Category: Fiction writing

A pile of four notebooks with crimson thread and golden scissors resting on top, and two copies of Kate Forstyh’s The Crimson Thread
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Inside the notebooks of bestselling author Kate Forsyth

By Valerie Khoo. Bestselling author Kate Forsyth has written 48 books, across all age groups and many genres. She is published in 20 countries and her most recent book is The Crimson Thread, a reimagining of ‘The Minotaur in the Labyrinth’ myth, set in Crete during the Nazi invasion and

Read More »
Build your profile and promote your book
Australian Writers' Centre Team

What to do after attending a writers’ festival

Even after a writers’ festival, smart writers know there’s still plenty of chances to build relationships with the writers, publishers, and friends they met at the event. Australian Writers’ Centre CEO and podcast host Valerie Khoo shares the quick steps you can take to build on your festival experience.

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Video: Pamela Hart on her cosy mystery, ‘An A-List For Death’

Pamela Hart is an award-winning, best-selling author of more than 40 books and novellas, plus short stories and scripts. Her novel, An A-List for Death, is the second book in the Poppy McGowan mystery series, and she’s published regency romances, historical novels, and (as Pamela Freeman) multi-award winning picture books

Read More »
A woman’s hands holding an open book with the words “BEST SELLER” in large red font.
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

What does it take to create a bestselling novel?

By Allison Tait. Every author, whether aspiring or emerging or established, dreams of writing a bestseller. A book that will rocket up the sales charts, whether propelled by word of mouth or prize-winning status, dragging its writer behind it into a dream life of champagne and literary lunches. Whether the

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

3 ​​ways beta readers can improve your manuscript

By Angela Slatter. In your travels as a new writer, you’ve probably heard the term ‘beta reader’ but you might not quite know what that means. So, what’s a beta reader? A beta reader is someone who reads through your completed manuscript and gives their feedback. So, not just someone

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Tips for introverts going to a writer’s festival

Overwhelmed by the crowds and bustle of your local writers’ festival? Breaking out in a cold sweat at the very thought of making connections when you don’t know anybody there? If that describes you, fellow introvert (and Australian Writers Centre CEO) Valerie Khoo offers some great tips for meeting new

Read More »
A wooden desk with a plant, coffee, glasses, notebook, and hands typing on a laptop with the screen showing ‘Landing Page’.
Build your profile and promote your book
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Why authors need landing pages – and what to put on them

By Allison Tait. When people talk about landing pages, writers seem to look the other way, assuming that landing pages are for people with, I don’t know, products to sell. The fact is, though, that if you are an author, with a book to sell, you have a product. Not

Read More »
Congratulations Australian Writers' Centre alumni & Queensland Literary Awards finalists Al Campbell & Sandhya Parappukkaran.
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Congratulations to Australian Writers’ Centre graduates in the Queensland Literary Awards

Congratulations to Al Campbell and Sandhya Parappukkaran, both Australian Writers’ Centre graduates, who are finalists in the Queensland Literary Awards 2022! Al Campbell is author of the incredible novel The Keepers. As a graduate of several Australian Writers’ Centre courses, including the Write Your Novel program, Al’s wonderful story has

Read More »
Build your profile and promote your book
Australian Writers' Centre Team

The 5 Ps on how to get the most out of a writer’s festival

What are the five Ps for making sure you have the best writers festival experience? Planning, pre-Booking, packing a lunch, remembering to make time for pleasure, and purchasing great books! Find out why these five Ps make such a difference with Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo, onsite at Sydney

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Video: Sarah Vaughan on ‘Reputation’ and ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’

Sarah Vaughan studied English at Oxford and went on to become a journalist. She spent eleven years at The Guardian as a news reporter and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her first thriller, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, translated into twenty-two languages,

Read More »
Build your profile and promote your book
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Own the fact you’re a writer in your bio

Few writers enjoy the process of writing their author bio and many succumb to the siren song of imposter syndrome and downplay their author credentials. Find out how to own the fact you’re a writer from the very first line with Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo.

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Video: Matthew Ryan Davies on ‘Things We Bury’

Matthew Ryan Davies is also the author of Things We Bury and (as Matt Davies) This Thing of Darkness, a contemporary young adult novel about guilt, grief, love and forgiveness set in modern-day Melbourne. As a manuscript, This Thing of Darkness was highly commended in the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. He’s

Read More »
Woman in scarf reading a novel with cup in hand outside and sunset in background.
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Top 7 cosy mystery series to read right now

By Valerie Khoo. In the cold weather, is anything better than curling up with a nice cosy mystery? If you’re not sure what a cosy mystery is, it’s a subgenre of crime fiction where the main character is often an amateur sleuth. There is minimal graphic violence or explicit sex

Read More »
Trophy with gold confetti on aqua background
Alumni/Student success stories
Australian Writers' Centre Team

2022 Furphy Literary Award winners and shortlist announced

The winners and shortlist of the 2022 Furphy Literary Award have been announced. Acclaimed writer and poet Cate Kennedy won the Award for her story ‘Art and Life’, with second prize awarded to Lisa Moule for ‘The Game’. And  Natalie Vella has been awarded third place for her story ‘Winter

Read More »
Build your profile and promote your book
Australian Writers' Centre Team

How to connect with publishers at a writers’ festival

What are the dos and don’ts about approaching publishers at a festival? Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo lays out the tips you need to make a good impression and find the publisher that’s the right fit for your book. 

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Video: Kelly Rimmer on her novel ‘The German Wife’

Kelly Rimmer is the author of historical and contemporary fiction, including The German Wife, The Secret Daughter, The Things We Cannot Say, and The Warsaw Orphan, with more than 2 million copies of her novels sold to date. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have appeared on bestseller

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

How to connect with other writers at a writers’ festival

Ever come home from a writers’ festival disappointed by the number of other writers you connected with? Sometimes it’s got more to do with the actions you should take before and after the event! Join Australian Writers’ Centre CEO Valerie Khoo as she offers tips for preparing before the event

Read More »
Fiction writing
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Video: Rae Cairns on ‘The Good Mother’

Rae Cairns is a former youth worker who has turned to a life of crime… writing. She is fascinated with how ordinary people manage when faced with extraordinary circumstances, and the lengths everyday characters will go when all they love is put at risk. She writes crime with heart; thriller

Read More »
Browse posts by category

Courses starting soon

×

Nice one! You've added this to your cart