Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat to Chris Gribble of the National Centre for Writing. We talk about the books that changed his life, and his work at the NCW supporting new and emerging writers. It's a really interesting chat! This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what does a new writer need? - what challenges do debut authors face? - where can new writers go for help? Here's the National Centre for Writing's website, with their events and information on what they do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ 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 to bestselling author Joanne Harris about bending reality, the allure of the trickster, and managing expectations. Joanne has written - and continues to write - in a variety of genres, from Fantasy to Psychological Thrillers, and in this episode we talk about why these stories have more in common than might first appear. We discuss how genre boundaries don't really exist when you get up close, and how to deal with doubt and anxiety about audience expectations when you start to gain readers. Really, a good alternative title for this episode would be 'How To Shapeshift For Fun and Profit'. If you'd like to read some of Joanne Harris' work, a good place to start is THE GOSPEL OF LOKI: https://wordery.com/the-gospel-of-loki-joanne-m-harris-9781473202375#oid=1908_1 Or you might try RUNEMARKS: https://wordery.com/runemarks-joanne-m-harris-9781473217065#oid=1908_1 Or the bestselling CHOCOLAT: https://wordery.com/chocolat-joanne-harris-9780552998482#oid=1908_1 Or if you prefer a thriller, GENTLEMAN & PLAYERS: https://wordery.com/gentlemen-players-joanne-harris-9780552770026#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 is a live episode of Death Of 1000 Cuts, recorded at the National Centre for Writing in Norwich, UK on November 1st. I take a look at some first pages and offer feedback, and the audience join in with their suggestions too. Then I finish by answering some quick questions. It was really fun to do an episode with a roomful of people. I hope you enjoy it! We talk about why error-avoidance and trying not to make mistakes kills creativity, how to write sex scenes, using tropes vs clichés, locating the narrative present, guiding the reader through the opening to your story - even that old favourite, show don't tell. It's a rollercoaster of writing thoughts and advice. 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 continues a short series on the psychology of writing, looking at the stories we tell ourselves when we tell stories. Here I look at the many ways in which we might tell ourselves we're not writing the right kind of story, what we write isn't proper fiction, and we're not proper novelists. I talk a bit about the uncomfortable feeling when our intuitive mental image of what a novel or a novelist looks like doesn't match up to what we're writing or who we think we are. And, of course - because I'm not about to leave you hanging - I suggest some ways through, some strategies by which we might start to explore those feelings and challenge them in a lasting way. If you'd like to read Kirsty Logan's work for yourself click here to get THE GRACEKEEPERS delivered to your door with free shipping worldwide: https://wordery.com/the-gracekeepers-kirsty-logan-9781784700133#oid=1908_1 Or Melissa Harrison's ALL AMONG THE BARLEY: https://wordery.com/all-among-the-barley-melissa-harrison-9781408897997#oid=1908_1 Here's her Costa-shortlisted novel AT HAWTHORN TIME: https://wordery.com/at-hawthorn-time-melissa-harrison-9781408859070#oid=1908_1 And her first, CLAY: https://wordery.com/clay-melissa-harrison-9781408842553#oid=1908_1 Or Aliette de Bodard's THE HOUSE OF SUNDERING FLAMES: https://wordery.com/the-house-of-sundering-flames-aliette-de-bodard-9781473223400#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 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