Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat about the tension between what people want to read, and what we should write to grow and satisfy ourselves as writers. This is a writing ramble episode, which means it's unplanned, unscripted. Just me and a mic, chatting to you about what's on my mind. I hope you enjoy it, but bear in mind these ones are, by nature, a little more discursive than usual. 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 neuroscientist Adam Green about the science of creativity. Adam Green is a founder and current president of The Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity. We chat about his research into how exogenous neurostimulation (zapping targeted parts of people's brains with electricity) can improve their performance on creative tasks. We chat about the science of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and a future in which authors may choose to supplement their creative abilities with technology. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what is creativity? - what parts of the brain are responsible for creativity? - how is creativity useful? - what is tDCS? - how can I make myself more creative? Adam's sister Leah Naomi Green has just won the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets, and you can pre-order her upcoming collection, THE MORE EXTRAVAGANT FEAST, here: https://www.amazon.com/More-Extravagant-Feast-Poems/dp/1644450186 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 Adam Christopher about fanfic, discipline and making a career out of writing both original fiction and stories in existing universes. Adam tells me how he got into writing partly through his love of Doctor Who, and a fandom full of novelisations. He shares his initial overconfidence and how he worked through setbacks to forge a career writing in various universes, such as Star Wars, Elementary and most recently Stranger Things. He explains the process of pitching and negotiating with the creators of a show, the differences between writing original work and licensed novels, and how he uses routines to keep going and get his work done. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I write novelisations of existing TV shows, films or video games? - what's the process for pitching and writing a licensed novel? - how can I keep writing on bad days? - how can I plan my novel and still be creative? Adam Christopher's latest book is an official Stranger Things novel, DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN: https://wordery.com/stranger-things-darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-adam-christopher-9781780899985#oid=1908_1 His website is: http://www.adamchristopher.co.uk/ 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 author and miniboss of creative writing pedagogy Chuck Wendig, about ideas, being in it for the long haul, and the end of the world. We chat about his new novel WANDERERS, how it survived through the Idea Thunderdome, and how he found ways of telling an epic story through a few key humans. We talk about how he became a fixture of the creative writing community, the books that have influenced him, and keeping going in an uncertain publishing industry. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - do I need to have a clear author 'brand'? - how should I pick which of my ideas to write? - how can I keep going if things go wrong? Here's where you can grab his new novel, WANDERERS: https://wordery.com/wanderers-chuck-wendig-9781781088104#oid=1908_1 And here's his website where you can get all sorts of writing advice: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/ 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 an unscripted, unedited talk about the judgemental voice so many writers hear: the inner critic. I chat about what the inner critic is, why I resisted admitting it was a problem for so long, why we might have it and what we can do to engage with the challenge it presents. As with all writing rambles, this is just my talking off the top of my head, so here be dragons. If you're new to the podcast, you might like to start with a more focused episode, like one of my first page feedback episodes, or a chat with an author, to get a sense of what it is we do here. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what is the inner critic? - why do I have any inner critic? - how can I deal with my inner critic? 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 Dr Alexander Cummins about magic, inspiration and designing writing rituals. Dr Alexander Cummins is an historian, poet, and consultant whose practice centres around religion, philosophy, medicine, and magic. His work focuses on folk magic, necromancy, and divination. His doctoral thesis from the University of Bristol explored the history of magical approaches to the emotions. We chat about ways of using divination to come up with story ideas or solve problems with your plot, different historical approaches to the nature of inspiration, and ways you can use magical rituals as warm-up and mindset-framing exercises when you sit down to write. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get inspired? - how can I get myself in the mood to write? - how do ideas work? - how can I solve problems with my novel? - how can I get past writers' block? Al has a fantastic range of offerings on his website, from fascinating online classes about different aspects of magic and magical history, to consulting work for authors looking to research specific areas of magic, to magical readings. It's all here: http://www.alexandercummins.com/ 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 author Will Storr about his latest book, THE SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING. We chat about the many books he's written, covering topics from ghosthunting to nazis to narcissists, and how they led him to his latest book, an investigation into why we tell stories, and how we can use the science to tell better ones. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - why do we tell stories? - what elements does a good story have? - how can I hook readers? And you can grab yourself a copy of THE SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING right here: https://wordery.com/the-science-of-storytelling-will-storr-9780008276935 I recommend all of his books, including WILL STORR VS THE SUPERNATURAL: https://wordery.com/will-storr-vs-the-supernatural-will-storr-9780091910136#oid=1908_1 And THE HERETICS: https://wordery.com/the-heretics-will-storr-9780330535861#oid=1908_1 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 Emily Troscianko about bibliotherapy and eating disorders in fiction. Heads up - this episode features discussion of eating disorders and mental health challenges. I chat with Emily about her research into the putative therapeutic benefits of reading when it comes to eating disorders, and why we should treat any assumptions about the efficacy of reading fiction to solve our problems with caution. She explains how she got into researching the subject after her own challenges with an eating disorder. 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 was recorded live at Storysmith bookshop in Bristol. I chat to special guest, BSFA-award-winning author Gareth L Powell, about his new book on creative writing, ABOUT WRITING. Then we look at three first pages from listeners' novels and give feedback. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find time to write? - what does show, don't tell actually mean? - how can I hook a reader with my opening sentences? - why is point of view important? If you'd like to read some of Gareth's work, why not try EMBERS OF WAR: https://wordery.com/embers-of-war-gareth-l-powell-9781785655180#oid=1908_1 Or the sequel, FLEET OF KNIVES: https://wordery.com/fleet-of-knives-an-embers-of-war-novel-gareth-l-powell-9781785655210#oid=1908_1 Or his crime novel RAGGED ALICE: https://wordery.com/ragged-alice-gareth-l-powell-9781250220189#oid=1908_1 Pre-order his field guide for writers, ABOUT WRITING, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/About-Writing-Gareth-L-Powell/dp/191114359X 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/

On this episode I chat with Ashley Hickson-Lovence about his debut novel, THE 392. We talk form, style & place, from growing up in Hackney to thinking about your audience. Ashley takes us through the full process of writing his novel, chats about his experiences as a football referee, and explains his number one writing rule for this book: no boring bits. You can grab a copy here: https://wordery.com/the-392-ashley-hickson-lovence-9781916052307 Here's that article about the first 3 weeks of The Ice House's life: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/3-weeks-in-the-life-of-a-new-book/ It'd really help me an awful lot if you bought The Honours and The Ice House right now. 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/