It’s been awhile since we’ve been in your ears, listeners! Back for a moment with this bonus episode from Sydney Writers Festival. Hopefully you’ve been partaking of many pods, including Katherine’s spin off project The Next Step which you can listen back to in the archive. If you’re in Melbourne and keen to hear Kate and Katherine catch up IN PERSON, join them at Albert Park Library on Wednesday 24th July at 6.30pm for a Warm Winter Reads chat on a bunch of things including The Hummingbird Effect, exciting upcoming projects and all the places they’ve been adventuring! Free event but please book here.
This special live recording of The First Time Podcast took place on May 23, 2024 at Carriageworks on Gadigal Land for the Sydney Writers Festival. Podcast co-host, Kate Mildenhall spoke to guests Melanie Saward, James Colley and Charlotte Wood about their books, their paths to publication and the writing life.
Melanie Saward is a proud Bigambul and Wakka Wakka woman. She is a writer, editor and university lecturer based in Tulmur (Ipswich), Queensland. Her debut novel Burn was published by Affirm Press in September 2023. She’s widely published in literary journals and anthologies and is currently awaiting sign off on her PhD. In July, her first romantic comedy novel, Love Unleashed, will be published by Penguin Random House.
James Colley is the author of the debut romantic comedy novel The Next Big Thing from Pantera Press. He’s the head writer of ABC TV’s Gruen and Question Everything.
Charlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three books of non-fiction. Her books have won or been shortlisted for various prizes including the Stella Prize and the Prime Minister’s Award for Fiction. Her latest novel is Stone Yard Devotional which has been shortlisted for Age Book of the Year, ABIA Literary fiction of the year, the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.
We discuss:
- The first time these authors knew they wanted to be a storyteller
- The pitches for their latest books
- Their paths to publication, the highlights and the pitfalls,
- Bringing skills from other industries to writing, including James discussing getting rid of some of the ‘meanness’ from comedy for his novel and Melanie deciding that having publishing experience didn’t really help her in the writing or acquisitions process
- Some of the people and orgs who have helped including Varuna: the national writer’s house, Charles Perkins Residency, Improv Theatre Sydney, black&write! Prize and Mel gives love to the ‘lit journals of this country who run on the smell of an oily rag’ – Overland, Island, Kill Your Darlings, Meanjin, Griffith Review and more!
- Check out lists of journals via your state writing centre or ASA
- Boundaries and time and how to get the writing done
- How far a writer can diverge from previous books
- Dealing with social media
Thanks so much to the Sydney Writers Festival and partners.
The First Time podcast 