This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We wrap our very first Badly Behaved Write-Along with zero sinners and a podium full of winners. Brooke hypes strangers for cash (yes, really), Lisa steam-trains past 50k words, and Annie survives strict homework and a new fringe. We’re also joined by bestselling author Kylie Orr who spills on the seven-year slog to her debut and why “show, don’t tell” is terrible advice. Finally, Tea Time serves up an AI-authored publishing disaster and one man’s pitch to turn his marriage into a threesome—with a chatbot.What You'll Learn:How write-alongs and accountability partners can supercharge your writing progressWhy “hope and grit” often matter more than talent in publishingThe truth about money in the book biz (and managing your expectations)When to ignore “show, don’t tellSegments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsWrite-Along champs smashing word counts, rediscovering the stories they love, and nailing second drafts.SHOUTOUT TO: Catherine, Simone, Kylie, Erin, Catherine and all our wonderful paid supporters. Thank you!📚 Author Interview - Kylie OrrKylie on rejections, two-book deals, and learning to let go of a manuscript. Plus the best and worst writing advice she’s ever had.🍵 Tea Time RantAI prompts left in the published book and the saga of the man who wanted his chatbot to be the other woman. Also, we send some love to Victoria Aveyard- go follow her for another author standing up for writing rights.Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 26th August @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe
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✍️ Do you need a first chapter checklist?
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: Season Two kicks off with triple wins! Brooke discovers the power of horny ghosts, Lisa finds her character voice (and an accountability partner who doesn't mess around), and Annie reclaims her historical heroine's agency. Plus, we debut Brooke's very first novel—complete with mysterious football jerseys and a dubious hall-of-fame.What You'll Learn:How to move past "am I saying anything important?" by focusing on what you do well—fun genres matter too!How accountability partners can transform your writing momentumWhy research matters even in contemporary fiction (looking at you, football scenes)The truth about first chapter "rules" and why most of them are nonsenseSegments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsFor once, we're all winning! Creative breakthroughs, voice discoveries, and 30,000 words in a month.🔥 Roast or ToastBrooke reads from The Footballer's Baby—her genre-bending debut featuring NRL/soccer/gridiron confusion and generic farms. Lisa delivers the ultimate writing lesson: great storytelling transcends factual accuracy, but research still matters.📚 Curly QuestionWe tackle the TikTok writing advice rabbit hole and why those endless "must-have" lists might be killing your creativity.🍵 Tea Time RantThe ethics of true crime publishing—why the rush to capitalise on tragedy raises serious questions about victim-centred storytelling and responsible journalism.Our first Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 12th August @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe
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✍️Rachael Johns On Navigating Writer Burnout
In this week’s bonus episode of Writers Behaving Badly: It’s the full, un-cut interview with Rachael Johns covering the highs and lows of the publishing industry, imposter syndrome and so much more. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, there is so much to take away from this chat with Rach!Season Two of Writers Behaving Badly returns on 9th August 2025. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe
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✍️What a Writing Coach’s First Draft Really Looks Like
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: Annie cries into her keyboard and calls it kink, Brooke rewrites her way out of despair, Lisa almost writes (Word is open!), and we all lose our minds over a listener’s first page. Also: AI in publishing—is it the end of craft as we know it?What You'll Learn:How to craft a first page that grips and devastatesThe emotional tools to write through chaosWhy great writing doesn’t need connections—just humanityWhether AI is a shortcut or creative death spiralSegments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsRewrites, rage, and resilience—plus a reminder that “almost writing” still counts.🔥 Roast or ToastA listener delivers a mangy dog metaphor we won’t shut up about. Submission tip: raw truth + character voice = gold.🙋♀️ Curly QuestionCan you get published without connections? Lisa shares the only “networking” that actually matters.🍵 Tea Time RantGenerative AI in writing: we talk about it. Lisa would rather chew on a teabag than let a robot write her sentences, and honestly, fair.Like the pod? Leave us a review so we can keep reminding you that imposter syndrome ain't worth your time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe
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🔥What Makes a Killer First Page?
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: Annie cries into her keyboard and calls it kink, Brooke rewrites her way out of despair, Lisa almost writes (Word is open!), and we all lose our minds over a listener’s first page. Also: AI in publishing—is it the end of craft as we know it?What You'll Learn:How to craft a first page that grips and devastatesThe emotional tools to write through chaosWhy great writing doesn’t need connections—just humanityWhether AI is a shortcut or creative death spiralSegments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsRewrites, rage, and resilience—plus a reminder that “almost writing” still counts.🔥 Roast or ToastA listener delivers a mangy dog metaphor we won’t shut up about. Submission tip: raw truth + character voice = gold.🙋♀️ Curly QuestionCan you get published without connections? Lisa shares the only “networking” that actually matters.🍵 Tea Time RantGenerative AI in writing: we talk about it. Lisa would rather chew on a teabag than let a robot write her sentences, and honestly, fair.Like the pod? Leave us a review so we can keep reminding you that imposter syndrome ain't worth your time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe
🎙️ A writing podcast that pulls back the curtain on publishing. Lisa Ireland, Brooke Turnbull, and Annie Bucknall mix craft, chaos, and cocktails 🍷 with live mentoring, industry truths 📖, and writing confessions. New episodes every Saturday—because sometimes, it’s good to be bad. 🔥 writersbehavingbadly.substack.com
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