Word of the week: Stentorian
Stentorian (adjective) “Do you know what stentorian means? It actually comes from Greek mythology. A stentor was a herald with a loud voice. So the word
Ep 117 Meet Nova Weetman, author of ‘The Secrets We Keep’
In Episode 117 of So you want to be a writer: A new documentary on the romance writing industry, scientists discover what causes writer’s block and seven
Q&A: Harry Potter and the Protagonist’s Stone
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
Word of the week: Bombastic
Bombastic (adjective) “I know it sounds like an explosion, but actually ‘bombast’ is an old word meaning material used for padding. These days, it often
Isabelle Li talks “A Chinese Affair”
This week, we’re chatting with writer Isabelle Li – author of A Chinese Affair. So, tell us Isabelle, for those who haven’t read your book,
Q&A: Among vs Amid
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
Ep 116 Meet Kimberly McCreight, bestselling author of ‘The Outliers’
In Episode 116 of So you want to be a writer: A book of tweets from writers who should be working on their novels and a history
Words of the week: Predilection and Propensity
Predilection and Propensity (noun) “Predilection is almost the same as preference. So you have a predilection for wearing black. Or a predilection for peanut butter
Author Rajith Savanadasa is in “Ruins”
Hot off the press is the first novel from Australian author Rajith Savanadasa, Ruins. “A stunning debut novel from a fresh voice in Australian fiction,
Ep 115 Meet journalist Jennifer Hansen, author of ‘Making Headlines’
In Episode 115 of So you want to be a writer: Five entrepreneurial tips for authors who want to up their game and an English teacher’s hip
Q&A: A matter of principle
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
COMP CLOSED: Win our “fabulous five” book pack!
Throughout the month of July, we have another book pack up for grabs. We’ve curated five fabulous female authors’ books and bundled them together with
Word of the week: Soporific
Soporific (adjective) “I love this word. According to the Macquarie Dictionary, it means ‘causing or tending to cause sleep’. So you might say that someone’s
Ep 114 Meet graphic novelist Shane W Smith, author of ‘Undad’
In Episode 114 of So you want to be a writer: Discover which author broke through after four flops and the author afraid to listen to her
Q&A: What does MOOT actually mean?
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
COMP CLOSED: Win “The Natural Way of Things” and Dendy Direct gift card
Thanks to our friends over at Dendy Direct, we have FIVE prizes to send to happy homes this week. Each contains a copy of Charlotte
Word of the week: Nicotine
Before this week’s word, a special mention to the Build Your Author Platform graduate Facebook group, who each week have been trying their best to
Q&A: Pronunciation vs Enunciation vs Elocution
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
What we’re reading this month – June 2016
Each month, we share what we’re reading – fiction or nonfiction. (And you can do the same – details at the end of this post.)
Q&A: Understanding bullet lists
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
Ep 113 Meet author Belinda Murrell, writer of ‘The Lost Sapphire’
In Episode 113 of So you want to be a writer: What was the defining moment that made you become a writer? Find out why women are
Using crowdfunding with Unbound to get your novel published
Guest post by Claire Scobie This a story about how I’m using crowdfunding to get my novel The Pagoda Tree published in the UK. I’m
Word of the week: Milquetoast
Milquetoast (noun) “I first heard this word when my friend referred to someone by saying: “She’s milquetoast”. At first, I thought she was saying milk
He’s written the “Perfect” picture book…
Children’s book author Danny Parker (also one of our fabulous AWC presenters) recently made the shortlist of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of
Word of the week: Stentorian
Stentorian (adjective) “Do you know what stentorian means? It actually comes from Greek mythology. A stentor was a herald with a loud voice. So the word stentorian is used to describe a loud voice or sound. So you might say that when Darth Vader was angry he expressed this in stentorian
Ep 117 Meet Nova Weetman, author of ‘The Secrets We Keep’
In Episode 117 of So you want to be a writer: A new documentary on the romance writing industry, scientists discover what causes writer’s block and seven ways to make yourself a better editor. Scrivener fans rejoice: Scrivener is now on iOS. Plus: discover what editors look for on an opening page,
Q&A: Harry Potter and the Protagonist’s Stone
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 casting a protagonist spell…
Word of the week: Bombastic
Bombastic (adjective) “I know it sounds like an explosion, but actually ‘bombast’ is an old word meaning material used for padding. These days, it often refers to pompous speech. Like ‘he had a bombastic way of talking’.” And to hear Valerie and Allison chat more about this and more on
Isabelle Li talks “A Chinese Affair”
This week, we’re chatting with writer Isabelle Li – author of A Chinese Affair. So, tell us Isabelle, for those who haven’t read your book, what’s it about? “A Chinese Affair consists of 16 short stories, exploring the experience of recent Chinese migration to Australia – what it means to
Q&A: Among vs Amid
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 amid the action… Q:
Ep 116 Meet Kimberly McCreight, bestselling author of ‘The Outliers’
In Episode 116 of So you want to be a writer: A book of tweets from writers who should be working on their novels and a history of wordprocessing! Discover some commonly misused words. We ask why do romance authors get a bad rap? Meet Kimberly McCreight, bestselling author of The Outliers.
Words of the week: Predilection and Propensity
Predilection and Propensity (noun) “Predilection is almost the same as preference. So you have a predilection for wearing black. Or a predilection for peanut butter on Cruskits. Propensity, on the other hand, is an inclination or tendency. Like someone might have a propensity to blame people for his mistakes. Or
Author Rajith Savanadasa is in “Ruins”
Hot off the press is the first novel from Australian author Rajith Savanadasa, Ruins. “A stunning debut novel from a fresh voice in Australian fiction, for fans of Zadie Smith and Rohinton Mistry,” says the press for this one. So we asked around and tracked him down to answer a
Ep 115 Meet journalist Jennifer Hansen, author of ‘Making Headlines’
In Episode 115 of So you want to be a writer: Five entrepreneurial tips for authors who want to up their game and an English teacher’s hip hop curriculum is encouraging appreciation of literature. Discover the art of video game writing and and some tips on querying agents and publishers. Wow your
Q&A: A matter of principle
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, it’s a matter of principle…
COMP CLOSED: Win our “fabulous five” book pack!
Throughout the month of July, we have another book pack up for grabs. We’ve curated five fabulous female authors’ books and bundled them together with some twine for one lucky winner! The books in this “fab five” pack are: The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende Rosetta by Alexandra Joel A
Word of the week: Soporific
Soporific (adjective) “I love this word. According to the Macquarie Dictionary, it means ‘causing or tending to cause sleep’. So you might say that someone’s voice is soporific. Or a particularly boring television show is soporific. Or, for me, listening to my cat purr late at night while he’s cuddling
Ep 114 Meet graphic novelist Shane W Smith, author of ‘Undad’
In Episode 114 of So you want to be a writer: Discover which author broke through after four flops and the author afraid to listen to her own audiobook. We discuss if cursive writing is now obsolete and more reasons to sometimes write by hand. Impress (or tire) your friends with the
Q&A: What does MOOT actually mean?
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, our moot is on point…
COMP CLOSED: Win “The Natural Way of Things” and Dendy Direct gift card
Thanks to our friends over at Dendy Direct, we have FIVE prizes to send to happy homes this week. Each contains a copy of Charlotte Wood’s The Natural Way of Things plus a $10 Dendy Direct gift card to watch Charlotte’s favourite films, and other new release movies and TV! This
Word of the week: Nicotine
Before this week’s word, a special mention to the Build Your Author Platform graduate Facebook group, who each week have been trying their best to incorporate Valerie’s word of the week (mentioned on podcast and here) into something they write that week. Some very creative uses so far! Nicotine (noun)
Q&A: Pronunciation vs Enunciation vs Elocution
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 charged up as we
What we’re reading this month – June 2016
Each month, we share what we’re reading – fiction or nonfiction. (And you can do the same – details at the end of this post.) Here’s what some of us at AWC have been reading in June: Bec: Memories of Silk and Straw: A Self-Portrait of Small-Town Japan by
Q&A: Understanding bullet lists
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, it’s time to bite the
Ep 113 Meet author Belinda Murrell, writer of ‘The Lost Sapphire’
In Episode 113 of So you want to be a writer: What was the defining moment that made you become a writer? Find out why women are killing it in crime writing and the reason why essay writing services are booming. Impress your friends with the origin of the word ‘nicotine’. Meet
Using crowdfunding with Unbound to get your novel published
Guest post by Claire Scobie This a story about how I’m using crowdfunding to get my novel The Pagoda Tree published in the UK. I’m using Unbound, a UK publishing model with a distinguished past. Once known as “subscription publishing”, in 1688 the first edition of Milton’s Paradise Lost was
Word of the week: Milquetoast
Milquetoast (noun) “I first heard this word when my friend referred to someone by saying: “She’s milquetoast”. At first, I thought she was saying milk (as in the white stuff you drink) and “toast” and was thinking it was some kind of breakfast thing! But it’s milquetoast and it means
He’s written the “Perfect” picture book…
Children’s book author Danny Parker (also one of our fabulous AWC presenters) recently made the shortlist of the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Awards 2016 as well as last month’s Australian Book Industry Awards shortlist – for his picture book, titled Perfect. With the book set
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