Death Of 1000 Cuts

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!

Dr. Tim Pychyl, a psychologist and procrastination expert from Carleton University, dives deep into the emotional roots of procrastination. He clarifies the difference between necessary delays and true procrastination, highlighting how emotions, not time management, drive this behavior. Tim discusses brain science, linking procrastination to an overactive amygdala and provides practical steps to combat it. He emphasizes the power of identifying small actions to break the cycle of delay and shares how self-forgiveness can transform motivation.

This episode features me chatting to writer, performer, poet, podcast presenter, film-maker, playwright and educator Ross Sutherland about his work experimenting on words to make them do cool stuff. His podcast Imaginary Advice recently won Best Fiction Podcast at the British Podcasting Awards, he's produced work for radio and TV, he's a legend of the UK poetry scene and his critically-acclaimed solo show Standby For Tape Backup stormed the Edinburgh Fringe and has toured the world. His work is funny, dark, emotive and brain-melting. He's really cool, you guys. He's also my mate. We talk about how he got into writing, his early experiences learning from his grandma and punk poet John Cooper Clarke, how he uses repetition to induce trance states in audiences and get past his own internal censor, and his advice as an experienced creative writing teacher for finding the 'game' of a piece of writing. He explains how the work of French experimental literature group the Oulipo inspired him to rip Little Red Riding Hood apart noun by noun, and how he helps teach writers to hack language to create weird, vivid effects. We also talk about what it's like when you or your work don't quite fit anywhere, and how to make a virtue out of writing work that's 'hard to explain'. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how do I find ideas? - what should I write about? - what if my work doesn't fit into an existing genre? - what are some warm-up exercises I can do to kickstart my imagination? You would be foolish indeed not to sample an episode of Ross's award-winning podcast Imaginary Advice. Here's the episode he talks about writing towards the end of our chat: https://soundcloud.com/ross-sutherland/52-the-man-who-saw-tomorrow-4th-birthday-episode If you like it, please do Ross a big favour and subscribe to it on Soundcloud or iTunes, leave a little review so other folk can find it, share it on your Twitter or Facebook. All that stuff helps so much, and you're helping someone else stumble across it and have some of the same happiness you did. If you haven't read my novel, THE HONOURS, and you like secret tunnels, conspiracies and a 13-year-old girl in the 1930s trying to piece it all together, give your life a massive shot of the good stuff and treat yourself to a glorious copy: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And if you'd like to support the podcast, I appreciate any contributions towards hosting costs. You can drop me something in two clicks here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat to writer Melissa Harrison about becoming a writer, the pressures of writing, and the process of bringing the past and the natural world to life. We chat about her new novel ALL AMONG THE BARLEY, how she struggled to admit to herself that she wanted to write, research, farming, fascism, and why we write when, at times, it can be difficult and painful. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how should I research my novel? - should I keep writing if I'm not enjoying myself? - how can I find the story amongst the scenes in my head? If you enjoyed this chat and want more, please support Melissa Harrison by grabbing a copy of her latest novel, 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 I really appreciate it when you support authors who give their time to come on the show. Thank you. If you're interested in something historical set in the 1930s in England, you might also like my novel THE HONOURS: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ And, if you like, you can help me cover the cost of running and recording the podcast by dropping me something here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode I chat to debut Fantasy novelist Micah Yongo about his novel of warring assassins and clashing ideologies, LOST GODS. We get into everything, from working with an editor to researching crossbow physics, to how you go from big ideas and sprawling, complex imaginary worlds down to a story, and the character who's going to propel you through it. Micah also talks about what it's like to be published for the first time, building a writing routine, and representation in SFF and beyond. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I turn my ideas for a setting into a story? - what's the best sort of character for a Fantasy story? - how can I research my Fantasy world when it doesn't exist? - what it like working with an editor? - who has the right to write what stories? I know you are awesome and I can rely on you to treat yourself and support Micah Yongo by ordering LOST GODS right now - do it, it's ace! https://wordery.com/lost-gods-micah-yongo-9780857667373#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to read my work, please order my novel THE HONOURS - you can get it here (shipped anywhere in the world) via awesome indie bookshop Mr B's Emporium: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/the-honours/ And if you want to support the podcast and help me pay for hosting costs and website fees, you can click here and drop me a little something in a couple o' clicks. Thanks: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This episode I chat to debut author Temi Oh about her upcoming novel DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? We talk research, handling big casts, giving characters motivation, & novels of ideas. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I research my story if some aspects (like space travel) aren't accessible to me? - how can I make sure my characters are well-differentiated? - how can I handle a big cast in my novel? - how does Science Fiction deal with big themes? - how does Science Fiction deal with autobiographical elements? If you like today's episode and want to read Temi's upcoming novel, DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? you can pre-order it here. Pre-ordering makes a huge difference to authors, so I encourage, beseech and coax you towards doing so in this instance, right now: https://wordery.com/do-you-dream-of-terra-two-temi-oh-9781471171246#oid=1908_1 You can also support me by ordering my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And if you'd like to toss a few quid into the podcast's coffers to help me pay for hosting costs and overheads, you can do so here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you very much. Your patronage is not just appreciated but essential, and I doff my cloth cap to you.

In this episode I talk about some things I've learned from the 4 year process of writing my 2nd novel, THE ICE HOUSE (out May 2019). This is an unscripted episode where I talk through some of my first thoughts about the process, which at times was not easy, to put it mildly. Like anything difficult, doing this novel and seeing it through to completion has taught me a great deal, and so I break down some key principles which I'm going to be taking with me into future writing projects. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what's it like writing a novel? - why are second novels harder than first ones? - how can I be prolific? - what are some specific strategies for overcoming blocks and procrastination? - how should I approach my first draft? - how should I approach redrafting? If you like this episode and you'd like to support my writing, please click this link and order yourself a copy of my first novel, THE HONOURS. It will be good prep for reading THE ICE HOUSE: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And if you'd like to support the podcast, please drop me a buck or two via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you. Have a great time writing.

In this episode I chat with Lauren Groff, bestselling author of FATES & FURIES, about her latest short story collection, FLORIDA. We chat about her writing career spanning 6 books thus far, how she moves from short stories to novels, her ways of working, and how she gets her language and characters to sing. (spoiler: I *love* her work - she is really good) This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I improve the language that I use in my stories? - how can I learn to see the world around me more clearly? - what are some unusual techniques I can bring to my writing? - how can poetry help my prose? - how can I sustain and develop my voice over several projects? This episode is supported in part by Mslexia Magazine, the UK’s best-selling magazine for women who write. To subscribe, or check out their competitions and submission opportunities, visit: https://Mslexia.co.uk You can pick up an issue here: https://mslexia.co.uk/product-category/single-issues/ And subscribe here: https://mslexia.co.uk/why-subscribe/ Here's Lauren Groff's brilliant latest story collection, FLORIDA - get it now with free worldwide shipping: https://wordery.com/florida-lauren-groff-9781785151880#oid=1908_1 And here's her New York Times bestselling novel FATES AND FURIES: https://wordery.com/fates-and-furies-lauren-groff-9780099592532#oid=1908_1 And hey, you know you've been putting it off for ages. Buy my novel, THE HONOURS, and be done with it: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to show your support for the show and what I do, I have a Ko-fi page where you can bung me a few sweet beans as a gesture of appreciation: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you so much for your support and enthusiasm. You're awesome.