Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, vandal with care… Q: Hi AWC, where does vandalism come from? A: Well, that’s complex. It could be a troubled home life. It could be a desire to be seen. Perhaps a cry for help, or just a violent tendency? Maybe simply a sale on spray paint and crowbars? Q: Umm, thanks for that. But I meant the word “van ..read more

This week’s giveaway is bestselling novel Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam, author of Rich and Pretty and That Kind of Mother. Soon to be adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon, Leave The World Behind is a gripping story about two families forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. Here’s the blurb: Amanda and Clay head to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a holiday: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they've ren ..read more

Anxiety. We all have it, or elements of it, but some of us have it more than others. Writers, it would seem, have more of it than most. In this revealing podcast, Kerri Sackville, one of Australia’s most prominent columnists and popular writers discusses her writing life, and in particular, her unique relationship to, and with anxiety – how it helps her, hinders her and why it’s the creative force that underpins much of her work. In this podcast we cover: How to build your personal brand by finding your writing voice How to manage anxiety and overwhelm  Why journaling and exercise are cr ..read more

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, action stations… Q: Hi AWC, can we talk about stationery? A: We certainly can. Things like pens, pencils, rulers, paper. Useful in the office and apparently also useful when you steal it to take home. Q: Hey, I NEEDED that stuff for the days I work from home. A: You took the office photocopier. Q: Okay ..read more

Picture books are fantastic gifts for kids of all ages. They wrap easily, introduce visual literacy alongside the joy of words, and give endless joy when they hit the spot – just ask any parent who’s been asked to read a favourite picture book over and over again. But how do you find the right book in the sea of picture books out there? We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites to save you a lot of time and effort. The Wheelbarrow Express by Sue Whiting (illustrated by Cate James) Anyone who has ever enjoyed a journey in a wheelbarrow will love this book, as Tommy takes a ride around the farm ..read more

Karina May was working in digital marketing when she started dabbling in creative writing just for the fun of it – but she soon found herself hooked on the craft of storytelling. She voraciously attended courses at the Australian Writers' Centre, including two rounds of Write Your Novel with Pamela Freeman, which gave her the structure to complete her first manuscript. After signing a two-book deal with Pan MacMillan, Karina has now released two novels, Duck à l'Orange for Breakfast and Never Ever Forever. “When I found out that my book had made it through the acquisitions process and was goin ..read more

In episode 578 of ‘So You Want To Be A Writer', Valerie Khoo, the CEO of the Australian Writer's Centre, talks about her passion for fostering a love of reading in young people, her Christmas shopping struggles, and ongoing writing projects. Special guest Nat Newman shares her experiences with theatre and film productions, and offers advice on correct dialogue punctuation. And an inspiring interview with Christos Tsiolkas – novelist, playwright and screenwriter – who provides valuable tips for aspiring writers on reading widely, adopting effective work ethics, and maintaining loyalty in the pu ..read more

This week, we’re giving away three copies of Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath, bestselling author of The Hangman series. You can also meet him on episodes 221 and 439 of our podcast. Sharp, witty and compelling, Kill Your Husbands is a mystery full of intricate twists. Here’s the blurb: Three couples, friends since high school, rent a luxurious house in the mountains for an unplugged weekend of drinking and bushwalking. No internet, no phones, no stress. On the first night, the topic of partner-swapping comes up. It's a joke – at first. Not everyone is keen, but an agreement is made. The light ..read more

Welcome to the November Furious Fiction story showcase – a chance to bathe in the crystal clear (and sometimes murky) waters of our community’s creativity! It’s also the opportunity to have YOUR OWN story featured or acknowledged – out of hundreds received from around the globe. Here were this month’s criteria: Your story must be set at a remote house or cabin. Your story must include three different three-word sentences in a row. Your story must include the words SPACE, KNOCK, WHISTLE, MYTH.(Longer words are okay if original spelling is retained.) That was it. Time was short. The challenge ..read more

When it comes to a great gift for kids, you can’t go wrong with a book. Not only are they the gift that offers a ticket to a whole new world, but they’re easy to wrap and they last forever. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of 15 terrific Australian picks for middle-grade readers (aged 8-13), whether they like their stories “real”, rooted in history or wrapped up in fantasy and adventure. Contemporary The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait In her first contemporary middle-grade novel, bestselling author A. L. Tait delivers a mystery about growing up, figuring things out ..read more