blog – Page 6 – Australian Writers' Centre

AWC graduate Anna Johnston scores a two-book deal

Anna Johnston started telling stories at a young age, writing plays and short films for her parents as a child. But she left her storytelling passion behind when she went into healthcare and started her family. A course at the Australian Writers’ Centre changed that, reigniting her love of creative writing, and Anna is now celebrating the publication of her debut novel The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, in a two-book deal with Penguin Random House.

Writing Podcast Episode 608: Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his novel ‘Smoke’

Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his latest novel Smoke. He discusses his research process, where he gets his ideas, how he uses a whiteboard

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Death in the Air’ by Ram Murali

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Death in the Air by Ram Murali. Ram Murali’s debut novel is a gripping locked-room mystery, blending

Q&A: Pay ‘through the nose’ + ‘an arm and a leg’

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 607: Author Pamela Freeman and illustrator Liz Anelli on how they collaborated to create ‘Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree’

Meet author Pamela Freeman and illustrator Liz Anelli. They discuss their collaborative process in creating the picture book Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree.

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Bookshop Woman’ by Nanako Hanada

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada. The Bookshop Woman is a delightful and heartwarming memoir that intertwines

Copywriting Podcast Episode 073: Secrets of entrepreneurship from top business leaders with Bernadette Schwerdt

I’m the author, ghostwriter and coauthor of 7 books about entrepreneurship. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in business. Ruslan Kogan from Kogan. Gabby

Q&A: Raisins vs sultanas vs currants

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

From soldier to storyteller: How M. Dane found his voice at the Australian Writers’ Centre

After a 17-year career in the army, M. Dane was facing a medical discharge. The dramatic change in lifestyle was a difficult period for Dane, and after some soul searching he decided to embark on a transformative journey to realise a long-held dream – becoming a successful author. This led him to the Australian Writers’ Centre.

Writing Podcast Episode 606: B.M. Carroll on her latest novel ‘One Of Us Is Missing’

Valerie interviews B.M. Carroll, whose latest thriller, One of Us Is Missing, revolves around a family dealing with a mysterious disappearance of one family member

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Blackwater’ by Jacqueline Ross

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Blackwater by Jacqueline Ross, author of The Third Room and Messy Business. An engaging narrative that intertwines

Q&A: Port, starboard, bow, stern… boating terms explained

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

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

Having worked for years in the visual effects and animation industry, Richard Pritchard knew a lot about storytelling. But when he wanted to write a middle grade novel, he felt that he needed solid guidance, so he turned to the Australian Writers’ Centre.

Writing Podcast Episode 605: Amy Hutton on her novels ‘Love From Scratch’ and ‘Sit, Stay Love’.

Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love. Amy discusses her journey from TV producer to successful romance novelist, the importance of

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Silence Factory’ by Bridget Collins

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins, the international bestselling author of The Binding and The Betrayals. The

What I learnt about murder

By Andrea Barton, author of The Godfather of Dance and A Killer Among Friends. Andrea Barton’s novel, The Godfather of Dance, dives into murder, dance

Amy Hutton scores two book deals

When television producer Amy Hutton decided she wanted to switch careers and become a writer, she went all in. After making such a decisive move, Amy knew she had to learn the craft of writing if she were to succeed. She liked the variety of courses on offer at the Australian Writers’ Centre and she jumped in, learning the essentials of Fiction and Grammar, Plotting and Planning and how to Pitch Your Novel.

Q&A: ‘Sliver’ vs ‘slither’

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: May 2024 Story Showcase

Welcome to May’s Furious Fiction story showcase – a celebration of flash fiction creativity for this month. The creative prompts were: Each story had to

Sarah Speedie on her new dream career as a picture book author

Sarah Speedie was a full-time stay-at-home mum and, when her children reached an age where she could carve out time for herself she chose to embark on a new journey – one that would reignite her passion for learning and storytelling. Sarah enrolled in the Writing Picture Books course at the Australian Writers’ Centre.

Writing Podcast Episode 604: Valerie talks to copywriting guru Bernadette Schwerdt on how she co-wrote entrepreneur Radek Sali’s memoir, ‘How to Build a Billion Dollar Business’.

Explore the world of co-writing and collaboration with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Underhistory’ by Kaaron Warren

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren, author of the novels Slights, Walking the Tree, Mistification, Tide of Stone

Copywriting Podcast Episode 072: How to use podcasts to build your business with Lyndal Harris

If you’d like to launch your own podcast to promote your copywriting business, this is the podcast for you. Lyndal Harris is one of Australia’s

Q&A: How far is a ‘country mile’?

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 603: Picture book author Megan Daley on how to nurture your children to become readers.

Meet Megan Daley, author of The Beehive. Megan talks about her passion for children’s literature, her role as a teacher librarian, and her picture book

AWC graduate Anna Johnston scores a two-book deal

Writing Podcast Episode 608: Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his novel ‘Smoke’

Meet Michael Brissenden who chats about his latest novel Smoke. He discusses his research process, where he gets his ideas, how he uses a whiteboard in his writing process and transition from journalism to fiction writing. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Death in the Air’ by Ram Murali

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Death in the Air by Ram Murali. Ram Murali’s debut novel is a gripping locked-room mystery, blending high society intrigue with sharp wit. Here’s the blurb: Ro Krishna is the American son of Indian parents, educated at the finest institutions, equally at

Q&A: Pay ‘through the nose’ + ‘an arm and a leg’

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, money talks… Q: Hi AWC,

Writing Podcast Episode 607: Author Pamela Freeman and illustrator Liz Anelli on how they collaborated to create ‘Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree’

Meet author Pamela Freeman and illustrator Liz Anelli. They discuss their collaborative process in creating the picture book Seed to Sky: Life in the Daintree. They talk about the research, writing, and illustration process, how they balance text and visuals, and the importance of accuracy in children’s non-fiction. You can

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Bookshop Woman’ by Nanako Hanada

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada. The Bookshop Woman is a delightful and heartwarming memoir that intertwines a bookseller’s journey of self-discovery and human connection through the lens of book recommendations, capturing the profound impact of literature on our lives. Here’s the

Copywriting Podcast Episode 073: Secrets of entrepreneurship from top business leaders with Bernadette Schwerdt

I’m the author, ghostwriter and coauthor of 7 books about entrepreneurship. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in business. Ruslan Kogan from Kogan. Gabby Leibovich from Catch of the Day. Jane Lu from Show Po. Naomi Simson from Red Balloon. Simon Griffiths from Who Gives a Crap. And many

Q&A: Raisins vs sultanas vs currants

From soldier to storyteller: How M. Dane found his voice at the Australian Writers’ Centre

Writing Podcast Episode 606: B.M. Carroll on her latest novel ‘One Of Us Is Missing’

Valerie interviews B.M. Carroll, whose latest thriller, One of Us Is Missing, revolves around a family dealing with a mysterious disappearance of one family member during a concert. The conversation also touches on B.M. Carroll’s writing process, character development, and the importance of feedback and rewriting. You can listen to

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘Blackwater’ by Jacqueline Ross

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Blackwater by Jacqueline Ross, author of The Third Room and Messy Business. An engaging narrative that intertwines the present and the past, Blackwater is a gripping novel that will keep you up at night. Here’s the blurb: A baby will never be

Q&A: Port, starboard, bow, stern… boating terms explained

How Richard Pritchard became a successful children’s author

Writing Podcast Episode 605: Amy Hutton on her novels ‘Love From Scratch’ and ‘Sit, Stay Love’.

Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love. Amy discusses her journey from TV producer to successful romance novelist, the importance of social media presence for authors, and practical tips for aspiring writers. Host Valerie Khoo also chats to author Nat Newman who shares her experience with

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Silence Factory’ by Bridget Collins

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins, the international bestselling author of The Binding and The Betrayals. The Silence Factory is a captivating gothic tale exploring themes of family, longing and corruption. Here’s the blurb: 1820: Sophia Ashmore-Percy reluctantly accompanies her husband James

What I learnt about murder

By Andrea Barton, author of The Godfather of Dance and A Killer Among Friends. Andrea Barton’s novel, The Godfather of Dance, dives into murder, dance and family secrets. Journalist Jade is determined to write a career-defining article. Her dance instructor Anton wants to know who killed his fiancée. Anton’s life

Amy Hutton scores two book deals

Q&A: ‘Sliver’ vs ‘slither’

Furious Fiction: May 2024 Story Showcase

Welcome to May’s Furious Fiction story showcase – a celebration of flash fiction creativity for this month. The creative prompts were: Each story had to take place on an IMPORTANT DATE from the past 50 years – i.e. from May 1974 onwards. Each story had to include a character who

Sarah Speedie on her new dream career as a picture book author

Writing Podcast Episode 604: Valerie talks to copywriting guru Bernadette Schwerdt on how she co-wrote entrepreneur Radek Sali’s memoir, ‘How to Build a Billion Dollar Business’.

Explore the world of co-writing and collaboration with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, discussing challenges, the process of co-writing, the importance of capturing emotional depth in storytelling, and the profound impact of building a

COMP CLOSED: WIN ‘The Underhistory’ by Kaaron Warren

This week, we’re giving away three copies of The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren, author of the novels Slights, Walking the Tree, Mistification, Tide of Stone and The Grief Hole. The Underhistory is a chilling and unique thriller delving into the depths of a woman who is intertwined with the secrets

Copywriting Podcast Episode 072: How to use podcasts to build your business with Lyndal Harris

If you’d like to launch your own podcast to promote your copywriting business, this is the podcast for you. Lyndal Harris is one of Australia’s top podcasting consultants. She’s launched hundreds of podcasts for a huge range of businesses and she’s here today to share her knowledge about how copywriters

Q&A: How far is a ‘country mile’?

Writing Podcast Episode 603: Picture book author Megan Daley on how to nurture your children to become readers.

Meet Megan Daley, author of The Beehive. Megan talks about her passion for children’s literature, her role as a teacher librarian, and her picture book The Beehive. She also discusses her book Raising Readers, which emphasises the importance of instilling a love of reading in children from a young age

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