Writer's Routine

Mhairi McFarlane has published 5 novels, her new first 'You Had Me At Hello' was a huge bestseller, and her new one 'Don't You Forget About Me' looks set to do the same. It tells the story of Georgina, and her new boss at work who turns out to be an old flame... only he seemingly doesn't remember her at all.We talk about the planning of rom-com novels, how she likes to embrace the contrivances that must happen and focus on ways to build surprises into stories. You can hear how she plans her years worth of writing, and works her routine around that, why 'pub-a-clock' plays a large part in her story-telling, and what she thinks of the term 'chick-lit'.Also, there's some of your writing tips, and one from an award-winning author too.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Namwali Serpell had been named one of the best African writers under 40 before she'd even published a novel. She's a student of the craft, and now a teacher of it at the University of Berkeley. Finally, after finishing a book that will forever sit in a drawer, she's publishing her first novel, 'The Old Drift'. It's a huge project, telling the stories of 3 families across generations in the new nation of Zambia.We chat about how to tell this story she needed a rigid structure of planning and plotting, also how she backed up her thorough characters and huge ideas with plot, and how she wants this book to be remembered in hundreds of years.There's also a top writing tip in there from one of the most successful crime authors working today, all about making friends. You can send your top tip over to writersroutine.com.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Val McDermid is one of the most successful crime authors in the world. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages, they've sold over 15 million copies and show no sign of letting up. She has written procedural crime, cold-case crime, and even penned the first ever 'cynical, socialist, lesbian, feminist journalist'.We talk about how her method of writing has changed over the course of 38 books, moving from heavy plotting to hardly plotting at all. Also we chat about how much she cares about her readers, and how she knows which of her characters will solve the crime currently swirling around her mind.There's some of your writing tips, and one from another crime writer too. You can send your advice to the show over at writersroutine.com.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

C.L. Taylor has just released her 6th thriller 'Sleep', after having much success in psychological thriller over the last 10 years, even writing YA fiction too. We talk about how she works her story-telling around children, family life and Twitter.Also, we talk about the busiest year of Cally's life, writing a book having just gone back to work, with a child, and a lot of words to crack through. She's also won a prize for the 'Most Unreliable Narrator Award', which I was VERY interested to learn about - you can hear why she thinks she won it during the chat. We learn how the idea for 'Sleep' came about, and why a slightly bored response from her editors sparked the story to life.Fire over your tips and advice for us too, please!@writerspodwritingroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although she's not a fan of the word, Sarah Pinborough is a prolific author. She's written over 20 books across a wide range of genres, always looking to keep interesting and varied. Her new book, 'Cross Her Heart' takes inspiration from a real-life crime, and tells the story of a group of women all trying to keep their past a secret. It's been called a 'feminist novel', and you can hear why Sarah revels in that description.Also, we talk about her method of triple-writing, why her books have recently gained great success and how getting a dog has completely rejuvenated her writing day.We'll get your writing tips on too, and hear from a Booker Prize nominee who wants you to take a walk.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Adam Foulds shares his writer's routine. He's a Booker Prize nominee, being shortlisted for 'The Quickening Maze', and is now publishing his fifth novel, 'Dream Sequence' about an actor who becomes embroiled in a strange, twisted relationship. It's literary fiction, and we talk about why that genre pulls Adam's creativity in, and why he thinks different authors write in different styles.Adam is also a poet, and discusses the difference between writing novels and poetry, and what it's like to wait for the lightning of an idea to strike. We talk about plotting through character, forcing inspiration and how he hopes to improve as a writer.We'll get some of your writing tips on too, and a top bit of advice from Frank Cottrell-Boyce.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a Carnegie Medal Award winning author - his 2004 novel 'Millions' is incredibly successful, and was turned into a film by Danny Boyle, for which Frank wrote the script. It was even Danny's idea that Frank should write the novel in the first place. He's published 10 novels, brought back 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and wrote the Opening Ceremony to the 2012 Olympic Games.We chat quite a bit about scriptwriting - along with 'Millions', Frank has written many scripts for Michael Winterbottom, including '24 Hour Party People' and 'A Cock and Bull Story'. He tells us the difference between writing screenplays and novels, the story points you need to hit, and the simple forms an idea can take.We'll get a top writing tip from a debut thriller author, and even some advice from you - if you've got a tip that you want to share, fire it over to writersroutine.com!@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After working for years as a criminal barrister, Harriet Tyce gave up work when she had children and decided to write. A few attempts at getting novels published later, she realised she may need a little bit of help in tweaking, cutting and getting her foot in the door, so she enrolled in a Creative Writing course at University, to study how to become a better author.'Blood Orange' is her debut published novel, and already it's gathering speed, success and critical acclaim. It's about Alison, who has it all - a doting husband, adorable daughter and her first murder case to defend. But as the past catches up with her, it all starts slipping from her hands.Harriet talks about psychological thrillers and making her writing stand out on the shelf, also about creativity in law, and finding the right tone and style.There's a few of the writing tips that you've sent in to the show too, and if you want to be included next week, fire your advice over to writersroutine.com@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY.To celebrate one of the top 3 days of the year, here's a little treat. A mash-up of some of the best authors we've had on the podcast this last year.You'll hear the writing routines of Ian Rankin, Cecelia Ahern, Garrard Conley, Helen Fields, Tim Marshall, Bridget Collins and Mark Billingham.Give us 5 lovely stars on Apple Podcasts if you get a chance.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2017, Nuala Ellwood's debut thriller 'My Sister's Bones' received rave reviews and was hailed as the new 'The Girl on the Train'. It propelled her onto The Observer's list of 'New Faces in Fiction' and gained commercial success - now she's back with a second novel. 'Day of the Accident' tells the story of Maggie, who wakes up from a coma to find her daughter dead, and she is being blamed for the murder.Nuala talks about the how to cope with the pressure from such a successful debut, and how a writing tour around the UK gave her the idea for her new book, and how it revolves around the ridiculous notion that new mothers can't be creative.We've also got a top writing tip from one of the most prolific authors working today.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.