Writing Podcast Episode 449: Joanna Nell discusses her latest novel ‘The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital' [Story Sessions series]
This is the latest novel by Joanna, whose previous bestselling books include The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home. And of course, it’s wonderful to see Joanna doing so well in her writing career as she is one of our […]
Read MoreJacinta Froud: From teacher to published children’s author
Writing Picture Books
Writing Picture Books Masterclass
Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds
“I loved the fact that it was online, self-paced and that I could complete the course around my family commitments,” Jacinta says. “I made connections with the lovely writing community and more recently I secured a publishing deal with the amazing Larrikin House.”
Jacinta's debut picture book Jingle Belly will be published by Larrikin House in November 2021, with illustrations by Gabriella Petruso.
Gary Nunn: From freelance journalist to published author of ‘The Psychic Tests'
“The AWC was such a key part of that: meeting other writers, access to those who'd done it, the community that forms around those taking a course. Writing can be such a solitary pursuit for a gregarious, garrulous person like me! The AWC was the antidote to that.”
Congrats to the AWC alumni shortlisted for the 2021 Richell Prize
The shortlist for the 2021 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers has just been announced, and we are proud to congratulate our talented AWC alumni on the list! The winner will receive $10,000 in prize money from Hachette Australia, and a year’s mentoring with one of their publishers. Kay Harrison has been shortlisted for Flip the […]
Read MoreAWC alumna Veronica Lando wins the HarperCollins 2021 Banjo Prize
Publishing house HarperCollins launched the Banjo Prize in 2018, as “a quest to find Australia’s next great storyteller” – inviting unpublished commercial fiction manuscripts and awarding each year’s winner with a publishing contract. Now in its fourth year, the Banjo Prize recently announced its 2021 winner. And we were SO excited to see that it […]
Read MoreFreda Chiu combines her creative talents with debut picture book ‘A Trip to the Hospital’
Writing Picture Books
That's how Freda Chiu describes the moment she found out that her debut picture book, A Trip to the Hospital, was going to be published by Allen & Unwin. Although she was a successful freelance artist and educator, Freda wasn't sure she had the skills to write her own picture book. But after taking the Writing Picture Books course with the Australian Writers' Centre, Freda was unstoppable.
“I loved how structured and practical the Writing Picture Books course was,” Freda says. “I learned more in the two days I was at the AWC than in the few years prior doing self-research.”
Writing Podcast Episode 437: Sarah Bailey discusses her latest novel ‘The Housemate' [Story Sessions series]
Now, this is so exciting as this is Sarah’s fourth published novel, and her first standalone book outside of her very popular Gemma Woodstock crime series. In this novel, we’re introduced to a new protagonist – investigative journalist Olive Groves. In this Story Session, Sarah talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter […]
Read MoreFiona Murphy becomes a published author with her debut memoir ‘The Shape of Sound’
Reinvent Yourself
Freelance Writing Stage 1
Build Your Author Platform
2 Hours to Scrivener Power
That momentum led to the start of her career as an essayist and has culminated in the release of her memoir The Shape of Sound, published by Text Publishing in March 2021.
“Signing the contract was an out-of-body experience—it was both thrilling and terrifying! It took weeks for it to sink in.”
Writing Podcast Episode 436: Meet Susannah Hardy, author of ‘Loving Lizzie March'.
Meet Susannah Hardy, author of ‘Loving Lizzie March'. Discover why you should not show off your research skills and why indie publishing could be right for you. Plus, we have 3 copies of ‘Sweet Jimmy' by Bryan Brown to give away.
Read MoreWriting Podcast Episode 435: Sandie Docker discusses her latest novel ‘The Wattle Island Book Club' [Story Sessions series]
This is the fourth novel from Sandie and it is bound to be as fabulously popular as her previous three. Longtime listeners may remember we spoke to Sandie back in episode 323 when The Banksia Bay Beach Shack had just come out, which was her third novel, and before that she published The Cottage at […]
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