Dear Listeners,
 
 We owe you an apology 😬
 
 This episode was inspired by Jo sending a message to our group chat that read:
 
 “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨… 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺!”
 
 Now that is an episode we’d listen to!
 
 Unfortunately, we didn’t arrive with a tidy list of solutions to getting unstuck. But misery loves company, so if you’re feeling stuck too, welcome to the gang 😜
 
 In Episode 54, we talk about creative blocks, second-guessing, plotting panic, and the various (questionable) methods we’ve tried to move forward.
 
 And if you have any brilliant ideas for getting unstuck — besides walking, crying, drinking, or eating chocolate — please tell us in the comments.
 
 We genuinely need to know 😂

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

In this episode...

🎧 Listen to Jo confess that she has 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 where her book is going after throwing plotting — and her beloved Post-it notes — out the window.

🎧 Listen to Fiona admit her book is 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 not finished, and that she’s seriously considering rescuing Jo’s abandoned Post-its and actually doing some plotting.

🎧 And Jacq? Well… Jacq tells a story about when beloved Tassie series Rosehaven filmed in her street — and she got caught doing something she probably shouldn’t have been doing! (You’ll have to listen to find out 👀)

Is it inspirational?
Maybe not in the way we hoped 😂

BUT we 𝘥𝘰 get properly stuck into what we’re doing to fix things — and that might help you too.

From blank page to publication — and everything in between 💛

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲𝟱𝟮

Annnnd… we’re back, dear listeners!

After a restorative holiday break, we’re back at our desks, in front of our microphones, and ready for another year of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩.

💛 Did Jo finish a first draft of Book 4?
 💛 Did Fiona finish a first draft of Book 1?
 💛 Did Jacq… well, Jacq was just going to see what happens — so maybe that’s a given 😄

Along with accountability, we’re sharing our word for 2026, what we’re reading, and what we’re going to do differently this year as we wrangle 2026 into shape and give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our writing dreams.

So sit back, grab your beverage of choice, and enjoy Episode 52, available wherever you love to listen 🎧

🔔 Follow us so you never miss an episode! 

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

✨ Closing The Book on 2025 ✨

Our final episode of the year is live, and it’s a big, heart-squeezy one.

We kicked things off with our usual accountability chat and set some bold (and slightly terrifying) goals for our six-week break.

Then we reflected on the year that was — our favourite moments, our lowest moments, and the one thing each of us absolutely wouldn’t change.

It’s equal parts honest, chaotic, and cheering each other on… in true Word Count fashion.

Thank you for sticking with us on this journey to publication dear listeners — you will never know how much you truly mean to us 💛

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

🎉 It’s our 50th episode!!! 🎉

To celebrate this glorious milestone, we’ve thrown the rulebook out the window. Jo and Jacq have staged a hostile (but fabulous) takeover, while Fiona takes a well-earned back seat after moving house the day before.

What follows is pure, unfiltered chaos — gin, bubbles, and a whole lot of fun, with our signature touch of honesty.

We had an absolute blast recording it, and we hope you love listening just as much.

Thank you, dear listeners, for sticking with us for 50 episodes. We’re pinching ourselves that we’ve made it this far… here’s to the next 50, and the books that will get written because we keep showing up, sharing our goals, and staying accountable ✨

And special thanks to Phil and Postie who help make us sound far more professional than we actually are!

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens before, during, and after a book launch, Jo spills all the behind-the-scenes details from her tour for A Disappearing Act.

💛 Did we hit the goals we set last episode?
 💛 What are our new ones?
 💛 And why is getting three co-hosts into one promo photo basically an Olympic sport? 😂

All this and more in this episode.

Follow @𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙥𝙤𝙙 so you never miss an episode 🔔 

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

Fiona returns from her daughter’s wedding with stories and big news: 70,000 words and counting! Jo shares her pub-day plans for A Disappearing Act (out 28 Oct), and Jacq reports on festival and anthology work. 

Goal setting, messy-middle talk, and tips for writers. 

Follow @thewordcountpod so you never miss an episode!

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

✨ New Episode — Happy 2nd Birthday! 🎉

Two years ago we hit record on our writing journeys… and here we are, celebrating TWO YEARS of The Word Count podcast! 💛

In this special episode, we look back at what’s changed since our first birthday — new books, agents, deals, retreats, and plenty of laughter (and bubbles 🍾).

We’re nearly at 50 episodes, and we couldn’t have done it without YOU — our listeners, our fourth friend at the table. 🥂

Tune in to celebrate with us and hear what’s next for year three! 🥳

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

This week on The Word Count, we leaned into life’s big moments — the ones that pull us away from the page and remind us that writing doesn’t always get to be the priority.

With less than a month to Fiona’s daughter’s wedding, she’s fully in her Mother of the Bride era 👰💐 (yes, with the t-shirt to prove it!). 

Jo opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her beautiful Frankie 🐾, and Jacq talks about what's next for her book as she navigates the publication journey.

We talked honestly about how we manage (or don’t manage!) our writing during times when life needs our attention — and why giving ourselves grace matters just as much as hitting our word counts.

💛 If you’re balancing big life changes alongside your writing, this one’s for you.

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛

💥 This episode is going to give you ALL the feels!

You’ve got 24 hours to listen (it’s only 30 minutes — perfect for your commute, walk, school run, or lunch break) before we share the BIG BIG news with the world.

💛 Pretty please don’t spoil it for others until tomorrow, when we’ll be posting ALL about it!

But… if you’ve listened, we’d love you to comment or send us a message.

⚠️ If you haven’t listened, DO NOT read the comments on socials!

So what are you waiting for? We know you’re dying to know… 😜

Follow 3 Australian writers step-by-step as they write toward publication:

• Jo Dixon - bestselling author of The House Of Now & Then, A Shadow At The Door & A Disappearing Act (HQ/Harper Collins)
• Fiona Taylor - host of Three Questions with Fiona Taylor, writing her first novel, a psychological thriller
• Jacq Ellem - host of internationally award-winning podcast Tales From Three Corners and soon to be published (2027, Affirm Press)

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭-𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯! 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 (𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 30 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘴) 💛