I’m going to be upfront with you – I’ve stolen the title of this post. Fortunately, I’ve, er, borrowed it from Bernadette Schwerdt, head copywriting tutor at the Australian Writers’ Centre, and, in particular, episode 30 of her So You Want To Be A Copywriter podcast. I’m pretty sure she
Attention Australian crime and mystery writers! The 30th Scarlet Stiletto Awards are now open. Here are the details from the Sisters in Crime website: Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards for best short crime and mystery stories turn 30 this year and are offering a record $12,720 in prizes. The
Megan White loved to write during high school and university, but always in a wishful way. It was only after taking the course Creative Writing Stage 1 that she realised she could take her love of fiction further.
“Creative Writing Stage 1 taught me how to write a scene which instantly changed the way I looked at writing,” Megan told us. “Having a little knowledge in craft meant I could begin to take writing a little more seriously. It meant that becoming a writer felt more attainable as something you could learn and practice and less about being a natural prodigy.”
“What are you reading on Substack?” If I had $1 for every time someone has asked me this question over the past few weeks, I’d be able to buy myself a nice long lunch somewhere fancy. Even Valerie Khoo and I were trading recommendations just a day or two ago.
Meet Tim Ayliffe, author Killer Traitor Spy. Tim is also Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News and the former Executive Producer of News Breakfast. Tim also spoke exclusively to our Write Your Novel and Edit Your Novel students as part of our Industry Author Event series. Also:
Have you ever wondered whether your BnB hosts snoop through your belongings? This week’s giveaway gives us an insight into the mind of an obsessive BnB host who likes to get to know her guests a little too well. We have three copies of The Guest Room by Tasha Sylva
Deciding to write picture books was literally a lightbulb moment for media and communications manager Claire Thompson. Each time she put her newborn baby in the carseat, the interior lights flashed on, so Claire and her four-year-old invented a story about a magic baby. She immediately realised she wanted to write a children’s book and enrolled in the course Writing Picture Books a few days later.
Fiona Lloyd had assumed her creative writing aspirations were nothing but a childhood dream. But after deciding to reconnect to that former love, she threw herself into the writing community, attending writing events and completing the course Plotting and Planning at the Australian Writers’ Centre. Fiona’s debut middle grade novel Being Jimmy Baxter has now been published by Puffin (Penguin Random House Australia).
Meet Anthony McCarten, author of Going Zero. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards. What word count is normal for a writer? And win Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite
Tessa Bailey is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author and she’s back with another hilarious premise – a sham marriage for money brings Natalie and August together, but could their union be about more than that? You have the chance to find out because we’re giving away three copies
Welcome to June’s Furious Fiction story showcase – our monthly fiesta of 500-words-or-fewer fiction fabulousness! Most importantly, it’s a chance to shout out our community’s creativity and the opportunity to have YOUR OWN story featured or acknowledged. So, without further ado, let’s remind ourselves of what June’s criteria were: To
You may have heard authors, particularly authors of book series, talk about their ‘bible’ when discussing their writing process. And no doubt you realised they were talking about the notebook or document that helped them to keep track of characters, relationships, settings and other important information in their book or
Racquel Collard was at the peak of her career in marketing but felt that she needed a new challenge. The next natural step was a CEO role, but that didn’t feel like the right fit for her, so instead Racquel decided to write a book. She completed Write a Book That Showcases Your Expertise with the Australian Writers’ Centre and, with the publication of her debut, Marketing Launchpad, has now left the corporate rat race behind and embarked on a new career.
Meet Carolyn Swindell, author of We Only Want What’s Best. What are eggcorns and what have they got to do with words? Win Feast by Emily O’Grady. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.
Set in an atmospheric Scottish manor, this week’s giveaway is a recipe for tension and drama – a dysfunctional family and dark secrets being brought to light. Things just aren’t always as they seem… We’re giving away three copies of Feast by Emily O’Grady. Here’s the blurb: Alison is an
Attention, Copywriters! We need to address the elephant in the room: procrastination. It hinders productivity, stifles creativity and creates stress. And of course, the longer we leave it, the harder is gets to start and that creates even more stress. Meanwhile time is ticking, the deadline is looming and you
Meet Stephanie Bishop, author of The Anniversary. Understanding essential tropes in romance writing. Do you write drabble? And more. Also win Broken Bay by Margaret Hickey. You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app. Links
Do you love a new writing book as much as I do? Even after co-writing my own book about writing (‘So You Want To Be A Writer: How To Get Started While You Still Have A Day Job’), I find myself adding new writing books to my shopping cart way
Sometimes the most beautiful places can be home to the darkest secrets. A dead cave diver, family rivalry, small town secrets and beautiful Australian landscapes – this week’s giveaway has it all. We have three copies of Broken Bay by Margaret Hickey to give away. Here’s the blurb: Old loyalties
Proofreading is an art, a science and a challenge. At first glance, it’s a simple proposition. Read your manuscript to ensure there are no mistakes before you send it off to be submitted or published. But, as any experienced proofreader will tell you, there are pitfalls along the way. For
Connect with us
© Australian Writers' Centre | FAQs | Terms, conditions & privacy policy
