In this episode I chat with writer and performer Salena Godden about her debut novel MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH. We talk about mortality and inspiration, giving voice to characters and using the poetic form in prose, messing with reader expectations and how juggling different projects can help productivity and motivation. Buy MRS DEATH MISSES DEATH here in hardback: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Salena-Godden/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death/25330558 Or as an ebook: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Salena-Godden/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death/25655278 Or the audiobook: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Mrs-Death-Misses-Death-Audiobook/1838851216 Here's Salena's website: http://www.salenagodden.co.uk/ And if you'd like to help the podcast keep going you can drop me a bean or two here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

In this episode I chat with author Keiron Pim about how he wrote his biography of larger-than-life sixties underworld fixer and friend to the stars, David Litvinoff, JUMPIN' JACK FLASH. We talk about Keiron's background in journalism, approaching people for interviews, and how to use 'footstepping' to get a sense for your subject. You can grab a copy of JUMPIN' JACK FLASH HERE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jumpin-Jack-Flash-Litvinoff-Underworld/dp/0099584441/ If you'd like to support the show, thank you, and you can drop me some beans here: www.ko-fi.com/timclare

This is the 5th episode of my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. In this episode, I talk about making mistakes and first drafts, I then go onto to make some mistakes trying to come up with place names for my world, then I think 'stuff it' and go ahead and start plotting out the first quarter of my novel. By the end... I feel like I've got somewhere? Oh, and I discuss the importance of strong verbs in quests. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

This is the 4th episode of my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. In this episode, I do a deep dive into the art of 'crunchy specificity'. Having struggled to zero in on a character through general traits, I try to follow Michael Moorcock's advice and come at it from the opposite direction - building characters from the sound of their names alone. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

In this episode I chat with author and neuroscientist Dean Burnett about writing about the brain, science and mental health, and his new book, PSYCHO-LOGICAL. We discuss the challenges of conveying complex ideas to a broad readership, reflecting the messiness of science, and current theories underpinning our understanding of conditions like depression. You can grab a copy of PSYCHO-LOGICAL: Why Mental Health Goes Wrong and How We Can Make Sense Of It here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dean-Burnett/Psycho-Logical--Why-Mental-Health-Goes-Wrong---and-How-to-Make-Sense-of-It/25440016 And here's THE IDIOT BRAIN: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Dean-Burnett/The-Idiot-Brain--A-Neuroscientist-Explains-What-Your-Head-is-Really-Up-To/20508227 If you enjoy the show, please consider dropping me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And you can drop me a line via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

This episode I chat with author, poet, journalist and podcaster Musa Okwonga about the art of writing great essays, the power of words, how to open up your specialist subject to a wider audience, and the places where non-fiction, fiction and poetry blend in his work. Oh, and we talk football, poetry, hip-hop, politics, defining ourselves as artists, and how he comes up with a powerful opening premise to kick off a persuasive essay. IN THE END, IT WAS ALL ABOUT LOVE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musa-Okwonga-End-About-Love Musa's Eton memoir, ONE OF THEM: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Them-Eton-College-Memoir/dp/1783529679/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Okwonga If you enjoy the show, please consider dropping me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And you can drop me a line via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

This is the 3rd episode of my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. In this episode, I work on fleshing out a new antagonist from my list of archetypes, and I discuss how the ideology of a story can get away from you, and ponder if that's necessarily a problem. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

In this episode I chat with Fantasy novelist RJ Barker about his two trilogies, the process of taking a story from idea to finished book, pitching trilogies, worldbuilding, and his favourite novels. I've popped some links to the first books in his two trilogies below. AGE OF ASSASSINS: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/RJ-Barker/Age-of-Assassins--The-Wounded-Kingdom-Book-1-To-catch-an-/20901956 THE BONE SHIPS: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/RJ-Barker/The-Bone-Ships/23930397 Here's his website: https://www.rjbarker.com/ If you enjoy the show, please consider dropping me a few beans via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare And you can drop me a line via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk

This is the 2nd episode in my series where I try to write a book from first idea to final draft, and take you along for the ride. Today I'm looking at generating some secondary characters, some antagonists, to populate the world. If you enjoy the show, please show your support via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare You can get in touch with me via my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk Listen to the first episode in this series here: https://soundcloud.com/timclare/s4e13-writing-a-novel-pt1

The first part of a series in which I write a novel, from scratch, and talk you through my process. To kick things off, I consider the basics - what's this story about? Who's the protagonist? Since I'm trying to write a Fantasy adventure, I do some brainstorming about what powers my protag might have, and what limitations or costs those powers might be constrained by. I talk through Michael Moorcock's advice for writing a book in 3 days, which you can read here: http://www.ghostwoods.com/2010/05/how-to-write-a-book-in-three-days-1210/ If you want to drop me a line, click the 'Contact Me' link on my website: www.timclarepoet.co.uk You can support the show via my Ko-fi page: www.ko-fi.com/timclare