reflecting young people’s worlds
23:11 The differences between 2000 and today
25:26 School camp inspirations
27:38 Nostalgia for ’90s horror films
28:49 Writing multiple points of view
30:23 Drafting and editing process
34:20 Publishing journey with Penguin
38:07 Publicity and the social media landscape
39:56 Upcoming projects
44:26 Margot’s tips for aspiring writers
45:48 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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How do you go about writing a deeply personal story? In this episode, Sonia Orchard discusses her memoir, Groomed, and the process of writing about a traumatic childhood experience. She also shares tips for others looking to write their own memoir.
00:00 Introduction
03:15 Writing tip: It’s never too late to start
06:53 WIN!: Best, First and Last by Amy T. Matthews
09:07 Word of the week: ‘Grok’
11:18 Writer in residence: Sonia Orchard
15:33 Deciding whether to tell such a vulnerable story
17:00 Writing it vs not writing it
19:25 How Sonia compiled the memoir
23:12 “Write for yourself and edit for others”
24:20 Choosing what details to remove in the story
26:55 Navigating the justice system
28:08 The therapeutic power of writing
33:55 Memoir vs fiction: Similarities and differences
44:31 What Sonia hopes people take away from this book
46:30 Top tips for writing your own memoir
48:41 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must Remember This and his unique journey bringing a story of dementia to the page.
00:00 Introduction
07:36 Writing tip: Goodreads trolling
09:36 WIN! Perspectives by Laurent Binet
11:40 Word of the week: ‘Leaguer’
12:18 Writer in residence: Sean Wilson
14:25 Why Sean wanted to tell this story
15:40 Writing child characters
17:00 Self-care while writing
19:06 Crafting authentic secondary characters
21:01 Storytelling the challenges of ageing
23:09 How Sean drew inspiration from real life events
25:35 The prevalence of dementia
27:48 From play to novel: The writing journey
31:19 Crafting a nonlinear narrative
35:37 Publishing journey and future projects
38:45 The art of writing across different forms
42:34 Future projects
46:37 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Author Emma Pignatiello wondered why romance novels didn’t have more murders in them – so she wrote her own! In this episode, she discusses her book Last Shot, the inspiration behind it and the Australian Writers' Centre course that helped her get there.
00:00 Introduction
02:57 Writing tip: Follow the guidelines
10:33 WIN! Headcases by John McMahon
12:30 Word of the week: ‘Redolent’
15:43 Writer in Residence: Emma Pignatiello
17:20 Emma’s inspiration for the story
24:20 Mapping out the plot points and character arcs
25:49 The writing process
29:42 Balancing her day job and parenting with writing
32:11 The publishing journey
40:51 Two amazing things happen in one day
41:40 Receiving the “yes” from her agent
44:53 Pitching two books to publishers
50:25 Future projects
52:32 How the Australian Writers' Centre Romance Writing course helped her
55:41 Top tips on finding publishing success
1:00:51 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Belle Gibson fooled the world as a health influencer who lied about having brain cancer. In this re-released conversation, we speak with Beau Donelly – co-author of the book that inspired the hit Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar.
00:00 Introduction
02:41 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Write what you want to write
07:57 WIN! You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego
09:55 Word of the week: ‘Tintinnabulation’
12:41 Re-release conversation: Beau Donelly
18:50 Beau’s first connection with the scandal
22:55 Initial research on Belle’s story
26:00 Fundraising fraud
27:25 Archiving social media
30:30 Categorising the information
32:49 Turning the story into a book
35:11 Dividing the workload between two authors
40:25 Exposing the ‘wellness’ influencer phenomenon
41:42 Painting a picture of Belle’s parents
46:20 The biggest challenge of writing the book
54:20 Belle Gibson’s lack of remorse
55:34 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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A ‘folk horror’ that spans 40 years – awash with intrigue, magic and dark secrets! That’s what awaits you in this episode as we meet British author Olivia Isaac-Henry and discuss her latest suspense novel, Sorrow Spring. Olivia shares what inspired the location and themes, how she blended historical events with fiction, and the challenges of straddling two time periods and different character narratives.
00:00 Introduction
02:22 Nat Newman's writing tip: You’re not ‘bad’
10:17 WIN! The Last Days of Kira Mullan by Nicci French
12:10 Word of the week: ‘Wolver’
15:41 Writer in residence: Olivia Isaac-Henry
18:47 Olivia’s inspiration for her story and themes
19:59 Setting the scene: Time periods and locations
21:35 Character backgrounds and motivations
23:40 Crafting distinct voices for characters
26:03 Incorporating real-life events into fiction
26:58 Writing process and challenges
28:19 Upcoming projects and future plans
32:37 Olivia’s tips for aspiring writers
33:56 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Feeling cosy? Then you’ll love meeting author Alexandra Almond, as she shares her cosy fantasy novel, Thoroughly Disenchanted. Alexandra unpacks how she built her distinct characters, the role of magic in everyday life and her experience in finding an agent and getting published, along with advice for aspiring writers.
00:00 Introduction
04:08 Words at dawn: a unique writing practice
09:55 Nat Newman’s writing tip: change things up
13:43 WIN! Chickenpox by Remy Lai
15:33 Word of the week: ‘diaphanous’
18:16 Writer in residence: Alexandra Almond
21:17 Character origins and development
23:42 The unexpected romance
26:21 Magic in everyday life
27:44 The historical setting and character evolution
32:05 Alexandra’s writing process and challenges
36:28 Finding an agent and publisher
40:22 Advice for aspiring writers
43:01 Current and future projects
43:57 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Crafting a novel is one thing, but author Kate Solly loves crafting ‘crafty’ novels – including her latest title, The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-up. Kate shares her journey from casual writing in her family group chats to getting her first publishing contract, as well as how she manages to stay accountable and fit writing in while bringing up six kids!
00:00 Introduction
05:37 Nat Newman’s writing tip: overcoming ‘the doldrums’
10:28 WIN! The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan
12:52 Word of the week: ‘ravel’
14:11 Writer in residence: Kate Solly
15:34 Getting started in writing
17:11 How she kept accountable
20:04 Kate’s inspiration for her first book
22:30 Writing the next book
26:14 Pre-kids career and charity work
28:40 Getting the first novel published
34:29 The second novel: process and challenges
35:30 Balancing writing with family life
42:15 Editing and future plans
45:25 Building an author platform
47:42 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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From the halls of Australia’s Parliament House to the dark corners of the Vatican! In this episode, author Sophie Clark talks about her writing process and how she pitched her debut ‘romantasy’ novel, Cruel is the Light. She chats about her political background and how walking the ‘halls of power’ influenced her writing, as well as offering tips for aspiring writers.
00:00 Introduction
03:06 Nat Newman's writing tip: systematic editing
09:02 WIN! Death in the Arctic by Tom Hindle
10:47 Word of the week: ‘disputation’
12:29 Writer in residence: Sophie Clark
14:25 Defining ‘romantasy’
15:49 Inspiration for her book
18:35 Researching on location
22:29 Writing action and fight scenes
24:28 Drafting and experience in Pitch Wars
26:24 Mentorship and guidance
27:38 Securing an agent
30:11 Sophie’s writing process and challenges
34:30 Political influence in writing
36:31 Building a writing community
39:13 Publicity and promotion
41:17 Asking “who’s my audience?”
45:38 Sophie’s top tips for aspiring writers
48:04 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Want to know the formula to writing success? In this episode, scientist-turned-author Rebecca Heath discusses her latest domestic thriller novel, The Wedding Party and her unique journey from the laboratory to the library, as well as how she crafts each story and the importance of building a writing community.
00:00 Introduction
03:43 Nat Newman’s writing tip: the art of writing
06:45 WIN! More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
09:12 Word of the week: ‘Psychrophile’
10:36 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath
13:10 Rebecca’s scientific beginnings
17:33 Making the move to fiction and thrillers
18:55 Discovering the Australian Writers’ Centre
19:20 Building a community of likeminded writers
21:15 How Rebecca wrote The Wedding Party
23:34 The writing timeline, routine and sprints
27:19 Character development and observations
30:43 How walking and recording works for her
33:05 Rebecca’s challenges and joys in this book
34:13 Future plans
37:35 Rebecca’s advice for authors
40:22 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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“Please sir, can I have some more Dickens?” In this episode, author Kathy George discusses her latest novel, The Scent of Oranges – a retelling of the classic Dickens story Oliver Twist from the perspective of character Nancy. Kathy shares her love for gothic literature and why she chose this story to rewrite.
00:00 Introduction
04:46 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Character milestones
08:36 WIN! The Hidden Hand by Stella Rimington
10:30 Word of the week: ‘Susurrous’
13:02 Writer in residence: Kathy George
16:25 Getting the narrative voice right
22:22 Researching Nancy’s character
24:51 Kathy’s love for gothic literature
25:53 Understanding what “gothic” means
28:39 Thoughts on Dickens' female characters
30:24 On fleshing out Nancy's story
33:01 Retelling classic stories
36:48 Writing process and discipline
40:26 Kathy’s advice for aspiring writers
44:35 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Would you like to reinvent yourself as a writer? In this episode, accomplished author Karina May shares her advice on how to grow and setting yourself up for a successful author career. Karina also discusses her third print book, That Island Feeling, staying accountable as a writer, using social media, music playlists and more!
00:00 Introduction
06:05 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Desk love!
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
12:10 Word of the week: ‘Inanition’
12:48 Writer in residence: Karina May
19:06 Advice for setting yourself up for success
22:20 Adjusting goals and rewards
24:01 Finding accountability buddies
25:56 Connecting with fellow writers
27:20 Building an online presence
30:20 Reading outside your genre
31:29 The importance of having a routine
32:30 How Karina uses a playlist
36:34 Ensuring you have the right tools
39:58 Progress on the next book
40:54 Reflecting on the writing journey
43:24 Attention bad spellers!
44:30 Inspiring final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Described as a ‘memoir with a message’, This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch deals with many themes including celebrity obsession and shame. In this episode, author Tabitha Carvan discusses her experience writing this uniquely personal story, as well as offering advice for aspiring memoir writers.
00:00 Introduction
06:20 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Editing
10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey
11:22 Word of the week: ‘Thalassic’
13:40 Writer in residence: Tabitha Carvan
16:01 How the book came about
20:35 Defining the book's genre
22:47 Incorporating other perspectives
26:00 Exploring the concept of shame
28:10 Writing process and tools
34:41 Publicity and promotion
40:54 Advice for aspiring memoir writers
43:20 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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If you love fantasy, you’ll love our delightful interview with author Madeline Te Whiu, who shares her journey from writing her first book The Assassin Thief to completing her trilogy with her latest release, The Queen Thief. Madeline talks about her experience writing while working full-time, her planning process, harnessing social media and advice for aspiring writers.
00:00 Introduction
03:29 Holiday book recommendations
08:33 Nat’s writing tip: Structure
12:24 WIN! The Bogan Book Club by John Larkin
13:51 Word of the week: ‘Chrestomathy’
16:51 Writer in residence: Madeline Te Whiu
27:05 Finding time for writing
28:56 The journey to getting published
31:05 Madeline’s experience pitching her trilogy
31:58 Experiencing reader reactions
35:36 Writing the second and third books
37:15 Overcoming writer's block
43:11 Balancing writing and full-time work
45:36 Madeline’s approach to social media
53:21 Advice for aspiring authors
56:07 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative.
00:00 Introduction
03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip
08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber
11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’
12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston
21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism
27:25 The evolution of journalism
28:04 The pressure of producing quality content
29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion
31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception
34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book
37:28 Research versus the writing process
42:34 Future plans and new ventures
49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors
50:50 Final thoughtsRead the show notes
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