Australian Writers' Centre blog

So You Want to Be a Writer fundraiser with A.L. Tait

Do you want to be a writer? Don't know where to start? Or whether you should quit your day job? Join internationally published bestselling children’s author Allison Tait, co-host of our top-rating So You Want To Be A Writer podcast, for this exciting fundraising seminar for... read more

Q&A: Addictive vs addicting

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're addicted... read more

WIN ‘Death of a Typographer’ by Nick Gadd

This week’s giveaway book is Death of a Typographer – Australian writer Nick Gadd’s second novel. Here’s a quick synopsis: In the book, we meet Martin Kern, who has a special sensitivity to fonts – a skill that he uses to solve typographical crimes. When a local printer is... read more

Q&A: Complacent vs complaisant

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 aim to... read more

Ep 317 Meet Kirsten Alexander, author of ‘Riptides’.

In Episode 317 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Kirsten Alexander, author of Riptides. Discover scientifically proven ways to beat writer's block and Allison has an exciting fundraiser announcement (and teaser for her next book). Plus, we have 3 copies of Platform Seven by Louise Doughty... read more

COMP CLOSED ‘Platform Seven’ by Louise Doughty

“Two deaths on Platform Seven. Two fatalities in eighteen months - surely they're connected?...” This week’s giveaway is a powerful new thriller from bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard, Louise Doughty. The novel is called Platform Seven and it goes a little something like this… Platform Seven at 4am... read more

12 things we’ve learnt from judging Furious Fiction

Furious Fiction has been going for two years now and that’s a lot of challenges under our proverbial belt! We love dishing up a new set of criteria each month, and as a result, a wide variety of stories have stood on the podium. On closer inspection however, there... read more

Q&A: Defuse or diffuse

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're blowing... read more

COMP CLOSED ‘Cross My Heart’ by Pamela Cook

“When a promise kept means a life is broken …” This week’s giveaway is from Australian fiction author Pamela Cook – writer of Black Wattle Lake, Essie’s Way, Close to Home and The Crossroads. We interviewed her recently in episode 315 of our podcast, and her latest novel is Cross... read more

Pamela Freeman has a whopping 9 books under contract

We already knew that AWC presenter Pamela Freeman was amazing but now we think she's stratospheric! She currently has not one, not two, not five, but NINE books under contract! Incredible. We were so impressed by this feat that we had to ask Pamela just what it means to... read more

Furphy short story competition opens 1 February 2020

Furphy might be better known in Australia as a beer.  However, the company is hosting a competition for short stories with a prize of $15,000! According to the Furphy Story website: Everyone can write at least one good story. That was the belief of J. F. Archibald, the editor... read more

AWC Newsletter: Thursday 30 January 2020

Want our newsletter emailed to you every Thursday? Sign up here! 30 January 2020   Last week, I promised you the big reveal of the 5-metre public art installation I’ve designed that’s going to be exhibited at Circular Quay in Sydney. Well, like many things that have... read more

Q&A: Firey vs fiery

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 some... read more

Award for digitally published work now open

Do you have digitally published works? Then we have a prize for you!  The Woollahra Digital Literary Award celebrates works originally published in a digital format - e.g. epub, online articles etc. And, it’s in its fourth year and going strong. There are guidelines for eligible work (it can... read more

Ep 316 Meet Sue McPherson, author of ‘Brontide’.

In Episode 316 of So You Want To Be A Writer: Meet Sue McPherson, author of Brontide. Learn why some people are calling for a boycott of the new 50 pence coin. Discover top ways you can reinvent yourself in 2020. Plus, there are three copies of Finding Chika: A... read more

COMP CLOSED ‘Finding Chika’ by Mitch Albom

This week’s giveaway is number one bestselling author Mitch Albom’s new book, Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family. Mitch is most known for the international sensation Tuesdays with Morrie. This is his first work of nonfiction in 10 years and his... read more

21 ways to reinvent yourself in the New Year

Do you wake up in the mornings feeling like you’re stuck in a rut? Are your creative projects languishing? Is life starting to feel a bit stale?  Or perhaps you’ve just been through a big life change? A new career, the end of a relationship, a move to... read more

Voices of Women Program now open for 2020

The Voices of Women Writing Competition for 2020 is now open!  Are you writing short narrative stories in the first-person voice? Join the adventure in 2020 as Voices of Women presents CLEARWAY: CREATE THE SPACE: The annual writers’ competition. Hear your own short stories performed live by amazingly powerful... read more