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Writer's Routine

Latest episodes

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Feb 22, 2019 • 32min

Susan Lewis - Prolific author talks planning, crossing genre and new novel 'One Minute Later'

With over 30 published books, Susan Lewis is a master-storyteller that moves through genres, styles and stories as easily as turning a page. She's lived all around the world, getting inspiration from towns in France (where she had a love affair with one of the FBI's Most Wanted) to hills in LA (where she was neighbours with George Clooney)Her new novel, 'One Minute Later', tells the story of Viv Shager, who on her 35th birthday suffers a heart attack which causes her life to change dramatically. Her life shrinks back to how it begun, she moves back home, and with time running out - decides to finally uncover one mysterious secret.Susan isn't much of a planner, gets consumed by her stories and publishes two novels a year. We talk about the pressure that heaps on an author's shoulders, and how she keeps up with it all, and still finds joy in words.If you've got any writing tips, send them over to me - I'll share them in future eps.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 8, 2019 • 32min

Fiona Barton - Journalist turned Psychological Thriller author talks new book 'The Suspect', the perfect time to write and when to plan.

Fiona Barton is an award-winning journalist, worked as a senior writer at the 'Mail on Sunday' and reported on many high profile cases. After covering crime for so long, she thought it time to invent some of her own.Her third book, 'The Suspect', details two 18 year old girls who go missing on a gap-year, which reminds journalist Kate Waters of her own son, who is off travelling, that hasn't been seen in 2 years. You can hear how Fiona came up with the idea, and what she immediately did when it came to her. Fiona rises when the sun tells her to, and straight away she'll get down to work - we talk about the secret to that, how she knows when to stop, and how her writing style has changed 3 novels in.We get a top writing tip that may change the way you work forever from one of the hottest authors of 2019, and there's news of a way you can get on the show.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jan 17, 2019 • 39min

Bridget Collins - Author of 'The Binding' talks about her critically acclaimed adult debut, why planning is overrated and why she finally had to tell this story.

Bridget Collins has published 7 Young Adult books, a few plays, and now her first full adult novel, 'The Binding', is due to be one of the biggest of 2019. It's been lauded as a 'genre defying fusion of history, magic and a powerful exploration of mental illness'. It tells the story of Emmett Farmer, a book binding apprentice, whose job is to help people forget their darkest secrets.We talk about why it's taken her years to finally write this book, and how volunteering at the Samaritans gave her the initial idea for the story. Also, you can hear why most of Bridget's writing day is spent in bed, and how she gets by without thorough planning.We get a top writing tip that may change the way you work forever from a sheep-farming-crime-author, and there's a way your story can be on the show.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Dec 21, 2018 • 40min

James Oswald - Author of 'No Time to Cry' talks sheep-farming by day and crime writing by night, also why planning is overrated and how important a name can be.

James Oswald is a farmer for 12 hours of the day, then at night he'll head to his bespoke writing room atop his garage, and bash away at the keyboard.He's known for the 8 novels of the 'Inspector Tony McLean' series, and also his fantasy saga 'The Ballad of Sir Benfro', and you can hear what it's like to start a brand new series - 'Constance Fairchild'. She makes her first appearance in the new novel 'No Time to Cry', and we talk about why having the idea for her name pretty much gave him the rest of the story. We also talk about how comic books taught him to write, how research is overrated and why it's all about the journey over the destination.We'll get a top writing tip from Tim Marshall, the author of 'Prisoners of Geography', who brings something short, sweet and a bit sweary.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Dec 14, 2018 • 41min

Tim Marshall - 'Prisoners of Geography' author and Diplomatic Editor talks planning, accessibility and Geopolitics.

Tim Marshall worked for some years as the Diplomatic Editor for Sky News, travelling and living all over the world to get the stories. His book 'Shadowplay: The Overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic' is widely regarded as one of the best accounts of life in the former Yugoslavia. Tim reported in the field from Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia during the Balkan Wars of the 1990s, and has since found huge writing success for his book 'Prisoners of Geography'.'Prisoners of Geography' looks at how maps of the world can predict political situations, it's the first of a trilogy of books that discuss the affect of nationalism on identity politics - his others look at flags and walls.We talk about planning non-fiction, how to make big concepts and global theories relevant and accessible in writing, and why it's always nice to know the local baristas by name.You can get a top writing tip from Irish Book Award winner Liz Nugent, who wants to help you push past the tricky start.PLUS, help the 'Podcast All-Stars' take the UK's Christmas Number One with 'The Sounds of Christmas' - buy it online, and stream it here - https://open.spotify.com/album/4Er8EeydEoWMurO4vPx9NJ?si=U5zNccSgRf6iSdbrp3xRWw@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 29, 2018 • 37min

Liz Nugent - Irish Book Award winner on new novel 'Skin Deep', vital characterisation and how to push through a difficult start.

After working as a stage manager, running all over the place in a theatre, then being shackled to the desk writing for soap operas, Liz Nugent became bored with dull, desk-driven office work, and became an author. Well... became an author over 6 years of writing her first book 'Unravelling Oliver'. It won an Irish Book Award, became a bestseller and gave her a career of being a proper writer.She's back with her third novel 'Skin Deep', all about an enigmatic, alluring and alarming socialite, and the body she finds in her apartment. We talk about how her writing day has changed 3 books in, why she needs to know characters inside-out before she starts, and which song gave her the idea for a whole novel.You can also get a top writing tip from Ben Schott, of 'Schott's Miscellany and Almanac', who has dived into the world of PG Wodehouse, and wants you to start reading aloud.PLUS, your LAST CHANCE to get 20% off Scrivener - type the code ROUTINE when checking out over at literatureandlatte.com.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 23, 2018 • 42min

Ben Schott - Creator of the world famous 'Almanac and Miscellanies' on his debut novel, diving into the world of Wodehouse and the imperfect writing routine.

Ben Schott designed 'Schott's Original Miscellany' as a whimsical Christmas present to his closest friends, and after much pushing and prodding, finally published it to the world. Over the next few years, he had created a series of bestselling works providing an entertaining and informative analysis of the year's events.He's releasing his debut novel 'Jeeves and the King of Clubs', an homage to PG Wodehouse - a writer many see as the greatest comedic novelist of the 20th Century, perhaps even of all time. We talk about how he braced himself to write for the characters of such a legendary literary icon, and how he designed the best chance to do him justice. Also, we learn about how Ben dealt with the language and plot that Wodehouse dealt with so creatively, why there's no perfect writing day, and how the initial idea for his story came on a long train journey, while musing about Donald Trump.We'll get a top writing tip from one of the most successful authors still working today AND you can win $2000 worth of book marketing.PLUS... save 20% on Scrivener, the writing software that makes telling your story soooo much easier.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 16, 2018 • 30min

Cecelia Ahern - Author of 'P.S. I Love You', talks about her new book 'Roar', where she writes and what it's like to have sold 25 million books.

Since publishing her debut novel when she was 21, Cecelia Ahern has written, pretty much, a book a year. That debut went on to become a blockbuster film, and she's one of the biggest, and bestselling authors around today. Her new book 'Roar' comprises 30 short stories about 30 different women. You can hear why a script-meeting in Los Angeles gave her the idea for the book, and how she developed that whilst on a family holiday.We talk about why she needs an office to write in, what she does to combat writer's block and whether your debut novel shooting you to such success really changes a writer.There's a top writing tip in the show from 2 publishers who teamed up to write, and you've also got a chance to win $2000 worth of book marketing prizes.Also, to save 20% on the writing software Scrivener, head to literatureandlatte.com, and use the code ROUTINE.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 8, 2018 • 39min

E. Foley and B. Coates, authors of 'What Would Boudicca Do?' - The editors and writers talk nasty women, critiquing each other, and writing to Disney.

Elizabeth Foley and Beth Coates both work in publishing as editors, and when they had one idea too good to give away, they hurried to the office on Saturdays to write it themselves. That became 'Homework for Grown-ups', and since they have written many other works of novelty non-fiction. Their latest is 'What Would Boudicca Do? Everyday Problems Solved by History's Most Remarkable Women'. It looks at what heroines of the past would do about, self-confidence and taking the perfect selfie.We talk about how they've aligned their schedules to work efficiently through the day, how they decided who, what and when to research, and whether as publishers, they found it easier getting published.This week's top writing tip that could change the way you work forever is from bestselling crime author Ian Rankin, and there's a way you can win $2000 of book marketing!Remember, you can make your writing day SO MUCH EASIER, with 20% off Scrivener (AKA the best writing software there is) just use ROUTINE when you check-out over at literatureandlatte.com@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Nov 1, 2018 • 39min

Sir Ian Rankin, author of 22 'Detective John Rebus' novels - One of UK's bestselling authors chats about Edinburgh, writing quickly and surprise endings.

Sir Ian Rankin is one of the biggest selling crime authors in history. His most famous character 'Detective John Rebus' has transcended novels, and is an icon of literature. He's appeared in TV shows, radio plays, and now his 22nd book, 'In a House of Lies'.As a teenager, Ian found himself being thrust into a life of economics and accountancy, but after time (and some poor maths exam results) he started writing, and 30 years later is a crime-literature institution. We talk about the very first Rebus idea he had, how his writing routine has changed over time, and what makes him carry on telling stories. You can find out how Ian manages and organises his creativity, why he needs to get away from everything to focus occasionally, and how most of the time he has no clue who his killer will be.You can get 20% off the excellent writing software Scrivener, by using the code ROUTINE over at literatureandlatte.com - I guarantee this will make your writing day SO much easier.Also, to enter 'The Writer's Block Virtual Book Festival', and win $2000 worth of book marketing, find @TheNovelette on Twitter - you could even be interviewed on this show!@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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