In this episode, the latest in the Writing a Novel series, I look at some opening pages of published novels, and see if we can learn anything about what makes a compelling opening. The novels are in the commercial Fantasy/historical genres. Hopefully this will help me out figuring out how to open my own novel! Here are the 3 books I talk about in this episode, with links if you'd like to buy them. THE DESERT PRINCE by Peter V Brett: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10577/9780008309817 THE OBSIDIAN TOWER by Melissa Caruso: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10577/9780356513195 IRON QUEEN by Joanna Courtney: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10577/9780349419565 If you like the show and would like to support me, you can drop me a few beans via my ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And here's the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord link if you'd like to join our online community: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode I talk about reading to become a better writer versus reading for joy. This is an unedited, unplanned episode. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Here's a link to join the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord community: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

A Q&A episode responding to listener questions to end the year. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Here's a link to join the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord community: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode, I discover that Artificial Intelligence is better at writing my novel than I am. I discuss the threats & opportunities of AI-generated novels & what the future might hold for authors collaborating with bots. Here's OpenAI, if you're interested & fancy having a play: https://beta.openai.com/playground If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode I chat with author & games designer James Wallis about storytelling in games, writing novels in other people's worlds, & his new book about award-winning boardgames, EVERYBODY WINS. EVERYBODY WINS by James Wallis: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everybody-Wins-Decades-Greatest-Board/dp/1839081910/ If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode I look at a listener's first page and suggest ways to make it better. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode, I chat with SFF author Adrian Tchaikovsky. We talk about his Children of Time Science Fiction series, his Shadows of the Apt Fantasy series, how tabletop roleplaying got him started as a storyteller, & how he approaches worldbuilding & planning novels. Adrian's new book, THE CITY OF LAST CHANCES, is available for pre-order: https://www.amazon.co.uk/City-Last-Chances-Adrian-Tchaikovsky/dp/1801108420 Here's the first book of the Shadows of the Apt series, EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-Black-Gold-Shadows-Apt/dp/152905026X Here is his SF novel we talk about, CHILDREN OF TIME: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Time-Winner-Arthur-Clarke-ebook/dp/B00SN93AHU/ If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server as promised: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

This is the 9th episode in my series that follows me as I try to write a novel while commentating on what I'm doing & why. This time I share two drafts of a new attempt at a possible opening, explain why I made the changes I've made, then talk about what's next. If you want to listen to previous episodes in the Writing A Novel series, they're on this playlist: soundcloud.com/timclare/sets/writing-a-novel If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server as promised: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode, I chat about getting back into writing after burnout, and embracing your personal writing manifesto. I have a bit of a rant! But hopefully with the understanding you are free to disagree. This is a writing ramble episode, so an unedited b-side where I talk about what's on my mind. If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ You can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Here's the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv

In this episode we do a deep dive into the genesis of a famous 42 word death monologue - Roy Batty's 'Tears In Rain' soliloquy from Blade Runner. What makes good dialogue? How should you think about character, theme and the wider world when writing speech? What can we learn from the content and successive edits of one of the most famous monologues in cinematic history? Here's the iconic scene, if you want to go watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoAzpa1x7jU If you enjoy the podcast and would like to drop me a few beans, my Ko-fi page is here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my latest book, COWARD: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It, which is available in hardback, ebook & audiobook (narrated by me): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coward-Why-Anxious-What-About/dp/1838853103/ And you can get in touch via the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk And here is a link to the Death Of 1000 Cuts Discord server as promised: https://discord.gg/Gr7nNU3jjv