We talk to two long time friends, Sarah Dollard and Lili Wilkinson, on how they approach writing character for the screen and on the page. We hear them discuss how they met, their approach to writing characters (even if they're not human), and what makes for a great hero or villian.

UnladylikePodcast

26: On characters: Sarah Dollard and Lili Wilkinson

We talk to two best-selling authors, Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell, both prolific writers of women's stories, who happen to be sisters.  What's it like, growing up in a family of writers? Which literary or fictional sisters influenced them? What stories shaped them?

25: On sisters: Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell

We talk to two writers who have made their mark with stories full of adventure, high stakes and nuanced word building: Amie Kaufman and C.S. Pacat. We asked them to dig into their inspiration, process, research, and how they surprise their readers. #writing #research #JKRowling #JRRTolkien #sensoryresearch #worldbuilding #process #AnneMcCaffrey #fantasy #scifi #speculativefiction

24: On world building: Amie Kaufman & C.S. Pacat

We talk to two women who make up a productive creative partnership: Mira Robertson, screenwriter, script editor, and now novelist; and Ana Kokkinos, film and television director and screenwriter. They have collaborated with each other, with other screenwriters, adapted novels and plays, and worked on their own projects. So we asked them about writing in collaboration, and in solitude.

23: On collaboration: Ana Kokkinos & Mira Robertson

Three queens of crime fiction and fact tell us why crime writing is so popular, how they research and write fiction and true crime, and we get an insight into one of the genre's favourite characters: Miss Phryne Fisher. #podcast #true crime #crime #mystery #writing #reading

22: On murder: Kerry Greenwood, Vikki Petraitis & Lindy Cameron

What makes good academic writing? We talk to five women from different disciplines who all write and read academic articles, papers, books and essays – and teach students how to write for academia. With guests Wernmei Yong Ade (Singapore), Deirdre Byrne (South Africa), Serena Petrella (Canada), Chantelle Gray van Heerden (South Africa) and Marianne Schleicher (Denmark).

21: On academia: Roundtable discussion

What makes a great 'kissing book'? We talk to Anna Campbell and Kylie Scott about spirited heroines, suspense, banter, intellectual equality, drama, subtext, laughter, sexual tension, feminism, tropes, and happy endings. #podcast #writing #romance #reading

20: On kissing: Anna Campbell and Kylie Scott

We talk to Judy Horacek and Gabrielle Wang, two living legends, about writing and illustrating books - and their many other forms of creative work.

19: On illustration: Judy Horacek and Gabrielle Wang

We talk to two spoken word performers, Lian Low and Eleanor Jackson, about writing for the page and for performance, and how they support other writers - especially through Asian-Australian arts and culture magazine, Peril. #writing #poetry

18: On voice: Eleanor Jackson and Lian Low

Between them, Alison Croggon and Jane Harrison, have written award-winning opera, plays, poetry, young adult novels, essays, columns, and goodness knows how many grant applications and submissions to government. Unladylike talk to them about writing across so many forms and genres.

17: On form: Alison Croggon & Jane Harrison

We talk to three writers who also teach writing, and ask them about the ways we learn and teach writing - in community organisations, schools, colleges and universities - and the skills and knowledge writers need. #writing #teaching #learning

16: On teaching: Penni Russon, Alexis Drevikovsky & Alison Ravenscroft

In our first live recording, at the Castlemaine State Festival, we asked two authors of nonfiction how they research complex subjects, manage their materials, and create compelling stories. #writing #history #research

15: On knowledge: Robyn Annear and Lynne Kelly

We speak to two writers on Jane Austen's impact on storytelling and on writers in the two hundred years since her death.

14: On Austen: Alison Goodman and Kylie Mirmohamadi

We talk to two powerful South African poets and performers who work across and beyond a range of narrative and performative forms and traditions. #podcast #poetry #spoken word #performance #writing

13: On sounds: Natalia Molebatsi and Phillippa Yaa de Villers

Labels? Why do we have them? We talk to two authors about the labels they choose for themselves, their characters and their place within the industry, as well as those that they reject. Join Anita Heiss and Jessica Walton as they discuss labels, identity and writing.

12: On labels: Anita Heiss and Jessica Walton

Conversations with women about writing. Hosted by Adele Walsh and Kelly Gardiner.