So You Want to be a Writer

Meet New York Times bestselling author Laura Dave, who talks about her latest novel The Night We Lost Him, her writing process, and adapting her hit novel The Last Thing He Told Me for television. Laura shares her approach to character development, writing routines, and advice for aspiring writers. She talks about the importance of dedication, routine, and what you need to do before seeking publication.

00:00 Introduction
03:00 Nat Newman's writing tip
05:46 Writing opportunities and tips
10:51 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight
13.01 Word of the week: piacular
16:16 Laura Dave, with of The Last Thing He Told Me and The Night We Lost Him
23:26 From novel to screen
24:57 The success and future of the series
25:46 The role of music in writing
29:12 Crafting characters and storylines
40:44 Writing routine and research
46:36 Advice for aspiring writers
48:51 Fun fact

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Meet Amanda Willimott, who talks about her historical fiction novel Winter of the Wolf, informed by extensive research. Amanda reveals how she got her book deal with Penguin Random House and the power of persistence, planning and mentorship.

00:00 Introduction
03:56 Writing tip: Attend events
07:19 Competition: Win The Dictionary of Terrible Ideas by Dominic Knight
09:25 Word of the week: Riparian
10:48 Interview with Amanda Willimott, author of Winter of the Wolf
25:24 Deciding to write a novel
26:12 Setting goals and overcoming challenges
27:56 The importance of planning and research
29:35 Writing discipline and tracking progress
36:04 Editing and refining the manuscript
37:58 The path to publication
41:19 Celebrating success and future plans
45:11 Final thoughts and advice for aspiring writers
47:13 Fun fact: What is a circadian novel?

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Meet bestselling author and screenwriter Christian White on his novel The Ledge and writing the Netflix hit Clickbait. his writing process, and his transition from books to screenwriting, including his work on TV shows like Clickbait and Apartment 7A.

00:00 Welcome to episode 635
01:46 Nat Newman's writing tip
02:41 Nat's creative writing journey
04:34 The importance of elevator pitches
09:07 Win: Cherrywood by Jock Serong
11:20 Word of the week: Panoply
14:01 Interview with Christian White, author of The Ledge
31:43 The journey to Clickbait
33:15 Balancing success and stress
35:16 Appreciating the moment
36:11 From Clickbait to Apartment 7A
41:36 The collaborative process
45:43 Balancing writing and family life
55:30 Tips for aspiring writers
01:01:29 Conclusion

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Meet Ariane Beeston, who shares insights into her powerful memoir Because I'm Not Myself, You See, exploring postpartum psychosis, her writing journey, and the therapeutic yet challenging process of recounting personal experiences. This memoir is brave and beautifully written. As a graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, we’re so thrilled for Ariane.

00:00 Introduction
00:19 Using prompts to discover your character
03:39 Nat Newman’s writing tip
08:32 Setting writing goals
11:23 Win: The Paris Gown by Christine Wells
14:22 Word of the week: Vestige
6:22 Interview with Ariane Beeston, author of Because I'm Not Myself, You See
28:03 The proposal journey
28:17 Navigating rejections and acceptances
29:01 The challenge of writing a book
29:26 Creative Nonfiction insights
30:00 Seamlessly weaving research and personal story
31:14 Overcoming personal obstacles
32:35 The emotional toll of writing
33:36 The urgency to finish
34:58 Post-writing reflections
35:49 The writing timeline
36:52 Managing deadlines and mental health
39:52 Reliving the past through writing
42:04 Ethics and accuracy in memoir writing
46:20 The book's impact and reader responses
48:18 Top tips for writing a memoir
54:02 Conclusion

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Meet bestselling author Paula Hawkins, whose new book The Blue Hour explores a psychological thriller set on a Scottish island. Paula discusses her writing process, research on art, transition from a finance journalist to a novelist, how she wrote four romance novels under a pen name and her experiences following the success of The Girl on the Train. She also shares her writing advice, emphasising the importance of feedback and understanding your readers’ experiences.

00:00 Introduction
00:34 Writing tip with Nat Newman
02:53 Storyboarding for writers
06:22 Win: The Stranger at the Wedding by A. E. Gauntlett
08:14 Word of the week: Palmy
09:30 Paula Hawkins and her latest novel The Blue Hour
21:19 From financial journalism to fiction
21:46 First foray into fiction
23:40 How Paula writes romance under a pseudonym
24:52 Finding the right genre
25:38 The birth of The Girl on the Train
27:48 Dealing with success and pressure
30:12 Writing process and challenges
40:34 Advice for aspiring writers
43:02 Fun fact: apophony

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Meet Ryan Butta, author of the new biography, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli – a previously untold story of one of Australia’s forgotten wartime heroes. In this lively and interesting conversation, Ryan shares what led him to tell this particular story, his research process and other fascinating stories from here and overseas that inadvertently prepared him for a life as a published author.

00:00 Introduction and host welcome
00:19 Upcoming travel writing course
00:38 Special bonuses for enrollees
05:42 Writing tip: Imagination game
09:42 Win: Diving, Falling by Kylie Mirmohamadi
11:32 Word of the week: Imbrication
14:12 Interview with Ryan Butta
28:36 Organising research and writing process
30:13 Starting the writing journey
31:23 From fiction to nonfiction
34:18 Pitching and publishing success
36:54 Challenges and realities of being published
39:51 New projects and future plans
45:48 Passion and motivation in writing
49:50 Top tips for nonfiction writing

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Meet Dani Vee, publisher at Larrikin House, whose latest book is Riley's Failproof Guide to Breaking a School Record, and her soon-to-be-released book is My Pet Croc. Dani shares her writing process but also provides insights into the children’s publishing industry, her role as a publisher and what she is looking for in a manuscript. Dani discusses the importance of finding the right voice, creative control, and the submission process for aspiring authors.

00:00 Introduction to the podcast and special series
02:14 Meet Dani Vee: Author, publisher, and podcaster
03:43 Riley's fail-proof guide to breaking a school record
05:02 From picture books to junior fiction
06:00 The creative process and challenges of writing
12:44 The magic of writing My Pet Croc
14:43 Transitioning from teaching to publishing
17:26 The role of a publisher in a small publishing house
20:52 Exploring different book genres
21:24 The story behind The Bogan Book Club
22:20 The importance of voice in publishing
23:33 Breaking stereotypes in literature
24:26 Defining the Larrikin voice
27:05 Submission process and common mistakes
32:13 Working with authors: Challenges and considerations
34:58 Evaluating submissions: Key questions
37:36 Future plans and writing aspirations
40:08 Conclusion and final thoughts

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Meet writer and comedian Jennifer Wong, who discussed her new book Chopsticks or Fork, a nostalgic exploration of Chinese-Australian restaurants, based on her TV series. Jennifer shares insights into her writing journey and balancing her work across different media.

00:00 Introduction and welcome
00:20 Catching up after a trip
00:52 Listener shoutouts and publishing advice
03:20 Writing tip from Nat Newman
03:45 Exploring Disney Studios
07:21 Writing tip: Take a research trip
12:31 Competition announcement
14:21 Word of the week
15:07 Travel writing special edition course
18:12 Interview with Jennifer Wong
23:43 Finding the right talent for a show
23:59 Comedy and personal growth
25:06 Writing with personal experience
27:15 Exploring favorite writing topics
29:06 The journey of Chopsticks or Fork
32:58 Creating a nostalgic and joyous book
42:58 Balancing book promotion and new projects
44:20 Upcoming shows and future plans
48:34 Final thoughts and fun facts

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Meet children's author Jess Horn, who shares her journey in writing, the inspiration behind her book Bernie Thinks in Boxes, and her intensive writing process. Jess also details her experience securing a book deal, the value of feedback, and the importance of community in the writing world. Jess provides tips for aspiring authors on maintaining passion, embracing feedback, and connecting with the writing community.

00:00 Introduction to the podcast
01:09 App tip of the week: Clockify
11:19 Interview with children's author Jess Horn
13:46 Jess Horn's writing journey and tips
23:05 Exciting news and future projects

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Meet Scott Ryder, a former Australian commando, who discusses his memoir Forged in Fire, detailing his 22-year military career and the transition to civilian life. Forged in Fire takes us inside the secretive world of the commandos.

00:00 Introduction
01:18 Nat Newman’s writing tip
09:15 Giveaway: The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu
11:31 Word of the week: lenitive
12:11 Creative nonfiction
13:44 Interview with Scott Ryder
25:06 Reflecting on military life and writing
26:04 The writing process: Chronology and challenges
27:36 Confronting memories and emotional transparency
29:27 The impact of writing on personal growth
33:13 Transitioning to civilian life
41:57 Fact-checking and authenticity in memoir writing
43:29 Future plans and final thoughts
48:43 Fun fact: Words that only exist in plural form
49:39 Closing remarks

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
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