Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat to author R F Kuang about her debut novel THE POPPY WAR. We chat Fantasy, grimdark, character arcs, representation of marginalised people, Shonen Manga, maintaining a positive attitude towards your work and writing great fight scenes. You get grab a copy of THE POPPY WAR here: https://wordery.com/the-poppy-war-rf-kuang-9780008239800#oid=1908_1 Here's NK Jemisin's BROKEN EARTH TRILOGY that Rebecca recommends: https://wordery.com/the-broken-earth-trilogy-n-k-jemisin-9780316527194#oid=1908_1 Here's my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 I'd be very grateful if you pre-order my upcoming novel, THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 And if you want to chuck the podcast something direct for upkeep, here's my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode is all about how readers can best help authors they love. Where and when should you buy their books? What's the best way of sharing praise? What can you do to boost authors you want to see more of? And is it possible to do all of this while getting big benefits for yourself, like - I don't know - maybe increased resistance to illness and a longer life? Come with me, friends. If you're a reader who loves books or an author who wants to know how best your readers can help you, I break down in thorough detail everything you need to know. If you want to read the text version of today's episode, complete with links to studies supporting various claims, and links to all the sites I mention, here it is: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/17-best-ways-boost-authors/ If you think what I do is good and you'd like to show your love and help me do more of it, click here to pre-order my new novel THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/the-ice-house-tim-clare-9781786894816#oid=1908_1 While you're pre-ordering you can pick up a copy of my first novel, THE HONOURS, and get it to read straight away: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And you can always bung me a couple of beans via this site: ko-fi.com/timclare Here's the Hive website supporting local UK bookshops: https://www.hive.co.uk/ And if you're in the US, Indiebound supports independent bookshops: https://www.indiebound.org/ Have a lovely week, and thank you for listening.

This is the Death Of 1000 Cuts Pitch Rush Special episode. 55 authors, 55 novels looking for agents and editors. I read out a rapid-fire showcase of 100-word synopses and extracts. This is a great episode to listen to if you're trying to figure out how to pitch your novel, how to write a synopsis, how to write a query letter, and what makes the best extract of your work to share. It's also a great episode to listen to if you're interested in finding new talent! If you fancy supporting me and this podcast, please buy my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 You can also drop me a few quid via my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Here are the authors and novel titles, in order. Full extracts on my website, www.timclarepoet.co.uk Number 1 Thomas Russell The Curse Of The Go Force Warriors 5 Number 2 Neil Hughes 'The Shop Before Life' Number 3 JOYCE CHNG DRAGON PHYSICIAN (YA) Number 4 Christopher Galvin ARTHUR SMALLWOOD'S QUEST FOR MAGIC Number 5 Joseph Sale Against Such Reckless Hate Number 6 Lola Phoenix The Fifth Kingdom Number 7 All That The Light Touches Thomas Carson Number 8 Laura Sweeney Chasing Waterfalls Number 9 Nolan Dean Moonflower Number 10 Marisa Noelle When the Raven Mocker Calls Number 11 SAFER TO BE FEARED C O Vollmer Number 12 M S Clements THE THIRD MAGPIE Number 13 GABRIEL'S WINDMILLS Romi La Paz Number 14 Lon E. Varnadore Void Emissary Number 15 James Otsa I TOO WAS IN ARCADIA Number 16 David Court RECREANT Number 17 Stephanie Nicholls Of Kings & Queens Number 18 Elissa Soave How Will You Love Me? Number 19 Jennifer Kennedy Galloping Catastrophe - A year in the life of a menopausal woman Number 20 Bill Bradbury Woke Number 21 Umar Abubakar Sidi The Autobiography of a Power Monger Number 22 Ann Godridge The Witch House Number 23 Emae Church Earth 101 Number 24 Sara-Mae Tuson Selina and the Six Lost Songs Number 25 From: Ruby Parker Riverborne Number 26 Callum Beesley The Carer Number 27 Judith Parker The Bumblebee Princess Number 28 Hayley Gullen Another Age Number 29 Liam Garnett The Stowaway Number 30 Nicky Abell-Francis The ETERNAL BOND Number 31 ELISABETH STRAW CONTROL ALT DELETE Number 32 Lorna Eifflaender Locusts Number 33 Jane Flett Not a Witch Number 34 Rebecca Milton Oracle Number 35 Mark David Goodson The Eighth Morning Number 36 Simon K Brown Faders Number 37 Angelita Bradney Saint Michael Number 38 Ian Murphy WORDS OF ADVICE FOR THE DEAD Number 39 Matthew Leach After the End Number 40 Kirsteen Stewart The Mandrake Number 41 Daniel James Grandma, the Devil and Me Number 42 Tracey S. Rosenberg Title: JANE ELLIOTT Number 43 Trasie Sands Freaky Yarn Number 44 CLARE ZINKIN A MIGHTY STRANGER Number 45 Fíona Scarlett Title: BOYS DON'T CRY Number 46 Alex Delve So Say the Dead Number 47 Jenny Adamthwaite Drawing Breath Number 48 Rebecca McCormick Teenage Wasteland Number 49 Maurice Suckling Novel's title: Do These Shapes Tessellate? Number 50 Helen Loney 'The Book Club Murders' Number 51 Heather Hughson Jump Point Number 52 Stuart Johnstone The Red Doors Number 53 Peter O’Connor The Cloud Number 54 Luke Spry Blood of the Phoenix Number 55 Charlotte Levin An Explanation of Love

In this episode I chat to author R O Kwon about her novel THE INCENDIARIES. We talk about the pain of losing her faith and how her yearning for God lit the fuse that would become THE INCENDIARIES, a story about characters pulled into a religious terrorist sect. We talk about the 10 years the novel took to write, how she dealt with the challenge of writing convincingly about fanaticism, and what it's like being a cool author. She also opens up about some personal creative quirks, and I actually ask the question 'what's your favourite letter of the alphabet?' because that is how a serious adult interviews a writer about literature. But I genuinely wanted to know! If you'd like a copy of THE INCENDIARIES with free shipping it'd be churlish of me to stop you, and I will in fact aid you - click this link to order it with free worldwide shipping: https://wordery.com/the-incendiaries-r-o-kwon-9780735213890#oid=1908_1 And you can read my novel, THE HONOURS, by ordering it here: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And oh, go on then - running this podcast costs me a lot of time and actual money. If you'd like to support the podcast you can drop me a few quid here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you!

Planning on doing NaNoWriMo? Don't. It's a bad idea, and in this episode, I explain why. I also chat about ways you can get yourself writing more, while loving it. This is a writing ramble episode, which is one of my completely unscripted talks with just me, you and the mic. A few people said they'd like to hear my thoughts on NaNoWriMo, so here they are. I hope it stimulates some useful thoughts for you. My novel is THE HONOURS - it's weird historical Fantasy with secret tunnels in 1935 England. Please treat yourself to a copy with free worldwide shipping: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to try the first day of my (completely and forever) free 8-week writing course, the Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp, you can download all the episodes here: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk/couchto80kwritingbootcamp/ And if you like the show and would like me to make more, you can help me cover my overheads by dropping me a buck or two here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you!

This episode I speak to bestselling author Jonathan Stroud about finding stories, developing characters, and channelling demons. Jonathan Stroud is the author of the 4-book BARTIMAEUS series - about an alternate London run by magicians, and the demons who serve them - which is published in 35 languages and has sold over 6 million copies. He also wrote the LOCKWOOD & CO series, about a plague of ghosts haunting Great Britain and the child agents sent to tackle them. We talk about his start in publishing, how he writes and how the challenges differ from book to book. We also talk about the value of walks for the creative process. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I find the voice of a character? - how can I raise my chances of being struck by a flash of inspiration? - what are good ways of thinking about conflict in a story? - how can I make sure my plot is progressing? Here are the first 3 books in Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus series. I urge you, mortal, DO NOT BE SILLY, buy these books immediately. They are so great and you will have a wonderful time! THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND: https://wordery.com/the-amulet-of-samarkand-jonathan-stroud-9780786852550#oid=1908_1 THE GOLEM'S EYE: https://wordery.com/the-bartimaeus-trilogy-golems-eye-bk-2-jonathan-stroud-9780786836543#oid=1908_1 PTOLEMY'S GATE: https://wordery.com/the-golems-eye-jonathan-stroud-9780552562812#oid=1908_1 And here's the first in the Lockwood & Co sequence, LOCKWOOD & CO: THE SCREAMING STAIRCASE: https://wordery.com/lockwood-co-the-screaming-staircase-jonathan-stroud-9780552566780#oid=1908_1 Oh? You fancy reading something... by *me*? Well then, friend, try THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And ah yes, if you'd like to chuck me something towards the podcast's running costs, I have a page here where you can do that in a couple of clicks: ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat to author Tade Thompson about creating worlds, unsympathetic protagonists and the 'killable other'. Tade Thompson is the author of ROSEWATER, a near-future SF novel set in Nigeria. We have a great conversation about the roots of his writing in the visual medium of comics, why we're driven to create for ourselves, the uncomfortable truths that lie within us and the art of making the deeply weird feel real. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I make my science fiction feel plausible? - should my narrator or protagonist be likeable? - where is science fiction headed? Here's Tade Thompson's novel, ROSEWATER: https://wordery.com/rosewater-tade-thompson-9780356511368#oid=1908_1 And here's SAGA Vol 1, which he recommends: https://wordery.com/saga-volume-1-brian-k-vaughan-9781607066019#oid=1908_1 Here's my novel, THE HONOURS, that I'd love you to buy: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you like the show, please consider supporting me via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode I chat to author Kirsty Logan about fairy tales, the subconscious, and stories outside the mainstream. Kirsty Logan is the author of Fantasy novel THE GRACEKEEPERS, about an ocean-filled world where land is scarce, a travelling circus boat, a bear, and a girl charged with tending the souls of the dead. We talk about her fascination with fairy tales while growing up, her short stories, writing retreats, perceptions of mainstream versus niche books, and why weird is good. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what if my ideas aren't like most other books? - how can I write about weird things? - how can I use fairy tales in my work? - what's it like going on writing retreat? - how can I bounce back from criticism or rejection? If you'd like to read Kirsty'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 And if you're interested in what I can do, click here and treat yourself to my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to support the podcast, you can click here and very easily drop me a few beans: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you.

In this episode I chat with author and creative writing teacher Andrew Cowan about writing fiction, finding details, perfectionism and helping bring others' stories to life. Andrew talks switching from pottery to fiction, finding his own voice, ways round perfectionism and self-doubt, and his career in teaching creative writing on residential courses and at the University of East Anglia. He shares some of his favourite creative writing exercises, including ones that helped him break through serious blocks and get the words flowing again. We also talk about the novels he's written so far, how he's researched topics from pig-rearing to eugenics, and the authors and mentors who inspired him. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get myself going again after my writing grinds to a halt? - what are the best ways to research my novel? - how can I get over perfectionism in my writing? - what is the best creative writing exercise? - can creative writing be taught? - what's it like going on a creative writing course? - what's the most common mistake writers make? Get Andrew Cowan's comprehensive course on how to write fiction, THE ART OF WRITING FICTION: https://wordery.com/the-art-of-writing-fiction-andrew-cowan-9781408248348#oid=1908_1 And I really recommend trying one of his novels. PIG: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pig-Andrew-Cowan/dp/0340824123 COMMON GROUND: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Common-Ground-Andrew-Cowan/dp/1444760734 CRUSTACEANS: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crustaceans-Andrew-Cowan/dp/0312312172 WHAT I KNOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-I-Know-Andrew-Cowan/dp/0340713070 WORTHLESS MEN: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Worthless-Men-Andrew-Cowan/dp/1444759426 And of course if you'd care to support me and my career, please treat yourself or a friend to my novel THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you enjoy the podcast and you'd like to help me cover the costs of running it, hosting the audio and the website, you can chuck a few beans into my upturned hat in a couple of clicks here: ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you!

In this episode I chat to Dr Tim Pychyl, psychologist and head of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University, Canada. Tim has devoted over 20 years to the 'breakdown in volitional action' we call procrastination. Since I get more letters about struggling with procrastination than all other creative writing topics combined so I thought it was worth approaching one of the world's leading experts on procrastination for advice. We talk neuroscience, specifically the roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in procrastination, and what recent MRI scans of the brains of procrastinators and non-procrastinators have revealed. We talk psychology - what's going on with procrastinators, what we're trying to achieve when we procrastinate, and why procrastination fails on its own terms, let alone frustrating us in other ways. We talk statistics - the latest data from various studies all over the world, showing what, verifiably, works and what doesn't work when we're trying to reduce procrastination. And to kick it all off we talk semantics - what procrastination is and what it is not, and why being able to distinguish between the two is so essential. This is, for me, one of the most important episodes out of the 100+ so far that I've recorded. I've started applying the knowledge Tim gives me in this chat and it's had such a positive impact on my writing practice and my life. I'm writing much more, I'm having more fun and I find it easier to spot myself procrastinating and step out of it into action. If you suffer from procrastination, I really, really hope you listen and apply the science-based, data-driven advice so you can start giving yourself the rich rewards of diving in and achieving things large and small. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I stop procrastinating? - what is procrastination? - why are some people more prone to procrastination than others? - why do writers procrastinate? If you want to read more by Tim, check out the website of the Procrastination Research Group where he shares blog posts, podcasts, and all sorts of powerful knowledge on what procrastination is and how we can help free each other from it: http://www.procrastination.ca/ Of course if you want to practise translating dynamic decision-making into immediate action, a great opportunity would be to click this link and buy my weird historical adventure novel set in England in the 1930s, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 I don't get any money for making the show. There are no premium episodes for subscribers - it's all available to everyone for free. If you'd like to help me cover my running costs, such as Soundcloud hosting, website hosting and suchlike, you can drop a few beans into my digital guitar case at: ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you.