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.

On the latest episode of the creative writing advice podcast, author Tim Clare (that's me) responds to listener requests to an episode dedicated to editing your work. What are the best rules for editing your fiction? What are some simple techniques you can apply right now to your work to make it immediately better? How can you make your novel more readable? How can you make your stories more pacy? How can you make your writing more vivid and engaging? How can a writer get the most out of adverbs? What are some tips for finding killer similes and metaphors? How can you make your prose lean and punchy? I answer all these (made-up) questions and more with my 7 Pillars Of Line-Editing Your Novel Like A Motherf*cking Laser Surgeon. 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 Otherwise, buying one or more of the books I discuss via the links below will help out while getting you some reading material that will help you grow as an author. Please buy my novel, The Honours, and support my writing career: THE HONOURS by Tim Clare: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 ON WRITING WELL by William Zinsser: https://wordery.com/on-writing-well-william-zinsser-9780060891541#oid=1908_1 THE COMPLETE ACCOMPLICE by Steve Aylett: https://wordery.com/the-complete-accomplice-steve-aylett-9780956567703#oid=1908_1

In this episode I give advice about changing your relationship with your writing, and the perils of seeing making art as a war, or viewing your novel as the enemy, or listening to your self-doubt as if it were your boss. I talk about Steven Pressfield's non-fiction book The War of Art, and David Bayles' & Ted Orland's book Art & Fear, both of which tackle this subject in detail, while coming to different conclusions. This is a good episode to listen to if you find yourself asking: how can make my novel better? Am I good enough to be a writer? How should I start my novel? How do I write a first-person narrator? In a Death Of 1000 Cuts first I look at the first few sentences of my current work-in-progress, and explain why I think they're bad. Then I talk about why that doesn't worry me, and how you can negotiate a better relationship to your work so you're not too hung up on the gap between what you meant to say, and what appeared on the page. If you want to support the podcast you can click this link to drop a few bucks to my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/timclare Otherwise, buying one or more of the books I discuss via the links below will help out while getting you some reading material that will help you grow as an author. Please buy my novel, The Honours, and support my writing career: THE HONOURS by Tim Clare: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 ART & FEAR: OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERILS (AND REWARDS) OF ART MAKING by David Bayles & Ted Orland: https://wordery.com/art-fear-david-bayles-9780961454739#oid=1908_1 THE WAR OF ART: BREAK THROUGH THE BLOCKS AND WIN YOUR INNER CREATIVE BATTLES by Steven Pressfield: https://wordery.com/the-war-of-art-steven-pressfield-9781936891023#oid=1908_1

On this episode I chat to author Nate Crowley about ideas - specifically the incubation, hatching and rearing thereof. Lots of discussion of how to generate ideas, how you know when an idea is ready, how to turn an idea into a story, as well as in-depth chat about world-building, good and bad. We go quite deep into a lot of SF, Fantasy and genre chat, but the talk should be accessible for all authors who care about ideas and originality and giving their readers an experience they won't soon forget. If you enjoy this episode and want to read work by Nate Crowley(as well as supporting him and the podcast) then use the links below: 100 Best Video Games (That Never Existed): https://wordery.com/100-best-video-games-that-never-existed-nate-crawley-9781781086148#oid=1908_1 The Death and Life Of Schneider Wrack: https://wordery.com/the-death-and-life-of-schneider-wrack-nate-crowley-9781781085561#oid=1908_1 We also mention China Mieville's Perdido Street Station: https://wordery.com/perdido-street-station-china-mieville-9780330534239#oid=1908_1 And Lauren Beukes' Zoo City: https://wordery.com/zoo-city-lauren-beukes-9780316267922#=oid1908_1 If you haven't read either, check them out! Oh, and buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765?cTrk#oid=1908_1

This is one of my unscripted chats, where I talk about where I am with my writing, and things I've learned recently about creative anxiety, doing the work, and ways of dissolving perfectionism that actually work, without making your writing total crap. A mix of pep talk and impromptu strategy briefing for fiction writers. Please buy my novel, The Honours: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765k#oid=1908_1