I’ve always maintained that talking about writing is at least as much fun – if not more – than actually writing. Which is probably why I am SO excited about my new writing podcast, a joint venture with the fabulous Valerie Khoo from The Australian Writers’ Centre.
When we talk (and we talk often), Val and I tend to talk about writing. A lot. So we decided we’d formalise the arrangement and create ‘So You Want To Be A Writer’, our new podcast.
We talk about news and reviews and writing books and links. We share tips and insights and things we’ve learned along the way during our writing careers. And we interview people who know about writing.
Episode 1 features Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project, talking about writing novels and writing screenplays, with some terrific tips about characters and dialogue.
For Episode 2, our Writer in Residence is Fleur McDonald, one of Australia’s most popular authors, whose fifth book, Crimson Dawn, has gone into reprint before it’s even gone on sale.
Future episodes will feature more fabulous authors, publishers, agents, editors and other industry types. It’s your ticket to the inner workings of the writing world!
I really hope you’ll have a listen, and let me know what you think! And if you have any burning questions, let me know and we’ll do our best to answer them in future episodes.
You’ll find the podcast on iTunes right here, or you can listen to Episode One here, and read a transcript of the featured interview.
[image: Thanks to Katie Rivers Photography for the cover artwork head shot!]
Hi Allison, I’m new to podcast and just wanted to send some appreciation your way. I love it and look forward to catching up on past episodes. Well done 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Allison,
I am really enjoying your podcast and all the juicy, relevant advice you provide. I have a question for a future show : how do you go about choosing who reads your first draft? I am in the position of needing some serious feedback on my books and at first I have tended to pick ‘nice’ people who I know will be gentle with any criticism. However now I feel I should steel myself for a bit of tough love! How many people should I seek out? What kinds? Do I provide a questionnaire for them or just keep it to a chat over coffee. Basically, how do I eek out the best feed back.
Sorry if you have already covered this previously. I only started listening about 10 episodes ago although I am slowly making my way through the back catalog!
Kind regards Renee Mihulka
Ps just finished book 1 of your Map Maker Chronicles series and really enjoyed it. It is nice to see an adventure book for that age that is not too over the top eg action! action! (oh my god we are going to die! We need to save the world!) action! action!
It’s nice to see some substance and character development too!
Hi Renee, thanks for your query – listen out for the answer on this week’s podcast. A
Hi Allison,
I am really enjoying your podcast and all the juicy, relevant advice you provide. I have a question for a future show : how do you go about choosing who reads your first draft? I am in the position of needing some serious feedback on my books and at first I have tended to pick ‘nice’ people who I know will be gentle with any criticism. However now I feel I should steel myself for a bit of tough love! How many people should I seek out? What kinds? Do I provide a questionnaire for them or just keep it to a chat over coffee. How do I eek out the best fee sick?
Hi Guys,
It makes me laugh when you claim to be the “Leading” Australian writing podcast – That’s a bit cheeky – you have the ONLY Australian Writing Podcast that I can find. Nice bit of marketing puffery. Incidently, the American voice-over at the beginning is incredibly annoying on an AUSTRALIAN writing podcast.
Thanks for the comment. We are by no means the only writing podcast – the Wheeler Centre, the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the National Library, and many others have writing podcasts, but we are lucky enough to be sitting at #1 for Literature podcasts at present, so we’re happy to claim the ‘leading’ title. Which is not to say we’re beyond a bit of cheek… Sorry that you don’t like our Guy Smiley-style intro. We decided we’d try him out, we haven’t decided if we’ll keep him, so we’ll take your feedback on board. Thanks for listening and taking the time to let us know your thoughts!
Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I’m halfway through editing my first novel and your podcast has been amazing. I just finished episode 2 and the interview about ‘rural fiction’ really got me excited, I didn’t even know such a label existed (and I seem to be writing in it!) It’s lovely to hear some Aussie accents for once. I listen to a lot of writing podcasts to help me stay motivated and they’re almost always by American men so this is so so nice. Thanks for the podcast!
Thanks Jess – so glad you’re enjoying it!
I love the podcast!!! It’s really inspiring and fun to listen to so please keep up the great podcasts!
Thanks for the feedback Katrina!
Can’t wait to hear them all!!
Hi Allison,
Just discovered you through your new podcast with Valerie as I get the Writers Centre’s Newsletters. You are an inspiration! You mentioned a blog about writing you follow air gram? I can’t seem to find it? Could you let me know what it is?
Hi Nicole, lovely to meet you! The blog is Aerogramme Writers’ Studio and it’s here: http://aerogrammestudio.com/
Awesome!
Hooray! -subscribes-