This is the 6th episode of the series where I take you with me on the process of trying to write a novel. It's been a few weeks... uh oh? Have I hit a snag already? On this episode I share my first 500 words and critique them, trying to drill down into where I think they fall short, and how I might move forward from here. If you want to hear previous episodes in the series they're all in a single Soundcloud playlist, here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/sets/writing-a-novel If you'd like to support the show, you can drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with artist John Allison about storytelling in comics. John is the creator of comics SCARY-GO-ROUND, BAD MACHINERY, GIANT DAYS and, most recently, STEEPLE. We chat about finding characters from their shape or look, the secret to making characters who feel real, how characters develop over time, writing good dialogue, and the particular flavour of English weirdness. A good jumping in point is STEEPLE, which you can read online here: https://steeple.church/comic/2020-02-17/ You can also follow John on Twitter: @badmachinery If you like the show and you'd like to support it so I can make more, you can drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

On today's episode I look at the first 250 words of a listener's fiction and suggest ways to make it better. I talk about point of view in third-person limited fiction, clarity in your establishing scene, and how to avoid 'writer's voice'. Hope it's useful. If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with author Tasha Suri. We talk about writing Fantasy, creating worlds, strategies for tricking yourself into writing a novel, and questions of genre and reader expectations - how much should we meet readers where they are, and how much should we challenge them? If you're in the UK you can pre-order THE JASMINE THRONE here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-jasmine-throne/tasha-suri/9780356515649 US listeners grab it here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-jasmine-throne-tasha-suri/1137427867 Tasha's website is here: https://tashasuri.com/ And you can follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tashadrinkstea If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans via my kofi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with poet and writer Vanessa Kisuule about poetry, building a creative career and expectations audiences have of us on stage, online and in print. Vanessa's website is here: https://www.vanessakisuule.com/ And you can follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/vanessa_kisuule If you'd like to support the show, drop me a few beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I talk about the importance of getting blurbs or endorsements from other authors. Why are they so crucial for a new book? How do you go about getting them? And why has the situation got worse? As (I think) I mentioned, if you'd like to know a bit more about the art of nonfiction, here is my chat with author Musa Okwonga: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e17-chatting-with-musa-okwonga And Keiron Pim: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e21-chatting-with-keiron-pim If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I look at the first page of a listener's story and suggest ways to make it better. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

It's another writing ramble! Unscripted, unplanned, unedited - me talking about whatever is on my mind, writing-wise. Today, I talk about the writing community's romanticisation of crunch culture and unhealthy working practices. I hope you find it useful. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode, I chat about the weird valley between one project ending and another beginning, and I answer some questions suggested by listeners to the best of my ability, which, as we know from bitter experience, is seldom up to the task. This is a writing ramble episode, so it's unplanned, unscripted and unedited. If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And if you'd like to submit the first page of your story, click on the 'Contact Me' button via this link and send me no more than 250 words, plus a title: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

In this episode I chat with Ted Hughes Award-winning poet and author Hollie McNish. We chat about writing poems on what you care about, mixing genres, dealing with critics and snobbery, and using poetry to make yourself feel better. Hardback (signed edition via Waterstones): https://t.co/QAomJ8R5rE?amp=1 Audiobook (via Google Play): https://t.co/rHH5fYE1Ng?amp=1 Twitter: @holliepoetry Website: https://t.co/TKg0tuikyH?amp=1 If you'd like to support the show drop me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare