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Q&A: Heart-rending or heart-wrenching

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its

Writing Podcast Episode 340 Meet Sandy Barker, author of ‘That Night in Paris’ and ‘A Sunset in Sydney’.

In Episode 340 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Sandy Barker, author of That Night in Paris and A Sunset in Sydney.

Furious Fiction July 2020 winner and shortlist

To those who RSVPed to our invitation to this month’s Furious Fiction, we welcome you to the big day. If you thumb through the order

COMP CLOSED ‘The Sandpit’ by Nicholas Shakespeare

This week’s giveaway is The Sandpit – a brand new contemporary thriller by British author Nicholas Shakespeare. It involves the disappearance of a nuclear scientist

3 ways to encourage a love of writing in your teen

Teenage writers are bursting with creativity and fresh perspective, but between the structure of the English curriculum and all their other work, sometimes writing falls

7 trends in children’s and YA publishing

For authors looking to write for children and young adults, it’s important to understand that what they want to read is evolving. Young readers now

Q&A: Titled vs entitled

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its

Children’s book manuscript submissions with Walker Wednesday

Have you been working on a manuscript for a children’s book? Walker Books Australia are looking for new diverse Australian stories for kids. They’ve launched

Writing Podcast Episode 339 Meet literary agent Annabel Barker.

In Episode 339 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Do you want to be a children’s author? Meet literary agent Annabel Barker and

COMP CLOSED ‘The Silk House’ by Kayte Nunn

Weaving. Healing. Haunting… In this week’s giveaway, we’re offering up three copies of The Silk House – the spellbinding story of a mysterious boarding school

Q&A: Criteria, Criterion, Criterium

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its

Writing Podcast Episode 338 Meet Gus Gordon, author and illustrator of ‘Finding Francois’.

In Episode 338 of So You Want To Be A Writer: You’ll meet Gus Gordon, author and illustrator of Finding Francois. Discover who is a

7 ways to be more creative at work

As writers, creativity is the lifeblood of our work. From searching for the truth of an idea, to understanding the motivations of a character, or

COMP CLOSED ‘The Jane Austen Society’ by Natalie Jenner

“Hope can sometimes be just enough…” This week’s giveaway is The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner – described as a heartbreaking and uplifting novel

How Jo Jukes created a successful side-hustle as a travel writer

Jo Jukes had always wanted to be a writer, but had no idea where to start before the Australian Writers’ Centre’s courses gave her the guidance she needed to become a successful freelance travel writer.

Q&A: Then vs than

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its

AWC presenter and alumnae longlisted for the 2020 Davitt Awards 2020

Sisters in Crime recently announced their 20th Davitt Awards and we’re thrilled that so many familiar names are featured on the long list! Our amazing

Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize

Penguin Random House Australia has announced the winner for the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize. Congratulations to Sophie Overett who won the 2020 prize with her

Writing Podcast Episode 337 Meet Chris Flynn, author of ‘Mammoth’.

In Episode 337 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Chris Flynn, author of Mammoth, a novel narrated by a 13,000-year-old extinct American

Should I plan my novel? 20 authors tell us how they get it done

Writing a novel: There’s no one right way to do it. One of the biggest points of difference among writers is whether to plan in

COMP CLOSED ‘The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide’

Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet… Feeling guilty about your role in destroying our precious world?

Watch the ‘So you want to be a writer’ Block Party replay

Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo and bestselling author Allison Tait hosted the biggest party for the So you want to be a writer podcast

Q&A: Click or clique

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its

Furious Fiction June 2020 winner and shortlist

This month on the Furious Fiction show, we asked contestants to conjure a short story out of thin air using the following criteria: Each story’s

Writing Podcast Episode 336 Meet E Lockhart, author of ‘Again Again’.

In Episode 336 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet E Lockhart, author of Again Again. Discover how to build good writing habits

Q&A: Heart-rending or heart-wrenching

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we have a rent overdue…

Writing Podcast Episode 340 Meet Sandy Barker, author of ‘That Night in Paris’ and ‘A Sunset in Sydney’.

In Episode 340 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Sandy Barker, author of That Night in Paris and A Sunset in Sydney. Discover the steps you need to take to build your author platform. Learn how to use Pinterest for book marketing inspiration. Plus, we have 3

Furious Fiction July 2020 winner and shortlist

To those who RSVPed to our invitation to this month’s Furious Fiction, we welcome you to the big day. If you thumb through the order of service, you’ll see that the following criteria are gathered here today: Each story had to take place at either WEDDING or a FUNERAL. Each

COMP CLOSED ‘The Sandpit’ by Nicholas Shakespeare

This week’s giveaway is The Sandpit – a brand new contemporary thriller by British author Nicholas Shakespeare. It involves the disappearance of a nuclear scientist in Oxford – and has been described as a sophisticated literary thriller in the vein of Le Carré, William Boyd or Graham Green. We have

3 ways to encourage a love of writing in your teen

Teenage writers are bursting with creativity and fresh perspective, but between the structure of the English curriculum and all their other work, sometimes writing falls by the wayside. If you have a talented teen you’d like to support as a writer – or you’re wondering how to get your teen

7 trends in children’s and YA publishing

For authors looking to write for children and young adults, it’s important to understand that what they want to read is evolving. Young readers now have screens and devices constantly competing for their attention, but they are still interested in reading engaging, well-written books. While you don’t need to follow

Q&A: Titled vs entitled

Children’s book manuscript submissions with Walker Wednesday

Have you been working on a manuscript for a children’s book? Walker Books Australia are looking for new diverse Australian stories for kids. They’ve launched an initiative called Walker Wednesday – a biannual event where they will be reviewing unpublished manuscripts from new and established writers. Linsay Knight from Walker

Writing Podcast Episode 339 Meet literary agent Annabel Barker.

In Episode 339 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Do you want to be a children’s author? Meet literary agent Annabel Barker and discover what you need to do to get published. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Silk House by Kayte Nunn to give away. Click

COMP CLOSED ‘The Silk House’ by Kayte Nunn

Weaving. Healing. Haunting… In this week’s giveaway, we’re offering up three copies of The Silk House – the spellbinding story of a mysterious boarding school sheltering a centuries-old secret by bestselling author of The Botanist’s Daughter, Kayte Nunn. The novel first follows Australian History teacher Thea Rust, who arrives at

Q&A: Criteria, Criterion, Criterium

Writing Podcast Episode 338 Meet Gus Gordon, author and illustrator of ‘Finding Francois’.

In Episode 338 of So You Want To Be A Writer: You’ll meet Gus Gordon, author and illustrator of Finding Francois. Discover who is a plotter and who is a pantser. Plus, we have 3 copies of The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner to give away. Click play below

7 ways to be more creative at work

As writers, creativity is the lifeblood of our work. From searching for the truth of an idea, to understanding the motivations of a character, or simply moving words on a page to make the perfect phrase. Without it, we’d be lost but its value isn’t limited to just writing. Creativity

COMP CLOSED ‘The Jane Austen Society’ by Natalie Jenner

“Hope can sometimes be just enough…” This week’s giveaway is The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner – described as a heartbreaking and uplifting novel of hope, loss and love in the style of bestselling The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Here’s a quick synopsis: It’s only a

How Jo Jukes created a successful side-hustle as a travel writer

Q&A: Then vs than

AWC presenter and alumnae longlisted for the 2020 Davitt Awards 2020

Sisters in Crime recently announced their 20th Davitt Awards and we’re thrilled that so many familiar names are featured on the long list! Our amazing alumnae Sarah Bailey (Where the Dead Go, Allen & Unwin), Sandie Docker (The Cottage at Rosella Cove, Penguin Random House Australia) and Petronella McGovern (Six

Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize

Penguin Random House Australia has announced the winner for the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize. Congratulations to Sophie Overett who won the 2020 prize with her novel The Rabbits. There were over 400 submissions and this is a huge achievement. (We recently chatted to Imbi Neeme, the winner of the 2019

Writing Podcast Episode 337 Meet Chris Flynn, author of ‘Mammoth’.

In Episode 337 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Chris Flynn, author of Mammoth, a novel narrated by a 13,000-year-old extinct American mastodon. Plus you’ll discover 21 ways to promote your book, and how to deal with your inner critic. We also have 3 copies of The

Should I plan my novel? 20 authors tell us how they get it done

Writing a novel: There’s no one right way to do it. One of the biggest points of difference among writers is whether to plan in advance or not, with those who do referred to as ‘plotters’ while those who don’t earn the moniker of ‘pantsers’ – as in, by the

COMP CLOSED ‘The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide’

Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet… Feeling guilty about your role in destroying our precious world? Never fear, because this week we’re giving away three copies of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make Small Changes That

Watch the ‘So you want to be a writer’ Block Party replay

Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo and bestselling author Allison Tait hosted the biggest party for the So you want to be a writer podcast community. The Block Party Facebook Live event attendees were invited to ask any burning questions they had about all things writing and publishing. With their

Q&A: Click or clique

Furious Fiction June 2020 winner and shortlist

This month on the Furious Fiction show, we asked contestants to conjure a short story out of thin air using the following criteria: Each story’s first and last words had to begin with J. Each story had to include a game being played. Each story had to include the phrase

Writing Podcast Episode 336 Meet E Lockhart, author of ‘Again Again’.

In Episode 336 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet E Lockhart, author of Again Again. Discover how to build good writing habits in your teen. Watch ‘Creative Conversations’ with literary agent Annabel Barker. Learn tips for writing non-fiction for kids. And we have 3 copies of To

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