Developing Skills and Techniques as an Aspiring Writer: Interview with novelist Jo Riccioni. Host Valerie Khoo and Jo discuss Jo’s latest novel The Rising, the process of writing a duology, her love for fantasy writing, and the importance of cultivating a detailed and authentic world in fantasy literature. Jo also shares how she came up with names in her books and gives advice to aspiring writers on how to get started, from mimicking styles to joining a writer's group.
00:00 Introduction and welcome 00:18 Upcoming event: Focus on flashbacks and memories 03:18 Nat Newman’s tips on structure 11:04 Win The Dinner Party by Rebecca Heath 14:14 Interview with Jo Riccioni: Journey of writing The Rising 21:25 Writing process and planning for a book series 22:26 Impact of reader feedback on writing a series 24:09 Influence of teaching and working with young people on writing 24:56 Advice on nurturing young writers 28:17 Overcoming fear and starting to write as an adult 32:18 The role of world building in fantasy writing 38:31 Creating unique words and names in fantasy writing 40:39 Current and future writing projects 41:21 Advice for aspiring writers 47:19 Fun fact: Origin of the word ‘freelance'
Jo Riccioni was born in the UK to an Italian father and English mother. She worked in Singapore and Paris before settling in Sydney, and she has a master’s degree in literature from Leeds University. Her short stories have been read on the BBC and Radio National, and published in The Best Australian Stories 2010 and 2011. Her story Can’t Take the Country out of the Boy has been optioned for a short film.
