This week on Writers Behaving Badly: It’s the season two finale! Annie, Brooke, and Lisa wrap up a year of literary chaos with bread, burnout, and breakthroughs. Lisa digs deep for one final curly question and Brooke delivers the Footballer’s Baby conception scene…(almost)…Plus: The knitting community comes for Hank Green in a thread war for the ages…What You'll Learn:The difference between a supportive beta reader and a confidence killerHow to give feedback that doesn’t make someone quit writing foreverWhy “being kind” isn’t the same as “lying”Segments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsLisa inches closer to ‘the end’ while Brooke and Annie creep further away…🔥 Roast or ToastBrooke gives us what we’ve asked for…the Footballer’s Baby is finally conceived…📚 Curly QuestionHow do you find a Beta Reader…but more importantly, how do you give good feedback without crushing a writer’s spirit? Lisa shares her wisdom.🍵 Tea Time RantHank Green vs. the knitters: when socks are undervalued, and sexism enters the chat. Annie brings the chaos; Brooke tries not to choke on her tea. Are we cancelled? Afraid knot…Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 28th October @ 8:00pm. 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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✍️ Kate Solly on Writing, Imposter Syndrome & Novlr Obsession
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We’re back with New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth for Part Two of our rollicking chat. Sally dishes on the realities of social media (hint: don’t waste time building a platform before you’ve written the book), resilience in the face of one-star reviews, and the myth-busting advice every aspiring author needs to hear.She also spills some tea on a library event with Lisa that went hilariously sideways—complete with Maud heckling from the front row…Plus: Lisa can’t take an ugly photo of Sally (no matter how hard she tries), and Brooke yells the F-word directly into Sally’s face. You couldn’t script it if you tried.Follow Sally Hepworth on Substack 😊Pre-order Mad MabelWhat You'll Learn:Why social media can wait until you’ve actually written the book.How to find (and keep) your voice online without hating it.The art of laughing at one-star reviews (including Rhonda’s epic takedown).Why every writer needs resilience and a good sense of humour.Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 23rd September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! (We’ll be announcing more end of year dates shortly 😊) 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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✍️ When to Send Your Book to Beta Readers
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: It’s our very first live, in-person episode—recorded in Sydney with questionable tech, maximum chaos, and at least one snort that may or may not become a sound effect.Brooke fights through a new-job writing slump, Lisa produces her award-winning early manuscript for listening pleasure and Annie gets distracted by a 90s inspired dream. There’s a dramatic reading, a curly question about beta readers and tea that makes us wonder if Malcolm Turnbull has a Google alert on his name (or DMs are open…)What You'll Learn:Why you can’t follow ‘the shinies’Why it’s easier to write the 60sHow your early work forms part of your writing journey (even if you think it’s cringe)The right time to send your work to beta readersSegments Inside:✍️ Sins & WinsIt’s an in-person confession time with one of our writers ending up in the sin-bin while the other two just scrape over the line.🔥 Roast or ToastLisa’s Strictly Business gets a dramatic group reading—tampons, talismans, and a groom with cold feet. Instead of a brutal roast, it sparks nostalgia, trope talk (“touch her and die”), and Brooke’s so in love with the hero she makes Lisa blush.📚 Curly QuestionWhen is the right time to send your manuscript to a beta reader? Lisa explains what is ‘too early’ and how to know if you’re really ready for feedback.🍵 Tea Time RantA viral reel sparks debate: can you judge someone by the books on their shelf? 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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✍️ How to Write Believable Romantic Conflict
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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✍️ Sally Hepworth on Social Media for Authors
This week on Writers Behaving Badly: We’re back with New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth for Part Two of our rollicking chat. Sally dishes on the realities of social media (hint: don’t waste time building a platform before you’ve written the book), resilience in the face of one-star reviews, and the myth-busting advice every aspiring author needs to hear.She also spills some tea on a library event with Lisa that went hilariously sideways—complete with Maud heckling from the front row…Plus: Lisa can’t take an ugly photo of Sally (no matter how hard she tries), and Brooke yells the F-word directly into Sally’s face. You couldn’t script it if you tried.Follow Sally Hepworth on Substack 😊Pre-order Mad MabelWhat You'll Learn:Why social media can wait until you’ve actually written the book.How to find (and keep) your voice online without hating it.The art of laughing at one-star reviews (including Rhonda’s epic takedown).Why every writer needs resilience and a good sense of humour.Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Tuesday 23rd September @ 7:30pm. Come and join us! (We’ll be announcing more end of year dates shortly 😊) 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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