✍️ How to Find the Right Beta Reader (and Be One)

✍️ Can a sexy scene be funny?

On this episode of Writers Behaving Badly: Brooke’s manuscript is in the hot seat with feedback from Lisa. The crew are smashing their own different writing goals (and we get a look at Brooke’s incredible typing speed). We share our book recommendations (controversy?) and Brooke spills the tea on embarrassing herself at a recent author event for Casey Nott book launch! What You'll Learn: What it looks like when humour and spice hit exactly the right notes Why sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is quit other things How to handle awkward writing conversations Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsThe crew are (mostly) winning with Brooke absolutely nailing her writing retreat time! 📚 The Write AdviceBrooke reads her manuscript and it has us laughing (and wanting to read more). Lisa provides some very specific advice (you’ll want to hear her take). ☕️ Tea Time Brooke tells us all about her verbal spew at a recent book launch…to a room full of published writers 🫢 Got some writing tea to spill? Leave us a comment 😊 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 [https://writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

✍️ Your book is NOT your baby...

On this episode of Writers Behaving Badly: Brooke’s manuscript finally gets a name and we are squealing at it! Lisa and Annie find wins amongst the chaos and why editing your manuscript can sometimes feel like cutting a bad fringe… Our write-along crew are smashing their writing goals and vibing off each other’s word counts (hello, accountability!)…we’re looking at you Athena writing an entire short story in an hour!! And we tackle AI accusations…are they the new witch hunt? Plus: We share some writing hot takes inspired by Victoria Wlosok @xvictoriawrites on Instragram [https://www.instagram.com/xvictoriawrites/]. What You'll Learn: Why getting published can be easier than staying published. Why your manuscript is not your baby. How to think critically about AI accusations in publishing. Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsBrooke has a breakthrough on her story and her title. Lisa embraces a planned ‘slow’ writing month whilst still showing up for write-alongs (she never truly puts her pen down). Annie goes full historian mode, deep-diving into Queensland history and clocking up 5000+ words…but nothing on her actual manuscript. 📚 The Write AdviceInspired xvictoriawrites on Instagram, Lisa unpacks three hard truths about publishing: Getting published is easier than staying published. Your friends don’t really care about your writing. Your book is not your baby. Lisa brings industry insight, honesty, and a few gentle reality checks. ☕️ Tea Time RantWe dig into the controversy around AI allegations in publishing, sparked by discourse around the novel Shy Girl. Are AI allegations the new witch hunt? Got some writing tea to spill? Leave us a comment 😊 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 [https://writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

✍️ When a literary agent ghosts you...

On this episode of Writers Behaving Badly: Brooke, Lisa and Annie tackle the heavy vibes of 2026 with podcasting joy and a new format. We’re folding in the cheese for our new segment (please leave a comment to help us give it a title), getting inspo at the traffic lights (hello, motorcycle man 👋) and writing through the horrors that are modern life. Plus: We discuss some truly unhinged writing advice from Stephen King…and will Brooke ever forgive Lisa for killing off Nana Lil? What You'll Learn: Why finishing a ‘bad draft’ can leave you with golden nuggets How to write in the face of existential dread What we’re reading to keep our book brains fed and happy! Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsLisa declares herself a ‘swinner’, Brooke breaks a writing slump with a sneaky sideways glance at the traffic lights and Annie discusses what life as a working historian means for her writing. 📚 OUR UNNAMED SEGMENT?How do you write in the face of existential dread? No, really? The horrors may persist but so do we! Learn why Lisa is genuinely looking forward to the art that comes out of this period in time...and why, no matter what, you should keep making it. 🍵 Tea Time Rant1, 2, 3, 4, 5…everybody in the car and come on let’s write! Stephen King’s weird writing advice we just have to talk about. Got some writing tea to spill? Leave us a comment 😊 Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Wednesday 25th February @ 7:30pm Melbourne Time. 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 [https://writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

✍️ Stephen King's Weirdest Writing Advice

On this episode of Writers Behaving Badly: Brooke, Lisa and Annie tackle the heavy vibes of 2026 with podcasting joy and a new format. We’re folding in the cheese for our new segment (please leave a comment to help us give it a title), getting inspo at the traffic lights (hello, motorcycle man 👋) and writing through the horrors that are modern life. Plus: We discuss some truly unhinged writing advice from Stephen King…and will Brooke ever forgive Lisa for killing off Nana Lil? What You'll Learn: Why finishing a ‘bad draft’ can leave you with golden nuggets How to write in the face of existential dread What we’re reading to keep our book brains fed and happy! Segments Inside: ✍️ Sins & WinsLisa declares herself a ‘swinner’, Brooke breaks a writing slump with a sneaky sideways glance at the traffic lights and Annie discusses what life as a working historian means for her writing. 📚 OUR UNNAMED SEGMENT?How do you write in the face of existential dread? No, really? The horrors may persist but so do we! Learn why Lisa is genuinely looking forward to the art that comes out of this period in time...and why, no matter what, you should keep making it. 🍵 Tea Time Rant1, 2, 3, 4, 5…everybody in the car and come on let’s write! Stephen King’s weird writing advice we just have to talk about. Got some writing tea to spill? Leave us a comment 😊 Our next Badly Behaved Write-Along is on Wednesday 25th February @ 7:30pm Melbourne Time. 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 [https://writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

✍️ How to Find the Right Beta Reader (and Be One)

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 killer How to give feedback that doesn’t make someone quit writing forever Why “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 [https://writersbehavingbadly.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]