Death Of 1000 Cuts

In this episode I chat to author Jeannette Ng about her Gothic Fantasy novel UNDER THE PENDULUM SUN. We discuss how she came upon her tale of a gothic heroine travelling to the mysterious and threatening continent of Arcadia, in search of her missionary brother who has been trying to convert the Fair Folk. We chat about Chinese vampires, world-building, colonialism, the creative freedom of youth, borrowing from established story structures, dreaded second novel syndrome, and writing in the long shadow of the Brontës. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I create compelling Fantasy worlds? - how can I breathe new life into familiar monsters? - where can I look for inspiration? - what does Fantasy allow me to do that other genres don't? - what strategies can I use to overcome excessive self-criticism? - what are some pitfalls to avoid when creating Fantasy cultures? If you got value out of this episode please support Jeannette Ng by ordering her novel, UNDER THE PENDULUM SUN: https://wordery.com/under-the-pendulum-sun-jeannette-ng-9780857667274#oid=1908_1 Please support me and my work by buying my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to help me cover the costs of making the podcast, you can drop me a few bucks at my ko-fi page - thank you so much for all your support so far: https://ko-fi.com/timclare

I chat to Hayley Webster, author of JAR BABY and MEET THE TWITCHES. We talk about the origins of her love of reading, the ways a story engages your senses, and her approach to writing across genres, from mystery to literary fiction to memoir to children's adventures. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how do I write a book for children? - what's it like working with an illustrator? - is it okay to work on multiple projects? - do I need to stick to one genre? - how can I make my writing vivid? - how can I develop my confidence as a writer? - what's it like working with an agent? - what are different ways I can get a book deal? Here are links to a couple of Hayley's books she mentions. Please support her career and this podcast by clicking the links below and treating yourself to some of her work. JAR BABY: https://wordery.com/jar-baby-hayley-webster-9781903660102#oid=1908_1 MEET THE TWITCHES (TEACUP HOUSE #1): https://wordery.com/meet-the-twitches-hayley-scott-9781474928120#oid=1908_1 I'm a professional author. If people buy my books I can keep working and feed my family. Also my books are dead good. Please consider purchasing for yourself or as a surprise present for a loved one: THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 If you'd like to help me out with the hosting costs of the podcast, you can drop me a buck or two here: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you very much. I appreciate your support.

In this episode I chat to author Emma Healey, about her bestselling Costa-winning debut ELIZABETH IS MISSING, and her new novel WHISTLE IN THE DARK. We have a wide-ranging, frank and occasionally funny chat about finding the voice of your protagonist, transmuting research into living characters and stories, and how to start again from scratch when you begin your second book. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how do I know which idea is the right one to write about? - where can I find ideas in the first place? - what sort of characters am I allowed to write about? - how can I research my book? - how can I use my life experiences in my fiction? I really enjoyed recording this one and I hope you get a lot out of it. Hey, you should buy Emma's books because they are great, and also because I am grateful for authors taking the time to come on the show so you'd be doing me a big favour if you show them some love. WHISTLE IN THE DARK: https://wordery.com/whistle-in-the-dark-emma-healey-9780241327623#oid=1908_1 ELIZABETH IS MISSING: https://wordery.com/elizabeth-is-missing-emma-healey-9780241968185#oid=1908_1 And of course I'm an author. It's how I feed my family. So please treat yourself to a copy of my novel, THE HONOURS, and help me continue making stories: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 And if you'd like to help me with my hosting expenses for the podcast and my website you can drop me a few bucks via my Ko-fi page. Any help is much appreciated: https://ko-fi.com/timclare As promised, here are a couple of links with perspectives on cultural appropriation, cultural exchange and representation. How to Explain Cultural Appropriation to Anyone Who Just Doesn’t Get It: https://www.alternet.org/culture/cultural-appropriation-pho-lionel-shriver-jamie-oliver-marc-jacobs We Need To Talk About Cultural Appropriation: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/sep/15/we-need-to-talk-about-cultural-appropriation-why-lionel-shrivers-speech-touched-a-nerve Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_appropriation The Good Immigrant (book link): https://wordery.com/the-good-immigrant-nikesh-shukla-9781783523955#oid=1908_1

In this episode I chat to author V C Lancaster about her work and the world of self-publishing. If you've ever considered publishing your own work, or you're interested in how it all works, this is the episode for you. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - how can I get started as a self-published author? - how does Kindle work for self-published authors? - how much do I have to do myself? - what do I need to know about cover design? - how can I write an effective blurb? - how do I get reviews? - what are readers looking for? - what should I put in my sample? - how long should my book be? - what should I price my book? - do special offers and sales work? - what's the lifespan of a book? - how much can I expect to earn? Fancy reading some of her work? Here's V C Lancaster's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/V.C.-Lancaster/e/B0121K0OXY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1524147411&sr=8-1 Her website: https://vclancasterblog.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VCLancaster/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VC_Lancaster Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14158778.V_C_Lancaster Oh, and you can always get yourself a copy of my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Please support the podcast and the authors who appear on it, and get yourself some exciting new reads at the same time.

Writing a novel? Finding it too easy? This episode isn't for you. In this episode, author Tim Clare (that's me) packs your 10-piece first draft survival kit. It has everything you need to get you through the first draft of your novel - the tools, the mindset, and proven strategies. The 10 Tools in your First Draft Survival Kit are: 1. You’re Allowed To Give Up. 2. Challenges, Not Obligations 3. Short-Term Goals, Not Long-Term Visions 4. Aim Low 5. Start 6. Be Curious 7. Keep Notes 8. Go Public 9. Time Travel 10. Let Go Of The Past If you want to find out what they are and how to apply them now, take a listen! This is a great episode to listen to if: - you're working on a novel - you find yourself losing heart when you start writing - you struggle with procrastination - you want to finish a first draft Support my writing career and the podcast by clicking here and buying my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Please consider casting your vote for DEATH OF 1000 CUTS in the British Podcast Awards: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote/ You can also support the podcast via my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Thank you!

In this episode, I had a chat with author Nikesh Shukla. You may have heard him in Season 1 where the two of us looked at a listener’s first page. If you’re not familiar with his work he’s written three novels so far: Coconut Unlimited which was nominated for the Costa, Meatspace and his latest, The One Who Wrote Destiny. He’s got a fourth, a YA title, called Run, Riot coming out in June of this year. He also edited a collection of essays called The Good Immigrant which, after a successful Unbound funding campaign, went on to huge critical acclaim, sold a bunch of copies and won a Readers’ Choice Award. As Nikesh mentions at the beginning, we’re both sleep-deprived dads so, it takes us a little while to get to the punch but I think you’re going to get a lot out of this talk. He’s modest and self-deprecating but we talk about craft and finding what a story’s really about and the story of his latest book is a journey that’s taken nearly 20 years. Really inspiring. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - what are different ways I can approach a character's 'voice'? - how can I decide what to write about? - what's the best way to approach a writing routine? - who should I be writing for? THE ONE WHO WROTE DESTINY: https://wordery.com/the-one-who-wrote-destiny-nikesh-shukla-9781786492784#oid=1908_1 MEATSPACE: https://wordery.com/meatspace-nikesh-shukla-9780007565078#oid=1908_1 COCONUT UNLIMITED: https://wordery.com/coconut-unlimited-nikesh-shukla-9780704372047#oid=1908_1 THE GOOD IMMIGRANT: https://wordery.com/the-good-immigrant-nikesh-shukla-9781783523955#oid=1908_1 THE ART OF THE NOVEL: https://wordery.com/the-art-of-the-novel-nicholas-royle-9781907773655#oid=1908_1 And of course you can get my novel, THE HONOURS: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1

In today's episode I answer a listener's question about character motivation and stakes. How do you know whether the stakes in your story are enough to carry a whole novel? How do you stress test your protagonist's motivation before writing the entire book? Why do some character goals seem to matter more than others? This is a great episode to listen to if: - you're at the planning stage of your novel - you have a big idea but you're not sure if it has legs - you've got a short way into a novel but it seems to have run out of steam - you're editing your novel and looking for ways to make it more compelling As I always I would *love* your thoughts on this. Please do drop me a line at my website, timclarepoet.co.uk - just click the 'Contact Me' link on the right and send me any comments, questions for future episodes, or just say hello. Please like and subscribe to this podcast on Soundcloud and iTunes, and if you have the time please rate Death Of 1000 Cuts on iTunes and leave a review for other writers. It's really handy for helping people find it. If you want to support the podcast you can click this link to drop a few bucks to my Ko-fi page: ko-fi.com/timclare My novel is called THE HONOURS and if you click here you can buy it with free delivery while supporting the podcast: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765?cTrk#oid=1908_1

In this episode, author Tim Clare (that's me) talks about what's been going on in fiction writing this week. I discuss the dangers of writers' semi-jokey fixation on productivity and 'laziness', and why I think it makes us sad while creating the very problem it claims to tackle. Then I dive into a topic I've been avoiding for a while - who has the right to tell what stories? After reading an interview with author Lionel Shriver this week, where she said that she fears the novel is doomed unless authors are allowed to cause offence, and that white authors are filled with anxiety about writing about cultures that aren't their own, I decided to have a go at broaching this subject. If you would like to hear a white middle class cis male author give his opinions, then finally you have the chance, if you can hear me over all the hand-wringing. This is a good episode to listen to if you're wondering: what stories am I allowed to write? What questions should I be asking myself about diversity, cultural appropriation, and representation? How can I write more? It's very much the beginning of a conversation and there's a lot more to say. In the meantime, I suggest you read up on the topic, by reading a range of pieces by authors from marginalised groups, to get their opinions. If you want to support the podcast you can click this link to drop a few bucks to my Ko-fi page: ko-fi.com/timclare My novel is called THE HONOURS and if you click here you can buy it with free delivery while supporting the podcast: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765?cTrk#oid=1908_1

This episode teaches you everything you need to know about structuring your novel. No need to fear formula! Learn to tame it and bend it to your will. Following on from our episode on the 7 Pillars of Line-Editing Your Novel, this time we look at how to sculpt your novel into a pleasing shape, how to think about where to start and where to end, and how to make sure you make promises that you payoff on. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: how should I structure my novel? How does plot work? When should I work on an outline? How does structure work in literary fiction? How do I make my story compelling? How can I make the middle of my story gripping? If you'd like to support me as I make the podcast, please buy my book or one of the books I mention via the links below: THE HONOURS by Tim Clare: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 STORY by Robert McKee: https://wordery.com/story-robert-mckee-9780413715609#oid=1908_1 THE 7 BASIC PLOTS by Christopher Brooker: https://wordery.com/the-seven-basic-plots-christopher-booker-9780826480378#oid=1908_1

In this episode author Tim Clare (that's me) looks at another listener's first page and gives a detailed critique of the opening to their story. I talk about how you can use vocabulary to build mood and imply things. I talk about how to write great similes and when to dial them back. I talk about how to handle time in your story. I have a strange revelation about bundles of sticks. If you want to support the podcast you can click this link to drop a few bucks to my Ko-fi page: ko-fi.com/timclare Please buy my novel, THE HONOURS, to show your support for the podcast and my writing career: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765?cTrk#oid=1908_1 Here's the extract I discuss in this episode, for you to read through yourself. To submit your own work, head to my website: http://www.timclarepoet.co.uk THE DAWN TRIALS Bundled branches and stacked logs loomed through the morning fog as Jim and I reached the clifftop. A hungry fear dropped and hung in my stomach like a noose. I’d prayed to a God I barely believed in all night, hoping that Jim wouldn’t understand what was happening. The poor boy. The decisions I made in the days after I watched Ma die have stalked me ever since. We’d left at sunrise, wrapped up against the chill with the rest of the Freshwater folk. Dark figures emerged from the fog with muffled whispers. I remembered when I was barely Jim’s age - on top of the cliff with everyone, holding onto Father’s hand and hiding behind him. But I still heard the last words. The begging. The trapdoor thud and crunch as bone snapped. Then the stench of shit that followed - God’s cruel joke. “Where’s Ma, Anna?” Jim clutched onto my skirts and looked up at me. I placed my hand on his shoulder, crouched down and lied, “She’s gone away for awhile, she-” “Why isn’t she here?! I don’t want to watch” “You don’t have to watch, lad. I don’t want you to.” I showed him how to scrunch up his eyes and put his fingers in his ears. He sucked his thumb, his mouth somehow already dirty. I wanted to pick him up and run, but I knew we had to be there. To flee would have been to admit our own guilt.