Writer's Routine

TV presenter and workaholic author Fern Britton gives us our 23rd Writer's Routine!Fern has just published her 8th novel, Coming Home. It tells the story of a woman returning to her Cornish hometown after many years away, and how she fixes the relationships that have been broken through time. Fern's books are mostly all set in her beloved Cornwall, in fictitious villages that treat you the same way as a hot-water bottle. They're warming, comfy but have that odd element of mysterious danger.Making her name on 'Ready, Steady, Cook', 'This Morning' and 'Strictly Come Dancing', Fern now spends most of her time gazing over farmland and a blank Word Document from her cottage-study. We talk about how a huge filing cabinet helps her plan stories, why her listeners forced her hand in continuing a finished tale, and how she makes her characters 3 dimensional.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime-writer writer Helen Fields dives into the depths of her diary to bring us tips and advice from her writing routine!Helen has just published the third of her 'D.I Callanach' thrillers, 'Perfect Death'. It's all about murders, with a gruesome, ingenious twist, and after working in Law with police, social services and Doctors for many years, Helen has a peculiarly accurate insight into the crimes she writes. She's also told stories using every method available to her, running a film production company and even self-publishing two fantasy books before signing up to the big leagues.We talk about how naming your characters is one of the most tricky parts of the process, why she thinks some authors think the job's too easy, and how self-publishing led her to finally getting signed up by a proper house.Also, the author of one of the most hotly-anticipated books of the year, AJ Finn gives us one writing tip that will change the way you work forever - and it's so easy, you may not even have thought of it.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ Finn explores the minutely insignificant but weirdly wonderful details of his writing routine!AJ has just published 'The Woman in the Window', and it's set to be the biggest psychological thriller since 'Gone Girl' and 'The Girl on the Train'. It has sold in 38 territories - the most of a debut ever, entered the New York Times Bestseller list at No.1 - the first time a debut novel has done that in over 11 years, and its film rights have already been bought by Fox 2000!While working in publishing, the film-noir and crime obsessed AJ thought of a single idea for a story: that of an agoraphobic woman spying a terrible crime through a window, and trying to convince the world of what she saw. It took a further 3 years to flesh out the narrative, and 12 more months to write. AJ has an interesting way of drafting his work too, in that he doesn't do it conventionally. We talk about how he made sure every single one of his 100 chapters was perfect during the show.Also, we chat about getting into the mind of a 38 year old addict who never leaves the house, and how AJ made sure he could write as his lead character truthfully. There's talk of language, and how the actual placing of words was a surprisingly tough part of the job, and what pressure he feels starting his second novel off the back of one of the most hotly anticipated thrillers in years.We've got something BRAND NEW as well, where one of the country's best authors reveals one tip that may change the way you work forever!@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the UK's most prolific and loved authors, Anthony Horowitz takes us through the daily routine which has lifted him to huge success!Which works as a title. Not entirely true though. Anthony doesn't so much have a routine that he fits his writing into, it's more trying to find a time when he can tear himself away from his work. Story-telling for Anthony is a compulsion, it's work he immerses himself into.His 'Alex Rider' series launched him to national attention in the early 2000's, with school-kids all over the world being transfixed by the heroic, reluctant teenage spy. He has also written extensively across every story-telling method available to him. Working in theatre, film, and you'll often see his name in the credits for TV shows such as 'Poirot', 'Foyle's War' and 'Midsomer Murders'.More recently, he's moved into adult fiction, with his murder mystery and horror stories frequently filling the best-seller list. He's used his passion to tell tales with other writer's characters too. His 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'James Bond' novels being some of the only 'new' stories ratified by both the Conan-Doyle, and Ian Fleming estates.We talk about the moment that changed the way he wrote novels forever, how he loves the process of naming his characters, and also the slightly selfish reason he returns to his old characters.It's a good one. If you've enjoyed it, give us a subscribe and drop us a review on the iTunes Podcast Store. THANKS@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Murder mystery author Derek Farrell explains his Writer's Routine!Derek writes the 'Danny Bird Mysteries', a series of books that focus on a barman-cum-amateur-detective, and the cases he stumbles upon through the sleazy streets of London. Finally writing and getting these stories published has not been as plain-sailing as finding a bright light in the West-End though. After finishing one story which ended up cosy and alone in his top drawer - for his birthday, friends bought him a writing course, and it was a simple, standard character development exercise that gave him the idea for his Soho-sleuth.We chat about finally getting that publishing deal, how he manages to write and on a train to and from work, and also why he had to completely rewrite an entire novel on a 7 hour flight home.You can buy his 'Danny Bird Mysteries', which are 'Death of a Diva', 'Death of a Nobody' and 'Death of a Devil', on his website: www.derekfarrell.co.uk.THANKS@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime and Thriller writer Mark Edwards brings us our first Writer's Routine of 2018!With 7 solo-books to his name, and 6 co-written works, a few years ago Mark finally turned into a full-time writer. His novels have a dedicated following, who crave stories packed with suspense, mystery and the frequent feeling that something supernatural may turn up.Mark is in the mould of Ruth Rendell or Stephen King, and like many full-time writers, has to squeeze his work between the hours the kids are at school! We talk about what he thinks his characteristic style is, how his story-scheduling changes from one book to the next, and also how, very occasionally, a whole planned out plot will just appear in his head. His solo work includes the bestselling 'The Magpies', 'Because She Loves Me' and 'Follow You Home'.Also, we get 10 top writing tips from some of the 10 greatest writers in history.writersroutine.com@writerspodwritersroutine@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our last Writer's Routine of 2017! So now, for something a little bit different. Artist, illustrator and writer Richard Graham brings us his daily ritual!Richard upcycles old junk, furniture and other bric-a-brac to make 3D pieces of character art. With this, he then imagines a story involving the pieces, and writes picture books for kids! His first 'The Cranky Caterpillar' is a tale of an insect stuck in a piano, moodily beating the keys, until a girl finds him, and sings some colour into his life.I went down to Richard's 'Cranky Caterpillar Museum' in Kings Cross, where he makes actual art, writes stories and trudges through proper admin. We talk about the difference between art styles and why some creators choose these methods, also why writing a short and concise story is sometimes horrendously tough, and how sometimes it's best just to put down the pen and switch off for a while. You can look at more of Richard's work at mrmake.co.uk.Our Distinguished Diary today features the weird and wonderful writing routine of Sir Tom Stoppard, who received an Academy Award for his screenplay of 'Shakespeare in Love'.Make sure you subscribe to the show on your favourite podcast place, and you'll get some brand new routines and inspiration in 2018!writersroutine.com@writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crime-writer Mark Hill tells us how he goes about his day!Radio-producer Mark Hill has a life-long love of crime fiction, and spotting the tricks and traits of the genre forced his hand to write a book of his own!'Two O'Clock Boy' tells the story of a killer seemingly getting revenge on everyone in a children's home many years ago. It's the first of his 'Drake and Crowley' thriller series, and it's gone so well, that you can expect a second very shortly. In the show, we talk about what planning a series of books is like, after initially having a great idea for just the first. Also, we talk about how working as a radio producer has helped him talk to an audience, and how having a massive white-board and a few coloured post-it notes really helps the plotting.Our Distinguished Diary features the weird and wonderful writing routine of Arthur Miller, one of the 20th century's greatest playwrights - and we'll find out the reckless manner that helped him pen 'A View from the Bridge', 'Death of a Salesman' and 'The Crucible'.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-author of 'Sleeping Beauties', Owen King tells us this week's writer's routine!In writing terms, Owen King could not have found himself in a better place. His dad, Stephen King, is one of the world's most successful authors, publishing over 50 books across horror and fantasy, he has sold over 350 million copies, and he's co-written the brand new 'Sleeping Beauties' with his son, Owen!So, if you're here to get writing tips from the best, this week's guest has learned his craft from the absolute master.'Sleeping Beauties' is a story about the aftermath of every woman on the world falling asleep, seemingly forever. No one knows why, or where they may have gone, and we find out how many different sets of characters react to the mystery, and what that means for modern gender politics. Owen talks about where the idea came from, why it was originally meant to be on the TV, and what the pressure of writing for a Stephen King level of fanbase is really like. Also, you can find out the only real struggle Owen and his dad had along the way, was who would hand in the final manuscript!Our Distinguished Diary today is the weird and wonderful writing routine of WH Auden, and we'll find out exactly what helped him sleep for barely more than 6 hours, and still work for 10 hours a day - he did love his routine, but there's something... else in play too.@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadcaster, writer and award-winning podcaster Simon Mayo shows us how an extremely busy person fits in a writing routine!Simon presents the drive-time show on BBC Radio 2, one of Europe's most popular radio stations. He is one half of 'Kermode and Mayo's Film Review' on BBC Radio 5 Live (Hello to Jason Isaacs), and used to present one of the most prestigious shows on the air, as the host of the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show. In amongst all this, he's found the time to publish 4 novels!His 'Itch' trilogy tells the story of Itchingham Lofte, an element hunter and unlikely hero, and it's a series that places science at the heart of the tale. His most recent book 'Blame', explores the idea that children are punished for the crimes of their parents. We talk about how plotting a series is wildly different from a standalone novel, how it takes a lot of reworking, and how he only really picked up. a pen to give his son something to read.There's also mention of his writing shed, how his 'radio voice' is different from his written one, and why he gets ideas from gravestones.Our Distinguished Diary brings us the weird and wonderful writing routine of John Milton, civil servant and poet, who in 1667 published the 10,000 line magnum opus 'Paradise Lost' WHILE HE WAS BLIND. Compare that to what you did today, ey?writersroutine.com@writerspodwritersroutine@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.