So You Want to be a Writer
Discover everything you need to be a successful writer (while you still have a day job).
The ultimate guide to making your writing dreams come true
Want to write a novel or earn an income as a freelance writer, but not sure how to go about it? In this book, Valerie Khoo and I give you the steps to take so your dream can become a reality.
Valerie and I have interviewed hundreds of writers on the popular So you want to be a writer podcast, and turned their advice into this blueprint to help you get started and thrive in the world of words.
Chances are you’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Writing is something you did when you were a kid. Or it was one of your best subjects at school.
Perhaps this is something that’s crept up on you, the feeling that writing is something you should be doing, that you need to be doing.
Maybe you’ve even started, secretly opening a document called ‘My novel’ and beginning to write – and then getting nowhere, flummoxed by what to do next. Or maybe you read the weekend papers or your favourite website and think, “I could write something like that!”
If so, this is the book you need.
Discover everything you need to be a successful writer, including how to connect with people who will help your career grow and productivity tips for fitting everything into your already busy life. You’ll also explore how to keep your creative juices flowing and where to find other writers just like you.
Tap into proven wisdom and find the path that will lead YOU to success!
What reviewers are saying
“Practical, grounded and inspiring. When a thousand voices tell you that you can’t, you need a voice to make you believe you can. This book is that voice.’ – Candice Fox, #1 New York Times bestselling author
So many pro tips in here from working writers. This is like Tim Ferriss’s Tools of Titans but exclusively for writers. I loved it.’ – Tristan Bancks, award-winning children’s author
‘Perfect for the person who wants to write but doesn’t have the confidence or the know-how to start.’ – Pamela Hart, award-winning historical fiction author
‘Essential reading for any aspiring writer.’ –Graeme Simsion, international bestselling author
“Val and Al were a godsend to me before I was published, offering a guided tour to the world of publishing that was otherwise closed to me. Their advice is highly, highly recommended.’ – Dervla McTiernan, international bestselling author
Turn your writing dream into something tangible
So You Want To Be A Writer is an accessible starting point for anyone keen to step into the world of writing. Like any practical non-fiction guide, it’s laid out in clear sections so you can browse as you need to, or simply read straight through.
We guide you through every stage—from working out what sort of writer you actually want to become (a surprisingly important question!), to discovering ideas, to finding the confidence to talk about your ambitions. You’ll learn how to get the words onto the page, how to build a writing community (and why it matters so much), how to spark and sustain creativity, how to make the most of technology, and how the business side of writing really works.
The book brings together the most helpful insights we’ve gathered from interviewing many of the world’s leading authors. You’ll find advice on everything from writing routines to landing that first publishing contract, from working with editors to shaping a manuscript—shared by writers such as Liane Moriarty, Michael Robotham, Nick Earls, Charlotte Wood, Jane Harper, Di Morrissey, Garry Disher, Jaclyn Moriarty, Andy Griffiths, Jackie French, Veronica Roth and plenty of others.
Literary novelists, commercial fiction writers, nonfiction creators, publishers, agents, crime and romance specialists, children’s and YA authors, freelancers and content writers—Australian and international voices all sit side by side here.
It’s essentially a writing masterclass and a resource you can return to again and again.
Why hesitate?
If writing is your goal, the best moment to begin is now.
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