Are you searching for something to focus on? Tasmanian author Kate Kruimink explained that was what she was doing when she decided to write and enter her manuscript into The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award 2020. A great creative focus indeed, as Allen and Unwin have announced Kate’s A Treacherous Country the
A guest post by Vanessa McCausland I have a theory that a big part of what makes someone a writer is what writing does for us. It’s an outlet. It’s a balm. For me, writing has always been a place where I can let all my emotions out. I’ve had
A guest post by children’s book author Andrew Daddo This was meant to be a blog post along the lines of ‘5 reasons funny books are great for kids’. I think we all know the main reason, and that’s to make kids laugh. There’s a healthy by-product, another compelling reason
Join us in conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling crime author Candice Fox right here! Candice discusses her crime writing journey, from her big break into crime and thriller writing with her first novel Hades, to her latest book Gathering Dark. Candice explains how she landed a co-writing deal
Sue Whiting is one of the most prolific and best-loved Australian writers for children and young adults. She’s also one of our popular presenters at the Australian Writers’ Centre. Sue’s 2018 novel for kids, Missing, was a smash hit and she has followed it up with her latest novel, The
We’ve been providing amazing online resources and courses for writers on our website for many years now. Each week, we produce our popular podcast So you want to be a writer, our weekly newsletter is packed full of inspiration and information, our grammar Q&As answer all your niggly questions, and
Reading aloud with your kids is one of life’s most precious moments. It’s a special time to connect with your children or grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbours. There’s nothing like sitting down together to share storytime. If it’s been a while since you last had the chance to read with
Not one but two people in the AWC family have made the shortlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2020 with both Lesley Gibbes and Astrid Scholte making it on the list. AWC presenter Lesley Gibbes has been shortlisted for her gorgeous picture book Searching for Cicadas. Featuring
We hope you’ve stocked up on paper – printing paper that is – because it is time to get those manuscripts ready for submission. We’ve collated a list of 2020 manuscript awards for writers like yourself to enter and share your stories. Is your manuscript still a work-in-progress and you
Craving a creative outlet right now? We hear you. The good news is it’s easier than ever to engage your mind and fast-track your learning from the comfort of your own home. If you’re feeling inspired to focus on your writing right now – or just seeking a more productive
Calling all editors! Applications for the 2020 Residential Editorial Program hosted by the Australian Publishers Association is now open. According to the media release, the Residential Editorial Program is “an intensive 5-day program for talented mid-career editors in the Australian book industry to work with experienced mentors and speakers.” So
An exciting opportunity for children’s book authors – Berbay Publishing has opened its doors to submissions. They’re accepting chapter book and junior fiction manuscripts for consideration. According to their media release: We’d like to see contemporary narratives, with or without a touch of whimsy, and stories that inspire the imagination.
If you find yourself stuck at home, we have good news. Now is the perfect time to start an online course. You can learn a new skill without leaving the house. We live in a golden age of online learning. You can learn how to crochet on YouTube, study financial
Attention picture book writers. If you have an original picture book manuscript burning a hole in your proverbial drafts’ drawer, now’s the time to pick it up and dust it off. The 2020 Writers Unleashed Picture Book Writing Competition is now open and is offering some sweet prizes. First prize
It’s a celebration of children’s books this week as the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announced their list of Notable Books for the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. We’ll find out which books are selected for the shortlist later this year. But for now, we’re jumping for
We’re absolutely thrilled that our amazing presenter Lesley Gibbes has published another children’s book. Three Little Mermaids, which is beautifully illustrated by Lisa Stewart, is out now with Scholastic Australia. Lesley is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books for children. Her chapter book series Fizz has been
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 have
We’re only a few weeks in but this year has already been a rough ride, with so many other things to distract and deter you from your wordsmithery. So as the entrance gates to Twenty Twenty start to fade in the rear-view mirror, it’s a great time to sit up
There are few things more satisfying than completing a manuscript. And there are few things more challenging and isolating than the process of writing that manuscript! The act of writing a book is usually a lonely experience, immersing yourself deep in your story and your own mind. But you don’t
What if the only way to keep your job was to antagonise your boss? Happy 2020 everyone, and this week we have a new book from award-winning author, Elliot Perlman. It’s called Maybe the Horse Will Talk and here’s a synopsis: Stephen Maserov has problems. A one-time teacher, married to
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