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Artwork for So You Want to be a Writer

So You Want to be a Writer

Australian Writers' Centre
Picture Books
Seed To Sky: Life In the Daintree
Children's Literature
Australian Writers' Centre
Memoir Writing
Suddenly Single At Sixty
The Beehive
Australian Writers’ Centre
The Story Thief
Writing Process
Romance Fraud
The Kindness Project
Raising Readers
Daintree Rainforest
Smoke
Richell Prize
The Drover's Wife
DNA Testing
Character Development
Suspense Writing

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes707Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksHow ToArtsEducation

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Artwork for So You Want to be a Writer

Latest Episodes

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that’s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell – and in her new... more

What’s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it’s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that’s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad – exploring some of the ... more

We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this e... more

The cosy crime genre has exploded in recent years, with older protagonists featuring heavily (they tend to have more time on their hands for solving mysteries, you see). But what happens when your older protagonist has a murderous past? That’s the hi... more

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Recent Guests

Sheryl Bagwell
Walkley Award-winning journalist, commentator and broadcaster
Former Europe Correspondent for Australian Financial Review; ABC Radio
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 707: Sheryle Bagwell on writing 'Letter from Provence'
Alex Johnson
Writer, journalist, online editor for Fine Books and Collections magazine; author of When Books Go Bad
Fine Books and Collections; Eidler magazine
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 706: Alex Johnson explores 'When Books Go Bad'
Sam Elliott
Australian author and interviewer, founder of the Right Way Podcast, and debut author of the crime thriller 'Haze'.
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 705: Sam Elliott and his debut crime/thriller novel, 'Haze'
Fergus Craig
Multi award-winning actor, comedian, and writer, author of 'I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home'.
Author
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'
Molly O'Neill
Fantasy author and engineering geologist
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak'
Souvankham Thammavongsa
Award-winning Laotian-Canadian poet and author
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 702: Souvankham Thammavongsa and her award-winning 'Pick a Colour'
Emma Pei Yin
An Australian Chinese writer, editor, and founder of an agency supporting marginalized voices.
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 701: Emma Pei Yin discusses her wartime novel, 'When Sleeping Women Wake'
William J. Byrne
Debut author of historical novel 'The Warrumbar'
UWA Publishing
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 699: William J. Byrne and his historical novel, 'The Warrumbar'
Emma Sloley
Author of 'The Island of Last Things', and has published in journals like Literary Hub.
Self-published author
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 698: Emma Sloley welcomes you to 'The Island of Last Things'

Hosts

Valerie Khoo
Host of the show and CEO of the Australian Writers' Centre.
Allison Tait
Co-host of So You Want to Be a Writer.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 529 ratings
  • Fantastic

    I am not a huge podcast listener but have been converted listening to both the new and previous episodes. Thank you for such a content rich, interesting series - I love listening and what I am learning is helping me on my writer’s journey.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1234567890987654321556
    Australiaa year ago
  • Just Found You Now, Love You Forever

    OMG, Val and Al, I’ve only just found your wonderful podcast now, through my second AWC course I’m currently doing. The courses are fabulous, and your podcast is NEXT LEVEL! The generosity of your guests! I started with Wendy Orr, then skipped to Petronella McGovern, who gave us a masterclass in Page-Turning-writing! Thank you all so much for feeding my writing-soul. Well, must dash, there’s a LIFETIME of interviews to binge on!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AussieBarbs
    Australia2 years ago
  • Authentic and relatable

    I absolutely love the authenticity from which Valerie leads her episodes and guides guests through relatable exchanges. New topics (like romance fraud) and interesting conversations helps light the spark that anything is possible. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Claudia-Sam
    Canada2 years ago
  • Thank you

    You ask the real questions that make this podcast always surprising and informative as a writer, there’s always a little nugget of insight, thanks Val

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annika JJ
    Australia3 years ago
  • Indispensable Resource for Writers

    I’ve been listening to this amazing podcast for almost 2 years. Listening to other writers makes me feel like I’m part of the club: the invisible “writer’s club”.

    Somehow, I’m allowed to vicariously live through the experiences of other writers. I share in their struggle and successes. And most importantly, I get to learn from their mistakes, which helps me to make less of my own.

    Thank you “So You Want to be a Writer” podcast!

    Sylvia Dziuba

    Australian Author

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CiciaMisiu
    Australia3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the warm, engaging host duo and practical writing tips.
Guests are varied and high-quality, offering actionable takeaways for writers.
Episodes are informative and entertaining, with a good balance of craft, publishing insight, and personal storytelling.
Show builds a strong sense of community among writers and readers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#58
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#165
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#22
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#71
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#146
Hong Kong/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#206
Brazil/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Writing Podcast Episode 706: Alex Johnson explores 'When Books Go Bad'
Q: What was the genesis for this particular topic and why now?
Johnson explains that the British Library connection sparked the project, aiming to bring together varied anecdotes into an accessible, entertaining, and readable book about authors behaving badly and the production side of books.
Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'
Q: What advice would you give for aspiring writers, particularly in comedy?
Fergus suggests focusing on writing what you find funny and getting audience feedback to understand what works.
Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'
Q: How does the writing process differ for you between comedy and murder mysteries?
Fergus noted that writing comedy involves a lot of pressure for jokes, while writing cosy mysteries gives a structured plot that allows for deeper character exploration.
Writing Podcast Episode 704: Fergus Craig discusses 'I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home'
Q: What inspired you to write your latest book?
Fergus Craig decided to explore the cosy crime genre by introducing a retired serial killer protagonist, Carol Quinn, to create a fun narrative bent.
Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak'
Q: What advice would you give to writers when they want to make changes during the writing process?
Don't go back and edit, just make a note of the changes and keep moving forward in your writing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About So You Want to be a Writer

What is So You Want to be a Writer about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, writer-focused show that centers interviews with authors across genres, plus episodic insights into craft, publishing, and the writing life. Episodes mix deep dives into a book's development with behind-the-scenes process tips, writing techniques, and community resources that help aspiring writers move from idea to publication. A standout trait is the host pair's warm, conversational style and consistent emphasis on actionable takeaways, plus regular discussions of writing routines, publishing pathways, and industry trends. The format often includes a structured demystification of craft (e.g., plotting, pacing, character development) and a supportive community angle that appeals to emerging writers seeking guidance, motivation,... more

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Which podcasts are similar to So You Want to be a Writer?

These podcasts share a similar audience with So You Want to be a Writer:

1. Writes4Women
2. The Book Deal
3. Conversations
4. Mamamia Out Loud
5. The Imperfects

How many episodes of So You Want to be a Writer are there?

So You Want to be a Writer launched 12 years ago and published 707 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on So You Want to be a Writer?

Recent guests on So You Want to be a Writer include:

1. Sheryl Bagwell
2. Alex Johnson
3. Sam Elliott
4. Fergus Craig
5. Molly O'Neill
6. Souvankham Thammavongsa
7. Emma Pei Yin
8. William J. Byrne

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