So You Want To Be A Writer With Valerie Khoo And Allison Tait: Australian Writers' Centre Podcast

Should you write under two names for two different genres? Allison Tait’s The Book of Answers is out now! We congratulate the winner of the latest Furious Fiction contest. And you’ll meet the hilarious and charming Kerri Sackville, author of ‘Out There: A Survival Guide for Dating in Midlife’. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com 

A new prize is announced for crime authors who do not feature a female victim. The writing myths we tell ourselves and Norwegian Airways writes a poem to a passenger. To celebrate National Indexing Day on 29 March 2018, you’ll meet indexer and crossword creator Denise Sutherland. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allison Tait’s ‘The Book of Answers’ is nearly here! HarperCollins announces a new fiction prize for Australian writers. We share tips for kicking out a first draft fast. Find out more about the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. And meet true crime author Campbell McConachie. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover 10 ways to become a more productive writer and tips on how to be a successful freelancer. Our word of the week comes from the back of a toilet door! We have 10 movie vouchers to giveaway. Plus, you’ll meet publishing consultant and self-publishing expert Joel Naoum.  Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com 

Discover common plot holes and how to fix them. Val and Al discuss the art of the paragraph. We are giving away the opportunity to become a master dream interpreter with ’The Dream Handbook’. Plus, you’ll meet Eliza Henry-Jones, author of ‘P is for Pearl’. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to turn your story ideas into amazing stories and how writers organise their personal libraries. We have 3 copies of 'Quark's Academy' by Catherine Pelosi to giveaway. Plus: meet Sally Hepworth, author of ‘The Family Next Door’. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new project that hopes to have you fall in love with books at the first chapter. How to write for yourself when you write for a living and should you show a first draft to your agent? Plus: meet children’s author Catherine Pelosi. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to find your fiction writer’s voice when you’ve been working as a journalist. Allison Tait’s tips for author blogging and how one writer won $125,000 in a literary prize. A budget airline is running a rather quirky poetry competition. Plus: you’ll meet Jack Heath, bestselling author of ‘The Hangman’. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We go behind the scenes of ‘The Woman Who Fooled the World: Belle Gibson’s Cancer Con’ by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. Plus, there are 3 copies of 'Rooms with a View: The Secret Life of Grand Hotels' by Adrian Mourby to be won. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com 

We made the list for best websites for writers in 2018! Hear some of our favourite freelance writing tips, and polish up your manuscript because the Text Prize for young adult and children’s writing is now open! We also have a two-book pack of rural fiction to give away. Discover ‘The Written World’ by Martin Puchner and much more. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com 

Valerie and Allison discuss 10 writing tips from some of their favourite interviews with authors. We have 10 double passes to The Commuter starring Liam Neeson to give away, learn the origin of “to make no bones”, and much more.  Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com 

What name was given to Ice Age fossils found in an LA subway? 3 ways to uncover your character’s true motivation. What does it really mean to be a best-selling author? Go in the draw to win our 12 books of Christmas. Authors you should follow on social media and travel writer Sue White reveals how you can write travel articles without leaving your home town. Read the show notes.  Email Valerie and Allison podcast@writerscentre.com.au. WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An AWC graduate is on the Indie Book Awards Longlist! We answer what is middle grade fiction and how do you know when your manuscript is finished? Discover your chance to win ‘Dogs with Jobs’ by Laura Greaves. And meet Brett Battles, who is earning more than six figures through his indie novels.  Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com

Discover how to write a great police procedural and why even new writers need author bios. We send out freelance writer Nat to uncover the curious business of naming colours. We're giving away a signed copy of Tom Hanks’ ‘Uncommon Type’. And meet AWC graduate and crime thriller novelist Sarah Bailey. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why you should enter literary prizes and 3 questions Allison Tait has never been asked. Scrivener gets a huge update and Annie Proulx gives a truly great speech at the National Book Awards. Discover your chance to win ‘Uncommon Type’ signed by Tom Hanks. And meet Jackie French, author of over 200 books.  Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how to write your second book and 5 ways to start your story that aren’t boring. Learn how an underdog author has been nominated for a prestigious literary prize. And meet children’s author Lesley Gibbes. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tips for how to pick the perfect book title. Plus: how you can promote your book and build a mailing list, even before your book is published. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why NaNoWriMo is a great time to draft your novel. Discover a site dedicated to discounted ebook deals and perks. British author Ian Rankin says crime writing is dead. Should unpublished authors have a website? And meet Lexi Landsman, author of ‘The Perfect Couple’. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to find time to write during NaNoWriMo. Enter this new critic award, and discover 10 books that were written on a bet. Meet bestseller Deborah Rodriguez, author of ‘The Zanzibar Wife’. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com

‘The Book of Secrets’ is featured in the Kids’ Reading Guide! Discover how to write authentic American dialogue. What you need to do to become a full time freelance writer. A creative writing fellowship at Stanford is up for grabs! Plus, you’ll meet Jaclyn Moriarty, author of ‘The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone’ and much more.  Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com