Rephonic
Artwork for So You Want to be a Writer

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
Picture Book Writing
The Borrowed Life Of Frederick Fife

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes717Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksEducationArtsHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for So You Want to be a Writer

Latest Episodes

OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins’ debut novel, When the Party’s Over! In so many ways, it’s the PERFECT book – nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginne... more

Australian bestselling crime author Sarah Barrie has a dozen books to her name, with her latest standalone thriller Dark Sanctuary, exploring the nuanced world of mental health support, prisons and more. In this episode, Sarah shares the serendipitou... more

British writer and librarian India-Rose Bower’s folk horror debut novel, We Call Them Witches explores the concept of ‘eldritch’ creatures in a surreal post-apocalyptic world. In this episode, India-Rose discusses her surprising inspirations for the ... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Writer's Routine
Writer's RoutineDan Simpson
The Book Show
The Book ShowABC Australia
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia GillardA Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
Conversations
ConversationsABC Australia

Recent Guests

Sarah Barrie
Bestselling crime author known for the Lexi Winter series and Dark Sanctuary
Self-contained author, Crime fiction
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'
India-Rose Bower
Author of We Call Them Witches
British writer and librarian
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 715: India-Rose Bower’s folk horror novel, 'We Call Them Witches'
Tina Strong
Australian children's author and wildlife conservationist
Wilder Zoo series / HarperCollins
Episode: Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series
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'

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
    Australia2 years 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
#27
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#49
Spain/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#105
Spain/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#153
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#155
Hong Kong/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Writing Podcast Episode 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'
Q: Where did the seed for Dark Sanctuary first appear?
Barrie describes drawing inspiration from a real treatment of domestic violence and her interest in nature-versus-nurture dynamics, which evolved into a multi-POV story about a mother, a detective, and a podcaster, grounding the thriller in psychological realism.
Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series
Q: How did the publishing journey unfold with HarperCollins?
After winning the competition and meeting with a HarperCollins editor (Lisa Berryman) via a judge's option, Tina was asked to submit sample chapters. The editor loved them, acquisitions approved, and a three-book deal followed, marking a dream-come-true moment and a shift from aspiration to publication.
Writing Podcast Episode 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series
Q: What was the turning point that got you writing seriously and pursuing publication?
The turning point came during maternity leave when Tina carved out a regular writing hour, rediscovered her love for storytelling, and eventually produced the manuscript that won the CYA competition; this led to a conversation with HarperCollins and a path toward a publishing deal.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for So You Want to be a Writer?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for So You Want to be a Writer. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to So You Want to be a Writer and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does So You Want to be a Writer get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for So You Want to be a Writer, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for So You Want to be a Writer?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for So You Want to be a Writer, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does So You Want to be a Writer have?

To see how many followers or subscribers So You Want to be a Writer has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Writer's Routine
2. Wild with Sarah Wilson
3. The Book Show
4. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
5. Conversations

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 717 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact So You Want to be a Writer?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for So You Want to be a Writer?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for So You Want to be a Writer from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for So You Want to be a Writer?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of So You Want to be a Writer. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

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

1. Sarah Barrie
2. India-Rose Bower
3. Tina Strong
4. George Kemp
5. Penny Tangey
6. Nat Newman
7. Emma Styles
8. Candice Fox

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days