Writer's Routine

Dan Simpson

How do the best writers get to work? In every episode, we'll chat to an author about their writing day. Where do they work? What time do they start? How do they plan their time and maximise their creativity, in order to plot and publish a bestseller? Some are frantic night-owls, others roll out of bed into their desks, and a few lock themselves away in the woods - but none have a regular 9 to 5, and we'll find out how they've managed it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. HACE 10 H

    Stig Abell, author of 'A Twist in the River' - Breakfast Show host discusses golden age crime fiction, why planning sets you up for failure, and why AI will kill culture

    Stig Abell is a media polymath. He's worked for The Sun and LBC, was the editor of the Times Literary Supplement, and now hosts the breakfast show on national Times Radio. He's just published the fourth novel in the Jake Jackson series, 'A Twist in the River'. His debut fiction novel, 'Death Under a Little Sky', won the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award' and CrimeFest 2024. Since then, he's published 'Death in a Lonely Place' and 'The Burial Place'. He's written non-fiction, 'How Britain Really Works', and 'What to Read Next'. 'A Twist in the River', tells the story of Jake Jackson, an ex-detective who is hoping for peace in the countryside, but finds himself deep into an investigation when a young nurse disappears on the riverbank. We talk about how a writing day looks when you need to get up at 2.45am to be on the radio. Also, you can hear why planning sets you up for failure, and why for Stig, writing is all about momentum. Stig talks about his wide-interests, and balancing different projects while finding time to write. Also about looking up words, and why AI is coming for culture. Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine Read the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com writersroutine.com @writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  2. 2 ABR

    Elle McNicoll, author of 'Unapologetic Love Story' - Carnegie Award nominated writer discusses making your book stand out, the importance of representation, and being full-time whilst never having time to write

    Elle McNicholl is a Carnegie Award nominated author. Her debut 'A Kind of Spark' won the Blue Peter Book Award and the overall Waterstones Children's Book Prize, alongside Blackwell's Book of 2020. It was turned into a BBC Children's TV show, which she wrote. That won a Royal Television Society Award, and was nominated for an Emmy. She's published many more, 'Some Like It Cold', 'Wish You Were Her', 'Role Model', and many others. Pretty good for a writer who didn't actually set out to write. Her new novel is her debut for adults, 'Unapologetic Love Story'. It's all about Raina Lewis, London's hottest It Girl, who is effortlessly cool and beloved for her smash-hit podcast spotlighting autistic women. However, when she meets the investigative journalist Tom Branimir who is out to discover her secret, things change. You can hear why representation is so important, and why her own neurodivergence helps and hinders her writing. We talk about how she gets her characters to do what she wants, how much she thinks about other audiences, and why she takes a social-media break after writing. Elle runs through her path to publication, detailing how she really fell into writing, also she talks about how she makes her relatable novels stand out on kids bookshelves that are stuffed with magic and dragons. You can get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine This week's episode is supporter by Philippa Hall's 'Quick Book Reviews' podcast, take a listen wherever you get your shows. Support the show yourself - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 h 3 min
  3. 6 MAR

    Farah Naz Rishi, author of 'The Flightless Birds of New Hope' - Bestselling writer discusses being genre-less, getting into character through voice, and calming anxiety

    Farah Naz Rishi is a busy do-er with fingers in many creative pies. She's worked as a lawyer, a video-game journalist, a voice actor and is a bestselling author. Farah has written memoir, 'Sorry for the Inconvenience', which details her experience as a Pakistan-American Muslim Woman, also has published many Young Adult books, including 'If You're Not The One', and 'It All Comes Back to You'. Now, Farah has published, 'The Flightless Birds of New Hope'. Here's the blurb... We follow Aden Shah—who has made a career of running away when things get hard— as he reunites with his estranged siblings in the wake of their parents’ death. Tensions flare. And in a single moment of resentment, Aden sets free their parents’ favorite “child”: their prize-winning Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, Coco Chanel. What follows is a reluctant, chaotic road trip in a beat-up RV as the three Shah siblings chase Coco across the country. Along the way, they crash headlong into the eccentric world of birders, and into the unfamiliar people they’ve become. We discuss exploring connections, nature and sibling relationships. Also, you can hear how her work as a voice-actor influences her ability to get into character, and why she's ditched word-counts. You can hear how Farah shuts off her anxiety with wallpaper, how she tricks herself into writing, and about the first idea she had for her story. Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine This week's episode is sponsored by 'Minding Toby', the new novel by M.M. Rodeheaver. Find out more - https://margaretrodeheaver.com/ Read the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  4. 27 FEB

    Fergus Craig, author of 'I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home' - Comedian discusses going viral, working on the mystery, and not needing to be funny

    Fergus Craig is a stand-up comic and actor who has appeared across shows on the BBC and Disney Plus. In 2009, he was named 'Hackney Empire's New Act of the Year'. Through lockdown, he found internet fame with his videos parodying bad crime writers. He starred in both series of the BBC show 'Hoff the Record', and won a Chortle Comedy Award. He would read 'Detective Roger le Carre' stories, filled with pomp and cliche. They drew in an audience, and spawned a novel-writing career.  He published 'One Upon a Crime' and 'Murder at Crime Manor', bringing Detective Roger le Carre to life. We discuss the challenges of writing parody, where readers come for the funny, and need to stay for the plot. His new novel is 'I'm Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home'.It tells the story of serial killer Carol Quinn, who is out of prison and looking to relax in her retirement home. However, when a dead body is found, she needs to find the culprit before all eyes turn on her. We discuss why plotting is like playing snooker, also how much he knows before he starts, and why he's enjoying not having to be relentlessly funny in the novel. You can get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine This week's episode is sponsored by M.M. Rodeheaver's new novel, 'Minding Toby'. If you know a child who needs an inspiring new story to read, find out more at https://margaretrodeheaver.com/ Subscribe to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.com Support the show - patreon.com/writersroutine ko-fi.com/writersroutine @writerspod writersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 h 4 min

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How do the best writers get to work? In every episode, we'll chat to an author about their writing day. Where do they work? What time do they start? How do they plan their time and maximise their creativity, in order to plot and publish a bestseller? Some are frantic night-owls, others roll out of bed into their desks, and a few lock themselves away in the woods - but none have a regular 9 to 5, and we'll find out how they've managed it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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