How To Write A Book

I love this podcast because I love books and reading and it’s fascinating, but it does also makes me feel like I live on a different planet to the literary world!

This seems like a really great podcast with amazing people and ideas and experience but to be honest I just wanted advice on witting served on a plate. I think I'm just lazy 😅. And apparently a bad speller :)

I listened to all 12 episodes in one sitting on a drive from Cornwall to Cambridge. As someone who is going through the tortuous process of trying to write my first book, I felt that a podcast called “How to write a book” would be a good companion on a long journey. It was. This pod is a perfect guide for any new writer - informative, uplifting, inspirational, honest. For me, it was helpful to hear the different perspectives of a writer, agent and publisher all together. The hosts are clearly very knowledgeable but they are also open and accessible, which leaves you feeling empowered rather than intimidated. They cover everything you need to know, from the technical aspects of writing, such as structure and character, to the world of publishing as a business - with some very helpful preparatory tips on what to expect if you do get published. The whole series is well worth a listen but standout bits for me were: - The two episodes on Voice, which I have really struggled with. Listening to these was like someone switching on a light in a dark room. - The bit on Dialogue that starts with “Did low you finish the tomatoes?” - this is genius. Listen to it, you’ll see what I mean. - The final episodes on Publishing, which are surprisingly cautionary but extremely helpful. My one slight niggle is the occasional anti-male sentiment that creeps in from time to time. As a bloke, this can get a bit irritating. But that did not stop me from really enjoying the series and I’m extremely grateful to Elizabeth Day for having this idea and making it happen. Thank you.

Attempting my first book at 73 - a kind of ‘biographical fiction’ comedy based on the letters of 19C naturalists, presented as dialogue) I have loved this podcast. The discussion of trust, voice and confidence have been a revelation for me and will be invaluable in my editing! Hope one day to see my ‘English Wildlife’ story in print but if not, it’s the journey that matters. Thanks!