So You Want to be a Writer

Fasten your seatbelts and stow those tray tables, as we interview Joe Aston about his latest book, The Chairman's Lounge – The inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out. Joe is a former Australian Financial Review columnist and he discusses his experience writing about Qantas, its CEO and the company’s public branding crisis. He also shares insights on journalism, research and balancing objective reporting with creating a compelling narrative.  00:00 Introduction03:36 Nat Newman’s writing tip08:50 WIN! Murdle Australia by G.T. Karber11:16 Word of the week: ‘penetralia’12:32 Writer in residence: Joe Aston21:10 Joe’s switch from corporate life to journalism27:25 The evolution of journalism28:04 The pressure of producing quality content29:02 Balancing reporting and opinion31:18 The role of CEOs in public perception34:06 Joe’s experience writing his book37:28 Research versus the writing process42:34 Future plans and new ventures49:02 Joe’s advice for aspiring authors50:50 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Susannah Glenn, author of Between Husbands and Wives. Susannah discusses her writing process, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of setting and character development. She highlights the impact of persistence, learning from setbacks, and taking writing courses. 00:00 Introduction01:53 The importance of doing the work07:07 Writing tip: Keep it simple11:13 WIN! Literary Journeys by John McMurtrie13:07 Word of the week: pedicular14:26 Writer in residence: Susannah Glenn21:57 The writing process: Finding the sweet spot22:35 Character development24:23 Balancing writing with everyday life25:51 From manuscript to book deal31:54 The importance of writing routines37:38 Navigating the emotional roller coaster of writing44:45 Top writing tips for aspiring authors46:57 Conclusion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Sebastian Smee, a Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic, who discusses his new book Paris in Ruins, its historical context, and the challenges of writing it. He also touches upon his previous book The Art of Rivalry, how to approach writing art criticism, and tips for aspiring writers. Sebastian now writes for The Washington Post, but got his start writing for The Sydney Morning Herald. He then went on to write for The Boston Globe, The Spectator, The Guardian, The Australian and more. 00:00 Introduction02:35 Nat Newman’s writing tip10:28 Win Endgame by Sarah Barrie12:44 Word of the week: Hypnagogic16:47 Interview with Sebastian Smee20:27 Diving into historical context20:59 Early career and education21:49 Breaking into art criticism23:55 Writing art reviews25:50 Journey to America27:34 The Art of Rivalry31:02 Crafting Paris in Ruins38:30 Challenges and reflections42:21 Advice for aspiring art critics47:57 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Mitch Jennings, author of A Town Called Treachery, who shares his journey to becoming a novelist and his advice for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction00:27 Reinvention04:02 Writing opportunities and taking chances07:58 Writing tip: The Pomodoro Technique14:23 WIN: Everyone this Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson15:12 Word of the week: Claque18:32 Mitch Jennings and his page-turning novel A Town Called Treachery26:16 Balancing writing and family life28:00 Discovering writing process during COVID29:26 The role of mentorship and courses32:30 Crafting the story of A Town Called Treachery37:40 Journalism's influence on writing44:24 Entering and winning the Banjo Prize50:34 Advice for aspiring writers53:30 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.