Best of the Spectator Speaker series: Bernard Cornwell – Sharpe's Storm
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Dec 18, 2025 Bernard Cornwell, a prolific historical novelist known for the Sharpe series and The Last Kingdom, shares insights into his writing journey and career. He discusses how his daily writing routine fuels his prolific output, the balance between historical research and storytelling, and the evolving character of Richard Sharpe. Cornwell also reflects on his literary influences and the impact of Sean Bean's portrayal of Sharpe. He reveals anecdotes about his experiences in historical settings and hints at future tales in the Sharpe saga.
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Treat Writing As A Workday
- Get to your desk and do the work every day rather than waiting for inspiration.
- Bernard Cornwell keeps regular hours (about 8:15–17:00) and treats writing as a job.
Reject Writer's Block
- Don't accept writer's block as an excuse; rewrite bad days instead.
- Cornwell tears up a bad day's work and rewrites it the next day rather than waiting for inspiration.
Rewrite As You Discover The Story
- Expect heavy rewriting and iterate often as you discover the story.
- Cornwell estimates each book is written about three times and often restarts parts as characters change direction.