Latest Episodes
Episode 117 "Who are you and why are you good to tell it?" A Conversation with Brendan O'Meara of the Creative Non-fiction Podcast
I recently spoke with fellow podcaster, essayist and award-winning journalist Brendan O'Meara. We talked about the challenges that writers of both fiction and non-fiction face, the issue of finding time to write, the value of having momentum, and the goal of building up a body of work to close the creative gap ...
Episode 116 - Climbing the North Face. Why completing the first draft of your writing project is so hard and how to achieve it
Writing the first draft of a novel, like scaling the north face of the Eiger, presents particular difficulties. In this episode, we look at what those challenges are, and how we can overcome them to get the first draft done. ...
Episode 115 Keeping the god in the machine. Why 'Deus Ex Machina' endings suck and how to avoid them
Deus Ex Machina or 'god out of the machine' endings have a rich heritage going back to the Ancient Greek Theatre. But they are a terrible model for endings in creative writing. In this episode, we explore what Deus Ex Machina endings are, why they are so bad for creative writers, and how we can create a much better ending that will give credibility to our work and satisfy our readers. ...
Episode 114 "You've got to know what you want to say!" A conversation with Story Grid Certified Developmental Editor Lori Puma
This episode is a conversation with story grid developmental editor Lori Puma. In our conversation we talk about why stories matter, and what we as writers should do about that. We discuss the way in which Story Grid, and a developmental editor can actually help authors, and we reflect on the way in which personal tragedy can inform both our lives and our stories. You can find out more about the Story Grid process here: www.storygrid.com and about non-violent communication here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX4N0VryiC4 And you can find out more about Lori at her website: www.loripuma.com ...
Episode 113 - You have the most important job in the world and here's why
Writer's have the most important job in the world. Does that sound like hubris? Well I would suggest that it isn't. Stories are of profound importance, and as storytellers, we are the custodians of these precious artefacts, as such it behoves us to be as authentic as possible, to practice our craft, and to be as brave and persistent as we can be. ...
Episode 112 Of Monkeys and Manuscripts: a conversation with writer and BSFA Award winner Gareth L. Powell
This episode is a conversation with award winning science fiction and alternative reality author Gareth L Powell. We talk about how maturing as a writer and a person can inform our work, Gareth’s advice for developing authentic and rich characters, and the inspiration behind his new book Embers of War. Gareth can be reached at his website www.garethlpowell.com and on twitter at @garethlpowell ...