This episode is an interview with the author and historian, Nick Page. Nick, who describes himself as a 'writer for hire', has been a freelance writer for nearly twenty years, publishing over seventy books including biblical histories. We discuss the disciplines required to write history, including historical fiction, tips for placing the reader firmly in the scene you are writing, and advice for the new writer. Nick has a wealth of experience which he brings to this conversation. I have been looking forward to interviewing Nick for a long time, he is witty, honest, and knowledgeable, and it was a joy to speak with him, I hope you find our conversation entertaining and enlightening. ...
We all know the opening scene in any book is the critical moment to make your mark on the reader, to grab their interest, to set out your stall, and to keep them hooked. This episode explores the four principles that make an opening scene work and give your whole story a great start ...
This podcast starts a new series on the subject of setting, and we begin by exploring why there are only two essential qualities needed for a setting to be effective; these are that a setting needs to be credible, and immersive. If you imagine your setting as a chair, it needs to be strong enough to support the reader, and comfortable enough to hold them for the whole story. This episode provides the practical techniques required to deliver both of these requirements. ...
