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So You Want to be a Writer

Australian Writers' Centre
Australian Writers' Centre
Writing
Children's Literature
Creative Writing
Writing Process
Memoir Writing
Publishing
Picture Books
Historical Fiction
Writing Community
Character Development
True Crime
Personal Storytelling
Writing Courses
Covid-19
Creative Writing Stage 1 Course
Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You
Homelessness
The Borrowed Life Of Frederick Fife
Picture Book 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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes714Founded12 years ago
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Artwork for So You Want to be a Writer

Latest Episodes

Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a ... more

Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp’s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some... more

Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And ‘What Rhymes with Murder?’ – the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey’s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library’s story time! In this epi... more

Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the p... more

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Recent Guests

George Kemp
Writer, actor and theatre maker; producer of New Writing and Artist Development at the Australian Theatre for Young People
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Penny Tangey
Writer in Residence, author of What Rhymes with Murder?
Simon and Schuster (Summit Books imprint)
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'
Nat Newman
Creative Writing Tutor
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'
Emma Styles
Author of The Shark
Sphere (publisher)
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 711: Emma Styles dives into her new crime thriller, 'The Shark'
Candice Fox
Australia's leading crime author, Ned Kelly Award winner, co-author of nine New York Times bestsellers
Self-employed writer/author
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 710: Candice Fox and the cold case that inspired 'Redbelly Crossing'
Derek Pedley
Australian author and journalist; writer of The Postcard Bandit/Australian Outlaw biography
Author, Journalist
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 709: Derek Pedley shares his true crime story 'The Postcard Bandit'
Ian Kemish
Former Australian diplomat and ambassador, writer
Independent author of Two Islands
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 708: Former ambassador Ian Kemish and his novel, 'Two Islands'
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'

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
#33
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#107
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#165
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
Hong Kong/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Q: What writing tip would you give our listeners?
Just write. A blank page is the scariest part, but a bad first draft is part of the process; you can always revise and improve it in subsequent drafts.
Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Q: What was the publishing journey like?
After writing the draft, I signed with an agent, and through a friend's connection, the manuscript went to UQP, where it was enthusiastically picked up and then refined through an editor-led process, turning it into the published novel.
Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Q: How did your theatre background influence the writing of Soft Serve?
The emphasis on dialogue, rhythm, and beats came from theatre; even though the book has less dialogue, the timing and the way moments are constructed mirror acting skills and dramaturgy.
Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Q: Why did you decide to write as a novel instead of a script?
I wanted to explore interiority and multiple points of view, which suit a novel's breadth better; the book is structured around a day with six POVs and includes flashbacks, something difficult to achieve on stage.
Writing Podcast Episode 713: George Kemp dishes up his debut novel, 'Soft Serve'
Q: Let's start with your current novel, Soft Serve. What is this book about?
Soft Serve follows a group of people in a regional town who meet annually at a McDonald's to remember their friend who died, weaving grief with a subtle queer love story, and highlighting the tension between everyday life and deeper reckonings.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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. The Book Show
2. The Bookshelf
3. Writes4Women
4. The Book Deal
5. Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

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 714 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. George Kemp
2. Penny Tangey
3. Nat Newman
4. Emma Styles
5. Candice Fox
6. Derek Pedley
7. Ian Kemish
8. Sheryl Bagwell

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