In this episode we continue a short series on the psychology of writing. What stories do we tell ourselves when we tell stories? Writing a novel is a long business, and at some point, you're going to hit snags. Your enthusiasm or confidence might lag. Different writers typically have different points where they hit 'the Wall'. What can you do when it feels like your book has come off the rails? What can we learn from ultrarunners about the art of pushing through? This is a great episode to listen to if you're thinking 'help! I'm stuck with my novel!' or you have problems finishing things. If you enjoyed today's episode why not try Garth Nix's latest novel, ANGEL MAGE: https://wordery.com/angel-mage-garth-nix-9781473227712#oid=1908_1 Or SABRIEL: https://wordery.com/sabriel-garth-nix-9780007137312#oid=1908_1 Or MISTER MONDAY: https://wordery.com/mister-monday-garth-nix-9780007175017#oid=1908_1 Or perhaps THE FALL: https://wordery.com/the-fall-garth-nix-9780007261192#oid=1908_1 If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I continue our short series about the psychology of writing. What stories do we tell ourselves when we tell stories? I investigate the idea of expectation - the awareness of an audience out there, who will ultimately evaluate the novel you're working on. How might it impact your ability to write? How might your relationship to that putative audience shift over your career? And what kind of interventions can you make if your relationship with your imagined readers becomes unhelpful? Here are a couple of novels by authors featured on today's episode that I think you'll really like. DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA TWO? by Temi Oh: https://wordery.com/do-you-dream-of-terra-two-temi-oh-9781471171277#oid=1908_1 IN OUR MAD AND FURIOUS CITY by Guy Gunaratne: https://wordery.com/in-our-mad-and-furious-city-guy-gunaratne-9781472250216#oid=1908_1 If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode is the first in a short series about the psychology of writing. What stories do we tell ourselves when we tell stories? How can we write more, write better. and be a little bit happier when we do those things? Drawing on months of conversations with neuroscientists, psychologists, psychiatrists and nearly 200 episodes of podcast, I try to zero in on some answers. More importantly, I give some practical suggestions, based on studies, of what you can do to get the most of writing. Later episodes have contributions from previous guests as I have a look at the mindset side of writing, the thought distortions that can creep in, and how to keep morale up when you run into trouble. If you'd like some further reading after today's episode you might enjoy FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: https://wordery.com/flow-mihaly-csikszentmihalyi-9780061339202#oid=1908_1 Here's my upcoming event in Norwich with a ticket link: Tim Clare – DEATH OF 1000 CUTS LIVE Friday 1 November National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall 7 - 8.30pm https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/tim-clare-death-of-1000-cuts-live/ Here's my upcoming event in Bath with a ticket link: NOVEL NIGHTS The Three Pillars of Writing Bliss Wed 6 Nov 2019 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Burdall's Yard, 7a Anglo Terrace, London Road, Bath https://www.novelnights.co.uk/the-three-pillars-of-writing-bliss/ If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat about genres as games, thriving within rulesets, my take on what makes a book 'literary', and how self-criticism doesn't even work on its own terms. If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with poet and playwright Luke Wright about finding your voice, your subject matter, and mixing politics with personal, human drama. Luke Wright is an acclaimed poet with twenty years of performance experience behind him, a slew of hit solo shows and latterly a trio of critically-acclaimed verse plays, the latest of which is THE REMAINS OF LOGAN DANKWORTH. He's also a very good friend. We talk about starting out ranting in pubs about celebrities and politicians to moving into subtler, more vulnerable work, and how what connects with you can change as you get older. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find my voice as a writer? - what topics can I write about? - how can I combine character with politics? You can read more about Luke Wright and his new show THE REMAINS OF LOGAN DANKWORTH on his website here: http://www.lukewright.co.uk/shows/logan-dankworth/ You can follow him on Twitter here: @lukewrightpoet If you'd like a free weekly writing exercise you can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gbmfcP If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

On today's show I chat with author Mike Shel about writing Fantasy, indie publishing, writing for games, and tackling anxiety. Mike Shel is the author of THE ACHING GOD and SIN EATER, two Fantasy novels set in a world of danger, suffering and hope. We talk about how he built up the courage to attempt his own novel, his work with Paizo publishing writing adventures for roleplaying game Pathfinder, and how he drew upon his professional background as a therapist specialising in anxiety and panic in his fiction. Anyone who's listened to the show for a while knows I love Fantasy fiction, roleplaying games, and talking about anxiety. With Mike I hit the trifecta. Have a listen, unless you're in one of my two Pathfinder groups, in which case SPOILERS, YOU ARE BANNED. I'd consider it a personal favour if you'd go check out one of Mike Shel's books and perhaps grab yourself a copy of THE ACHING GOD. THE ACHING GOD: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aching-God-Iconoclasts-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07C9DBKB6 (UK) https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B07C9DBKB6/ (US) SIN EATER: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sin-Eater-Iconoclasts-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07QZYGZ9K (UK) https://www.amazon.com/Sin-Eater-Iconoclasts-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07QZYGZ9K/ (US) You can follow him on Twitter here: @MikeShelAuthor If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode, I chat about confronting emotions, feeling the big feels, and how facing up to things in life can help inform and supercharge your writing. This is an unedited, unscripted episode, where I talk about what's on my mind. I talk about my work on a new non-fiction book, coming off my meds after over 2 years, death, psychiatry and the terror of feelings. I also talk about ways in which we can write better and braver, and how, if you write what you want, boldly, in spite of what people might think, you'll never be a hack. If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this unscripted, unplanned episode I respond to a listener's email about 2nd drafts and talk about my process. If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This is an unscripted, unedited episode where I chat about where I am with my writing and give you some suggestions for dealing with setbacks, energy dips and wrong tracks. If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

On this episode I look at the first page of a listener's work and suggest ways to make it better. I chat about style, the order we reveal information, cutting unnecessary words and point of view. It'll be really useful if you want to get better at editing your own fiction. If you'd like to support me, it'd be ace if you picked up a copy of my novels, THE HONOURS, & the new sequel THE ICE HOUSE. THE ICE HOUSE links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-ice-house/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/272064-the-ice-house-hardcover/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1786894815/ THE HONOURS links: Wordery: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Mr B’s Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782114769/ Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare